Chapter 99 99
Xavier's pov
Maisie is alive.
She was here in the BlackRock Pack and she wasn't alone. That bastard was here with her — Roman.
I watched with anger boiling in my blood as she clung to him, as he bent his head and murmured to her. I nearly wrenched him off her when he laid a hand on her right cheek, kissed her left before stepping back to speak quietly to another Alpha passing by.
I didn't take my eyes off him as he crossed to another Alpha, but there was no contact between them, and the conversation was brief. When they stood alone again, our gazes locked. Not mine and Roman, but mine and Maisie's.
I couldn't stop myself as I moved. I ignored Kylie and began to walk across the winter grass.
“Maisie.” It came out as a whisper. I doubt she heard me.
For a moment, she turned and met my eyes. I thought I caught a flash of something in them: anger, sorrow, impatience. Then it was gone and they were simply cool, blue, and unfathomable.
I didn’t hurry as she and Roman walked towards me.
There was something about the way she moved. It wasn't timid or as shy as she'd normally move. It was … different.
Maisie didn't hurry. She took her time, her long, slow strides flapping her coat around her long, porcelain legs.
“Xavier.” She called my name. I loved the way the syllables lingered longer on her tongue. Her voice was smooth, with a whisper of the charm of a Northern accent over it, like rich cream over warmed whiskey.
“I just came back to the city,” she replied to Kylie who'd ask why she was here. I blinked out of my daze and nearly smacked the bitch in the eyes. How dare she question Maisie?!
I turned to Maisie again and something glinted in the light. My eyes dropped to her finger and saw a ring. What was that doing around her finger? I turned to Roman and saw the way he pulled her close and kissed her. They were together. But… how? Roman isn't her type. She was scared of these types of guys. She'd once told me years ago that she was scared of Roman.
I remember that day vividly.
It was right after my Mating Ceremony, right after I failed to choose a mate because none of them were Kylie.
I'd walked into a bar looking for a drink. I settled in my seat and made my order. As soon as it came, I noticed a blonde sitting by the bar, her fists clenched. Her date, a brown haired teenager, looked pretty shocked at what she'd said to him. I happened to have super hearing so I could pick up everything.
“Thank you for the drinks, but we’ve reached the end of our date.” The blonde said.
Her date stopped fiddling with a stray lock of hair to stare at her. “Excuse me?”
“We’re not compatible, and I don’t want to waste either of our time. Plus, I would also rather stab my eye out with a Christian Louboutin heel than spend another minute with you,” she added calmly.
The dude's face flushed an angry, mottled red.
“Whatever.” He stood and yanked his coat off the back of his chair. “I only stayed out of pity, anyway. You’re nowhere near as hot as everyone says you are.”
I waited until the guy stormed out in a cloud of overpowering cologne and indignation before I made my move. This chick was feisty and I loved it.
“I assume the whispered sweet nothings and goodnight kiss are off the table.” I said with a grin.
She attempted to drain her glass of water. When our eyes locked, it went down the wrong pipe and sent her coughing.
“Oh my Gosh,” she said after getting herself. “Alpha Xavier, you're here.”
“I am.” I slid onto the stool next to mine and nodded at the bartender, who greeted me with a deferential nod of his own and returned less than a minute later with a glass of rich amber liquid.
I'd recognized her. She was Maisie Williams, an Orphan my father had adopted years ago. She was kind to everyone, made one mean apple pie and was amazing at designs. I'd seen her handwork on the Pack drapes and stuff. She was good. And she was single.
“So… what brings you here?” She asked shyly. I'd heard she had a crush on me and didn't take it seriously until now.
“Chilling. You?” I replied, taking note of her black turtleneck and metallic skirt.
“Same. I didn't expect my night to begin with mateless wolves making advances at me.”
I laughed. “Really?”
“Really.” She nodded and took a sip of water. Maybe she hates alcohol.
“So you have a mate?” I asked carefully.
She paused, then looked at me. “Do you?”
I blinked. That's brave. “No.”
“Same.” She said,
“Why don't you have a mate, Miss…?”
“Maisie.” Then she rubbed her thumb over the condensation on her water glass, debating whether or not to tell me. “I just haven't found the right one yet.”
Recognition crept into my chest. We were the same. I, too, hadn't found the one for me.
“And who is this right one? A handsome Alpha?” I began teasing her. “Let's say Alpha Roman.”
“No. I'd rather bleach my eyes than be with him,” she replied honestly. “He's just … scary. He's ruthless. I heard he had 5 hostile takeovers in a year. How cruel is that?”
When she finished, I stared at her with a long, assessing gaze. We were just the same. We had no mates. Shared the same hatred towards Roman. Hated stupid wolves looking for their next score. And we're both good-looking, intelligent, stubborn, and sexy. We'd be a perfect match.
A little wind blew past her hair and I reached out to tuck the loose curl that had fallen out of her updo behind her ear.
“I know it sounds ridiculous, but can we go out? Me and you?” I asked her.
Maisie blinked. For a moment, I feared she'd freak out but she didn't. She smiled with her eyes pinched and her white teeth showing.
“It doesn’t sound ridiculous. I'd love to date you, Xavier.” She set her now-empty glass down. The bartender reappeared in a flash and refilled it.
I was desperate for a mate because my father was on my neck about getting married. I waited for Kylie and since then she hasn't shown up. I decided to go with Maisie.
She chose me. She wanted me, and not Roman.
That night, she'd given herself to me.
She hesitated only a moment when I took her to my mansion but she took my hand. She didn't shiver when I touched her hand. Instead, she felt the warmth of the touch sweep up from her feet. She was a woman after my own heart and moments later, she'd given in to me.
It was real. It was love. It was pure passion. A warning blip had gone off in my head, telling me to withdraw, to leave but I refused to listen to it. After years of searching for a mate, I'd finally seen a tall, cute blonde with long, curly hair, eyes the colour of the morning sky and a mouth made for sex. If she hadn’t been in that bar, I still would've looked for her one way or another.
Maisie was mine.
‘Isn't Chloe yours?’ My wolf reminded me.
I stopped and looked at Chloe's picture. It's been 6 months. Crying won't bring her back. I'd lost her for good.
But Maisie? I'd be damned if I let Roman take her from me.