39. Maia
39
MAIA
“ H ow are you feeling?” Alex asks, and I give him a tense smile before turning back to look out of the window. With the world passing us by this quickly, it feels less intense than the heavy and sombre mood of the car.
Alex nods, reading from my feelings exactly how much turmoil I’m in, and I’m grateful that he doesn’t push.
“We’ll be okay, little butterfly. I promise you, today is the day for answers.” He reaches over to knock his indicator on, moving us over to the left lane. “We’re going to figure out what happened to Ryan and how involved my mum was in that.”
“I’m okay, honestly. You don’t need to worry about me,” I lie, squeezing his hand, before letting the rush of green trees take my attention.
We’re on the drive over to their parent’s house, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt as nervous as I do right now. It’s only ten, and I’m already done with today.
Alex’s hand reaches back to my thigh, and despite the love and warmth I feel from him, I sort of miss the sparks that connected us, only because of the huge levels of cosmic desire there was. There was always a sort of intensity behind them that no longer exists since we’re bonded. Mostly .
“Calm,” Seb murmurs. He’s in the back of the car, and he reaches over the back of my seat to squeeze my shoulder just as firmly as Alex has my thigh. The difference between them is that the sparks fly between Seb and I, my skin burning where we touch.
It’s a beautiful feeling but is absolutely transcended by the bond with Alex. I can’t wait until the day that we’re all connected, the bond between all five of us pulsing and thrumming in harmony.
I nod and hold his hand over my shoulder. “Where are the others? I can’t see their car.”
“They’re here, look,” Alex says as we turn onto his parent’s street. Topher and Ben are both standing outside, waiting for me. Their car is parked in the driveway next to a big black vehicle, so Alex comes to a stop on the curb.
I’m not sure if it’s deliberate or not, but he blocks the other cars in.
Topher approaches the car, and there’s an air of confidence surrounding him as he does. He’s wearing a tailored navy suit, minus the jacket, and his hair is slicked back. He’s hot, and he knows it, but there’s a swagger that comes from his connection with Orion.
They’re both geared up for this confrontation today.
Ben, on the other hand, is far more dressed down. He’s in a pair of Seb’s black tracksuit pants and is wearing a thin white T-shirt. Both men are dressed for the warm spring day, but unlike them, I feel the cold for what it is.
I’ve got a thick pink cardigan over my dress with my coat fastened over me properly to prepare myself against the bitter wind once we’re back outside of the car. The sun is deceiving.
Unless you’re a werewolf.
Both men approach the car, a fierceness in their eyes that sends tingles down my spine. Topher comes to my side, and I can feel his relief at having me here with him. Ben goes to the boot and grabs Phoebe’s nappy bag, although he slams it a little harder than he should. Seb handles getting Phoebe out of her car seat, and I cling to Topher’s hand to let him help me out.
I’m on shaky legs, but I can feel the determination from Topher, Alex, and Ben, and I wish that I was as confident as they are. Whilst I can’t feel Seb’s emotions, I can see the same rigid intensity in him that is in his other brothers.
The four of them are formidable, and I’m lucky enough to call them mine.
“I’ve got you, princess,” Topher murmurs, raising his knuckles to run them down my cheek. He places his other hand on my waist, pulling me in closer to him, and he bends down to brush a soft kiss against my lips.
I sink into his touch, taking the comfort from him that I can before he steps back. I feel the regret in his chest, but I just offer my hand silently.
There’ll be all the time for kisses and touches once we’re done here.
But I need answers. I’ve been patient. I’ve prioritised. I’ve waited.
But now… now the desperation that’s been lingering inside of me is rearing its ugly head, and I need to know what happened to Ryan. Good, bad, or a combination of both. I need to know if Julie killed him.
“Do they know why we’re here?” Alex asks, and Topher shakes his head.
Well, fuck. I’m not sure this sneak attack is going to go down very well.
“You good keeping ahold of her?” I ask, and Seb nods. “Do you want the baby carrier?”
“Why him?” Ben whines, giving me a pouty lip.
“Can you hold your shift back should they say something offensive?” Topher asks, and Ben sighs but shakes his head. “Then, that’s why.”
I take Phoebe whilst Seb gets the baby wear on, and it’s the cutest thing seeing the excited glint in his eyes. Topher helps him adjust the sizing, since I was the one to wear it last, but there’s no hesitance in their movements.
They do it with an ease I did not expect since it’s always been me who has done it previously, and Seb’s silent demand for Phoebe makes me grin. I gently place her inside and help him adjust it even further so that it’s comfortable.
Seb’s so prideful as he carries her, and the six of us head inside the house. I can already feel the tension in the air, and, strangely, nobody came out to greet us. I can hear their soft voices in the living room as we walk through the house, but unlike the rest of the men, I have no idea if all of their parents are home or not.
We come to a stop in the living room doorway, and I regret not holding Ben’s hand since he’s at the back of the group. I could hide away with him instead of being right at the front with Alex and Topher.
The intensity pouring off the two eldest brothers has my heart thudding so loudly I can’t hear anything else, and the waves of their determination is so strong that it has my anxiety spiking that much higher to try and overpower it.
Julie’s sitting on the sofa with two of her men on either side of her, and the third is on the armchair close to them. There’s a lot of snacks and drinks on the coffee table, and the TV is paused on a football game. They all look over at us, and there’s a silent stare-off between my guys and Julie’s. The tension rises, and it’s only broken when Julie stands with a warm smile on her face.
“Aw, can I take a photo, Seb, love? You’re so cute with her,” Julie coos, smiling at Seb as if everything is okay.
The three of their dads share identical looks, and I hate that I don’t know who is who. I met George last time, and I’d be inclined to say he’s the one in the armchair, just based on the aura he carries. They’re all wearing similar clothes—shorts and T-shirts—and, of course, look identical with their broad frames and light caramel hair .
Their frowns are matching, and the icy blue gaze from three men who I think want to cause me harm makes my body shiver.
It’s strange seeing them now that I know who Ryan is and who Ryan’s dad is. They have his face, and it’s so jarring knowing that even without the mate bond, these people would be my daughter’s family just because of that.
“What are you boys doing here?” one of their dads asks, his frown deepening, as he sits forward. He’s on the sofa to the left of Julie and is wearing a red T-shirt. “We’re not meant to be meeting until tomorrow.”
Ben scoffs.
“We need to talk,” Topher says firmly. There’s another look exchanged between the men, and each of them seem to sit up properly as if they’ve been prepared for this.
“About what, Christopher?” his mum asks, tittering away. “Come, sit down. Why are you all standing in the doorway like this? I’ve really missed you boys.”
“Are all the windows shut?” Alex asks, not making a move to sit down. I don’t, either, despite my legs trembling.
“Are all the—what is wrong with you?” she demands, looking at each of us in turn. There’s a furrow in her brows, and she genuinely seems confused about why we’re here.
Surely, she’s not this good of an actress?
“Clearly, they’re here to talk about something important,” one of the dads says, giving me a kind smile. He’s wearing a green shirt, so I’ll have to start keeping track. “It’s nice to see you in person, Maia. I’ve heard some lovely things about you from my sons. I’m Edward, the middle one. Red shirt is Charles, the baby, and the blue shirt is George, the eldest of us three. Charles, go make sure everything is shut properly so that the boys can share their news.”
“It’s always me doing the grunt work,” Charles mutters under his breath but gets up to do it anyway .
“You don’t order us around in our own house,” George says, cocking his brow as he regards Topher.
“And yet, it’s happening anyway, Dad,” Topher says with a nonchalant shrug. There’s no waver in his feelings, he’s so confident that this is going to go his way.
I clutch Alex’s hand tighter, and he rubs his thumb over the back of my hand in soothing support. I feel like I’m moments away from throwing up, but I’ve been unable to eat anything so far today.
“Come sit down, Maia,” Julie says with a smile. “Do you want a drink or something to eat? The little one is getting so much bigger.”
I shake my head, not sure how to react to her kindness. Alex all but drags me over to the empty armchair, settling me in it, and he sits down on the arm of the chair. Ben comes into the room with two of the—I’m assuming—dining chairs. I didn’t see him leave, but he sets them up directly opposite the sofa, much to his mother’s surprise.
Seb comes to stand next to me and shakes his head when I offer to move over so he can sit down. It’s tense, and the stares from each of the men aren’t helping me settle, either.
Topher sits down, seeming so confident, so sure of himself. There’s a strong presence of Orion, and I know the two of them are practically merged as one. It’s not something I’ve ever felt from Topher, and it’s a little unsettling for me.
Ben comes to sit at my feet, surprising me by not sitting with Topher, but I’m grateful for it. He’s a much lighter weight inside me, his bond lit up with almost excitement. There’s annoyance and even distaste, but it’s like he’s been excited for this.
“All locked up,” Charles says, trudging back into the room. “Now, what do you boys want? I’d really like a hold of the baby, so can we get on with it?”
I flinch, looking down at my lap. His mate is the lead suspect in killing my fiancé— my daughter’s father— and he’s asking for baby cuddles. Baby cuddles.
Tears sting my eyes, but I blink them back and look over at Seb and Phoebe. He’s got his hands over her back, holding her to him, even with the carrier holding her in place. They’re adorable together, the dark hair of my daughter’s so similar to mine.
I hate the way my heart pounds at the thought of any of the quads’ family touching her.
They’re Phoebe’s family, too, and yet, they’re toxic and dangerous people.
What kind of birthright has she got?
“Mine,” Seb growls, smirking at his dad, who rolls his eyes.
“So possessive,” Charles says with a sigh as he moves to sit back down on the sofa. “He’s definitely yours, Ed.”
Edward mimics Charles and rolls his eyes. “What can we do for you, boys? I really do want to get on with it.”
“We know who Phoebe’s biological father is,” Topher says, and all eyes dart to me. I look down at Ben’s hair instead of meeting the intrigued gazes, especially since I know the moment he drops the news those intrigued looks will turn to anger, and even hatred, instead.
I’ve tried to banish the words of Iris and her feelings over Ryan, and I suppose I should be grateful she listened to my mates and didn’t run to tattle to her parents about Phoebe’s lineage, but it’s hard. Her words were hurtful and very narrow-minded, and I’m dreading having to see her again.
“Who?” George demands, and I spy under my eyelashes to see how angry he seems. Julie’s face has paled, and she sits down so demurely in between her two mates. Charles places his hand on her knee, much like my mates would do for me.
“You’re going to like the answer even less than we did,” Ben says far too cheerfully. “Ryan Grey.”
“You are kidding,” Edward says, and I’m surprised to see his jaw has dropped. “Surely, not? ”
“I’d say smell her, but Seb’s not going to let you get your nose that close to her,” Topher says with a smirk. He sits back in the chair, and I know the nonchalance he’s displaying is false based on the tension I can feel inside of myself. George, on the other hand, can’t control himself and rises to his feet, snarling under his breath as his forehead pulses angrily.
“How long have you known?”
“The questions are not yours to ask, Dad,” Topher says, going as far to tut at the man. “Instead, we’re going to talk about how there’s been a wolf that is not one of ours on pack lands for at least the last eight weeks. How there’s been numerous reports of pack members smelling and seeing rogues. The scent of them that hasn’t once been shared with the best tracker this pack has.”
“Just a regular old bloodhound,” Ben mutters, and I squeeze his shoulder to silence him. Based on the flash of amusement he feels, I don’t think it worked.
“Wait, what?” Edward asks, his head snapping over to look at his brother, but George doesn’t look away from Topher to meet his gaze. Edward looks back to his son, furrowing his bushy brows. “How do you know that, Christopher?”
“I’ve had it confirmed from multiple sources, Father. From Kyle’s words, that I gained via breaking a command from George, to the encounter we ourselves had.”
“You had an encounter, and you didn’t say something?” George hisses, stepping forward. “You’ve found one of these fuckers?”
Alex clenches his jaw, leaning forward. “There was a doctor working at Maia’s doctor’s office. A Dr Rory Thomas, who belonged to the Grey pack, and was very interested in my daughter,” Alex says. His tone is devoid of emotion, and there’s a bubbling anger building inside him. “He terrified my mate, and you all had to go on your little journey as it went down, and we couldn’t confront you. ”
“Confront us over the rogue?” Edward asks. He’s tense and giving his older brother a very dirty look.
“Oh, no,” Ben says cheerfully. “It gets worse than that, Dad.”
George’s eyes widen, and he drops back down to his seat.
“Dr Thomas fed us a very big... theory regarding the death of the Grey pack’s alpha heir,” Alex continues.
“Ryan Grey is dead?” Edward asks before realisation hits. “Fuck. Ryan Grey is dead.”
“He is, Father,” Topher says, shaking his head at the surprised expression on his parent’s faces.
Are they that good of actors? Or are they genuinely surprised by this news?
“I don’t understand,” Charles says, turning to look at George. “This is your domain. Are you telling me you’ve had not a single report that there’s a wolf here that shouldn’t be? Because you’ve not once mentioned it to us, and yet, the boys here seem to think you knew all along.”
“No, they thought we knew all along,” Edward corrects, as Topher and Alex nod. “So, George, what have you been keeping from us?”
George frowns and looks over at me with some very strong emotions before turning to his brothers. “I think this is a discussion the three of us should have in private so that we can get up to speed.”
“No, it is most definitely not something you should have in private,” Topher says, shaking his head as he swings his leg up over his knee. He’s acting so blasé, as if this isn’t an issue at all. “The time for the secrets and lies is over, Dad. You knew that there was a rogue here, you’ve had numerous reports of scents and sightings from worried pack members, and you had one of our family under a vow to keep your secrets for you.”
Alex shrugs, cuddling me in closer to his side. “I’m not going to be part of a coverup, Dad. We’re not going to run the pack that way.”
“I did not know for sure,” George snarls, jumping to his feet. Topher’s up on his own just as fast, and it’s very clear to me which one is more of an intimidating presence.
Their wolves are strong, and I can feel an uncomfortable pressure in my chest as I drop my head to hide from the feelings that George is stirring inside of me. The bond with Topher, Alex, and Ben does little to help soothe the effects away, but my body can’t resist the instinctual need to protect ourselves.
They’re both extremely powerful men, that much is easily felt, and every instinct in me is causing me to hide away, to make myself small, to let them— George— know I’m not a threat.
It hurts, even just to sit here. It’s like ants are racing across my skin, as if my body is being dragged to the floor by a weight or some form of quicksand. I can’t control myself or fight back.
I’m a weak human in a room with terrifying werewolves.
“Sh,” Alex soothes, wrapping his arm around me. He growls low, the vibrations weirdly soothing as he sends reassurance along the bond. I look up at him, and his silver eyes meet mine, a silent promise of protection. “Calm, little mate. You are safe. We will protect you.”
A quick glance at Seb shows me he and Kane are working together, and they’ve got Phoebe nestled safely with them. Ben’s positioned himself further in front of me but is still sitting down on the floor. I can feel their energies, nearly as strong as that of their dad’s, and I’ve got faith that if something did happen, they’d be victorious.
I just can’t have Phoebe caught in the crossfire.
“You did know for sure, though, or you wouldn't have gone to such extremes to hide it,” Topher snarls. “How many reports have there been, Dad? How many of our people have entrusted you with their safety, and you failed to protect them? Why would you hide something of this magnitude and act like it was nothing ? You left the pack to us for a month, and yet, you’ve hidden and lied about the safety ?
“How could you be so reckless? How could you endanger our people that way? The amount of wolves that could be pregnant right now, the amount of young pups that we have. The females we’re protecting and keeping safe. How could you risk all of those people for your own sake? You’re pathetic, Father, and I’m embarrassed for you.”
“You do not talk to me that way, boy. We’ve got it under control,” George snaps. “The pack is not yours yet, and I do not need to explain myself to you.” His words are harsh, and I flinch as I feel the power he’s emitting thrown out in them. My body aches at the force to stay upright against his power, but my eyes are forced close to stop the stinging, my heart beats so loud it echoes inside my head.
“And it won’t be yours for much longer if you don’t take care of it,” Topher snarls back, taking an angry step forward. “How many reports have there been?”
“None of your—” George starts.
“How many have there been, George?” Edward demands, lacing his words with the same power that George is emitting. It hurts, the pain of being in such a powerful presence overwhelming me so badly.
My jaw is clenched so tightly that my teeth ache, but I can’t stop myself.
“A few,” George bites out, his eyes flashing dangerously. I flinch again at the tension.
I look over at Seb and Phoebe, but she seems content to sleep as if nothing is happening. Maybe this is something I feel because I’m human. Because I’m not like them. I hope so because I really don’t want her to suffer like I am.
“Why the fuck did you not tell us?” Charles asks, shaking his head sadly. He sighs and looks over at his very tense mate, who is avoiding the confrontation and everyone’s eyes. “Did you know about all of this, love?”
Julie bites her lip and nods slowly, cringing at the identical pained expressions on the faces of her mates. “You all confide in me, and I don’t break your confidence with each other, Charlie. I was helping him.”
“That’s not a confidence you should keep, Jules. You’re not bound to keep secrets like that. It’s not a…” Edward sighs, shaking his head in sadness as he turns away from his mate. “That’s neither here nor there, but trust me when I say we’ll be coming back to this discussion later.” He turns to Topher, and I can see the frown on his face as he addresses his eldest son. “Why was he here, Toph?”
“To assess Phoebe’s parentage,” Topher says, and George’s face pales as Edward lets out a very loud snarl.
“They killed one of us, why the fuck would they think we’d give them another?” Charles roars, and I tremble under the weight of all their anger.
My body sinks into the sofa, my head feeling light and lofty as it lolls back, and I can barely sustain myself under the weight of them.
“Enough!” Seb roars, and I gasp pitifully. My heart is pounding, my body aching.
“The lot of you need to calm down,” Alex adds, giving Seb a grateful nod. “The anger and frustration is too much for my mate to bear. Calm yourselves, or I will do it for you.”
“You’ve dropped a huge bomb on us, son,” Edward says after taking a deep breath. He gives me another warm smile, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “But I am sorry that I lost my temper, Maia. I forget how gentle I need to be when it comes to you, and I won’t make that mistake again.”
I try to return his smile, but my teeth are chattering from the fading adrenaline. The house is freezing, or maybe that’s just me, and it’s a bone deep kind of cold.
“When did you find all of this out?” Charles asks, taking a seat back on the sofa. I have no idea when so many of them got to their feet, but everyone sort of scrounges around for their seat and sits themselves back down. “Have you already been approached by the Greys? ”
“No, not properly. Only via the court summons,” Topher says with a shake of his head. “Phoebe’s scent came through last month, which is what he was wanting to assess. He was posing as a doctor?—”
“No, he is a doctor,” Ben says, shaking his head. “Fully licensed and everything. Believe me, I checked. He’s their pack doctor, and obviously, someone they trust.”
“Well, fuck, they must’ve been pretty confident then,” Edward says. His tone is full of emotion, but I don’t know him well enough to decipher what specifically.
“Did he get a smell of her?” Julie asks, and I’m surprised at how strong her voice is now. She’s so calm, so serious, whereas under Charles’s questioning, she was so timid.
“No,” Topher says with a shake of his head. “Maia got her out of there, and we handled it.”
“It or him?” Julie asks, still just as distantly. She wipes her lap as if that little speck of dust was the potential dead man.
“We didn’t kill him,” Alex says, and even whilst knowing that, it’s a relief to hear all the same. “We harmed him, but he left and made his way back to his own pack. We fortified and spent the entire time reinforcing our home, and we increased the patrols just in case.”
Understanding fills George’s face as I try to keep my expression clear. They’ve lied to their parents. Again. They’re not sharing about us seeing Ethan or how often he’s been on pack lands.
I just don’t understand why. I know the trust is gone, but at this stage, couldn’t George give some information to help, if he knew?
“But whilst we’re on the topic of murder,” Ben says, rising to his feet in a very dramatic move as he grins at his mother. “We’re here for a specific reason, mumsy dear.”
“You are?” Her eyes narrow, and there’s a degree of hostility in her gaze that hasn’t been present with any of her other kids .
Is that because Ben’s the runt, and therefore, perceived to be weaker?
“Did you or did you not order the death of Ryan Grey, Mum?” Topher asks, his tone calm and steady, his eyes focused purely on his mum.
“Christopher Wolfe, how dare you ask your mother something like that,” Charles snaps.
“Are you joking?” Edward asks with a frown. “This is a very serious time, Toph, and with everything else we’ve had thrown at us, we’re?—”
“I’m being deadly serious,” Topher says, cutting his father off as he stares his mother down. That uncomfortable feeling fills me once more as Orion pushes forward, and although it’s not painful for me, it still makes me antsy.
Since our bonding, this emergence of Orion—and Max and Fluffy—has incited feelings of a good nature, but now, it’s not that at all. I’m nervous about what will happen if Topher loses control of him.
I’m terrified a fight is going to break out.
Topher’s gaze is locked on his mother as he asks her a question, forcing the answer from her wolf. “Did you or did you not arrange for Ryan Grey’s death, Mother?”
“I did,” she whispers.
And that’s when all hell breaks loose.