I woke up in the hospital, my head throbbing, my body a map of cuts.
Maxwell sat beside me, his eyes red-rimmed, voice thick with guilt.
"Sophie-my claws only meant to shield you." His breath ragged, fangs bared in frustration. "Panic clouded my scent. Grabbed the wrong she-wolf-damn my muddled senses."
He kissed my hand over and over, as if he could pour his love and regret through my skin. Too bad he forgot it was a prosthetic.
His kisses landed on cold, fake flesh, and his words felt just as hollow.
"What about that server? What's her punishment?"
I saw it clear as day-the champagne tower's collapse wasn't an accident. Madeline did it on purpose.
Maxwell's face flickered, then smoothed out.
"She dared to slack-my order's gone out. Her scent's been marked pack-forbidden." His voice dropped, cold as winter pines. "No den in our territory will let her serve-ever again."
I froze, then laughed-a brittle, broken sound.
Madeline wasn't a server.
Banning her from serving was like banning a wolf from being a cat.
Utterly ridiculous.
He saw me laugh and smiled, thinking we were on the same page.
From then on, he was at my side constantly, doting on me.
He watched the IV drip like a hawk. He cleaned my wounds himself, his touch gentle.
He sliced open a mango, scooping the ripe flesh onto a fork and bringing it to my lips, then held out his palm to catch the stringy bits I didn't want.
Every healer and nurse who passed by shot me envious looks, whispering about my luck.
Then his phone chimed-her ringtone.
He hesitated, then said calmly, "Sophie, pack business. I'll be right back."
Once he was gone, I flicked on the ring's receiver.
Madeline was in the hospital too.
But Maxwell didn't fuss over her IV or change her bandages-her minor scrapes had already healed. No mangos for her either.
Instead, he told her to place the fruit on her body, letting him devour it, leaving nothing behind.
I couldn't listen anymore.
I reached to turn it off, but Madeline's pleading voice stopped me.
"My mate, if you keep me locked up, my depression will get worse. I'll wither away. Please, don't cage me in that villa anymore. I want out. I even want to be with you in front of Sophie, to-"
Her words dissolved into moans, drowned out by the sound of their bodies colliding. When it finally quieted, Maxwell spoke one word.
"Alright."
I was discharged.
Maxwell carried me to the car, then from the car to the villa's couch, insisting I was too fragile to walk.
His devotion sounded so sincere-until I spotted Madeline among the staff, dressed in a maid's uniform.
My heart lurched.
I stared at Maxwell, disbelief burning through me.
She wanted out of the villa, and his solution was to bring her here? To our home?
"Sophie, hear me out," he said, pulling me closer, his voice warm but firm.
"That she-wolf earned three moons in the pack's iron cage for her folly. By law, she'd roam free now." His lip curled, fangs glinting. "But I don't grant mercy so cheap. So I dragged her here-to bleed penance till you say she's done."
"I checked with a mind-healer too," he added.
"You've been struggling with trauma. Being around her might help you heal. Trust me, Sophie, this is all because I love you."
Hollowed out, like I had nothing left to care about.
"Fine,".
