36. Maia
36
MAIA
P hoebe’s upstairs in her crib, and I’ve got the baby monitor in my lap, the remainder of uneaten food on the plate in front of me. Ben had promised he’d eat as much of it as he could so that I didn’t offend Talia.
I told him it couldn’t be that bad, and that, no, I’d be fine. After a few mouthfuls, I absolutely begged him to eat it. He agreed, on one condition. And, strangely enough, I’m looking forward to him claiming it.
Our little game has clearly fallen to the wayside now with the anger simmering in the air between the siblings. The last person had barely put their fork down before the argument started, and it seems like the twins are on their parents’ side of this rogue argument, my mates are on the other, and their mates are just trying to calm everything down.
Aaron was smart enough not to speak back up after Iris told him he’s never here so doesn’t get to comment, and Ben backed it up.
I was smart enough never to even open my mouth in the first place.
This is one argument that I do not want to be involved in.
“She will never think you’re good enough,” Topher snarls, glaring at his eldest sister. I flinch, not sure who she is, but the hurt that fills Talia’s face is enough for me to know this was a horrid jab.
They were arguing over the pack issues that’s been happening and the dangers of it all. But now, he’s getting personal, and I have no doubt that Talia and Iris will return it.
They’re vicious, and angry, and so, so unhappy.
I can only feel Topher’s feelings, but they feel like a heavy weight on top of me. Not enough to drag me down, but enough that I’m full of sorrow and a desperate urge to soothe him.
Talia crosses her arms in front of her chest, her hazel eyes narrowed into slits as she sneers at her brother. “I’m not trying to gain her approval, brother. I am my own woman.”
“Oh, but you aren’t. You’re so pathetic, sniffing around, begging her to love you. The desperation pours from you, and it fucking stinks.”
Talia snarls, her eyes flashing blue as her wolf makes a brief appearance. “Don’t you dare talk to me like that, Christopher. I’m a member of this pack, and my unhappiness over your little discussion here has nothing to do with me trying to earn mummy’s approval.
“I do not want to be part of plots to try and usurp our parents. They’ll hand the pack to you all when you are ready . You clearly aren’t, so stop throwing a little tantrum and trying to find ways that you can be so much better, when clearly, you’re just as desperate as I am.
“You may have reinforced your home, but you’ve not done that to the pack. Your protection is extended to your mate only, and if you knew nothing about the rogues, then why bother tightening security? My mates might not have questioned that, but I am.”
“That’s none of your business, sister,” Alex says, his tone far calmer than any of theirs. “But it’s got nothing to do with these rogue scents, and if we were informed on that issue, we’d have taken very different steps. ”
“And besides, you’re crying about the fact that we’re going against our parents ,” Topher says, using a whiny tone of voice when imitating his sister, “but I was strong enough to break George’s hold on your mate. So I’m at least stronger than one of our parents.”
Topher smirks at his sister, but it’s not a nice look. It’s one I don’t often see from Topher anymore, one so smug and full of himself, and I hate that this situation has brought this nasty side out of him.
His anger is so strong it’s starting to pulsate through our bond and overwhelm my system. I’m finding it hard to breathe through it, the burning edges of it causing my nerves to sting.
I clutch the baby monitor tighter in my hands, low-key praying Phoebe will wake up, and I can escape this little showdown. I’m not brave enough to get in the middle of this sibling argument, but worse than that, I’m not stupid enough to get into the middle of an argument with so many angry werewolves.
The food was nice . The conversation is even nicer .
But it wasn’t this venomous to start with, at least.
Now, they’re ready to rip each other apart, and honestly, I don’t think they’ll stick to the verbal insults. I’m not sure if my men would actually fight their sisters, but I don’t know the girls well enough to say if they’ve got the same restraint.
Iris’s men have already tried to intervene a few times on her behalf, and she’s taken their head off, but I have no doubt that if it were to get physical, the men would not be able to control themselves.
It’s a little worrying.
“I’m sure you are,” Talia scoffs. “But they’d be able to overpower you.”
“And I’m strong enough to knock our father’s on their asses.” Topher glares at his sister. “You’re acting like I’m doing this out of spite or some stupid little rebellion. The wolves won’t ever be content until the strongest is on top. Our pack is in danger every single day with our parents ruling and under-utilising us.
“They’ve been gone for a month without informing us of these threats that not only were they aware of, but they were actively working to keep from us. Actual threats. I’ve got a child now, Talia, and I’m appalled that you’d be on their side and not mine.”
My head hurts, and I can’t believe that this is another thing that’s happened with their family. I couldn’t… I grew up in a home where I was loved, where my family supported one another, no matter their views or their opinions.
My mum’s “spite company” still had the full support of my granddad, and despite them arguing over policies and politics, they still loved each other enough that they’d never act this way.
I know I come from a place of privilege compared to my men and their family.
I may have lost my parents, but it was to an accident, not to a… murder and a death. It’s not a comparison, but if it were, the guys would have won.
Ryan lived a hard life, but I don’t think his cousins have had it any easier.
And it’s hard to sit here and watch this. It’s so personal, so intimate, and so damaging.
“It shouldn’t ever be a battle of sides ,” Talia snarls, and Iris nods, backing her sister. “And don’t ever doubt my love for my children. I’d do anything to protect them. You’re barely a parent, don’t try and tell me how I should be behaving.”
“Barely a parent.” Alex echoes her words, his face pale, his tone devoid of emotion. I wish I could feel how he felt.
Iris lets out a hollow laugh. “It’s fucking ridiculous that you’re sitting here so high and mighty when I know exactly who fathered your child. Who even gives a fuck about her?”
I flinch as numerous eyes fly my way. My stomach churns, and bile rises up in my throat, but I do my best to keep my face unbothered. Her words hurt so badly that I ache . It kills me to know she feels this way.
But the disgust in Topher’s emotions, the increase in his anger, and the absolute devastation in his feelings, prove to me that he does not feel the same way as his sister.
Ben and Alex have to grab Seb and hold him back because his snarl is so vicious. My men don’t feel the same way.
And whilst that’s nice, it kills me to know that Ryan’s entire family won’t ever love her. They can’t see past their history with her dad to love her for her.
Which kills me.
“You didn’t think we’d notice the scent, did you, brother?” Iris sneers, laughing.
“What are you going on about, peaches?” Aaron asks, looking between the men and his mate.
“They’re keeping secrets from us,” Iris says, laughing bitterly. “Ryan Grey, the pathetic cousin of ours, fathered their little pup. That entire branch of our family is toxic, Aaron. You remember, don’t you, Cade?” Her words seem to be upsetting her mate as well as mine. “They’re murderers with no morals, and here you are raising one of their children, acting as if she’s yours.”
Bile rises in my throat, tears pricking at my eyes. I hang my head, unable to let her words wash over me whilst hiding a reaction. I don’t understand her hatred, but that doesn’t mean she’s not entitled to it.
But now, it all makes sense, why she’s been so stand-offish since she got here today.
Doesn’t excuse last time, though.
“It’s disgusting,” Iris finishes.
My throat closes up, and I can’t bear to look at her. I can’t do it. I feel foolish for not considering the way that they’d feel.
“That is enough,” Cade snarls, glaring at his mate. “Maia has been nothing but?—”
“Oh, fuck off,” Iris hisses, glaring at her mate. “We all know how you felt about the fucking Greys. So, of course, you’d care about their newest spawn.”
My heart is pounding, sweat forming on my palms, as the tensions increase. My body is frozen, unable to get up and leave like my brain is begging for.
I can’t do this. I can’t sit here and take this.
And yet, I am.
Because I’m pathetic.
“Do not fucking dare talk about my daughter like that,” Kane roars, slamming his hands down on the table, after wrestling himself away from Alex and Ben. “My daughter is not born of her father’s sins. But more than that—her father has no sins .”
“He killed her,” Talia and Iris snarl at the same time.
“He was a child.” My words are a whisper, and everyone freezes, looking at me, almost as if they forgot I was there. I don’t look at anyone but Kane, his bright green eyes holding me in place, giving me confidence.
“My… Ryan was a child when you lost your cousin. He couldn’t have done anything. But what’s worse was it was never his job to. That fell to his parents, to the adults in her life. It was their job to protect their daughter. You shouldn’t have lost her.
“But that did not fall onto him, and what's more, it does not fall onto my daughter.”
“Ours,” Kane says, giving me a nod.
“Maia is correct,” Cade says, giving Iris a soft look. “We’ve had this argument so many times, love, and we can’t keep living in this grief. Morgan is gone, but we don’t need to keep up the life of hatred.”
“They killed her.”
The words “and your mum killed Ryan” is on the tip of my tongue, but I bite it back at Kane’s subtle head shake.
“That’s enough. All of you calm down, now,” Alex snarls, and I feel the pressure behind his words from Max working with him as everyone has no choice but to fall silent and relax. “ Enough. I don’t know what you think you know, but you know nothing .”
He rises to his feet, his eyes looking between each person, and he sighs at the faces of annoyance and devastation. “A lot is going on that you girls know nothing about, and I’m not going to sit here and let you act like you do. Your words towards my child are not okay, and they will be dealt with. We’re not living like this.
“If you want to live the rest of your life full of anger and hatred, then you do that. But it won’t be in our lives, and it won’t be in this pack. My mate and daughter come first. You will always side with our parents?—”
“Daddy’s girl with huge mummy issues,” Ben mutters, his eyes narrowed into slits as he glares at Iris.
“Enough,” Alex warns as he looks at Ben. Ben nods, but he flips Alex off behind his back, so it’s clear he didn’t take the warning to heart. “We’re going to talk with Kyle about the rogue issue. We’re going to figure out what’s been happening and especially what has happened whilst we’ve been in charge. And then, we’re going to take it to our parents and most likely take the pack whilst we’re at it.”
Talia crosses her arms in front of her chest and nods once. Iris doesn’t even react. As much as I wish I had the bond to Alex so I could feel the way he does, I know for a fact that it’s for the best so that he can’t feel me.
“A lot has happened that you’re not aware of regarding Maia, and Phoebe, and their history with Ryan Grey, and I’m not going to sit here and let you disrespect either of them.” He sits back down and looks at his sisters in turn. “I love you both, I truly do, but Maia is my soulmate. And as my mate, I will not tolerate this behaviour towards her. Maia is not going to sit here in her own home and be glared at and insulted, and neither is our child.”
“Alex—” Talia starts, giving me an almost sheepish look before turning back to her brother .
“Oh, I know your feelings had nothing at all to do with Ryan Grey,” Topher says, and my eyes fly over to him. He looks his sister up and down and sighs, giving her a sad smile. “Your issues are because my mate gave birth to a female wolf, and you did not.”
“Oh, Talia,” Lyle says, his voice cracking as he reaches over to take his mate’s hand. Her eyes fill with tears, and she hangs her head in shame.
My heart goes out to her, but I make no effort to reassure her.
“Our mother is a dick, and we’ve told you that numerous times,” Alex says. “She’s never ever going to find you worthy. You’re doomed, either way. Get therapy. Get help for your insecurities.” He sits back in his seat, seemingly unbothered as Lyle comforts his mate, and I’m genuinely surprised by his cold attitude. “But do not ever behave this way again, sister of mine, or you’ll find yourself unwelcome in our home.”
Alex never raises his voice, his tone is always calm and pleasant, even his demeanour is relaxed. He’s so authentic, though, as he speaks, you can’t look away. The charisma combined with the absolute certainty that he will do this has Talia sighing and giving in.
“Mum loves us,” Talia says before sighing heavily. “But I know that our relationship isn’t healthy. I’m not…” She rubs at her face, sitting back in the seat. “As far as I’m aware, the rogue sightings are all bullshit. Nobody has actually seen one.”
Iris clenches her jaw, ignoring the look from each of her men. Whilst Talia’s “given in”, Iris has not, and I’m very concerned. Based on the tension each of my men are all carrying as they eye her, I know that they are, too.
“They haven’t?” Topher asks his sister, raising an eyebrow. The two eldest siblings from their own multiple sets start chatting back and forth. No anger, no hostility, no threats. They’re just calm .
My eyes widen, shock filling me, as I see how with that one action, they’ve all relaxed.
“Siblings,” Ben whispers to me with a knowing smirk.
“Only child,” I mutter back, in awe that this argument has now just dropped.
They were vicious towards each other, and now, they don’t even seem upset as they just adapt. It’s weird, and I can’t even begin to understand it.
“No,” Kyle confirms, finally finding his voice now that the siblings are no longer at each other’s throats. “There have been claims, but nobody has ever actually confirmed it. The scents, however, do exist.”
Iris is silent, as are her men, but based on their bright eyes, I’m wondering if they’re maybe communicating amongst themselves.
“And my dad thought it was better to not fucking tell us.” Topher glares at the table, his anger burning away inside him.
“If it helps, I don’t think many people know,” Kyle says.
“No, I don’t think it does,” Ben says with a sneer. “Because we’re not just anyone , we’re the future alphas and should be filled in on this sort of thing. Fucking idiot that you are.”
Kyle doesn’t bite, but I reach under the table to kick Ben’s leg. I missed and hit Seb instead. He doesn’t care.
Topher’s feelings are a lot less concerned now that he’s heard this, though, and I don’t understand it. He’s more relaxed, more focused, but also seems to have some form of understanding regarding these rogue sightings. Well, smellings?
He’s come to some realisation, I just don’t know what of.
“Let’s take this inside,” Alex says, and the rest of the table nod. Iris and her three mates don’t make a move, though. “We’ll break it down properly with who has seen what and when.”
“I’ve got the information,” Kyle says.
“I’ll clear this up whilst you guys talk,” I murmur, and Seb hangs back to help me, as everyone else heads inside. My boobs are aching a little, and I’m exhausted. The nights are long when I’m waking up numerous times per night with my tiny infant, and after socialising a lot tonight, my social battery is drained.
I really don’t want to be part of another heavy conversation. Especially this one, that, well, I don’t have to be involved in. I’ve got nothing to contribute and don’t really understand half of what they’re saying. Instead, I can hide out in the kitchen washing up dishes as they figure it out, and then, hopefully, I can go to sleep.
“ O ur parents are fucking dickheads,” Topher snarls, glaring at Alex. The twins and their mates left only ten minutes ago or so, and my men have lost any little bit of calm that they possessed.
Well, Topher has. He’s furious and has barely taken a breath to pause in his tirade of why.
Ben escaped quickly to go to the toilet. I hope he’s not actually in pain from the dinner, but I don’t blame him for running from this conversation. Seb just walked out and didn’t say where he was going, but I’m not concerned about him, either.
I heard him enter my bedroom on the baby monitor, so he’ll be sitting with Phoebe, likely just keeping an eye on her, to keep her safe, with the concerns about the rogue scent thing.
The information shared by Kyle has really rattled them, but, from Topher’s kick off here, he seems to think that it’s just Ethan. Alex agrees, but neither man is sure how he’s doing it or what’s going on with his scent. Whilst they’re not too concerned about the pack’s safety, they are concerned about Phoebe and I .
However, that doesn’t mean Topher isn’t raging because his dads do not know that it’s “just” Ethan. To him, this oversight is an even bigger issue, and he’s furious at it.
“No arguments here. But let's reserve judgement until we actually get their side of the story, too.” Alex sounds tired, and I wish I could reach over and just soothe him.
“Their side of the story?” Topher roars, glaring at his brother. “There’s no side here. There’s just protection and reckless endangerment. They’ve had a huge threat hanging over their heads—over the heads of our pack —and rather than using their full resources to handle it, they’ve been hiding it from us.
“They’re cowards. The lowest scum of the alpha totem pole. Men who refuse to hand over the reigns long past their expiry date, and I’m mortified to know that I’m related to them. They’re weak, pathetic, and dangerous . What the fuck do they think they’re doing hiding something of this level?
“This behaviour should be impossible. Scents don’t just disappear. They don’t just fade away and lose track. Seb should’ve been informed. We should’ve been informed. We’d have worked our fucking asses off to do something about it.”
“I know,” Alex says.
“And yet you’re wanting to hear their side of things .” Topher snarls, whirling around to give Alex the biggest glower he can muster. “I’m honestly going to go over there immediately and?—”
“Enough.” My eyes widen when I realise it was me who spoke, and Topher falls silent.
“Sorry.” Topher sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. He’s embarrassed but still has adrenaline flooding through his system.
“You don’t need to be sorry,” I say softly. “But there’s no use shouting at Alex over it. Or any of us.” I scoot closer to the edge of the sofa and reach for his hand. “Could you go for a run or something? Calm down a little? We’re safe. Phoebe and I are home, and we’re unharmed. The pack is safe.”
He takes a deep breath and nods. “I’ll go for a run.”
“Run the patrols,” Alex says. “Check everything is okay. It’ll help Orion settle.”
Topher nods. He bends down and presses a kiss to my forehead before heading outside, not bothering to look back.
“Did you and Cade get much of a chance to talk?” Alex asks me, and I shake my head, getting comfortable against his side. “It’s a surprise that you both know each other.”
I rest my head on his chest and press a soft kiss to the bare skin. “It’s not like we’re friends. He was older— is older. But it’s nice to see someone familiar up here.”
“Have you known him for long?” He sounds pretty interested.
“Since he was about twenty, I think,” I say, trying to do the maths in my mind. It’s been about fourteen years or so. “He was always willing to help me do my homework when he was there. He started at first, just during an internship, and then once he started working for his firm, they were a big benefactor.”
He nods, pressing a kiss to my temple. “Interesting.”
“How come?” I ask, peering up at him.
“I’ve always thought he was the dickhead of Iris’s mates. He’s quite stern, very serious, and is the one who is… less willing to entertain Iris during her more dramatic moments,” Alex says, smiling wryly at me.
I push away, raising an eyebrow. “You’re mean to your sister.”
“After her kick off here tonight, you can’t say it’s not justified.”
I shrug, hating the tears that fill my eyes at her words. “I don’t know her, and so I can’t judge that. Your history with Ryan’s family is hard, and it’s… they don’t have me and Phoebe to work through it. Even you guys struggle.
“I don’t expect her to understand or to even accept it. Her words hurt . They hurt because of the way that she talked about Phoebe. The pure… nastiness. It hurt. She hates Ryan, and that was upsetting, sure, but my daughter.”
I sniffle, wiping my eyes, and I take the offered kiss.
“I’m so sorry, little butterfly.” He squeezes me tight. “I love you.”
“I know.” I rest my head on his chest again. “It’s not your fault. Tell me more about Talia and your mum.”
He sighs, but it’s one of relief. “My mum’s always had it hard in her eyes. You know about the issue with Aurora, with Henry choosing her over my mum. Then, and probably more importantly to my mum, there was the fact that Aurora had a wolf-born daughter, whilst my mum didn’t. She’s constantly been hard on the twins because of the fact that they weren’t wolves.
“It’s ridiculous, and my mum really should seek therapy and deal with her issues, but she’s content to blame the girls for being weak . So when Talia was pregnant, my mum was elated. In her eyes, this was her “fix”. Her way for Talia to reclaim the glory for our family.”
Alex sounds so pissed off here, and I know for a fact he doesn’t feel the same way that his family does. I love it. I love him.
“However, when Talia found out that she was having boys , my mum was horrid to her throughout the entire pregnancy, and even still, to this day, she’ll make rude comments and insult my sister for not being better .”
“Oh, wow.” My heart aches for her. Julie… she had it rough, but putting this much pressure on your children, for blaming them for being born … I can’t understand it.
“Iris has it worse,” Alex admits. “She hasn’t tried to start having kids, and in my mum's eyes, that’s an “even worse failure than Talia has done”. It’s… the twins are so desperate to earn her love that it can be difficult for them. They’ve never braved going against my parents, and it’s a shit situation. ”
“That sounds awful,” I whisper, the sorrow I feel threatening to drag me under.
Alex grimaces, looking over at me. “I’m sorry for the way my sisters have treated you. I didn’t… the first night was harder to realise that they were so off-putting and rude. Looking back at it, I can see it clearly, but at the time, I ignored it. I’m sorry for how they treated you, and I’m sorry we let it happen.”
“Don’t be.” I genuinely mean that, too.
“You’re too sweet, Maia, but I am going to be sorry.” He gently cups my cheeks and leans in to press a soft kiss to my lips. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“You’re exhausted,” he murmurs, and I nod with a heavy sigh. “Get yourself to bed. Phoebe will hopefully wake soon for a feed, and you can both get some good sleep.”
“Fingers crossed.” I yawn, and move away from him, stretching as I rise to my feet. “It’s Ben’s night tonight, isn’t it?”
He nods, giving me a warm smile. “I’m not sure if you’ll rid Seb from the bedroom, mind you.”
I laugh and shrug. I bend down and give him a soft kiss. “Then I’ll see you in the morning.”
I’m slow and sluggish as I head upstairs, and I need a good night’s sleep. Just one that will let me forget the hellish day this has been.
Because whilst the guys have all moved on to focusing on their pack… I’m a selfish girl who hasn’t. Instead, all that is playing on my mind is how much everyone hates me because I fell in love with a beautiful man who needed to learn that he was worthy of being loved without the shadow of his past hanging over him.