The Haunted

**\[ALICE’s Point of View\]**

The road was very unfamiliar.

Maybe that’s why Maverick didn’t bother covering my face with that awful-smelling fabric that gagged me the other night.

I was in his car, sitting on the passenger side. I had been looking at him daggers since we left their camp. I didn’t take my eyes off him, scared of what he could do once I carelessly took down my guard. I would never let Maverick do whatever he wanted. Perhaps he was stronger than I was. But I would die first if he forced himself on me.

“Take me back to Alpha Zenon, Maverick,” I snapped at him. “I have no use for you! I am just a hybrid! You know how pure breeds like you hate my kind!”

He made a short glance at me. His blue eyes were dark and focused but calm. “And do you think I care about that?”

My brows deepened into a frown. “Then what do you want from me? Are you going to sell my organs or what?”

His eyes widened as if he heard something so ridiculous. “How do you know that?!”

Horror struck me. Goddess, I knew it. I was going to die in this werewolf’s hands! Cold sweat started to form on my forehead and I fell silent as I tucked my knees up my chest, scared like hell.

“It’s so much better when you’re silent.” he grinned at me and then his eyes were on the road again when I looked back, teary but angry. “And I am just kidding. Don’t take my words too seriously, princess.”

“I’ll kill you.” I snarled at him.

“You can try, you know.” He laughed a little and then shook his head gently, “Goddess, you are so difficult, woman. How can Zenon and Bellamy deal with you?”

“Don’t compare them to you.” I retorted and grimaced, “They never hurt me.”

I saw his face darken, though, which made my Lycan instinct sense danger. 

“What? Because I’m a ruffian? A he-wolf who leads a pack of criminals?” he sniggered as he talked without throwing me a single glance. There was bitterness in his tone that made me confused. “Yeah, maybe you’re right, Alice.”

There was something in his tone that made him look different. I stared at him for a minute and wondered—what would a man like him be hiding? Everyone knew how ruthless Maverick was. He stole, took advantage, and took people’s homes and money. What made him so mad if I was only telling him the truth?

Was I the one who was being rude? Goddess, I couldn’t believe it.

I decided to just stay silent the whole trip. Three hours and I didn’t know I fell asleep until I felt someone shaking my shoulder gently, waking me up.

“W-what?” I asked, fumbling. My mind was still foggy and tired. I squinted and saw Maverick’s face so close to me. So close I could feel his breath on my lips.

My eyes widened, stunned at his audaciousness.

“W-What are you doing?” I murmured, sounding like a scared little mouse, as I tried to push myself away from him but he refused to move away. “Maverick…”

His blue eyes went soft. For the first time, I didn’t see any violence in there. It was as if he revealed to me a part of himself that he was never used to showing to anyone.

His eyes went down my lips and swallowed hard. I almost couldn’t breathe as I sensed danger at how close he was to me. It felt wrong. But why had my adrenaline started singing in my veins? What was happening?

“I love it when you say my name, Alice,” he murmured in a hoarse tone and I gasped as he leaned closer, sniffing my neck. “Goddess, your scent makes me crazy.”

I bit my lower lip hard, trying my hardest not to burst into a sob. I thought about Bellamy and wished for him to find me. But would he find me after what happened between us?

Why did I still hope that I could change his mind?

Tears rolled down my face when Maverick slowly moved away from me with a sultry look. His eyes suddenly darkened as he traced my tears with his index finger. 

“Don’t worry, Alice. I will make sure no one will find you here. I won’t let Bellamy and Zenon get in our way.” 

It was as if a bucket of iced water was poured all over me. There was this crazy look in his eyes that scared the hell out of me. I didn’t know what happened but I felt there was really something wrong with Maverick. Like… like he was being possessed or something. Something more terrifying than he already was.

He gestured his head to that mohawk-haired guy to take me out of his car. That terror he saw in my eyes disturbed something in him so that he didn’t dare touch me again.

“Let’s go now, little missy. You’re lucky our Alpha didn’t tear you to pieces last night. I wonder what’s special about you. You’re just a hybrid whore.” he grimaced at me.

That word made something in my chest feel like it was going to explode at any moment. “Say that again and I will make you regret it!”

He scoffed, “Whatever!” he pushed me inside the main hall. My hands were still tied with rope behind me and I stopped when I saw how huge Maverick’s mansion was.

It wasn’t as huge as the MoonClaw mansion but it portrayed power and wealth, which I never expected from a man like him. But despite the beauty of the structure, there was darkness in it that made me nervous. There was no garden and the trees that surrounded it were dead. The fountain with an angel statue was full of molds that made the place look creepier.

It felt as if the whole place was haunted by something I couldn’t explain.

“What is this place?” I asked Maverick when I refused to get inside. “What happened here, Maverick?”

“Just shut your mouth and get inside,” he said coldly, and that mohawk guy pushed me up the stairs. I almost stumbled to the marble floor.