himself drivin

n of being unable to witness the

his child seemed sick and weak, and he

at him. He was as they say, he embodied the archetype of a devil

ical man, perhaps even a "bad boy" stereotype, but not bad en

ker and sad reality-one capable of commi

was fraught with tension, evident in the glare she

d witnessed, the screams she had heard, unsure

time in questioning Maximus's decis

rt of his couch, settling beside Regina, whose gla

ded a firsthand understanding of what she was getting herself in

ise and offense, evident in the furrowed brow an

for a meeting tomorrow," he announced, his tone tinged with

with a thoughtful expression,

werewolves, meetings with the elders, and a thorough inspection of the borders

atrol and security, and nothing seems to be going wrong for now,

expression, his brows furrowing in respo

t. "I'll be in the study. No disturbance," he announced,

tive pose like that of a monk. She couldn't get her mind off what happene

him be a father, let alone the father of her child

a long time ago, regardless of Kael's belief that

t time she'd been here, Maximus appeared beyo

rose from her bed and mad

airs and noticed there

ery door leads to, well, except for Maximu

tucked away in a distant corner. With a hint of curiosi

wards her, she involuntarily ga

rom within, piercing the silence. "I know it's you, C

ta hesitated before tenta

books. Sofas were meticulously arranged alongside a grand

ng around the room. "Wow, what a big room. I was just, um, just lo

ded, engrossed in

rsisted, "Being the Lycan King must

talk to you, is that a crime too? Are you gonna tear my heart or burn me alive for it?" Sh

she had hoped to rein it in around

instinctively took a step back, a mingling

e doing. I'll just excuse myself," she

ou've spoken your mind, and that's perfectly fine. Rest

eyebrow. "Do you genuinely believe your actions were justified?

ed a threat to your well-being. She learned that you're... probably carrying my child, and began to do someth

u suggesting you did it all for my sake? You

hing for you. I was only trying to make you unde

torted, "Then I suppose there's someone out there who's gonna try t

n her. "You come for one day, and you think you know everythi

" she retorted disdainfully, addin

ind Maximus standing directly in her path. "What... what d

ndeed feel a tremor of fear, Calista. Consider this a stark reminder never to address me in such a manner again

her body quivering under the weight of his imposing p

ying on his lips. "That's the way of it, Calista. Fear is simply part of the pa

ing the door behind her with care, her he

she struggled to steady her breat

her room, a sudden

traced her steps to the door

ds her, his expressi

hem, her heart pounding as she rose on her tiptoes