Chapter 17 - Maddox
I was fueled by pure rage as I pulled my hand up and swung again. The guy begged me to let him go, but I wouldn't. This little shit just shoved my wife to the ground, and I was going to make sure he knew that he was making a mistake.
"Maddox," I heard my name, and paused as I looked over towards Jillian. She looked at me with shocked eyes. "Stop, you have to stop."
I took a slow breath in and looked back towards the guy. I didn't even know his name. I didn't want to know his name. I wanted him to hurt. I wanted him to pay for what he'd done. For what he probably would have done if I hadn't shown up.
And I knew I needed to calm down. I wanted to make this man pay, but if I hit him again, there was a good chance I would cause him serious harm. That was if I hadn't already.
There was blood everywhere, and my knuckles were starting to turn blue from the hits. I unclenched my fingers and lowered my hand. My other one loosened on his shirt, and I let go of him.
He slumped back onto the ground, and both of his hands came up to his face as he tried to assess what I'd done. The other two guys pulled at him, trying to help him get up.
"Get out of here," I growled, baring my teeth at them. I didn't know their names, but I would remember their faces, and I knew they would remember me.
After they pulled him up and walked away, I turned to the girls. Jillian was rubbing her head, looking both stunned and ill. I leaned over. "Are you okay?"
She nodded, her lips forming a tight line. She was paler than before, and I knew something wasn't right.
I looked at Ava and Justiny, who were both frozen as statues.
"How…. how did you even know that I was here?" She asked slowly, pulling a hand up to rub at the back of her head.
I frowned. "I had a meeting with Frank. I was just here by chance. Good thing to because I would have hated to hear what would have happened if I wasn't here."
I looked at Ava and Justiny. "Are you two okay?"
They both nodded.
"Here, let's get you up." I bent down to help Jillian, but she shook as I did. I frowned, not liking it. "Are you okay? Did you hit your head?"
She nodded. "I'm fine. I just hit my head a little."
I scowled. If they shoved her and gave her a concussion, I was going to hunt them down and really make them pay.
"I just need a moment," she said after a second of silence.
I looked back at Ava and Justiny. "I will take her home, girls. You guys are free to go."
They both looked at Jillian before giving me a nod. "We will see you later."
As Ava and Justiny turned and left, I bent back down and reached for Jillian. "Tell me what hurts?"
"I'm fine."
"You're shaking, and I know it's not just because of your head. So, either you have a concussion or something else is bothering you."
She remained quiet for a moment when she looked at me. I could see fear in her eyes as she took my hands. "I…"
Someone walked by us, and Jillian fell silent. I suddenly remembered that there were people all over. So, I scooped her up and headed for my car across the street.
"Maddox, put me down. I can walk."
"Just let me carry you," I said, holding her tighter to me. Her entire body shook, and it scared me. What had happened? Had they said something to her? Done something to her besides shove her?
"What happened?" I asked as I opened the passenger side door and set her inside. I leaned in close, blocking anyone from seeing or hearing her. "Tell me."
"Nothing happened with them. They were just being asses."
"Then why are you shaking?"
She swallowed and licked her lips. Then she spoke. "When I was pushed down…I had a vision."
I blinked. "What do you mean?"
She frowned. "Like what Sam has. Visions. But I was watching people get hurt, and I felt anger." She wet her lips. "I think I was seeing it all through his eyes. The future through him. I was in his head."
My blood felt utterly cold, and I soaked her words in. Did that mean she was a psychic like Sam was? How many times had this happened to her?
"Has this happened before?"
She shook her head. "No, I've never been able to do this."
I smiled at her. "Jillian, this is good news. You're a seer like Sam is."
But she didn't smile at me, and I didn't understand why.
She licked her lips. "I was scared. To feel anger and pure rage like that." She shook her head. "I don't want to feel that again."
I leaned forward, pulling her into a hug. I held her tightly, stroking her head. "You're going to be okay. You can talk to Sam and the witches about this. They will know so much and be able to help you."
She was silent for a long moment before she whispered. "We have to tell the Council."
I was sure they would have tons of questions, but they would see this as a good thing. Sam was able to see things, so this wasn't new news.
"I'm sure they are going to have tons of questions, but everything is going to be fine."
She shook her head. "I don't think it's going to be that simple.".
"I'm not going to let anything happen to you."
We headed to the Council to inform them of what we had found out. Jillian was frozen in her seat, almost afraid. Her fingers picked at her nails, her left leg bouncing. I didn't know what to do to help her. I didn't know who to call.
I thought of calling Jay and Sam since Sam had visions before, but I don't recall them being in the mind of the man who was creating all of these problems. Sam's visions were different from Jillian's.
We pulled up in front of the building, and I hated how it reminded me of a jail.
I knew that was how Jillian felt, so I took her hand.
We headed inside, going straight up to the third floor.
As we arrived, I informed the receptionist that we needed to see the Council.
We were told that they would be free in a moment.
We took a seat in the hallway, and I glanced at Jillian. She chewed on her lower lip, her eyes glued to the floor.
"They will want to lock me up," Jillian said softly, her eyes not looking at me.
"They won't," I said softly. "This isn't like last time."
She glanced at me. "There is nothing you can do to stop them."
"I won't let them. They will have to lock me up as well."
Jillian shook her head, pulling her hand away.
"Jillian, I mean it. I'm sure they will have questions, but this isn't like last time. This is different."
She looked broken and opened her mouth to say something, but then the doors opened. Sam stepped out, and her eyes looked a little surprised when she saw us. "Jillian? Maddox, what are you doing here?"
I frowned, not sure what to say. She looked worried as she looked back at Jillian. "Jillian, what's wrong?"
I walked closer to Sam. "Your visions…. were you ever able to see into his mind?"
Sam looked stunned as I asked that question, and her eyes quickly flicked over towards Jillian. "Are you having visions?"
"Sam, you're dismissed," Ralph's voice echoed loudly as they all sat waiting for us. Jillian looked away from Sam, stepping inside. Sam looked at me, her voice dipping low. "What is happening?"
I swallowed. "She had a vision…."
Sam looked back at Jillian before I stepped past her, shutting the door behind me. I felt my stomach sink as I walked across the space, heading over to where Jillian had taken a seat.
They all looked at us with calm expressions, but I knew they would quickly change once they heard what we were about to tell them. Jillian sat utterly frozen in the chair, her hands shaking.
"What did you guys need to share with us that was so urgent?"
Jillian swallowed. "I had a vision."
They all seemed to sit up a little straighter. "What do you mean?" Ralph asked.
She wet her lips. "I had a vision that there was going to be a lot of death." She glanced at me before adding. "I saw it through his eyes. I saw him killing people and destruction coming."
"Wait a second, like you saw him killing people? The exact person we have been trying to find?"
"What do you mean you saw this?"
"Are you saying you're able to get into his head?"
"What kind of magic is this?"
"Can we trust her?" They all spoke at once, but Ralph stared at her with a neutral expression. He waved a hand, and they all fell silent.
"You understand that this is a problem, right, Jillian? We already have you on a watch list because of what happened between Frank and Nina."
Jillian nodded.
"Now you're saying you have a way to see into his head?"
She shook her head. "No, I just…I saw this. I.."
"Does that mean he can see into yours?" Jennissa asked.
"Can he still control her?" Willow asked
"This is concerning. She can't be trusted."
"Hold on a second," I snapped. "We came here to let you know. She didn't have to tell you about this. Sam sees visions as well. How is this any different?"
"That's not the problem," Ralph growled. "The problem is, he could still be in her head, and that's dangerous. We have no idea what he is capable of, and we need to be vigilant to keep us all protected."
I shook my head, knowing that wasn't true. If he had been in her head, she would have told us. "He's not in her head. She saw a vision. It isn't like she snapped her fingers and popped into his mind."
"You don't know that," Willow said. "And she should be locked up until we know more."
"She can't be trusted."
"After all, she did try killing Frank."
"This is unfair!" I yelled furiously. "She is not a murderer! She is not working against us! She has a gift."
Willow raised an eyebrow at me. "Turn of events there. Just a few months ago, you were certain she couldn't be trusted, and now you want her to walk freely. Should we be concerned where your allegiance lies?"
I stood stunned. So many questions were flooding my head, and I couldn't believe how quickly this was turning.
But I knew deep in my soul that Jillian was safe.
I didn't trust her before, but I do now.
I knew just how hurt Jillian was. Before I knew the truth, I could see she was tortured by what happened.
And the last thing I wanted was for her to be put back into a dark room.
She couldn't even sleep without the lights on. She jumped at loud noises and was always looking over her shoulder. She was strong, but she was also scared and afraid all the time.
"Are you saying that she's done something to sway you, Maddox? Should we be concerned about finding a new Alpha for your pack?" The question came out as an accusation, and I wanted to scream.
But a hand was placed over mine, and I looked at Jillian. She gave me a tight smile, looking at me with pleading eyes. "Please…just...let me go."
"What?" She couldn't be serious right now.
"It's easier this way."
"No, no, it's not. You're my wife, and you've done nothing wrong."
She squeezed my hand. "Maddox, if this is what they need to know, that everyone is safe."
"I know that you're safe," I said low, looking deeply into her eyes. "Because you are."
She swallowed, and she wouldn't look at me. She turned to the Council. "I'll go."
"No!" I growled. "She will not."
"Maddox, please." She begged now. "You can't go against the Council. You should agree instead of fighting. Your pack needs you."
"You are my wife, and I will not let them lock you up because they are scared."
"But I'm scared," she whispered, sounding so broken. "And they have a point. I'm dangerous."
I could see the guilt written in her eyes, and I felt like a failure. I took her hands, squeezing them. "Jillian, you are a wonderful person…and I know you would never hurt someone. You...you don't deserve this."
But I could see in her eyes that she wanted to go. She felt guilty, and there was nothing I could say or do to change her mind.