PIPER POV

I waited for the wolf to talk, but nothing came out of his lips. He stared down at me without saying anything. His eyes were hard. I found myself lost in those dark eyes of his. There was something about him that just drew me in so badly.

Before I could mutter a word, I felt something like a sting on my shoulder. Then suddenly, I fell, slumped, and wrapped around a strong hand. I don't know what's going on. I welcomed the darkness with open arms.

****

MAVERICK

I stared at her petite body in Rowan's arms. I refused to carry her. She is making me feel so uneasy, and that's something I need to run away from. I'm known as the strong-hearted alpha. I can't let a little wolf make me feel stupid. I don't trust her at all.

I don't, and I won't fall for her trap. Rowan stared at me before he asked, "What am I going to do with her? I don't know what you have in mind."

I stared at her once again and said, "Take her to the punishment room."

He was shocked when I said that. "What?! Why?! Isn't that too intense?" he asked.

I glared at him. "I'm the Alpha, and whatever I say is what should be followed."

Rowan didn't mutter another word again. I gave him other instructions before leaving him to deal with the girl. I went ahead to my office. I have lots of work to do there.

*****

Just as I sat down, my wolf was so pissed at me.

"How dare you take her to the punishment room? What is wrong with you, Maverick?"

I rolled my eyes. "What is wrong with you too? You made me do things I shouldn't have done. You're the reason why I had to go out there to bring her back. You are the reason why I took this risk. You knew the plan all along."

"I was meant to sell her off, but you made me get her back. What do you think will happen now if Alpha Gregor finds out that I was the one who attacked him?" I yelled at my wolf.

He seemed to be so angry with me. "I can't believe you're saying this to me. The wolf in person is our mate, and you've sworn to take care of her when we find her. So why are you behaving this way?"

I scoffed. "Why am I behaving this way? You even have the guts to ask me this? She is that traitor's daughter, and you want me to have her here with us?"

"Why can't you see that she will use this as an advantage to get back at us? She is just like her father," I yelled at him.

"I don't know what got into you, but you need to calm down. You're making it too hard on yourself. Yes, this girl is Ryker's daughter, but she doesn't look like someone who can hurt a fly."

I scoffed. "Don't you get it? She is his spoiled brat, so what do you expect? She is nothing but trouble to us, and I can't risk trusting her."

"Then maybe she should leave since that's what you want so bad," he yelled at me.

I was pissed off too, so I blocked him. I hate it when my wolf acts like I don't know what I'm doing. I won't fall for this. I won't let that thing come between my happiness. She is that bastard's daughter, and I know she can't be trusted.

There was a knock on my door. From the smell, I knew right away it was Mother. I rolled my eyes when she walked inside. She looked so tired.

"I came to check on you," she said to me.

I glared at her. "You don't have to check on me. I'm good."

She was already used to me. "Please, can we at least have a conversation like normal werewolves? I hate it when you talk to me rudely."

I scoffed. "What brought you here, Mother?"

She heaved a sigh. "I came because I saw the girl with Rowan. Who is she, and why is she here?"

I glared at her. "I hate it when you get into my business. This is not any of your concern, so stop it already, Mother."

She flinched at the sound of my voice. "But you can't be having such a young girl locked up in that room. What has she done to deserve that?"

I glared at her. "I don't expect you to understand this whole thing anyway. What should I expect from someone who cheated on Dad? Your one daughter got killed, and you're siding with her killer's daughter?"

Her eyes teared up. "Why do you love to see me in tears? Why? What have I done to deserve this? All my life I've tried to be good to you, but then you keep on hurting me so badly."

I shook my head at her. "I can never forget what you did, Mother. As long as I see your face."

She looked so broken, but I don't care. She deserves what she is getting today.

"Now, get out of my office. I have work to do, and I don't appreciate having you here to disturb me," I said to her with no remorse. I don't care anymore.

I don't care whether she is hurt or not. This is what she deserves, and I won't stop until she pays for ever cheating on Dad.

I picked up the first thing my hand could touch and threw it across the room. The glass cup shattered into pieces. I hit the wall right beside me. Now she is able to get to me.

I need to calm my nerves. I need to call Willow. I mind-linked her, and she is on the way to my study already.

*****

Willow lay breathlessly on my naked chest. She trailed kisses down my stomach. She outdid herself tonight.

"A nice time was spent," she said to me, and I nodded but didn't say anything. My attention kept going to the spoiled brat.

I don't know why she keeps getting in my head. How come she can get in my head? I heaved a sigh.

Willow noticed something was wrong, so she asked, "You sure you're alright?"

"I'm good," I said blankly.

She wasn't having it, but she couldn't push me to say something since she knew I was in a bad mood.

"You know you can talk to me if there's anything, right?"

I nodded my head at her. "Sure."

She still saw that I wasn't saying anything, so she asked again, "Is it about the girl?" she asked all of a sudden.

I stared at her. "What girl?"

She rolled her eyes. "I know about the girl you rescued. Who is she to you? Are you hiding something from me?" she asked, annoyed.

Hearing her say this made me realize that words fly so quickly. I got up from the bed and told her to leave. Willow seemed so shocked.

"You want me to leave because I mentioned the girl?" she asked in disbelief.

I scoffed. "I can't ask you to leave anymore?"

"Maverick, you know how much you mean to me. It hurts to know that someone else interests you," she cried out. "I don't know how to live my life knowing that you'll dump me for that girl."

I gave her a dumbfounded look. "You know you're being silly right now. Will you please stop acting this way? It's getting so annoying now."

Willow wiped her tears. "Now leave. I don't have the time for this drama. Can you leave, please?"

"You can't just throw me out this way. I'm naked," she yelled at me.

I rolled my eyes and threw a shirt of mine at her. "Put that on and leave. I have things to do."

She glared at me but still changed into the shirt I gave her. She was grumbling some curse words at me, but who cares?

"You won't even let me stay for a minute?" she asked, and I pointed at the door. "Please leave. I don't have all the time to wait."

She dragged her feet and made her way out of the room. I released a breath I didn't know I was holding.

Soon after, another knock was heard. "Come in."

I already knew who it was.

Rowan walked in. "I've done what you asked me to do. Now what?"

"How did the news about the girl spread? I thought we did this on the low," I asked him.

Rowan shrugged. "Nothing is hidden in the pack. Do I need to remind you that the pack members are smart? They see what goes on in the pack, so I don't think that should be a problem."

I rolled my eyes. "I hope you have her legs and hands tied."

Rowan nodded. "Just as you wanted."