Chapter 170
Maggie's POV
I jerked awake, my heart hammering against my ribs, a scream lodged in my throat. In my nightmare, Maddox had been standing over me, silver chain in hand, my wolf Nova whimpering and bleeding at his feet.
"Scar, baby, wake up. You're safe." Benedict's warm voice pulled me back to reality as his strong arms wrapped around me.
I blinked rapidly, the familiar surroundings of our bedroom coming into focus. Benedict's concerned blue eyes searched my face, his thumb gently wiping away tears I hadn't realized I'd shed.
"He was hurting Nova again," I whispered, my voice breaking.
"Maddox can't hurt you or Nova anymore," Benedict promised, his voice hardening at the mention of my ex-husband. "I won't let him near you."
I nodded, but confusion clouded my mind. "Why am I dreaming about him now? It's been months since I've had a nightmare this vivid."
Benedict pulled me closer, his familiar scent washing over me. His hand traced gentle circles on my back.
"Maybe it's because we're going to see the games today," he suggested. "You know Forestvale Alphas were invited."
His lips found mine, soft and reassuring at first, then deepening with a hunger that chased away the last wisps of my nightmare. His hands slid under my nightgown, warm against my skin, and I surrendered to the sensation, letting it pull me firmly back to the present, to the man who had healed my broken heart.
I was seventeen when I first met Maddox Blackburn, the handsome Alpha of Emberhill Pack. He'd been charming, attentive, making me feel like the most important person in his world. When he asked me to be his Luna six months later, I'd thought I was living a fairy tale.
For the first two years, we were happy. Or at least, I thought we were.
Then came the night Maddox didn't come home. And I experienced pain like never before that evening, my entire body felt as if it was being torn apart, and at that moment I knew exactly what he was doing. I didn't sleep all night, and as soon as dawn broke, he stumbled back in, reeking of another woman.
"I've found her," he'd announced, his eyes bright with an emotion I couldn't name. "My fated mate."
The words had sliced through me like a knife. "Who?" I'd managed to ask.
"Della," he'd said, "She's perfect, Maggie. I've never felt anything like this."
I'd begged him to reject her, to honor our marriage, our bond. I reminded him of his promises, of the life we'd built together.
"I can't," he'd said, his eyes both apologetic and distant. "You know what happens to wolves who reject their fated mates. I'd go insane."
"Did you sleep with her?" I'd asked, already knowing the answer from the guilt that flashed across his face.
"Yes," he admitted. "I couldn't help myself."
When I'd asked if he was going to release me from our claim, his expression had hardened.
"No," he'd said firmly. "You're still my Luna. Emberhill Pack needs you."
What he meant was: he needed me to run the pack while he enjoyed his new mate.
At first, Della had been almost apologetic, treating me with a forced kindness. She'd moved into our home taking over the master bedroom while I was relegated to a smaller room down the hall.
I'd watched as Maddox gradually forgot I existed, except when he needed something done for the pack. He showered Della with attention and affection, things I'd once taken for granted. He kissed her in public, held her hand, while I stood in the shadows, the Luna in name only.
The pack members started treating me differently too. Some pitied me, others disrespected me openly. I heard the whispers, that I wasn't good enough, that I wasn't from Emberhill originally, that this was why Maddox had found his true mate elsewhere.
I wasn't allowed to leave. Maddox made that clear. I was still his claimed mate, still bound to him and the pack. I became a prisoner in what had once been my home.
The garden party was the final straw.
Della had invited a group of friends over without telling me. When I returned from the Pack meeting, the backyard was crowded with strangers, music blaring, the scent of alcohol thick enough to choke on.
I weaved through the noisy crowd, my skin prickling with each unnecessary touch.
I finally found Della by the pool, arm in arm with three men, laughing hysterically. When she saw me, her smile transformed into a challenging sneer.
"The party needs to end," I said, my voice calm but firm. "Now."
Della rolled her eyes, swinging her wine glass toward me, red liquid splashing onto my white blouse. "Look who's back, the housekeeper herself."
I took a deep breath, struggling to control my anger. "I am the Luna of this Pack, and this is my home. Please ask your friends to leave."
"Luna?" she feigned surprise, voice loud enough for everyone around to hear, "Oh darling, don't you understand yet? You're just an outdated accessory. Maddox keeps you around out of pity."
Something broke inside me. Red fury washed over my vision, my wolf instincts nearly breaking through. I could feel my eyes beginning to change color.
I stepped forward, "Get. Out. Of. My. House."
Fear flickered across Della's face, and she stepped back, bumping against the pool edge, her beer glass slipping from her hand. For a moment, I felt a savage satisfaction. Then she screamed and ran away.
When Maddox found me that evening, his face was contorted with rage.
"What did you do to Della?" he demanded, grabbing my arm so hard it bruised.
"Nothing," I said truthfully. "I just asked her to end the party and send the guests away."
"Liar!" he roared, dragging me back to the house. "She told me what you did."
In our living room, Della sat on the couch, crying dramatically. On the coffee table lay a silver bracelet, one I'd never seen before.
"She threatened me with this," Della sobbed. "Said she'd wrap it around my throat if I didn't do what she said. She... she even said she'd hurt the baby..."
"That's not true!" I protested. "I've never seen that bracelet before!"
Maddox's hand connected with my cheek, the force of the slap sending me stumbling backward.
"Don't lie to me," he hissed. "Della's pregnant. My child is inside her. Did you think I'd let you harm them?"
The news hit me. Della, pregnant.
"I wouldn't hurt her," I whispered, tears streaming down my face. "Maddox, please. You know me."
But he didn't know me anymore. Or maybe he didn't want to.
He dragged me to the garage, forced me to shift into my wolf form, and then—
The silver chain came down on Nova's back, burning through fur and skin. The pain was excruciating, unlike anything I'd ever felt. I howled in agony, but no one came to help. No one cared.
That was the first time, but not the last. It became his preferred method of punishment, using silver to hurt Nova, leaving marks that would never heal, but keeping my human form unblemished so no one would know.
The abuse continued until the day Clifflands soldiers arrived at our borders. When Maddox learned they wanted Lunas as tributes, he'd practically gift-wrapped me for them.
"Hey, you okay?" Benedict's voice pulled me from my dark memories. "You went somewhere else for a minute."
I blinked, realizing we were now in the bathroom. Benedict had started the shower, steam filling the room.
"Just... remembering," I admitted.
His expression darkened. "Maddox?"
I nodded.
"Come here," he said softly, pulling me into his arms again. "Let's wash those memories away."
Under the hot spray of the shower, with Benedict's gentle hands washing my hair, I felt the darkness receding. This was my life now, safety, respect, love. Maddox was the past. Benedict was my future.
The Clifflands stadium was packed, the energy of the crowd electrifying as we made our way to our private box. Eleanor and Ruby were already there, along with Amelia. Natalie joined us moments later, her pregnancy now visible beneath her flowing dress.
"Good morning, ladies," I greeted, accepting a glass of juice from an attendant. "Ready for some entertainment?"
"Absolutely," Ruby grinned. "Nothing like watching sweaty men beat each other up to start the day."
We laughed, settling into the comfortable seats. From our vantage point, we had a perfect view of the arena below, where two werewolves were already circling each other in a wrestling match.
Eleanor, Ruby and Amelia quickly went elsewhere to watch the croquet match.
"I'm going to grab some sandwiches," Natalie announced after a while.
And she headed out, leaving me to continue watching the games.
I was just commenting on one wrestler's technique when I felt it, a familiar presence that sent ice through my veins. Nova whimpered in my mind, and I knew without turning that Maddox was nearby.
"Maggie," his voice confirmed my fear.