Maya

"What?" The words escaped my lips before I could hold them back.

All eyes in the pack turned toward me, and Leonardo cursed softly under his breath. His jaw tensed before he hastily plastered a smile on his face. "Please excuse her. She tends to be easily startled."

"Well, I never knew my daughter had that particular quality," my mother, always the interrupter, and a bitch, chimed in.

"You never seemed to have much time to notice, did you? From what Leo and I recall, you were occupied with, shall we say, other affairs," Maximus shot back with a wry chuckle, effectively silencing my mother.

I shouldn't have felt a spark of satisfaction, but I did. Despite their dispicable actions, my mother had inflicted far more injustice upon me than these two individuals. She was the original perpetrator, and they were merely the subsequent players who wouldn't have entered the picture if she had been a better parent.

"What's your point, Max? Are you saying you two know more about her than I do?" My mother clearly had no intention of staying silent.

What was wrong with her? Maybe only God could answer this question because she was far beyond my understanding at this point.

"Isn't it obvious, Morgana? She's our mate. We're bound to know more about her than you ever could," Leonardo interjected, his irritation matching Maximus's.

I could tell my mother was on the brink of speaking again, but thankfully, Alaric intervened.

"Seriously, Morgana? Are you going to do this now, in front of everyone? Maya is their mate; it's their private affair. This conversation is pointless," Alaric's abrupt statement caught me off guard. He had never confronted my mother like this before. I couldn't deny that I appreciated it, though.

My mother didn't know the first thing about me, yet she relished putting on a facade. That was her way—pretense was her default.

"I believe it's time we moved forward and proceeded with the announcement, Alpha," an elderly member interjected, breaking the tension. "Let's not waste any more time."

"You're right," Alaric nodded in agreement. His gaze shifted to us, and from the confidence radiating from Leonardo and Maximus, it was evident they were pleased with the news. They knew the public mating ritual would cement my fate with them until the fucking end of my days. And I didn't want this to happen! At all costs!

As Alaric hesitated to reveal the date, my heart raced with a desperate hope that it would be at least two weeks away, if not a month. The impending dread of what was to come clawed at me, and I prayed silently for more time. I needed a chance to escape, to safeguard not just myself but also my unborn child. The mating ritual would complicate everything, and I couldn't allow that.

"Oh, please, let it be a month away. Please! Please! Please!" I silently begged in my mind, clinging to a sliver of hope.

"After discussions with the pack members and considering the optimal phase of the moon, we've concluded that the mating ritual will take place next week," Alaric's announcement shattered my fragile hopes in an instant. "The Darkclaw, Moonshine, Theodore Packs, along with our allies, will be in attendance. The Alphas and their Lunas will grace the event, which will coincide with the handover of the pack to Leonardo and Maximus."

Oh shit....

This was a disaster. It would ruin everything for me.

Fucking hell! What do I do now?!

"But I thought you intended to hand over the pack to them at a later time," my mother murmured softly, her face drained of color.

Of course! Her fear was evident, but I felt a different kind of terror gripping me. It wasn't for her; it was the overwhelming panic of devising an escape plan within a mere week. It seemed impossible. I needed more time to ensure my plan wouldn't fall apart.

The panicked thoughts raced through my mind.

No! No! No! What am I fucking going to do?!

"So, stepmom, you have an issue with this, huh?" Leonardo chuckled, shaking his head as if finding her statement amusing. Well, it indeed was.

"No, not at all," she laughed, shaking her head, but her expression betrayed her true feelings. She wasn't happy or content with the news; instead, she seemed frightened. "I was just surprised. Alpha hadn't shared this news with me earlier; that's all."

"I only shared it with those who needed to know. It wasn't your place to be the first to know, Morgana," Alaric stood abruptly, his disregard clearly shocking my mother as she rose too. "In any case, I hope this clarifies things. The ceremony will take place next week, on the second night. I trust everyone will assist in ensuring the occasion proceeds smoothly and welcome the Alphas wholeheartedly. Thank you all for joining me today." With that, he exited, and the gathering respectfully bowed as he departed from view.

My mother swiftly followed suit, departing with haste, and the others trailed after her, leaving just three of us lingering in the hall.

"Well, well... the day has finally arrived, Maya," Maximus sneered, swiveling me towards him and lifting his hand to graze my cheek, causing me to reflexively flinch away. He chuckled at my reaction, then abruptly grasped the nape of my neck, drawing me closer.

Our foreheads met, locking eyes, our lips mere inches apart. His breath intermingled with mine, sending shivers cascading across my skin.

"Once the Ritual concludes, you realize there's no escape, don't you?" His eyes bore a sinister, malevolent gleam, compelling me to pull away. Unfortunately, I backed into Leonardo, who ensnared me in his embrace, drawing me all the way nearer, too close to his body.

"I'm curious about your plans after the ritual. You'll assume a new identity, entirely under our control, just like your body," Leonardo traced a daring path from below my ear, skimming past my cleavage and along my waist, his touch daring, "You'll be our Luna—a shattered doll we'll rearrange whenever we please, breaking and reveling in every fragmented piece. Oh, the satisfaction it will bring, Maya. You can't fathom the pleasure it gives me, merely contemplating it. There are so many ways to break you and we haven't even tried half of them."

Their callous words churned a sickening sensation within me. How could anyone derive pleasure from the idea of their mate's demise? Despite their heinous actions towards me, I remained unaffected and I didn't want their death.

Shouldn't I harbor a desire for their death by now? Then why didn't I? Instead of plotting their death in their sleep, why was I only attempting to distance myself? Why did I grant them power over me?

Could I possibly... be in love with these monsters? No, it couldn't be!

"Let me go...." I managed to croak, struggling to free myself from his grasp, but Maximus loomed before me, obstructing my path.

"Never, Maya..." Maximus murmured, seizing my jaw and compelling me to meet his gaze, tilting my face towards his. Drawing nearer, he deliberately brushed his lips against mine, eliciting a surge of shivers and sparks, an electric sensation coursing through my body.

Both brothers had an acute understanding of manipulating my body, a reality I detested wholeheartedly. They treated me like a lifeless object devoid of feelings, devoid of pain, devoid of emotions—yet I felt it all. They were aware of it, weren't they? Or did they truly regard me as a mere object?

"One way or another, you have to let me go anyway..." I exhaled, struggling not to succumb to the temptation of their closeness, despite the heat on my skin and the undeniable stirrings between my thighs that I loathed.

"The only way we part with you is through death, Maya. And believe me, your death will be excruciating. So fucking painful that you can't even imagine it," Leonardo's chilling whisper pierced my heart, instilling a deep sense of terror. "You'll die in our hands. We'll stand by and watch. Just watch.."

"As the very essence of life ebbs away from your once-beautiful body, tainted in every conceivable manner—with our marks, scars, and claims...." Maximus added, kissing the corner of my mouth before trailing to my neck.

No. I refused to let them repeat this cycle.

They held enough control. This time would be different—I wouldn't make it so effortless for them.

"Let me go, Max!" Summoning my strength, I pushed Maximus away, freeing myself from Leonardo's grasp.

I ensured there was enough distance between us, preventing any chance of them touching me again.

"Do not lay a finger on me. I repulse both of you anyway, don't I? Then why taint yourselves by touching me?" I questioned, my voice steeped in bitterness.

"You're oblivious, aren't you?" Leonardo plucked an apple from the table, taking a casual bite as he leaned against it. "Sometimes, we have to soil our hands to achieve certain ends, and rest assured, we possess methods to cleanse away your essence, puppet. No need for your concern."

Damn. It cut deep.

And I suspected it always would. The pain was unmistakable.

"You're acquainted with those methods, aren't you, Pigeon?" Maximus took a step closer, but I instinctively retreated, gesturing for him to stay put. Yes, I was...and those methods were to fuck another woman.

"Don't come closer, Max. Just don't," I pleaded, closing my eyes and exhaling heavily. "You two fuck with as many women as you desire but... stay away from me."

"You don't dictate our actions," he retorted. "Do you truly believe we'll heed your words?"

"Then start fucking listening because if you dare lay a hand on me again, I'll fucking end my life before this vile ritual even begins. I'm certain neither of you wants it to end that way," the words finally erupted from my lips in a shout.