Ch. 301..310
Chapter 301 - Failed Negotiations (1)
Maddox and Tatiana held hands and walked in silence to their destination.
Maddox had so many things he wanted to say to Tatiana, but the moment their hands connected, his brain short-circuited, and he ended up using the last bits of his mental capacity to guide them to the right spot.
Tatiana was not sure why Maddox invited her for a walk, but the big block of pure hunkiness was visibly nervous, and she wanted to see what he was up to.
After their talk in Tatiana's room, Maddox feared that Tatiana will have a list of conditions he needed to fulfill but when she agreed right away, Maddox was delighted.
Damon was right. Tatiana was willing to make things work. It was not hopeless!
Tatiana wanted to ask Maddox what's up with the picnic basket. Aren't they just going for a walk? He was wearing a shirt and shorts, so she quickly put her dress on. Before she could ask anything, Maddox held her hand and the addictive sparks shoot through her body, and she ended up following after him obediently.
When they reached Keith's hookup spot, Maddox took a mental note to thank Damon for this idea.
Tall rocks formed a u-shape, dense grass was perfect to cushion the area where they will sit, and massive oak trees provided nice shade without obstructing the view of the lake. A big bonus was that there were no other people in the area. It was their own little cove of privacy. Perfect.
Maddox quickly patted the grass down and gestured to Tatiana to sit and he was relieved that she didn't refuse.
"So… will you tell me why we are here?", Tatiana asked when Maddox took a seat next to her.
"To talk."
"About?"
Maddox was confident she knew the answer to that. They were not here to exchange recipes! Why was she making this difficult?
"About us.", he said.
Tatiana looked at the basket. "What's inside?"
Maddox frowned. Was she avoiding the topic?
But they were already here, and he won't leave until he gets some answers. A minute or two of delay won't make a big difference.
Maddox opened the basket and he found in there grapes, cheese, bite-sized pastries they had as appetizers for lunch, and there was a bottle of wine. Ice-packs kept everything chilled. He was impressed that all this was prepared in a short time.
"Wine?", Tatiana asked with amusement in her voice. "Are you planning to get me drunk, Alpha Maddox?"
'That's not a bad idea', Maddox thought. "Will one glass make you incapable of rational thinking?"
'Your touch makes me incapable of rational thinking', Tatiana thought. And his scent was also making her crave coffee, the spicy kind she tasted that morning. Maddox brand.
The fact that it was just the two of them, with the rest of the world out of sight, conjured racy images in Tatiana's mind, mostly with her on top of Maddox, and there were few with him on top of her... coffee all around her and inside her… But there was no way she would admit to it.
"One glass of wine is nothing.", Tatiana said defiantly, mostly angry that his presence affected her so much. "Pour away."
…
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...
Maddox rummaged through the basket until he found two glasses and a bottle opener that was wrapped in napkins. He silently praised Omegas who packed this. They thought of everything.
'POP!'
Maddox opened the wine easily and filled two glasses.
"Tell me about yourself, Tatiana Wilkow", Maddox said in a deep sexy voice that shook her insides.
Tatiana squirmed in her spot. Why was she getting aroused now? Was it because of his broad chest? She still remembered how hard his pecs are. Or was it because of his scorching gaze? The scent… must be the scent. Or probably all that combined.
She accepted the glass of wine and there was a moment of stillness when their hands touched.
Damned sparks were muddling her mind! How can she make him repent if she gives in easily?
Tatiana reminded herself that he asked her something… what was it? Oh, yes.
"Will you listen this time?", she answered with a question. Seeing his confused expression, Tatiana explained, "I was telling you about myself over breakfast, yet the only thing on your mind was to get in my panties. I don't want to waste breath the second time."
Maddox paused.
She was right.
During breakfast, Maddox didn't hear much of what Tatiana was saying because he was aroused and he wanted to sink his cock into her, but to be fair, she didn't show much interest in his life either. Now that he thought about it, even though he missed most of it, he was confident that Tatiana was talking about fashion and company and cities in Europe where she has apartments, yet she didn't ask him any questions.
Maddox pushed those thoughts on the side.
He didn't bring Tatiana here to argue.
Maddox wanted to have an open talk and clear up the air between them so that they can move on to the good stuff. Of course, the good stuff was sex. And lots of it!
"If I say that I'm still thinking about getting in your panties, can we skip the chatter?"
Tatiana narrowed her eyes at him. "Why are you pushing your luck?"
"I am only speaking my mind. You can find my honesty insulting or refreshing. It's up to you. I am not playing games, Tanya, but it seems that you want to play so… tell me, what are the rules here? I need to know because it won't sit well with me if I lose and I don't know how it happened."
Tatiana pressed her lips into a line. She only wanted him to be polite, and he ended up turning that into her wanting lies.
She remembered Mindy's words about how Maddox is not good at guessing or waiting. Well, by now Tatiana confirmed that Maddox is not a patient guy.
"I am not playing.", she said. "I told you this morning. Your first impression was bad and if you want me to drop my guard, I need to believe it won't happen again."
"How do I do that?"
Tatiana gestured toward the basket. "This impromptu picnic is a good start. As long as you don't make it sleazy and about sex."
Maddox was not sure how to respond to this. Her demands didn't seem like too much, but it was vague, and it hinted that it would take a long time.
She liked the picnic (Damon's idea) and didn't want to talk about sex (Maddox's goal)?
And it's not that she just didn't want to talk about sex, but it seemed that she didn't want to do it either. Surely, she was not a virgin. Well, even if she was a virgin, Tatiana definitely saw a lot of what the world had to offer. If she was playing hard to get, did that mean she didn't want to have sex with HIM? No, no… the mate bond was making the attraction unbearable so… what was her problem?
Chapter 302 - Failed Negotiations (2)
Maddox pondered about his and Tatiana's current situation for some time until he thought of one possibility.
"You want me to court you, how humans do?", Maddox asked with disapproval in his voice. "You know that we are not humans, right? I am Alpha who found his mate. I have a pack to lead, thousands of people are depending on me. Are you really expecting me to pick you up in the evening, take you for dinners, movies, and do gentlemanly who-knows-what while pretending that I'm interested in whatever you have to say?"
"Of course, not!", Tatiana snapped, her words full of sarcasm. "In the name of the mate bond, we should just get naked and fuck each other's brains out! Heavenly thunder will descend on you if you are actually interested in what I have to say because it's all about me being submissive and popping out Alpha babies to continue your bloodline."
"Fuck!", Maddox exclaimed while punching the air angrily. He really wanted to fuck Tatiana and impregnate her, but... "That's not what I meant!"
"That's what you said!"
"Don't put words into my mouth!", Maddox growled.
"Right. My foot into your mouth will fit better."
Maddox raised his hands, palms facing Tatiana, indicating to her to calm down and he took a few deep breaths before continuing.
"What I meant was that we have mate bond, and that is proof we are made for each other. I will do my best to provide for you in every way possible as long as there is breath left in me. Of course, I will treat you well, but there is no need for that advance courting shit humans do because it's fake anyway. I'm sure you dated a human or two. Did they take you on romantic dates? Did they shower you with presents and made you feel like a princess? And how did that end? It doesn't look to me you got your happily ever after because you are still single."
Tatiana pressed her lips into a line. He was right. But… "The mate bond doesn't give you the right to act like a caveman."
"Caveman!?", Maddox was outraged. "I won't lie to you, Tanya. Do I want to have sex with you? YES! I want to fuck you and make you scream my name until you lose your voice, and then I will feed you honey and warm water to soothe your vocal cords before I fuck you more."
Tatiana pressed her legs together. His words were infuriating, but somehow they turned her on. What was wrong with her?
She had to say something. "Why are you talking like it's just about sex?"
Maddox narrowed his eyes at her. "Be honest, Tanya. Is there anything else you want to do with me right now?"
He could smell her arousal and it was driving him insane. But even more exasperating was that she was denying what both of them wanted because he messed up that morning.
It was one mistake. One stupid mistake!
Will she cock-block him every time he messes up?
What happened with talking?
He was ready to negotiate, but what about her?
"I want you to treat me well.", she said eventually.
"I will need more information.", Maddox responded with all the seriousness in the world.
"We are equals and you can't expect that I will drop everything just to be with you. I have a life that won't be put on hold or disappear just because we met."
"Equals.", Maddox said solemnly with a nod. "We will need to work out the details, but I can promise that I won't expect you to be the only one to compromise in the situation where we disagree. Anything else?"
…
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...
Tatiana lowered her head and bit her lower lip. Was there anything else?
She had a feeling that Maddox will do whatever she asks him, but other than the freedom to continue with her career, she didn't have much to ask for.
Tatiana was startled when she felt his fingers touching her chin. When did he get so close?
"Tell me, Tanya…", Maddox murmured while his intense gaze prevented her from looking away. "How can I put you at ease and make you understand that I will treat you like my queen? I will do anything to ensure your safety and happiness, Tanya. I don't know much about women, and I definitely don't know about your heart's desires, and that is why I will rely on you to talk to me openly. So, tell me… what do you want?"
The sparks of their bond prickled her chin where his fingers rested, and she released a shaky breath.
What did she want?
She wanted to do over that morning.
If she can get that... when he asked her to go upstairs, she would insist to go into her room, and they would spend the rest of the day (and probably longer) just enjoying each other… and he would fuck her until she turns hoarse and then he would feed her warm water and honey, and she would spill some on purpose and ask him to lick her clean.
That all sounded perfect, but unfortunately, that boat sailed away the moment those two she-wolves appeared at the door of Maddox's bathroom and Tatiana saw his messed up bed and realized that the sticky scent lingering in the room was a remnant of the previous night.
Will Tatiana ever be able to forget that image? Probably not. But, will she be able to forgive him?
"I have difficulty digesting what happened this morning, Max.", Tatiana said. "I wish that I know what can fix that, but I don't. Maybe I should make you experience a similar thing…" Her voice trailed when she saw his expression scrunching into a scary grimace.
Tatiana jerked her head out of his hold. "See? Just the thought is making you furious. Would you forgive me if it actually happened?"
Maddox was bubbling with rage. "You can't make me experience the same thing because when I left those two she-wolves in my room, I didn't know you are my mate" And he told them to leave! "And if you…"
"I know.", Tatiana interrupted him. "And this is exactly what I'm talking about. If I want to make you experience something similar, it will only create another layer of bitterness between us. You want me to turn a blind eye and pretend that this morning didn't happen, or that I am not bothered. If I could do that, I would. Do you think that I enjoy torturing myself? I can't deceive myself, Max."
"So, what do you want?", he asked again, this time his words were sharp, and they cut straight into her heart. "Are you saying that no matter what I do, you won't accept me? If that's the case… reject me. Or do you want me to make a complete ass of myself first? Is that what you want?"
Tatiana opened her mouth and then closed it. She really didn't know what to say.
She could feel their bond and she wanted to give in and things to work out, but she didn't know how.
"Where are you going?", Tatiana asked when Maddox abruptly stood up and started walking away.
"I'm leaving.", he said without turning to look at her. "Since you have no desire to find a solution, there is no point in staying here because we will only argue. If you ever figure out what you want, come and find me. It's easy to find me. I am Alpha Maddox, Alpha of the Blue River pack. It's not Blue-whatever pack. It's Blue River. Remember that much." And then he continued walking away.
Tatiana looked at Maddox's retreating back, and her heart cracked. She could feel his pain, or maybe that was hers.
Maddox was hoping to make things right, or at least to start moving in the right direction. He was ready to negotiate and to give her whatever she wanted but he realized that negotiations failed before they started.
Maddox forced his legs to keep moving.
Every fiber of his being wanted to go back there and kiss Tatiana senselessly, but he knew that won't solve the problem, and if he acts on that impulse, he might get slapped again.
Both of them needed to be fully committed to each other in order to make it work, but Tatiana was not ready to compromise.
It takes two for a relationship, and Maddox was feeling alone.
He thought how it's ironic. For the first time in his life, he felt the need for more than just a physical release, yet the only woman who could fill the gaping hole in his chest was not willing to be with him.
Chapter 303 - Maddox Needs A Drink (1)
After Maddox left, Tatiana was sitting on the grass and sipping wine absentmindedly until it turned lukewarm.
There was a time when she was young and na?ve, and she dreamed about the moment she will meet her mate. In Tatiana's mind, her mate will be handsome and charming, and he would walk through the fire to make her happy.
Somehow… Maddox didn't fit into that picture.
Maddox is undeniably handsome, and he had moments when he was charming, and he said that he would do anything to make her happy, but still… something was missing.
Tatiana wondered if she was too picky. Objectively speaking, Maddox is a very handsome guy. Why can't she focus on his positives?
Or did she spend too much time among humans? Did she suppress her wolf side so much that she started acting like a human?
Any normal she-wolf would forget herself when she finds her mate; being mated to an Alpha is definitely a big bonus, but Tatiana was different.
Yes, his scent of coffee was intoxicating, and his flavor was addictive and then there were sparks that danced over her skin and made her feel like boundless energy coursed through her body. It was euphoric. Why can't it be enough?
Tatiana plopped backward into the soft grass while thinking how this is for the best.
Maddox is an Alpha. He should find a she-wolf who will fit his requirements for a Luna and Tatiana can move on with her life like they never met before.
She was not looking down on him, neither was she thinking that she was below him. It was just that they were not good for each other.
Two strong-headed people with explosive personalities can't make a good match no matter how she looked at it.
Everyone says that the Moon Goddess doesn't make mistakes, but what if she made one this time?
It must be a mistake because a couple like Maddox River and Tatiana Wilkow will never work out, and she needed to get back to work and forget about him but… will she be able to enjoy coffee again?
…
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...
Tatiana returned to the beach, and she saw everyone relaxing on the towels.
Maddox was not in sight.
She was glad that he was not there because she didn't know how to face him.
While walking back, Tatiana told herself numerous times that things between her and Maddox won't work out, and she was determined to leave it at that.
However, they are mates, and just ghosting him or breaking up won't work. She needs to reject him and for werewolves, that's a big deal.
How can she say to her soulmate that she rejects him? Tatiana's wolf whimpered in protest at this thought.
Sure, Tatiana could steel her resolve on her own, but in front of Maddox, it will be a totally different thing. Maddox's presence comes with an undeniable magnetic attraction, and Tatiana was not sure if she will be able to keep her cool.
Maybe if he messes up again, and she rejects him in a fit of anger? But that didn't sound reasonable either.
"Where is Max?"
Mindy's question got Tatiana's attention.
"What?", Tatiana asked.
"I'm asking you about Maddox. My brother.", Mindy said while keeping the European fashion magazine to the side. "You were together and now you are not. I assume you know where he is."
It was not just Mindy. Everyone saw Maddox and Tatiana leaving with a picnic basket while holding hands, and they all assumed that the couple was somewhere being lovey-dovey.
"I don't know.", Tatiana admitted. Seeing Mindy's face coming together in a frown, Tatiana released a slow breath before explaining, "We went for a walk and we talked, and…" She couldn't say it because she felt guilty. Was it her fault that he left like that? Was she the unreasonable one? "He left ahead of me."
"How much ahead of you?", Mindy continued probing.
"I don't know. I didn't look at the time. Half an hour. An hour, maybe?" Tatiana was spacing out and sipping wine and she didn't think that someone will question her like this.
Mindy's eyes lost focus for a moment and then she looked at the group where Damon, Talia, Maya, Caden, Tony, and Kalina were. They were snacking fruits and watching as Talia drew something with a sharpie on Damon's shoulder.
"Alpha Damon", Mindy called in an official tone. "Is there a bar nearby?"
Damon was confused. "A bar? We have plenty of drinks here. Just tell Omegas what you want."
"It's not for me. Max is in a bar. Somewhere nearby."
Tatiana couldn't believe this. Did Max go to drink? Great! Is that how a grownup man solves problems?
Tatiana pressed her lips into a line when she realized that everyone was looking at her. Even people who played poker stopped their game.
No one said a word, but she knew that everyone wanted answers.
"We talked and disagreed, and he left ahead of me.", Tatiana said eventually.
Damon shook his head in disbelief. He set up Maddox for success, yet he blew it up.
Well, in any case, Damon couldn't leave things like this.
"There is only one bar nearby.", Damon said and turned to Talia. "I will go check on him. Promise you will stay here with Maya and Caden."
"I want to go with you.", Talia said with determination. She didn't want to separate from Damon because Damon in a bar without Talia meant there will be women sticking to him, and Talia had no intention to allow that to happen.
Damon agreed immediately. "Alright. Put your dress on." There was no way he will let her walk around in a bikini.
Damon's eyes lost focus for a moment, and he stood up to walk on the side.
But the time Talia put her dress on, Damon was back and pulling a gray t-shirt over his head. Talia recognized it as one of the spare t-shirts that Damon told her they have for pack members to dress up so they don't come out of the forest naked after shifting.
"I will also go with you.", Mindy said while grabbing her dress.
"We will keep an eye on things here.", Caden said when he saw Damon's concerned expression.
Damon was not concerned about the people here, but he wondered what happened with Maddox and Tatiana. At first, Damon assumed that Maddox messed up, but the two of them had privacy, and Maddox went there prepared to compromise. Whatever happened, it was bad if Maddox just left Tatiana behind.
Damon remembered that not so long ago Talia was a flight risk, and every time she was out of his sight, Damon feared that she will leave him. He couldn't imagine his life without Talia, and he knew that the mate bond between Maddox and Tatiana was quite strong already.
Damon wrapped his arms around Talia and pressed his lips on her forehead. He needed to feel her in order to calm his jittery nerves.
Talia hugged Damon back and let him hold her for a moment. She was happy to feel his anxiety simmering down.
Damon released a long breath and turned to Tatiana. "Are you coming?"
How Damon saw this, whatever happened, it was because of Tatiana, and it won't be resolved without her.
Chapter 304 - Maddox Needs A Drink (2)
Sometimes earlier…
Maddox was approaching the beach and his steps slowed down.
If he showed up there without Tatiana, people will be asking questions he was not willing to answer.
Did he have answers to those questions? He was not sure.
What will he say? That his mate was not willing to give him a chance? ...to give THEM a chance?
Sure, some things can't be fixed. That morning was a stain that won't be removed no matter what he does.
Maddox didn't think it was a big deal, but obviously, Tatiana thought otherwise.
He wanted to apologize, but he realized that would be insincere. What would he apologize for? It's not like he did it on purpose.
Why can't she accept that he made a mistake and it will not happen again?
Maddox didn't have a time machine to fix the past. However, there were things they could do in the future. They could create many happy memories that will make that bad one fade into insignificance.
Unfortunately, Tatiana was not willing to give them a chance.
She wanted him to do some courting nonsense like he is a human or something. He hated it, but he would still do it if she said specifically what she wanted, but this… what was that 'picnic was a good start' and 'figure out the rest on your own' bullshit?
Mate bond or not, Maddox was not willing to play those ambiguous games. Was Tatiana asserting her dominance? It didn't seem like it but then… what the hell was she trying to accomplish?
Maddox felt a headache coming.
So far, he met numerous challenges that he dealt with either at the negotiating table or in the fighting ring, and this situation was completely new and he didn't know how to approach it.
He needed a drink. And plenty of them!
Maddox remembered that there is a bar nearby and considering that there are only a few buildings next to the beach, it was not difficult to find which one offers seating and sells liquor.
There was no air conditioning, and the massive ceiling fan only stirred blistering heat that was prickling one's skin.
The bar looked deserted.
Whoever was not working, went to find relief in the lake.
Maddox took a seat at the bar and waved at the bartender, "Scotch!"
The young man looked at Maddox lazily. It was too hot to be enthusiastic. "Which one? We have…"
"Any is fine", Maddox grumbled. "And leave the bottle here."
The first drink stung his throat. It was strong and nasty, just what he needed in order to forget about his predicament.
One glass, two, three… Maddox stopped counting and he wished for the buzz to come faster so that his mind relaxes.
…
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...
"Hard lemonade…", a female voice came from Maddox's left and he glanced there to see a female leaning over the counter and talking to the bartender who looked like he was in a strange state of hibernation in order to preserve his energy.
Maddox was always an ass guy, so his eyes moved from her bare back that only had a string of her bikini top running over it, over her slender waist, down to the hot shorts that revealed long slender legs and framed the ass that looked oddly familiar.
Her behind was not so well-rounded compared to the ones he prefers, but she was not bad. Where did he see that ass before?
The bartender acknowledged her order and started moving to fetch the drink in slow motion.
She slid down into the barstool next to Maddox.
"Alpha Maddox", she called. "What a coincidence to bump into you here."
Maddox couldn't remember her face even if his life depended on it, but she spoke like they were familiar. "Do we know each other?"
"Uhm… We met this morning. In the packhouse."
Maddox needed a moment to process this information and then pieces came into place. "You are the Omega who was peeping through the window into the garden during breakfast." Just moments before he smelled the addictive scent of strawberries and his eyes landed on Tatiana, his mate. If he could go to back then... there was no point in thinking about it.
Lisa grit her teeth. Before Tony dumped her, no one addressed her as Omega, and she couldn't get used to it. Her father was Beta! But this was Alpha Maddox, and she couldn't allow her temper to flare.
"Yes. That's me. Lisa."
Maddox's brows came together. "Did Damon send you here?"
"No. I am here with friends and got a bit thirsty." She gestured toward the bartender who was rummaging through the refrigerator. He was obviously taking advantage of the opportunity to soak in the chills from the fridge.
Maddox nodded in acknowledgment and turned to focus on his drink. The only person he would give face was Damon, and he didn't want to deal with anyone else.
Lisa couldn't believe that he just ignored her.
When she was with Tony, everyone treated her with respect, yet now others were treating her like air.
She bit her lower lip while wondering if she should leave… but how can she just leave?
Lisa had a hard time on the beach. Tony and Kalina were lovey-dovey for everyone to see, and even Talia was cozy with Damon, playing cards and Damon let Talia draw on him.
And what about Lisa? She was stuck with her so-called friends in the middle of a crowd of unimportant people.
Everyone acted like things were normal, but Lisa couldn't handle that normal. Just a few weeks ago, she was the one in the VIP section, and now she was reduced to a nobody!
Feeling her temper rising, Lisa decided to go for a walk. Who would guess that she will end up seeing Alpha Maddox going to a bar?
Didn't he go somewhere with that tall brunette? Did he go to the bar to fetch drinks for them?
Lisa stood next to the bar and peered inside. She was surprised to see Maddox drinking on his own.
A few glasses later, Lisa confirmed her suspicion… something went wrong with Maddox and the brunette! He was upset and this was her chance to comfort him!
Sure, Maddox is not really her type, but if she could get close to Maddox, that might be her ticket back into the VIP bunch, and she will also get access to Tony, and she can ask him for an explanation.
That all sounded great in Lisa's head, and she made her way into the bar. She was wearing a bikini top, and hot shorts, and even though she was not heaven-defying beauty, Lisa knew that she was pleasing to the eyes. No man will say no to her if she makes the first move.
Who would guess that after she approached Maddox, he would ignore her?
"How come you are here drinking?", Lisa asked with the bestest smile she could produce.
Maddox's hand paused. He glanced at her and within a second confirmed that she was coming onto him.
---
Chapter 305 - Maddox Needs A Drink (3)
Lisa squirmed under Maddox's gaze. No one ever looked at her so intently.
With every passing moment, Maddox appeared to be larger, while she shrunk. Was that physically possible or was her imagination playing tricks on her?
Beads of sweat dripped down Lisa's forehead, and those were definitely not from the heat. She was nervous to the point of fainting. Why was he not saying anything?
Maddox was confused. Why was his wolf growling in his head?
Maddox's assessment of Lisa was spot on. He didn't care much about her personality, but he knew that she was coming onto him, which meant she was willing. Definitely not an innocent virgin, which was a bonus. Lisa was not a bombshell, but she was passable. He had worse.
So, what was stopping him from taking her in the back? It's not like they needed a bedroom. Maddox did it in the restroom, hallway, a bush, sitting, standing, lying down, and anything in-between, and the level of alcohol in his system never played a role in it because his body would move on autopilot and the libido of an Alpha enabled him to be hard and ready the moment an eligible female came into the touching distance.
However, just the thought of getting frisky with Lisa made Maddox's wolf growl in protest. It was so bad that Maddox was not even close to being aroused.
Maddox's sight fell on Lisa's neck which was clean. Not marked. Well, if Lisa was marked, she wouldn't be flirty, but still… the lack of mark was confirmation she was available, and he was not taken either, so what was the problem?
His wolf would normally stay quiet, and on a few rare occasions when his wolf was active in casual situations, the beast would amplify the lecherous side of an Alpha, yet now his wolf didn't want to do anything with Lisa.
The wolf side of a werewolf has strong instincts, and that is one thing Maddox never doubted. If his wolf was protesting, Maddox would listen.
Maddox wondered, was she an enemy? He dismissed that idea. If she was shady, she wouldn't be working in the packhouse, so why was his wolf not willing?
…
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...
Maddox smiled bitterly when he realized what was going on. It was just as Caden and Damon said, once one meets his mate, all other women pale in comparison.
Will he ever be able to not be repulsed by a thought of touching any woman other than Tatiana?
Maddox and Tatiana kissed and fondled a bit over clothes, so Maddox didn't know what pleasures lie beyond that, but he was confident that the experience would be fantastic because her sweet scent alone could stir him into a frenzy.
Maddox didn't want to think about touching other women. He wanted to be with Tatiana, his mate… but she didn't want him, and it didn't seem she will reject him either.
He heard that rejection causes immense pain, like one's soul is being torn apart, and some end up crippled or dead. Will he recover from such a blow?
Maddox wondered if he should reject Tatiana and cut his suffering short. Just sitting and waiting to be rejected was driving him crazy. Everything was better than waiting.
He hoped that he will die from shock, or if that doesn't actually happen, he will pretend to be dead. Once his parents find out that Maddox met his Luna and things didn't work out, he will get a lifetime of scolding no matter who initiated the rejection. Between the nagging and death, Maddox will pick death.
Maddox looked at the liquor in his hand. What the hell was that thing? He never had suicidal thoughts no matter how bad things got.
Surely, one woman rejecting him is not the end of the world. Right?
However, his parents were a real problem. They never meddled into his business, but the matter of Luna being a fated mate was never open for negotiation. His parents were fated mates and they believed that the bond is sacred. Maddox was fifteen years old when he found out that his mother was buying jewelry for her future daughter-in-law, the next Luna of the Blue River pack… Maddox's fated mate. How will he tell his mother that all those preparations were in vain because he blew it?
He could tell Mindy to keep her mouth shut, but even if she obeys him, too many people already knew that he found his mate, and it will be impossible to keep it a secret.
Actually, there was a chance that his parents already knew. Mindy always had a big mouth and Maddox wouldn't be surprised if she made a call home while he and Tatiana were making out in the garden, and maybe she live-streamed the scene also.
While Maddox's mind was randomly drifting from one topic to another, Lisa's anxiety was swelling.
She had an urge to break the intense silence.
"Why are you not with Alpha Damon and others?"
Maddox blinked when he realized that he was in a bar, drinking some funky liquor, and there was a she-wolf sitting next to him.
Who the hell was she? Ah, right… the peeping Omega from the packhouse.
"Alpha Damon treats you well. Too well."
Lisa was confused. "What do you mean?"
"For an Omega to approach an Alpha like this… You are either very brave or spoiled." He inched closer and sniffed. "I will go with the latter because I can smell fear."
Maddox leaned on the bar and muttered, "I didn't know that Damon was spoiling Omegas..."
Lisa was flabbergasted. What the heck was going on?
"I… I…", she stuttered. "I came for a drink. I saw you and I thought it will be rude not to say hi. That's all."
Maddox turned to look at Lisa and his smile sent chills down her spine.
"Do you know what happens to an Omega when she approaches an Alpha without permission?"
The reality was that Omegas look at high-ranking members from the distance, yet Lisa dared to come close to him and act like they were familiar with each other.
Maddox visited Damon many times, and he visited other packs also, but he never encountered such an outgoing Omega. Did she approach him with an ulterior motive?
He could snap her neck with ease and if anyone asks what happened, he will say that she offended him, and it will end at that.
This was a matter of status. How can a lowly servant approach the king like they are equals? Just by releasing his aura he could make her fall on her knees and beg for forgiveness.
The liquor was doing funny things to Maddox's reasoning, and he was in a bad mood already.
The bartender placed a bottle on the bar in front of Lisa and she was grateful for that small interruption. It was her hard lemonade.
Seeing that Maddox didn't show any intention to be a gentleman, Lisa fished out a bill from her pocket to pay for her drink.
She looked at the bottle of hard lemonade and wondered if she should leave.
Her reasoning told her to scram, but her pride told her to stay.
Chapter 306 - Maddox Needs A Drink (4)
"Max? Why are you drinking here?"
Lisa stiffened at the sound of Damon's voice. It was a good thing that her back was facing the door, and she prayed silently that he doesn't recognize her. Maybe he will say hi and leave.
Maddox glanced toward the door to see Damon, Talia, Mindy, and Tatiana standing there.
At the sight of Tatiana, Maddox's insides tightened. Right. That's why he was here, drinking.
Maddox wanted to embrace Tatiana and drown in her presence, but the thought that she didn't want him was excruciating. He turned his attention back to the glass in front of him. Maybe they will all go away and leave him alone.
Tatiana exhaled a sharp breath. She should have known. She didn't want to come here in the first place, but she thought it would be rude to refuse Damon's request. And now she got to see Maddox with another woman.
"I see that I'm not needed here, so I will head back.", Tatiana turned on her heel and left the bar without giving anyone a chance to stop her.
She didn't speak loudly but everyone heard her, Maddox included.
Maddox squeezed the glass in front of him while chanting internally to stay put. There was no point in going after Tatiana.
He didn't understand. Why did she come? Did she want to see him? Why did she leave without saying anything? Did Tatiana think that there was something between him and this Omega (aka Lisa)? They were just talking! If that can be even considered talking...
Maddox was confident that Tatiana wouldn't listen to his explanation, so there was no point in going after her and wasting words. If he does that and she doesn't like it, he might end up being slapped again, but even worse than a slap were her words which told him that she doesn't need him. He didn't want to go through it. Is it possible that she doesn't feel the bond?
Talia's eyes moved around the bar to confirm that the only female present was next to Maddox. Was that Lisa? It definitely smelled like Lisa. Well, other than being irritating, Talia didn't see Lisa as a threat.
After confirming that there were no she-wolves who would stick to Damon, Talia decided, "I will go with Tanya. Stay here with Max."
Talia was about to dash out, and she quickly stopped when she nearly bumped into Mindy. Talia forgot that Mindy came with them. But it didn't matter because Mindy was Maddox's sister, and she was aware that Talia and Damon were mates.
"Take care of the guys.", Talia told Mindy and rushed after Tanya.
Damon wanted to tell Talia to wait, or to join her, but he knew that she was right, so he shouted after Talia, "Don't wander alone!" And he hoped that she won't end up in trouble, or with some random guys sticking to her.
Talia turned and blew Damon an air kiss before dashing to catch up with Tatiana.
Damon made two steps toward Maddox, when he realized, "Lisa? Why are you here?"
Lisa squirmed uncomfortably. Why didn't he just leave? But Damon was here already, and she turned to face him.
"This is a public bar. Are there some restrictions on who can come here for a drink?"
Damon's brows came together in a frown. Well, there are no restrictions, but they came to check on Maddox and they didn't expect to see him in a company of a female. Actually, a female company was not so unusual, but… why Lisa? Where did she come from? This was too much to be a coincidence.
"Does Steph know you are here?", Damon asked.
"I am here with friends. They are on the beach and I came here to get a drink.", Lisa responded stiffly and gestured toward the bottle of hard lemonade. "I didn't know that Alpha Maddox will be here."
Mindy was already at the bar. "Is she with you?", Mindy asked Max.
"Who?", Maddox responded with a question and Mindy took that as a no.
Mindy looked at Lisa with disapproval. "You got your drink. Now move along. If you want to sit here, I suggest one of the tables further away."
Lisa pressed her lips into a line. She didn't want to leave, not like this. But that was Mindy, and there were two Alphas and Lisa ended up lowering her head.
"Yes. I am leaving…", Lisa mumbled and grabbed the bottle of hard lemonade before scurrying out of the bar.
…
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...
Mindy looked at Maddox who was refilling his glass. "Max…"
"Why are you here?", Maddox growled.
"I am worried about you.", Mindy said.
Maddox sneered. "Don't you think it's too late? I don't need your pity."
Mindy knew that she had a lot to make up to him. "I know I messed up, Max. Many times. And apologies won't fix anything. I reflected on my actions, and I want to tell you that I will do my best to be the supportive sister you deserve. I won't meddle in your business. If you need help, let me know."
Maddox didn't know if he should believe her. Mindy was known to talk without a filter, but she was his sister and it's not like he would beat her up or put her in a dungeon.
"OK.", Maddox said. "I don't need help. You can leave."
Mindy glanced at Damon who shrugged, silently telling her that it was up to her.
"Alright. I will sit there…", Mindy said and sat at the other side of the bar. She knocked on the bar counter to get the attention of the bartender. "Give me something cold."
Mindy didn't really want to sit in that dingy bar, but Mindy already failed on so many levels that day, and she felt that she should at least do her best with the task Talia gave her, to take care of the guys (aka to make sure they don't do anything stupid).
Damon took a seat that Lisa vacated, and he leaned over the bar to fetch a glass for himself.
Without a word, Maddox poured the amber liquid into his and Damon's glass.
"Ugh…", Damon grimaced after tasting the drink. He had all kinds of liquors, but this was horrible. Damon kept the glass on the counter with a frown. "Max, why are you here?"
"And where should I be?"
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Maddox pursed his lips. "Tanya doesn't know what she wants, and I am not willing to crawl until she figures that out. I said what I had to say, and if she wants to talk, she knows where to find me."
Damon nodded in understanding. "What will you do now?"
"I will drink."
Maddox grabbed the bottle and Damon blocked him from refilling his glass. "Does it need to be this poison?"
"It doesn't compare to how I feel on the inside."
Damon sighed. "Let's have one more and then head to the packhouse." Maddox frowned in disapproval and Damon explained, "I have better drinks there, and the AC is on."
After a second of considering Damon's words, Maddox nodded in agreement and refilled both his and Damon's glass.
Chapter 307 - Talia’s Love Advice [Bonus ]
Outside…
"Tanya, wait!", Talia called while catching up to Tatiana and she was relieved to see that Tatiana stopped.
"Why did you leave?", Talia asked when she reached Tatiana.
"Should I stay there and watch Max with some other woman?"
"Are you jealous?"
Tatiana rolled her eyes. "What's there to be jealous about?"
Talia smiled knowingly. It was normal to be jealous if a mate is close to another woman. Even Talia was jealous at the sight of Cassie clinging onto Damon, and Talia didn't know that Damon was her mate at that time. Talia knew firsthand that the mate bond will work its wonders regardless of whether one is aware of it, and it's impossible to ignore that attraction.
Tatiana was irked by Talia's smirk. It was obvious that Talia didn't believe her. "I already knew that Maddox River is a lecherous bastard. The moment he was not with me, he found someone else and that only confirmed my opinion of him." She shook her head. "This won't work. I need to…"
"Stop!", Talia said sternly. How can she not know where this was going? Talia was quick to think about exit strategies every time things didn't look promising, and she could recognize that Tatiana was doing the same.
"What you need to do is listen. Max was there drinking because you argued. He was not with that woman."
Tatiana crossed her arms over her chest. "And how do you know that he was not with her?"
"Max was obviously more interested in the drink in front of him than the woman by his side, and… that was Lisa."
"Should that mean something?"
"It's Lisa. Tony's Lisa.", Talia said and when she saw Tatiana's confused expression, she realized that Tatiana doesn't know about Anthony's background.
"Tony used to date a woman before he met Lina. You know that, right?"
Tatiana nodded, and Talia continued. "The woman in question is Lisa. The one from the bar."
Tatiana's brows came together to form a frown. "Why was she with my Max?"
Talia picked up the detail of Tatiana claiming Maddox as hers, but she had a feeling that if she points it out, Tatiana will deny it. She decided to focus on answering Tatiana's question because saying too much or too little might backfire.
"Lisa was heartbroken when Tony found Lina, and she had trouble accepting the reality that Tony moved on. How much I know, Tony and Lisa didn't meet since then. She was probably with Max in order to inquire about Tony."
Tatiana was alerted. She knew very well that an abandoned woman is not reasonable. Lisa was probably blaming Kalina because Tony left her. "Will she target Lina?"
Talia wanted to say that Lisa won't, but her instincts told her otherwise and she couldn't lie. "I don't know."
Tatiana's anxiety swelled. It's one thing for Tony to have an ex, but... "Why is Tony's ex here?"
"Lisa grew up in the Lightclaw pack, but her mother is here. After Tony found Lina, Lisa moved in with her mother.", Talia explained. "Tanya, do you want to go back to the bar?"
Tatiana was not willing. "Why?"
"Because you and Max need to talk things through."
"We talked. It didn't work. He is drinking and if I go there, things will only get worse."
"But you want to make it work, right?"
Tatiana released a long breath. "To be honest, I'm not sure it's worth it."
"You are mates, Tanya. Of course, it's worth it.", Talia said. "You said that talking didn't work so maybe you should do something else together."
Tatiana made a face. "I have a pretty good idea what Max wants to do with me."
Talia's eyes flashed when she realized what Tatiana was talking about. Carnal pleasures! Talia pushed her awkwardness aside and asked, "Don't you want to do it with him?"
"Who would want to shag a buffoon who only knows how to argue?"
Talia inched closer and spoke in a half-whisper, "Maybe you should gag him and then go at it."
Tatiana shook her head quickly to dispel arousing mental images that started popping in her mind. Maddox with a ball gag, butt naked and restrained by black leather straps, sprawled on the bed while Tatiana flogs him… She won't need to hold back because he is not a weak human and she will soothe all those bright pink whip marks with her tongue... No. NO! That's NOT happening!
"Our differences are too vast, and steamy sex won't make them disappear.", Tatiana said.
"But you need to try, Tanya.", Talia urged her. "You are mates for a reason. Don't you want to find out what that reason is? When I met Damon, he scared me, but as I spent time with him, I started understanding the reasons behind his mood swings. Now I know that if I didn't give him a chance, I would regret it for the rest of my life. You have only one mate, Tanya. Only he can make you experience unconditional acceptance. You owe yourself to give him a chance."
Tatiana made a face. "Unconditional acceptance? He is stubborn and…"
"It goes both ways, Tanya.", Talia said quickly. "You need to open up to a relationship in order for it to begin."
"Fine. What do you suggest? And I don't want to hear anything sex-related."
"I don't know.", Talia said honestly. "But I know that you not talking to Max and him drinking won't solve the problem. It will only make it worse. You need to spend time with him. Talk to him. Maybe not about your relationship. Talk about anything else and you will see that you have things in common. Start from there and work your way up to sex. Max is a good guy."
Tatiana could accept everything, but this last part was fishy. "What makes him a good guy?" Other than being smoking hot and a great kisser?
"His pack has the largest shelter in North America. Any werewolf in distress will go to the Blue River pack for help. They offer housing, food, protection, and education for abused, disabled, and abandoned. And that is all thanks to Max's efforts."
Tatiana paused. She didn't know that. Actually, other than Maddox being an Alpha of the Blue River pack, she didn't know anything else about him. "Tell me more about Max."
"How about you ask him?"
"I will.", Tatiana agreed. It can't hurt to talk. Ideally, after he stops drinking. "But first, I want to check on Lina. Does she know that Tony's ex is lurking around?" Before Talia could respond, Tatiana continued, "Considering how relaxed Lina was, she probably doesn't know."
Talia agreed with this. Kalina knew that Lisa was in the Dark Howlers pack, but she probably didn't know that Lisa was at the beach.
"Let's go together.", Talia said. Her plan was to stick close to Tatiana and once they confirm that Kalina was safe and on alert, Talia was determined to bring Tatiana back to the bar.
…
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...
Talia and Tatiana reached the beach and Tatiana's eyes nervously scanned the male-only faces in the VIP area.
Guys were sitting in a circle and playing poker in the shade that the canopy provided.
Axel's eyes lit up when he saw that Talia was without Damon. Finally! He suppressed his urge to approach her when he saw her serious expression.
"Where is Lina?", Tatiana asked Tony.
"She went swimming with Maya.", Tony responded.
Tatiana turned to look at the lake. "Where are they?"
Tony realized that Tatiana was on edge, so he asked, "What's going on?"
"Lisa is here.", Tatiana said without removing her gaze from the water.
"Lisa?", Tony asked, obviously wanting more information.
Tatiana shot him an angry glare. "Your ex. Lisa."
Tony didn't think that was a problem. He knew that Lisa was in the Dark Howlers pack, and he was aware they might cross paths.
Tony heard rumors that Lisa was upset because he found his mate, but Lisa knew it was coming and he didn't see her since he found Kalina, so he didn't think much about it.
Chapter 308 - Mermaids In The Lake (1)
Tony didn't approve of Tatiana's bossy attitude, but she was Kalina's sister, so he didn't want to argue with her.
He turned to Talia. "Is Lisa causing problems?"
Talia was not an alarmist, but she couldn't dismiss Tatiana's worry either. "We are not sure. Max is in the bar, and we found Lisa chatting with him. It could be a coincidence, but just in case, we would like to warn you and Lina that Lisa is on the beach and that you should be careful. That's all."
Tony understood that this was not about him. Why would he be wary of Lisa? "Do you think that Lisa will harm Lina?"
Tatiana was irked by his casual tone. Are all Alpha guys ignorant in terms of how women work? "Your ex-girlfriend is having difficulty accepting that you moved on, Tony. What do you think, where will she direct her grievances?"
Tony's irritation was bubbling. He didn't want to talk about Lisa, but Tatiana was pushing his buttons. "Even before we started dating, Lisa knew that only my fated mate can be my Luna. From the moment I found out Lisa was not my mate, I told her that we should break up, but she was the one saying how it's OK for us to be together until one of us finds his or her mate. I found mine. Lisa knew it was coming. End of the story."
Tatiana frowned. Sure, Tony told Lisa what was coming, but that didn't mean Lisa was not upset when it actually happened.
Kalina was her baby sister, and Tatiana couldn't stop herself from worrying. "Aren't you concerned about Lina? What if something happened?"
Tony shook his head. "If Lina is in distress, I would know it. Mates can sense each other's emotions, and I can tell you that Lina is fine. But let's assume that someone will dare to confront my Lina... she can take care of herself."
Tatiana knew that Kalina has a quick mind, a sharp tongue, and she can throw a wicked punch. No one can bully Kalina, but... "What if Lisa doesn't play fair? What if there are several of them and they catch Lina by surprise?"
"Come on, Tanya. Don't create drama when there is none. Lisa might be bitter, but she won't be able to find a group of people who will help her attack the future Luna. We are in the middle of the Dark Howlers pack, and everyone knows that Kalina is my mate. Besides, you should trust your sister more. Lina is not a baby."
Seeing that Tony didn't care, Tatiana turned to Caden. "Maya is with Lina. Where are they? Why can't I see them?"
Caden glanced at the lake. "They could be underwater. We were competing who can hold their breath longer, maybe they are doing the same."
Tatiana didn't like this. Why was everyone so easygoing? Was she the only one seeing this as a problem?
"What if they are in danger?"
Caden waved his hand like it was not a big deal. "If they are in danger, they are pretending."
"Why would she pretend to be in danger?", Tatiana asked dryly.
"So that I can get a chance to be her knight in shining armor and save the damsel in distress.", Caden said like it's a totally normal thing. "Don't you do roleplays? Guys like to feel they are in power. It's good for our ego."
Tatiana closed her eyes and took a deep breath. What nonsense was Caden spouting?
Everyone here was crazy!
…
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...
Tatiana wondered if she was overreacting.
Was she on the edge because of her situation with Maddox?
Her wolf was protesting that they were apart, and it was affecting her more than she wanted to admit.
Seconds turned into minutes, and Tatiana continued looking at the surface of the lake. Why couldn't she see Maya or Kalina?
"How long do werewolves hold their breath underwater?", Tatiana asked Talia. The guys were relaxed and focused on the card game and she decided not to talk to them.
"I'm not sure.", Talia responded.
"Maya's record is twenty-two minutes.", Caden said proudly.
"Wow!", Axel exclaimed. "Maya is impressive. Mine is twenty-seven minutes and twelve seconds."
Caden puffed his chest. Yes, Axel can stay underwater five minutes longer than Maya, but considering that Axel is an Alpha, that's expected.
"I can go nineteen minutes and twenty seconds.", Tyler chimed in, and other guys started giving their longest time while holding breath underwater.
Talia's eyebrows twitched when she realized that no one reported under fifteen minutes. She remembered that she jumped into the waterfall and after less than a minute, she was panicking about how she will drown. Did she panic for no reason? She took a mental note to time herself in a tub… when no one is watching.
Tatiana didn't care about that who-can-do-it-longer nonsense. Men. Why is everything a competition?
Kalina is a bubbly girl who loves to play and have fun, and Tatiana was confident that Kalina wouldn't stay underwater for a prolonged time only to prove she can do it. But… why would she be underwater?
Tatiana's eyes widened when she remembered the story Maya told her while she was standing on that exact spot earlier that day. Mermaids.
Sure, her bubbly sister wouldn't waste time on silly competitions, but going on a dangerous adventure is another thing. Kalina is an adrenaline junky.
"What are you doing?", Talia asked when she saw Tatiana removing her dress with haste.
"I need to find Lina."
"I told you, she was fine.", Tony chimed in from the side.
"Maybe you can be relaxed, but I can't.", Tatiana snapped at him.
Talia realized that Tatiana wouldn't do this without reason. "What are you thinking about?"
"Mermaids.", Tatiana said. "Maya was telling Lina about mermaids at the bottom of the lake and I think they went to search for them."
Talia remembered the story. Maya and Kalina were excited and Talia agreed with Tatiana. Those two daredevils probably went to try their luck with mermaids.
"I will go with you.", Talia said to Tatiana who was already waist-deep in water.
Tatiana jumped in and started swimming.
Talia was down to her swimwear in less than a second. "Caden, tell Damon that Tatiana and I are going mermaid searching."
"There are no mermaids there.", Caden said.
Talia didn't want to argue. "Just tell him."
It was not about mermaids, but she wanted Damon to know where she was. She would expect that Damon will notify her if something unusual happens also.
For the first time in her life, Talia really wished for a mind-link. Then she would be able to reach out to Damon at any time. Will she get the mind-link after Damon marks her? Talia was not sure, but she was super-excited at the thought of Damon marking her. That mark will make it official that they are mates, forever. Forever with Damon was surreal.
In no time, Talia caught up with Tatiana. She didn't realize how quickly she swam, but Axel took note of that. He was thinking of going after Talia, but he paused when he realized how quickly she was moving. That was one more confirmation that she was special and Axel couldn't wait for a chance to catch Talia for some one-on-one talk.
---
Chapter 309 - Mermaids In The Lake (2)
"Are you going down there?", Talia asked when she saw that Tatiana was taking deep breaths.
"Yes." Tatiana didn't know why, but she was uneasy and she needed to check on Kalina.
"What if they are not there? What if they come out?", Talia tried to reason with Tatiana.
"If they are not there, then I'm worrying for naught. But just in case…" Tatiana's brows furrowed. "You wait here. If they come out, tell them not to go down until I come back. I want to scold Lina for being so carefree. Doesn't she know that I worry sick about her? She can try any stunt she wants when I'm not around, but in my presence, I need her safe."
"What if they are fine?", Talia asked.
"Then I will dive in for no reason.", Tatiana said. "She is my baby sister and I'm restless. I need to do this."
Talia could see Tatiana's determination. "Alright. Be careful."
After Tatiana disappeared underwater, everything became peaceful.
With nothing else to do, Talia looked toward the beach and she realized how far they went. She didn't notice that they swam that far, and she was not tired, not even a little bit. Was that because of her wolf?
Eventually, Talia flipped on her back and relaxed in the water.
Talia was not sure how much time passed when two splashing sounds were heard nearby one after another.
Kalina and Maya.
Both of them gasped for air and had cheery expressions.
"Was that your limit?", Maya asked smugly.
"I could go at least ten more minutes.", Kalina responded like it's not a big deal.
Maya didn't believe it. She could stay underwater for another minute or two, but ten was exaggerated and she didn't want to admit that Kalina could hold her breath longer, but how can she prove it? "No way."
"Yes way!"
Talia cleared her throat to get their attention.
"Eh? Talia?", Maya asked while blinking the lake water from her eyes.
Both Maya and Kalina started swimming toward Talia and Maya asked, "Why are you here?"
"Waiting for you and Tanya.", Talia said.
"Tanya?", Kalina asked. "Is she coming here?"
"She got worried about you and went to find you.", Talia said.
Kalina didn't get it. "Why would she be worried?"
"When Caden said that you went diving with Maya, Tanya assumed that you went mermaid hunting."
"Not hunting. Searching.", Kalina corrected Talia.
Talia couldn't believe this. Tatiana was right! "So, you went all the way down?"
Kalina responded with a stiff smile. They didn't go all the way down, because the deeper they went, the visibility was lower, and then there was mud and kelp forest and currents, and it was getting tricky to navigate.
Thinking about how dangerous it was down there, Kalina was worried. "How long is Tanya down there?"
Talia shrugged. How was she supposed to tell time? She could only answer with, "Less than you."
"Do you want to search for Tanya?", Maya asked.
"No, no.", Talia said quickly. "The last thing I need is you two going back down and then Tanya comes up and she goes after you and… when will it end?"
Kalina understood Talia's reasoning, but… "I need to find Tanya. Knowing her, she won't give up until she finds me. Neither of us trained physically. I got a boost in strength after Tony marked me and part of why I went down was to test my limits. I didn't separate from Maya, but Tanya is on her own."
"She didn't train, but she is still a she-wolf.", Talia said. "She won't die from drowning." At most, she will pass out and her body will float up. Maybe. "Besides, she is not down there for long. Give her some time."
Kalina puffed her cheeks. "What you said is reasonable, but I hate that she got entangled in something like this because of me. If she breaks a nail or gets mud in her hair, I won't hear the end of it."
Tatiana was always a clean freak and Kalina knew that her sister wouldn't just go into the murky depths unless she was really worried about Kalina.
…
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...
Tatiana dove deeper with every stroke.
She was upset.
She wanted to scold Kalina for being reckless. Why the heck would she go looking for mermaids when there were obviously none?
Mermaids should be in the depths of the ocean, and not at the bottom of some dingy lake in the middle of a werewolf territory!
The sunlight was getting scarcer, but Tatiana didn't have issues seeing in the darkness with her werewolf sight. However, there was nothing to see. Wherever she looked it was just water, and it was getting blurrier the further she went.
Great. How was she supposed to find Kalina when the visibility was lowering?
If they were part of a regular pack, they would have a mind-link, but their family is special. Their parents told them that without a pack to tie them down, they will have the freedom to choose for themselves. After all, in a pack, roles are strictly enforced. Omegas serve, warriors fight, Alphas rule. It's simple, and Tatiana was always proud of the fact that they were different, independent… but now she really wished for a way to contact her sister!
Ah! Something touched her leg.
Tatiana looked behind and she couldn't believe that she touched a plant. Is she at the bottom already?
At the second glance, Tatiana confirmed that's kelp. She remembered Maya talking about a kelp forest.
From the back of Tatiana's mind came a biology lesson where she learned some facts about kelp. Kelp has a tough and flexible stem that can grow beyond 50 meters high. That meant Tatiana was not necessarily near the bottom of the lake. How deep was this thing anyway?
Tatiana panicked when a sudden current threw her to the side, and she grabbed one kelp in an attempt to steady herself. The plant was slimy and not easy to hold onto, but there were few of them so Tatiana grabbed with both hands.
Just as Tatiana caught her bearings, another current threw her deeper among kelp and when Tatiana abruptly stopped, she realized that one kelp was wrapped around her ankle.
Tatiana looked around and her eyes widened. There was kelp everywhere!
She was prying her leg out, and her heart shook when she realized that's not an easy feat. The blasted plant was swaying with the currents and tightening its grip!
Tatiana looked up to see the darkness. She was so deep that sunlight didn't come through, not even a little bit, and everywhere she looked, she could see kelp.
Before she knew it, Tatiana's other leg was tightly wrapped in kelp also!
Now what?
She tried moving her legs gently, forcefully… it didn't work. Ripping kelp with her hands didn't work either because it was super-slimy and slippery, and she confirmed that it's very tough.
Tatiana remembered Maya's words about how if something strange happens, she shouldn't panic, and she should let it happen because it's the mermaids. Well, if there were any mermaids at the bottom of this lake, now it would be a great time for them to show up!
Chapter 310 - Mermaids In The Lake (3) [Bonus ]
Author's note:
This bonus chapter is a shoutout to DespinaNY!
Thank you for the Golden Gachapon! I am humbled and honored by your support!
*\\(^o^)/*
. . .
The more Tatiana struggled, the more entangled she became. To make things worse, it was difficult to determine which way was up because currents moved the murky water, and everywhere she looked, there was just kelp.
Tatiana cursed her luck. Why did she come here?
Kalina told her over video chat that everything was great with Tony, but Tatiana had to come and see in person, like a nosy older sister she is.
If she didn't come to the United States, she wouldn't meet that dastardly hunk and her mind wouldn't be a mess, her heart would be steady, and she wouldn't be stuck in the kelp! It's all his fault!
Is this it? Is this how Tatiana Wilkow will die?
The famous 'Dama T' whose designs grace catwalks and fashion magazines will end up as fish food.
Will she have any regrets?
Not really. Her assets and company will be equally divided among her four sisters. Mario knows almost everything about the business, and Tatiana had sketches ready for the next season. Her sisters probably won't care about running a fashion company, but Mario would help them create the outfits for the next season and they will use the profits as a severance package for Tatiana's employees before they shut down the company, so that will be fine.
Her parents are well, and her sisters also, so it's not like anyone would be left in a predicament because Tatiana was gone. She was grateful that she didn't have children or pets.
Tatiana's mind was at ease to know that people who depend on her will be taken care of.
But what was that knot in her heart?
In the face of death, Tatiana couldn't lie to herself. She will have one regret.
If she knew she will die today, she wouldn't reject Maddox's advances.
Instead of drowning in this horrid lake, she would drown in his addictive flavors of coffee.
Instead of this slimy kelp, she would be entangled with Maddox's hunky body and his arms would embrace her.
As a bonus, she would be charged with a few orgasms, and that would make dying easier.
Her pride and stubbornness were the reason why she never got to experience Maddox's intimate embrace.
Tatiana heard she-wolves saying how sleeping with a mate is an otherworldly experience, and nothing comes close to it, and Tatiana was just a step from confirming if that's true, but then she ran away.
Tatiana remembered the moment next to the lake, when it was just her and Maddox, and he touched her chin and gazed into her eyes… that was the moment they were supposed to kiss and if she knew that death was later in her schedule, they would definitely do much more than kissing, but she ruined it.
They were by the lake. Did the mermaids see the moment when Tatiana chickened out and pushed her own mate away? Is that why she was stuck in kelp now, as a punishment?
Without Tatiana, Maddox will be free from this bond that was not meant to be. He can find himself a Luna who will fit his requirements and won't put up unnecessary resistance.
Will he miss her? Probably not. Who would miss a disobedient mate who doubts the will of the Moon Goddess?
Tatiana never played by the rules. She was the one who was setting the rules. But in the case of Maddox, she wished that she listened more and that she gave him a chance.
Maddox River, Alpha of the Blue River pack, her mate. Instead of being super-special, it all turned super-unpleasant, and instead of trying to fix it, she was avoiding it, and this is what she gets in return. Death by drowning and kelp. Crap.
…
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...
In the bar…
"Should we go now?", Damon asked Maddox.
They agreed to have one drink and leave, but Maddox was refilling glasses for the third time, and the heat was melting Damon's patience that was already thin because he was away from Talia.
The liquor was so bad that Damon pretended to drink and that says a lot because Damon can drink almost anything.
"This is the last one." Maddox downed his drink, and he narrowed his eyes at Damon's full glass. "Why are you not having that?"
Damon made a face. How on earth can Maddox drink this horrible thing and pretend that it's fine? Or did his taste buds die? Or maybe he is just suicidal.
"I don't want to die of poisoning.", Damon said and pushed his glass away.
"Pussy.", Maddox spat and reached to get Damon's glass.
In the next moment, Maddox grimaced and clutched his chest. "You are right. This is poison…"
Damon was sure Maddox was joking. Sure, the liquor was awful but when Damon said it was poisonous, it was just an idiom. As Alphas, as long as it doesn't have wolfsbane or silver, they could easily digest it without problems. Well, maybe it will make them gassy, but that's it.
Damon noticed one inconsistency. "If it's poisonous, why are you not holding your stomach?" Maddox's hand was clearly higher.
"Because this is where it hurts.", Maddox said pitifully.
"What's going on?", Mindy asked with concern in her voice.
She was sitting in that scorching bar because Talia told her to keep an eye on guys, and she saw Maddox not looking well, so she came to investigate. Was he overheating? That would be a good excuse to leave that bar from hell and take a dip in the lake to cool off or maybe find an airconditioned space.
Maddox gripped Mindy's shoulder and spoke pitifully, "Tell mom and dad that I tried…"
"Oh, for fuck's sake, Max!", Mindy interrupted him irritably. "Stop the drama and tell me what's going on."
"My chest. It's uneasy. Like fire ants invaded my heart."
Damon's eyebrows shot up when he realized. "That's Tatiana."
"What?", Mindy and Maddox asked in unison.
"Max, what you are feeling is through the mate bond. Those are Tatiana's feelings."
Maddox was confused. "Why would she feel this way?"
Damon shrugged and then he remembered what Caden told him through the mind-link. "The girls went diving into the lake, searching for mermaids."
"You have mermaids down there?", Maddox asked. How come he didn't know about it?
Damon shook his head. "What mermaids? It's just a bunch of underwater currents and a dense kelp forest."
Mindy's eyes widened. "Is it possible that Tatiana is in trouble?"
Maddox panicked. Any effects of alcohol cleared up in an instant. "I need to find her."
"How will you find her if she is in the lake?", Mindy grumbled.
"He can do it.", Damon said with confidence.
He was able to find Talia more than once by following the pull of their bond. Damon's wolf was instructing Damon, and Maddox didn't have a talking wolf, but he had Damon.
"Use the bond, Max. Feel the tug and it will take you to Tatiana."
Without a word, Maddox ran out of the bar like a crazed man with only one thing on his mind: Tatiana.
He didn't know why, but he had a feeling that something horrible was happening, and that Tatiana needed him. The fact that Maddox's wolf boosted his movements, told Maddox that his wolf agreed.
But… did that even make sense? The woman who was his soulmate and who was supposed to accept him unconditionally was coming up with confusing conditions, and the last time he saw her, she just left, and despite all that Maddox was overwhelmed by an impulse to get by her side.
Maddox had no idea at what point he reached the beach, or where he was diving, but Damon told him to follow the tug, and there was definitely a tug pulling him into the dark depths of the lake. And something told him that if he doesn't hurry, he will regret it forever.