Chapter 36
*Jiselle”
“Max, I know what you’re thinking.”
His dark eyes flashed to mine, cold and unreadable. “You have no idea what I’m thinking”
Please listen to me “
“What. Jiselle?” he snapped. “What?”
I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I didn’t know what else to say
He cursed under his breath and turned away, dragging a hand through his hair as his shoulders heaved “Max” My voice broke as I chanced a step toward him. “It was before we got serious.
“Until when?” he demanded, spinning to face me. His voice was too calm. Too controlled. Too dangerous.
I fidgeted but didn’t say anything. He heaved another sigh.
“Fuck, Jiselle, I asked you a million times to let me train you but you were training with him all along?”
“I didn’t know you at the time. I’ve known him all my life and 1-”
“You haven’t answered my question,” he interrupted. “Until When?”
I swallowed hard, my pulse racing. “About four weeks ago-
“Four weeks?!”
The sheer rage in his voice made me flinch. His eyes darkened, storm clouds rolling in.
“Fuck” he muttered under his breath, running a trembling hand through his hair. His entire body was rigid, his breaths ragged.
I fought the urge to cry.
“How often?” he asked, voice rough with something raw.
“Max-”
“How. Often.”
I clenched my fists. My throat tightened as I forced the words out.
“Every da-”
I didn’t even finish before he turned, marching toward the exit.
Panic surged in my chest. No. No, no, no
I darted after him, grabbing his wrist. The second my fingers wrapped around his skin, he flinched.
Like I was repulsive
Like my touch burned him.
I stared at him, my heart cracking wide open. When his eyes met mine, they were black–swallowed whole by a storm I had no power over I stepped back out of sheer self–preservation.
“Max, please-”
“Please what, Jiselle?” he roared, yanking his arm from my grip. His anger was pure, unfiltered and feral.
My chest ached
“Please don’t kill him?” he mocked “Please don’t take out my anger on him? Because if I don’t, Jiselle- His voice dropped, his breath ragged Tll take it out on you
Something in me shattered I took a step back, my hands shaking.
“If this isn’t you taking it out on me, I whispered, my voice barely there, “then i don’t want to see what it actually looks like ” His jaw clenched, but I held my ground
“You should take it out on me,” I said, voice trembling “It was my choice. And I’m sorry. I felt like I was betraying you every day-
“And you were,” he cut me off, his voice razors Successfully unlocked!
He turned away again, his hands curling into fisİL TEORMU SOU a fupponing the way his mind was ripping through every
moment we weren’t together, every excuse I ever gave.
He was going over every single moment that I wasn’t with him or in a class–which left me with little to no other free time So that only left the times I was with Eva or Ethan and-
Chapter 36
Then, his entire body went still,
“Midnight” Max murmured. His voice wasn’t even human anymore.
My stomach plummeted.
His head turned, his eyes locked on mine.
“You always came to bed around one in the morning,” he said slowly. “I thought you were running with your wolf.”
He took a slow step toward me. Predatory, Controlled.
“But it was with fucking Nathaniel.”
“Max
“Don’t,” he growled. His gaze burned into me. “Don’t come close to me right now, Jiselle. I don’t want to say or do anything I‘ Il regret. I’m already holding on by a fucking thread.”
My vision blurred with tears. “I’m so sorry”
It was all I could say.
No excuses. No explanations would make this better.
keep sneaking out. I still chose to
Even if Nate had started training me before Max and I became exclusive, I still chose to keep spend my nights with his sworn enerny
And Max–he begged me. Every single day, he begged me to let him be the one to train me.
I had messed up. I had messed up so badly.
And the worst part?
This wasn’t even the thing that would push him over the edge.
His lips parted. His next question would ruin everything.
“Did you ever-
“No!” I cut in instantly, shaking my head frantically.
I took a step toward him, desperate. “I barely even spoke to him. It was just training. I swear, Max. I promise–I’ve never.” “Not even a touch out of place?”
His stare bore into me, and I shook my head.
Grateful
th Nate.
So fucking grateful that I had drawn that boundary with Nate..
Max studied me for a long, agonizing moment. Then, finally, he exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand down his face.
I dared to hope. He hadn’t called it quits yet.
“I’m so sorry.” I said again, my voice cracking. “I swear, it killed me every day. And after you got hurt because of me–l couldn’t betray you like that anymore.”
He shook his head, expression tight. “As much as it pisses me off, I know it’s easier to continue with the same teacher once you start. But I just don’t understand why”
“It’s not that I thought he was better-
“know that,” Max snapped, shutting me up. His frustration rolled off him in waves.
I hated this
Hated seeing him in so much pain.
Hated that I had caused it
But seeing him so pained now. Seeing him in so much turmoil and wanting nothing but to fix it–to make the pain go away. Seeing him look as if he was on the verge of walking away from me and it freaking terrified me, I know without a doubt that
I loved him too
I loved Maximus. Maybe not like it didn’t matter. The only thing that did was that I loved him, and I would do anything to keep turn with me. But I couldn’t tell him now
it would just seem like I was saying it to win him over. It wouldn’t r “What I don’t understand is why he did it, he looked me in the eyes again, and I was grateful to see a little bit of colour
mean anything to him. Now wasn’t comfhg back to his grey eyes
the right time.
I chanced a step towards him, and he watched the movement but didn’t react “Why he did it?” I mimicked as if I didn’t hear
I gulped. I knew exactly why he did it. But if I told Max now, it would definitely end us. And I could have that hannanie.
- 20.
Chapter 36
But I also couldn’t lie to him.
“Morningstar doesn’t seem like the person to spend his nights helping someone else just for nothing” Max said, his eyes narrowing, and I hated that they hated each other so much, yet seemed to know each other so well. “I knew you guys grew up together and I even know that you two probably had something before me. But even when you’re with me even when he knows you’re coming right into my bed, why. Would. He?”
Fear tethered at my heartstrings as I finally closed the gap between us. I reached up to cup his cheek, but he pulled away his face hard and eyes expectant. He wasn’t going to let this go.
“He said it would be devastating for Ethan if I died.” It wasn’t entirely a lie. That was, in fact, what Nate said, though I didn’t believe him one bit. Just like how Max didn’t believe me now. I saw it in his eyes.
bit….Just
“I’m sure that’s what he said.” Max narrowed his gaze on me. “But that still begs the question, why didn’t he get someone else to do it? Why did he do it?”
I
“Max. tears stung my eyes as I now realized I had no choice but to tell him. “Promise me you’ll stay.” I whimpered and his
I I eyes blazed.
He figured it out. I knew he did.
“I knew you weren’t a virgin. But he didn’t just fuck you, did he? There’s something more.” I flinched at his words but forced the pain away.
“Promise me,” I all but begged. His eyes hardened as he stared at me as if he was seeing me for the first time.
“I don’t make promises I can’t keep. But there’s a small chance I might overlook the training if you’re honest with me for one minute. Why Did. He. Train. You?”
I couldn’t say it. I opened my mouth, but the words didn’t leave.
“Because he’s her mate.”
