Chapter 365 365
Sabine POV
My body reacts before my mind does.
The training Damien and Maurice drilled into me snaps into place, instinct taking over as I prepare to block her. Every muscle tightens, ready.
But Odette stops.
Not just hesitates she freezes.
Her body locks in place, stiff as stone, while terror explodes across her face. Her eyes widen so much I can see the whites around them, panic flooding her gaze. For a heartbeat, I’m confused. I’ve never seen rage paralyze someone like that.
Then I feel it.
I see him.
The predator.
Maurice is moving toward her slowly, deliberately not like a man walking toward someone, but like a hunter stalking prey. Each step is measured. Controlled. Deadly.
I’ve never seen him like this.
Never witnessed the raw alpha that lives beneath the man who smiles softly at me, the one who keeps that darkness restrained whenever I’m near.
This version of Maurice is pure dominance.
Pure danger.
And it sends a chill straight through my blood.
“You would dare raise a hand against your own Luna?”
His voice isn’t human.
It’s low. Twisted. Almost demonic.
His green eyes darken, the bright emerald bleeding into a deep forest shade until they’re nearly black. The warmth I know is gone. In its place are the sharp fangs of a predator, flashing as he bares his teeth at Odette.
Somehow I don’t even understand how he has her completely immobilized.
She can’t move.
His alpha aura wraps around her like invisible chains, crushing her into submission. She’s nothing but a puppet, and Maurice holds every string.
“Alpha, I” she tries to speak, her voice breaking as pain contorts her face.
Tears spill freely down her cheeks.
Only then does he release his hold.
Her body crumples instantly, collapsing at my feet like her bones have turned to water.
“Speak,” he commands.
“Forgive me, I was”
The woman who was lunging at me seconds ago is now sobbing on the floor, shaking like a terrified child, unable to lift her head to look at him.
“About to attack your Luna,” he finishes coldly.
“No”
“Get up.”
He grabs her by the elbow and yanks her upright. Her legs buckle beneath her, trembling like a newborn calf’s as she struggles to find balance against his overwhelming strength.
The doors behind me burst open.
Maxime rushes in, breathless and frantic, skidding to a stop just as he reaches my side.
“Take her to the cells,” Maurice snarls, his burning gaze snapping to his Beta.
What have I done?
I should have stayed at the house. I’ve only made everything worse. But I couldn’t ignore that feeling in my chest that pull, that warning screaming something was wrong.
And now I see it.
This isn’t my Maurice.
“No, Alpha!” Odette screams as she’s thrown toward Maxime.
“Alpha, please…” her mother cries from behind Maurice.
But to him, she might as well not exist.
His focus is locked entirely on Maxime.
“Would you like to join her?” Maurice growls, stepping forward, his voice sharp with threat.
“No, Alpha,” Maxime answers immediately, head lowered and tilted to the side.
Even I can tell that’s submission.
“When I say keep the Luna in the house,” Maurice rumbles, the sound vibrating from deep in his chest, “you keep the Luna in the house.”
I can’t just stand here and let Maxime take the blame.
Yes, I was furious with him earlier but he was only doing what his Alpha ordered.
“I gave him the slip,” I snap, lifting my chin defiantly. “And I thought I made it clear when I came here that I wouldn’t be treated like that again.”
“Like what?” Maurice fires back.
“Like a prisoner.”
“When members of my pack are attacked so you can receive a special delivery,” he growls, “you will follow my commands.”
“Attacked?” My breath catches. “Who was attacked?”
I already know the answer.
“Hugo?” I gasp, stepping toward the hospital room only for Maurice to grab me and pull me back.
“Hugo is in there?”
How could this happen?
My delivery was just for the chicken coop. We were together the entire time. He never said a word about being hurt.
“I don’t understand,” I rush out. “The delivery happened during the day. Hugo even helped me unload it. There was no trouble at the gates I would’ve reported it if there was.”
His eyes bore into mine, sharp and searching.
Does he think I’m lying?
That I’m hiding something?
I scan his face desperately, looking for a clue something that explains why he’s this angry, why Hugo is injured, what I’ve done wrong.
“White pills.”
The words are forced through clenched teeth.
My heart slams violently against my ribs.
Blood roars in my ears.
“I didn’t Maurice, you have to believe me. I didn’t arrange any delivery.” I step closer, reaching for him.
He pushes my hands away.
I refuse to let go, pressing my palms against his chest anyway.
“It’s done,” he says darkly. “They won’t get another chance to return. The pills are gone. All of them. Gone, Bee. I told you I wouldn’t put my pack at risk. You’ve been lying to me again.”
He grips my wrists and shoves my hands off him.
No.
They can’t be gone.
“Yes. All gone.”
He must see the horror on my face as I stumble back, shaking my head.
No…
He couldn’t have.
He wouldn’t have.
I still had some hidden under the bed
Unless…
Realization crashes into me.
I spin around abruptly, shoving past Maxime, past Odette, bursting through the double doors and sprinting back toward the Alpha house.