Chapter 262 A WOLF’S ARROGANCE
Nixx
We made our way through the crowd to a picnic table where my parents were sitting. Mirabelle kept muttering about me being "such a meanie" for how I’d treated Jazz, but I tuned most of it out. Occasionally, I’d catch snippets of wolves talking about Percival—rumors about how he was hiding, how weak he must be. Apparently, everyone was chomping at the bit to challenge him.
As I helped Mirabelle settle onto the bench next to my mom, I stifled a laugh. Our guest of honor was still the center of attention, his presence casting a long shadow over everything.
Mom smiled warmly at Mirabelle, her eyes softening. "You look beautiful."
Mirabelle flushed a deep red, ducking her head. "Thanks, Dahlia."
Mom had always loved Mirabelle. It had been awkward telling my parents that she was carrying my pup, but… they were relieved it wasn’t Tatiana. My parents still clung to the idea that Tatiana was my true mate, that with the right training, she could’ve been a good wolf—redeemable.
And for a while, that made sense to me too.
Dad chuckled to himself as he watched Alpha Maxim joke and laugh with his General, Gaspar. "Thank goodness William isn't here for this," he muttered under his breath, referring to the man who came to teach Percival.
Mom furrowed her brow and glanced at Dad, confusion clear on her face. "What do you mean?" she asked.
Dad leaned in closer, lowering his voice to a whisper. "Annabel is Alpha Maxim's second cousin. Maxim despises William. He thinks it's funny that William can't even be at his own pack's barbecue because of pack troubles."
That made me remember something. I was basically playing the role of a gossipmonger at this point. I leaned in and added, "Oh, and did you know that Gaspar is Penelope's true mate? She rejected him as soon as she found out Nyra died... just so she could be a Luna."
The moment those words left my mouth, everyone turned to stare at me, their faces a mix of shock and disbelief.
Mom shot up from her chair, her eyes wide with outrage. "What?!?" she almost yelled, her face scrunched in shock. Her reaction was like a slap to the air.
Dad quickly pulled her back down into her seat, his expression darkening as he gave her a sharp look.
"Dahlia," he growled in a low voice, "don't make a scene. Not here. You don’t know this wolf." His eyes flicked over to Alpha Maxim, clearly warning her to be careful.
Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. Someone, seemingly by accident, bumped into Maxim and Gaspar, lightly grazing Maxim's arm as they passed by.
Maxim’s chest rumbled with a deep growl. His hand shot out, grabbing the guy by the collar. His wolf was dangerously close to the surface now. With a swift, almost effortless motion, he tossed the man several feet across the yard. The gasps from the crowd rippled outward, and the space around Maxim grew even larger, as if people instinctively knew to stay far away from him.
I froze, just staring, my heart pounding in my chest.
That is one crazy Alpha.
My wolf stirred uneasily inside me, growling that we should keep our distance from this monster. For once, I completely agreed.
Meanwhile, Mom and Dad started bickering under their breaths. Mom was furious with me for spilling the gossip. Dad shot me a glare, his voice sharp and full of blame. "Look what you’ve done now." He was frustrated, reminding me that Mom and Nyra were best friends… and William too.
I wasn’t really paying attention to their argument though. A sudden feeling washed over me, like someone powerful was watching me closely. My skin prickled, and my eyes darted to Mirabelle, who sat nearby with her head slightly raised, wide-eyed in awe.
Following her gaze, I slowly looked up—and there he was. Alpha Maxim stood right behind me, Gaspar at his side. The two of them loomed like titans by the meat table, their presence almost suffocating.
Maxim’s eyes glittered with something mischievous, his gaze sharp and calculating. His eyes… they were so clear, like tropical seas, and the tattoos that wound their way up his bare arms only added to his intimidating presence. He looked down at Mirabelle, his lips curling into an easy, knowing smile.
"Hello," he said, his voice deep yet surprisingly soft. "I don't believe I’ve had the pleasure of meeting you." His attention lingered on her, almost playfully. He cast me a quick glance, the smile never leaving his face, before focusing back on Mirabelle.
His voice oozed charm, but it was clear—he was testing her, enjoying her discomfort. Mirabelle’s eyes were fluttering, struggling under the weight of the power he was emitting. It was as if she was getting drunk just from standing near him.
Does Percival make her feel this way?
I clenched my fists, irritation bubbling up inside me. This man was getting on my nerves, making my skin crawl with his arrogance.
Suddenly, I felt a surge of energy from Mirabelle. She stood up, and with that simple action, the power gifted by the moon began to radiate off of her. It was like her strength wrapped around me, pulling me toward her as she let it flow freely. Her eyes sharpened, focused—she wasn’t falling for Maxim’s charm. Not today.
A dark chuckle rumbled in the Alpha’s throat. "Oh, I see we’ve got an Alpha female here. My mistake." He inclined his head slightly, still amused. "And what family are you from? Are you also one of William’s?" His gaze shifted to me again, though his words seemed directed more at Mirabelle.
Dad muttered something under his breath, clearly not liking the direction this was going.
Mirabelle let her wolf rise to the surface, a low growl rumbling from her chest. She was mad. "I'm an oracle, you dipshìt."
I blinked. Was now a good time to mention I had never actually seen Mirabelle's cat side? Probably not.
Maxim’s eyes widened in surprise, his interest piqued almost instantly. "An oracle?"
He didn’t even seem to care about the "dipshìt" comment for long. My wolf bristled at how intrigued he was by her.