The Redemption of Maximus

Beta- Maximus

Every cell in my body is panicking when Martell finally gives me back control. I shake off being disoriented and rush toward y sobbing mate. As my steps land closer she tenses while she sobs.

"Baby, please don't cry" I beg her as tears fill my eyes. Her fear is so strong in the air that it feels like my chest shreds. This is why I didn't want her to know. Why I knew she couldn't know. How could she choose us now. "I would never allow anything to hurt you, not even my dragon" I promise her as I lay a hand on her back. I ignore the tingles in my palm as her sobs start to quiet.

I lift her up from the ground and cradle her in my arms. She is covered in dirt, leaves, and twigs from the forest floor. Her face is red and streaked with her tears as her hair sticks to it. As my heart breaks even more I quickly take us to the cabin. I walk in silence as her tears quiet down. I have no idea what to say or how to comfort her. She is my mate, and I can't even take care of her.

"Any ideas big guy?" I ask him knowing that he is the reason that we are into this mess. When he doesn't even move I furrow my brows. "Hello" I say with no response. Before I can speak again he throws up a barrier. This time it's to lock me in. He looks himself in my head and away from me.

I walk out of the trees and spot my cabin a few feet away. I look down to tell he we are almost there, but she is asleep. It hurts that she has cried herself to sleep. I nudge the already cracked door open with my foot. Being careful I turn to the side as that we can fit as I duck my head. I contemplate taking her to the bedroom but quickly squash that idea knowing that it won't go over well with her if she wakes up there. I walk over and take a seat on the couch with her in my arms. I do my best not to jostle her as I settle on the couch.

While she sleeps I look around my cabin. For the first time since I have brought her here I feel alone. After hearing the truth she is going to leave. I know this and I still don't want to let her go. If this is all I am going to have to remember her by then I will take it. I don't even deserve to be touching her right now after what I allowed to happen.

I had one simple goal. I just wanted to get to know my mate. For some reason I actually started to think that I could get her to stay if she didn't know about my past. Now that she knows I am at a total lost. She's afraid of us now and thinks that we have intentions on harming her. I can't let her live in fear like we once did. But I don't want to say goodbye. I can't see her tears as I leave her once more.

Suddenly I know what to do. It's the only decision that I can make to save my mate. Closing my eyes I dematerialize with her in my arms. I listen to the sounds of the forest I landed in and make sure that no one else is around. Walking forward as quietly as I can I step to the edge of the trees and see that all the tents are still set up.

"If you think this is a bad idea, I suggest that you say something now" I tell Martell as I step us to her tent. Peaking inside I see that there are still two sleeping bags here. The scents in the tent are older than today and I know that no one else has been back in a few days.

Martell finally lowers the barrier and I sigh with relief. A part of me is hoping that he is going to stop me. That he will tell me that I am making a huge mistake. Deep down though I know that I am not.

We have to give her a chance to be happy with someone who is not a monster. With someone that she doesn't fear. Even if it isn't us. Allowing her to go back home is what is best for her. Even if it hurts. She will understand someday that everything we did was to make her happy. We just realized that she could never be happy with us.

With those words he throws the barrier back up and shuts himself away from me. I gently lay her down on the sleeping bag that smells of her. She still looks as if she has had a fight with the forest. I guess this will work in her favor and other humans will assume that she just got lost. She could tell them about us but knowing her I don't believe she would share anything that could hurt us. Leaning forward I pace a gentle kiss on her lips inhaling her beautiful warm scent for the last time.

The sound of footsteps reach my ears and I know that I am out of time. I reach down and squeeze her hand briefly in a goodbye and then I dematerialize out of her tent. I flash to the spot where I once stood as I watched her talk to her friend. I see that same woman crawl into the tent. A scream fills the air and then all are rushing over. I smile at the joy I hear in her voice and know that she is going to be okay. I blink as my eyes water. I close them willing the tears not to fall as I disappear back to camp away from my mate.

As I travel through the ether the pain doesn't disappear. I feel it form into a solid knot in my stomach as it settles. I let it push me to keep going knowing that now most of all I need to get back to work. That's all there will be for me now. As I appear in Xander's Office, I make myself know immediately.

"You Beta is reporting for duty" I tell him as I meet his shocked gaze.