Chapter 7 - Maddox
I don't like having to keep Jillian locked in her room, but I couldn't think of anything else to do. She had made it clear that I couldn't trust her. She snuck out of the window, for God's sake. I knew just how hard that was to do.
I sat in front of the door, my arms crossed as I stared at the plate that I had sitting in front of it. I had knocked on the door four times already, telling her I had food for her. But I had a feeling she was ignoring me again.
She spoke to me on occasion, usually to insult me. I was honestly surprised that Frank or Nina hadn't come to the house yet. I thought she would have told them how I had her locked in a room.
I took a deep breath and sighed. "Jillian, your food is going to get cold. I'm not warming it back up for you if it does."
I looked at the plate. I'd made her an omelet for breakfast. I added vegetables and some bacon on the side, hoping it might soften her anger toward me. I was doubtful, but it was worth a shot.
I wasn't doing any of this to be an ass. It was for her own good. If she tried running away again and the Council caught wind of any of this, we would both be in for a lashing. As badly as she thought this was, it would be way worse.
The door opened, and Jillian stood in the doorway. She was wearing a pair of shorts that were only a few inches long. She wore a tank top that was cropped, revealing her stomach. She was showing a lot of skin, and my wolf growled at the sight of her.
Her hair was a mess as she rubbed at her eyes. She moved, stretching, and the tank top hiked up a little more. I stared at her smooth skin, feeling a shiver roll down my entire spine.
I broke my gaze looking at her plate. I nodded towards it. "Food."
She looked down and then to the left, where the stairs were.
I frowned, thinking of last night and how I had let my guard down for a split second. "Let's not have a repeat of last night."
This was day three of keeping her locked up. She'd tried running several times. The first morning, she took off, and I caught her at the door. The second day, she was good, but she took off when she thought I wasn't looking. I wasn't taking any chances.
"May I pee?" she asked, knowing fully well she was being a smartass.
I pulled myself up. "You know where the bathroom is."
"You gonna watch me like a perv?"
I scowled at her. "I haven't done that."
She turned on her heels and walked towards the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind her. She had nowhere to go because the window in there was locked, and even if she wanted to get out, she had nothing she could use to help her.
She came out of the bathroom after a few minutes and came back towards me. She grabbed her plate and turned towards her room.
"Don't want to chat?" I asked just as the door slammed shut.
I rolled my eyes and rubbed my forehead. This was giving me a headache. I wanted to put distance between us, but that wasn't happening, and the more time I spent with her, the more I felt that pull to be near her.
I pulled my phone out, trying to find a distraction.
I glanced over my emails, not seeing anything that needed my attention, so I opened my group chat with the guys.
It was basically a group chat of photos at this point.
The guys were sending pictures of their kids and wives.
A year ago, it was just messages we used to keep in touch.
We would ask when the next meeting we would be having, or a quick question about something regarding the pack.
I stared at the last couple of messages, which were all asking how things were going with Jillian. I hadn't responded, not sure what I wanted to say. Things would have been better, but they certainly could have been worse. She could have gotten away.
I thought about finding her room empty. I panicked and hurried to the door, looking down. I watched the sheets flutter in the wind. "Fuck!"
I hauled ass downstairs, grabbing my jacket and pulling it on. I threw on shoes and hurried out the door. I wasn't even sure I locked it behind me.
I couldn't help but smirk at it now. Jillian was smart and calculated. She had waited and been patient, which told me she would try doing something again. She wasn't going to just give up, and I needed to be prepared for whatever she threw at me.
I rolled my shoulders and pulled myself up. I walked to the door and locked it once more. I headed down the stairs into the kitchen, needing something to do besides watch the door.
I cleaned up the kitchen and made a few phone calls. I was sitting on the couch, just getting off a call with my beta, when my phone rang. It was Frank.
I looked up the stairs, wondering if she had finally told him. I answered the phone, pulling myself up. "Yes?"
"I'm just calling to see how things are going." Frank sounded normal, not like he was angry, which confused me.
"Things are fine." I started up the stairs. "Why are you asking?"
"Because Jillian was a member of my pack for years and best friends with my wife. I was going to call last night since you didn't respond to any of us when we asked you previously, but I forgot."
I stopped in front of the door and ran a hand through my face. "She's fine. We're fine."
"That was really convincing."
I sighed, figuring I should tell him. He was likely going to find out anyway. "I have Jillian locked in her room."
"Like an animal!" Jillian yelled through the door.
I couldn't suppress the smirk. Smartass.
"You what?" Frank's voice dipped.
"She ran away. I didn't exactly have a choice."
Frank was quiet for a split second before I could hear him shifting on a chair. "She what?"
"I caught her in Andrew's territory before she got too far. So, she's locked in a room until the ceremony."
"You didn't give me a choice!" Jillian yelled, and I could tell she was standing closer to the door this time.
"You could not run away, that's always a choice," I said with a shrug.
"What the hell!?" Frank snapped. "Why didn't you tell me any of this?"
"I honestly thought she would have. I'm surprised she hasn't."
"You can't keep her locked up like an animal, Maddox. She's a person."
"I don't trust her," I said simply. "And until the ceremony, I won't be taking any chances."
I heard Frank sigh heavily on the other side. "Maddox, some advice. You're going to marry this woman. Maybe not piss her off right off the bat."
"And what makes you think I'm the one in the wrong here?"
"Because I know Jillian."
I nodded. "Yeah, you say that, but you also didn't know she snuck out and tried to run away, so maybe there are some things you don't know about her."
Frank was quiet, and I turned, leaning against the railing. "She's being taken care of. She's fed, has internet, and is alive."
"You have her locked up like an animal."
"Hardly. I trust an animal."
I heard him sigh again. "What made her run away?"
I paused and frowned." What makes her want to stay?" I asked instead.
Frank was quiet for a moment. "Just…. treat her right. I would hate to have to pull high ranking here."
"You know fully well I would never hurt a woman. She's not hurt, she's not dying. She's fine. Pissed at me, but fine."
"Go to hell, Maddox."
I turned and smirked at the door.
"Sounds like you two are a match made for each other."
I couldn't help but wonder why my charm didn't work for her. Women always had a pull towards me, always wanted to be around me. Yet the woman in that room didn't. She seemed to have a little bit of hatred for me.
"You know me," I smiled. "I'm up for a challenge."
After my phone call with Frank, I decided to try to find something to do. I was organizing papers in my office when I heard the sound of something hard crashing in Jillian’s room. I instantly panicked and started up the stairs. I hurried to her room and unlocked the door, pulling it open.
I stepped inside, finding the room to be the same as I expected. However, as I turned to look at the other side of the room, I saw Jillian swing. She had the side table lamp in her hands and was using it as a weapon.
I ducked quickly, watching her swing and miss. She had put her weight into that swing and swung again, this time aiming lower. I stumbled back, not having much room to move out of her way.
But that seemed to be all she needed. She threw the lamp as soon as the doorway was open and ran for it. I quickly knew what her plan was and moved, stepping a few feet after her.
Her elbow slammed back, connecting with my jaw, as I grabbed hold of her arm. I tightened my hold as a sharp pain went over my jawline where she had hit me.
"Let go!" She screamed, throwing an arm back. She quickly fought, trying to get free, and I blocked every hit she threw. She yanked, and we both stumbled backwards.
I landed on her and quickly pinned her down to the floor. She jerked, and it was like a replay of what happened in the woods the first time.
"Jillian, stop." I shoved her wrist down tightly, trying to work my jaw and move past the pain.
Jillian panted, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she tried to breathe.
My body seemed suddenly aware of the position I had put us in.
I was hovering over her, my body inches from hers.
I was aware of how much skin was showing on her body, aware of how easy it would be to take her and make her mine.
My wolf growled, aching to get closer. I wanted to, Jesus did I want to. But why? Why out of everyone did I want her? What about her made her any different from all the other women? What was it about Jillian that drove me crazy?
Her wrist sagged, and she huffed. "I wish I had hit you at least once."
I laughed. "Better luck next time."
I watched her jaw clench together before she tilted her head. "Or maybe you enjoy doing that. Enjoy watching someone suffer."
I let go and leaned back, needing space between us.
"You think I like having to put energy into restraining someone? You think I like having to watch you like this?"
She shrugged. "I don't know what kinks you have."
"Really? You want to talk about kinks?" I asked sarcastically. My eyes went to her mouth, and I stared at her light pink lips. I wondered how they would feel pressed against mine. She did kiss softly, or did she kiss with power behind it?
I swallowed, suddenly aware of just how this looked. Jillian was practically naked, and we were so close. A blush rolled over her face, and I knew I needed to put distance between us before something happened.
I ran a hand over my jaw and leaned back on my heels. I shook the moment off and looked back at her with a serious expression.
"What do you want me to do, Jillian?"
"Let me go." She stated. "Let me leave."
"I can't," I said, pulling myself up. "And you know that. I have little control over this, just like you."
I watched sorrow flicker across her face, and I wanted so badly to change it. I wanted to take it away and make things better. But why? She tried killing Frank not too long ago? Why did I feel such an urge to be here for her? Why did I care?