21. Maeve
21
MAEVE
“ G ood morning, Maeve,” Adrian’s far too perky voice grins down the line, and it pisses me right off.
Ari and I fell asleep in my bed last night, and I’m so fucking thankful we never touched. She doesn’t toss and turn, doesn’t even really move. But her presence was soothing enough that I had no nightmares.
It was a rare reprieve—no restless thrashing, no jarring memories ripping me awake. It was a good night.
She left in the early hours to go to work, and I managed to get myself back to sleep. I’m in a constant deficit of sleep hours, nightmares, and memories depriving me of the restful time I need to recover, so I’ll never complain about getting more hours.
Not that it’s helped my mood, since this prick has decided to ruin my peace.
“What do you want?” I mutter, bitterness lacing my tone as I hear his smug voice. Just hearing him makes the calm from last night unravel.
He spent all day yesterday trying to call me and bait me into answering his call. It made for a very annoying Sunday, considering Ari was having her own mental breakdown, and I had to be present to support that.
Saturday was disturbed by Julian Graves.
Sunday—yesterday—ruined by Tarun Graves.
And now, Monday, already ruined by Adrian Graves.
The Graves family seems hellbent on being a permanent migraine.
There’s a strong theme here, and I personally think that we’d be doing society a huge favour by just killing everyone with the surname Graves.
Wipe them off the face of the Earth and don’t even have a burial. The thought brings me a twisted sense of satisfaction.
It’ll make me happy at the very least.
“You’ve been ignoring me.”
“Are you incapable of taking a hint?” I ask, pressing the button to put him on speaker and sitting up in bed. I stretch, my back cracking, and I shake out my limbs.
I’ve not checked the group chat with Nora and Ari yet because that thing never stops, even when Ari’s at work, but I know I’ve got to go over to Nora’s place today.
“Our call the other day didn’t go very well,” he admits, and I can imagine how much it kills him to actually say it. The mental image of his ugly face twisting in irritation gives me a small, petty thrill.
“You were a dick to me.”
He sighs. “We were both very heated. I’m just really worried about you, Maeve, and I’d hate for anything to happen to you.”
Bullshit. I resist the urge to roll my eyes and hang up the phone. “So you say. If you weren’t calling to apologise, why have you called?”
“Atticus and I had a chat.”
A chill runs down my spine. His words send so much dread through me, and it’s genuinely frustrating. Every conversation involving those two is a set-up waiting to happen for me. I don’t know what I expected, though, because I should’ve known this would happen after they’ve proven they’ll do it over and over.
“And we’ve talked about the stalker situation, your stay at the pride, and the ultimate goals with your security,” he continues. “At this moment in time, we’re expecting your stay at the Phoenix Pride to be longer than just a few weeks.”
“I wanted my trial to go well enough that I’d stay here permanently .”
I don’t need to be there to see his eye roll, to know that it happened. “You’re not going to stay there permanently, Maeve—the compound is the safest place for you.”
“It’s so safe that some psychopath has decided we’re mates,” I protest. “And I’m not even talking about Julian.”
He huffs out a breath of air through his nose. “Julian isn’t a psychopath—or telling lies.”
Here we go again. Even my chromius is sick to death of Adrian’s bullshit, her annoyance merging with mine in a way that makes me so much more confident at calling him out on his shit.
“I mean, let’s pretend that Julian’s telling the truth and he truly is my fated mate. I won’t ever touch him, so our bond won’t ever be able to form. I’m condemning him to a life of nothing. Why would you want that for your nephew?”
“You’ll get over your issues eventually, and you’ll be a perfect partner for Julian.”
I snort. The sound is sharp, cutting through the lingering tension in my chest. “And there we have it. You’re playing the long game, Ades, because that’s all my life is to you. A game.”
“I want you employed, Maeve,” Adrian says firmly. “We’ve talked about this numerous times, and since your stay in the Phoenix Pride is currently for an undetermined amount of time, I want you working and contributing.”
“I have the money I need to live off for however long I’ll be here,” I argue. Not that he actually gives a shit about that.
“We both know this isn’t about money,” he replies. “If you don’t find a job, then I’ll be coming out there, and you can come and live with Helen and me. I’ve been meaning to take a trip away from the compound anyway, and it would do Atticus a lot of good to host me.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you’re thriving, Maeve, trust me on that.”
Thriving . What a load of bullshit.
Thriving isn’t what Adrian wants, even if that’s the word he’s using. He wants me doing whatever it takes to make him look good. He doesn’t care at all if I’m thriving, or mentally well, or happy .
He cares about the optics.
“What about my safety?”
“Atticus and I are prepared for that,” he replies. “You know your choice—get a job or come to live with Helen and me.”
“I’ll have a job by next week,” I relent. It’s always easier to just give in rather than try to kick up a fuss. This is one fight I won’t win.
The worst part of it is that it’s not the demand of the job that upsets me because I loved working at the archives. Even some of the other jobs I did weren’t so bad, as they gave me that stable routine where I’m not just stuck all day with my thoughts.
I even like that I can contribute to the pride and benefit the society I want to be part of. I just hate that he’s rushing me and putting such strict timelines on things. It takes the enjoyment out of the task when I know that it’s mandated by him.
“You’ve got forty-eight hours,” he counters, the line going dead.
If only it went dead because he died. I’d be a whole lot happier.
Asshole.
I catch up on the group chat before getting out of bed, and I send Jasper a text to let him know that I want to be picked up in a half hour. I’ll need more than a little time to mentally prepare myself for going over to Nora’s place today.
Hopefully Nora and Ari can help with my job situation because I’d rather die than have to live with Adrian and Helen again.
“ G ood morning,” Jasper says, giving me a smile. I don’t return it; instead, getting into the back of his car. His attempt at being friendly only sharpens my irritation. His panther sets me on edge, and the lack of mate bond makes me even more uncomfortable.
I don’t enjoy putting my safety into the hands of a man who is terrified of the threats he’s meant to be protecting me from.
The drive is silent, outside of his radio, and the group chat is dead other than Ari’s message of when she arrived at Nora’s place.
I don’t invite Jasper to come in with me, and he doesn’t push for it, either. He gets out of his car and goes over to greet Caspian, who is sitting a little off from the driveway.
Caspian’s presence is yet another reminder of how trapped I am in this arrangement—at how my choice is between two groups of men who make me uncomfortable, just so I’m safe . I ignore the pair of them.
I don’t bother knocking, as Nora told me to just let myself in, and follow the sounds of the girls. Ari’s clearly informing Nora of yesterday’s drama, which I’ve already had to suffer through once. Nora will probably be a much better support for her than I can be, though.
She was rejected and will understand how to help in ways that I just can’t.
“He’s acting as if I’m the commodity,” Ari whines. “I’m not. I’m pregnant with another herd’s baby, for fuck’s sake. If we mate, he’d have to raise my baby as his own.”
I pause, waiting to see what Nora replies with. Nora’s response is always worth hearing. She doesn’t disappoint.
“Love, this is how it works for everyone with more than one mate. All but one of my men will be raising another man’s baby, and not a single one of them cares. He’s here, he’s obsessed with you, and your tiny calf is yours . That’s all he cares about.
“And he gets to be here for all of the big moments. He’ll be there for the first scan, and for the first kick, and all of the moments that matter. Alvie’s just waiting to be let in.”
I smirk. Nora absolutely handled that better than I did.
“And how long can I expect him to wait?” Ari snaps. “How long do I string him along, getting chocolates and ice cream and treats, when I don’t even know if I’m going to be able to accept him?”
I round the corner to the living room, and I relax a fraction when I realise it’s just the girls here. None of Nora’s mates are in the room—or house, I think—and no Wade supervising us from the corner. Good. The last thing I need today is more men complicating things.
“He will wait as long as you need him to,” I say, moving into the room properly. Keep it simple, Maeve, no need to overcomplicate things for her. “So, now that you’ve exhausted your drama?—”
“I’m not done,” Ari protests, shooting me a betrayed look.
“You’ve been here twenty minutes longer than I have,” I retort. “Should’ve used your time better.”
I know Ari’s going through it, and I can’t ignore that completely, but my life is at a critical level.
Nora snorts, and I look the two of them over.
Ari’s sitting on the large, plush armchair in the corner of the living room, and her face is pinched in her upset.
She’s wearing a navy dress with light pink flowers adorned over it. The skirt is short and sits prettily over her thighs. She’s got a pair of knee-high boots on that give me hives even thinking about it.
She looks ready for battle, or maybe just for dealing with whatever fresh hell comes her way. She must have gotten changed at work before coming over here. Her hair is down and loose, probably just been freed from the confines of her plait.
Nora’s sitting opposite her on the long sofa in some loungewear. A long, grey cotton T-shirt and matching pants. She’s got bright pink fluffy socks on, and her hair is up in bunches.
It’s kind of cute, even if I could never wear it. Comfortable in a way that makes me almost jealous.
Unlike Ari, Nora is calm and relaxed. I can practically hear the steady rhythm of her heart alongside the quickened beats of her tiny pup’s. This friendship is going to be weird if it comes with tiny babies.
I suppress a shudder. I think my sick feeling is worse than Nora’s morning sickness at the thought.
“Adrian Graves is a fucking cretin,” I mutter, changing the subject onto my problems. I don’t want to think about pups or pregnancy. I need to focus on the more immediate issues—like surviving Adrian’s latest bullshit.
“Ah. Well, I’ve only met one Graves, and I don’t like him,” Nora says, giving Ari a pointed look. She’s trying to keep things light, but we all know she’s thinking of Tarun.
But then she sits up properly, her brown eyes lighting up in excitement. “Wait, that’s not true!”
“Tarun’s not that bad,” Ari murmurs, patting Nora’s thigh. “It’s a good thing you’re coming round to him.”
Her tone is soft, but there’s a flicker of something more beneath it—maybe hope or fear.
I gape at her, my jaw practically dropping. Is she serious? After everything? She cannot be fucking serious.
“Do not tell me you’re already giving in?” I demand, ready to storm over there and shake her. The indignation bubbling up inside me feels too strong to suppress. “That boy is a waste of oxygen.”
“No,” Ari protests, rapidly shaking her head. “But he’s my child’s father.”
I pause. I mean, it’s sort of fair enough. But he’s still a prick, and I don’t like him at all.
“Give me a three month warning before the alien pops out of you, and I’ll stop,” I say, waving her off when she goes to argue with me.
I’m not going to stop insulting Tarun, ever. But I won’t do it in front of Ari’s tiny calf—I’m not that cruel.
“I wasn’t talking about Tarun,” Nora says, and my eyes swing over to her. My stomach drops. Another Graves? Please, please , tell me it wasn’t Julian. I might throw up. “I was talking about Lucifer.”
“Lucifer?” I echo at the same as Ari. We both look at each other, but the name rings no bells. Which is strange, considering I know the Graves’ very well.
“Who the fuck is Lucifer?” Ari asks.
“Lucifer Graves. He’s an... what did they call it? Some kind of evil mythical creature. He’s a Graves but was disowned or something. I’m not sure. He was quite nice, if a little... unhinged,” Nora says, and my chromius sits up in an excited kind of way.
I don’t blame her. A disowned Graves? I need him in my life. He could be the biggest asshole in the world, and I wouldn’t care. One even they don’t want? Now, that’s intriguing.
“Well, a disowned Graves is one I want to know,” I say, sitting forward on the stool, fluttering my eyelashes at her. I can already feel the wheels turning in my head. “Do you happen to have his number?”
She shakes her head, and I’m devastated before she offers to ask Malachi, her tiger-shifter mate, to get it for me. My relief is instant. I knew she was a good person to have around.
“Please.” I’m not above begging for this one. Lucifer Graves sounds like the best distraction I could ask for.
Evil is in his DNA, so that part doesn’t surprise me, but somehow, he’s managed to get himself disowned. I’m desperate to learn those tricks.
But for now, I’ve got a bigger drama to deal with.
“Anyhow—Adrian has declared I need to get a job,” I say, letting out a huff of air. The reminder of Adrian’s ultimatum tightens the knot of irritation in my chest.
“Why?” Ari asks, hugging the pillow close to her chest. “I thought you could afford to not work?”
“I can. It’s just another way he wants to control me.”
“And if you don’t?” she demands.
“He’s going to move here and ruin my life like he has done for the last few years,” I mutter, sighing at the thought. The very idea of Adrian and Helen invading this space makes my skin crawl. I look at Nora. “So... where is hiring?”
“Legal Pride probably is. I’ve got the CEO, the head of human resources, and the head of technological defences or something equally as hot, rotating in and out of my bed,” she says, fanning herself as the scent of her arousal fills the air. I roll my eyes, my nose scrunching up in distaste. Ari laughs.
Bitter arousal.
Disgusting hands.
Firm voices.
My mind reels as the familiar unease crawls under my skin. I practically gag, shivering to disguise it.
“I’ll offer the one who gives you the best job twenty points. They’ll be clambering to find it for you,” Nora continues. She’s not noticed how my mood shifts, how the sudden flood of memories threatens to drown me.
I smirk, nodding, trying to appear calm and collected. I have to play along—I can’t ruin this. “Good system. Who is currently winning?”
Nora didn’t notice anything, but Ari’s eyes dart to me, her brows raising. She knows. I can see it in her eyes, in her silent question of if I’m okay, but I’m not ready to have that conversation. Now is not the time.
“No fucking idea,” she replies, and I fake a laugh. Everything feels too loud—the laughter, the arousal, the tension building in my chest. “They keep count, I think, and I just award or deduct points whenever I feel like it.”
It’s a very smart system, especially with men as dominant as hers. They’re all going to be desperate to be at the top of the competition, and she’s got to put no effort in keeping track of what she does.
I respect it. The front door opens, and I freeze for a moment before the feeling of an alpha lion enters the house. Atticus Phoenix. Powerful, deadly, and currently recovering from being tortured by some hunters to save his brother from the same fate.
Admirable, really.
If you’re an idiot who doesn’t value your own life.
“Atticus!” Nora shouts, and his footsteps move in our direction. I sit up straighter on the chair, the intrinsic need to respect my alpha flooding through me. It’s an automatic reaction, one I don’t even have control over.
It’s weird, since I’ve still not yet been admitted as an official member to the pride, but my chromius feels the connection to him anyway. She’s accepted that this place is where we want to call home.
Mostly.
He’s wearing a dark blue suit and is as immaculate as always. He’s been back for a couple of days now, so is probably still feeling a little rough, but you wouldn’t be able to tell.
“Hello, girls,” he says, smiling at each of us. He settles on me with a tight smile. His gaze is calculating, as if he’s sizing me up for what’s coming next. “Maeve, now that we’re home, we’ll get working on your permanent security team. I promise I have not forgotten.”
I nod, a wave of relief washing over me. I was counting on him not having forgotten because I really don’t like Jasper, and I hate needing to be under Caspian’s watchful eyes. He’s dropped in the flat twice this weekend, and it’s really invasive and unnerving.
I don’t get why he puts me so on edge, but it makes me very uncomfortable.
“I’ve got someone I want to work with,” I eagerly tell him, and Atticus raises an eyebrow. I don’t miss the flicker of surprise that lights up his ocean blue eyes. “Lucifer Graves.”
Nora snickers, and Ari gasps.
“Do you know him?” Atticus asks, furrowing his brows.
I shake my head. “I know he’s been disowned, and I’d like that for myself.”
Atticus sighs. He looks like he’s already exhausted by the idea. “Luc is... difficult.”
“And a woman who abhors touch isn’t?” I counter, knowing I won this little battle. He can’t argue that I’m not a difficult case myself.
He nods, considering it. “Let me speak with him. He’s currently a nomad, so I’m not sure if he’ll want to settle down any roots. I’ll get in contact and let you know.”
“Thanks.”
My excitement flares again. I’m so fucking excited and truly hope that this plays out how I want it to. If I believed in some higher power, I’d be begging them right now for Lucifer to be the answer to my prayers.
“She also needs a job. I’ll be offering twenty points to whoever gets her the best one,” Nora says, smiling up at her mate. Her tone is light, but the air between them is charged with something more.
Our alpha relaxes as he stares into his mate’s eyes, the two of them connecting on a level I’ll never understand.
I’ve got no doubt that the two of them have forgotten that we’re here.
“I’ll have ten options for you within the hour,” Atticus says without looking away from his mate. The intensity of their connection is suffocating, and I can feel the tension in the room shift.
The arousal in the air deepens, coming from them both, and my heart begins to race. My body reacts before my mind can, the familiar dread crawling up my spine. I feel sick, my hands trembling, my legs weak as I desperately try to keep the contents of my stomach in place.
Nora leans into him, and he touches her cheek.
I flinch. The sight sends a shockwave through me, tearing at the fragile calm I’ve been holding onto.
“We’ll see ourselves out. Expect your job applications in a few hours, Maevey Baby,” Ari says with a snort as she jumps to her feet. Her sudden movement pulls me back from the edge. I take the reprieve, managing to look away from Atticus and Nora, as I follow behind her.
“Ugh, I hate that name,” I mutter, despite the warmth that fills me every time she uses it.
“Of course, you do,” Ari teases. “That’s why you always blush ever so prettily.”
“Blush? You’re the only one who blushes,” I hiss as she opens the front door. I relax more now that the air is arousal free, no horrid scent to send me into an anxiety attack.
I can breathe in nothing but nature and freshness.
A car door slams, and Ari and I both look across the driveway to where Caspian has just got out of the car.
Fine . Nature, freshness, and an annoying as fuck siren.
“Where’s Jasper?” I ask, tilting my head as I come to a sudden stop.
“I told him I’d drop you off at home with Ari,” Caspian says, nodding his head at the elephant shifter at my side. His presence is always grating, but I know better than to push him on this. “So, come on, then, girls, let’s get you both home.”
“I can’t fucking wait for Lucifer,” I mutter, and Ari laughs as we move over to the car.
She thinks I’m joking. I’m not. I cannot wait for this man to teach me all of his tricks to piss off Adrian Graves.
He absolutely deserves it.