Unlikely Mates

16

**Chapter Sixteen: The Storm Before the Calm**

Max couldn’t shake the unsettling tension that settled in his chest as he walked back to his dorm after the confrontation with Richard Uppercrust. The older alpha’s threats weighed heavily on him, despite his resolve. Max’s mind raced with the possibility that everything Richard had promised could come true—Bradley being forced into an arranged marriage, their relationship destroyed before it even had a chance to grow.

He had stood his ground in front of Bradley’s father, but now, in the cold night air, doubt began to creep in. Could they really win this battle? Max had never faced an opponent like Richard before—someone who wielded both money and power so effortlessly.

When he reached his dorm, he paused outside the door, his hand resting on the knob. He could feel Bradley’s scent lingering from when he had visited earlier, a comforting reminder of their connection. But at the same time, it deepened the ache in his chest.

Bradley didn’t know about the meeting. Max had deliberately kept it from him because he hadn’t wanted Bradley to worry. But now he was wondering if that had been a mistake. They were supposed to be in this together, yet here he was, carrying the weight of that conversation on his own.

He pushed open the door and stepped inside, his eyes landing on the couch where Bradley had sat just hours before. It felt like a lifetime ago. Everything had changed in such a short amount of time.

Max sank onto the couch, running a hand through his hair as he stared at the ceiling. He wasn’t sure how long he sat there, his mind swirling with thoughts, when his phone buzzed on the coffee table. His heart skipped a beat when he saw Bradley’s name flash across the screen.

**Bradley:** Hey, are you still awake?

Max’s fingers hovered over the keyboard for a moment before he replied.

**Max:** Yeah. You wanna come over?

There was a pause, and Max could practically feel Bradley considering it through the screen.

**Bradley:** Sure. Be there in a few minutes.

Max set his phone down and exhaled slowly. He had to tell Bradley about the meeting. Keeping it a secret any longer would only make things worse. And despite the fear gnawing at his insides, he knew Bradley deserved to know what they were up against.

A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door. Max stood up and opened it to find Bradley standing there, looking a little more put together than Max felt. But there was still a flicker of tension in his eyes, a subtle weariness that told Max he wasn’t the only one feeling the weight of their situation.

“Hey,” Bradley greeted, stepping inside.

Max smiled weakly, shutting the door behind him. “Hey.”

Bradley sat down on the couch, and Max followed, sitting beside him but leaving enough space between them for the tension to settle. Bradley glanced at him, his brow furrowing. “You okay? You look… I don’t know, like something’s on your mind.”

Max sighed, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. “There is. I… I should’ve told you this earlier.”

Bradley’s concern deepened, and he sat up a little straighter. “What is it?”

Max took a deep breath. “Your dad called me tonight.”

The silence that followed was thick with surprise. Bradley’s eyes widened, and his posture stiffened. “What?”

Max nodded, the words feeling heavier now that they were finally out in the open. “He called me and said he wanted to talk. We met at some fancy restaurant downtown.”

Bradley blinked, his shock quickly morphing into something darker—anger, maybe. “He called you? Without telling me?”

“Yeah.” Max’s voice was quiet, and he shifted uneasily. “He basically wanted me to back off. Told me that if I didn’t leave you, he’d ruin me—and that you’d be forced to leave me behind anyway.”

Bradley cursed under his breath, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “I should’ve known he’d pull something like this.”

Max bit his lip, watching Bradley’s reaction carefully. “I told him I wasn’t going anywhere. That we’d figure this out together.”

For a moment, Bradley didn’t say anything. His jaw was tight, his hands clenched into fists on his knees. Finally, he let out a long breath and leaned back against the couch, closing his eyes. “Of course he did this behind my back. He’s been trying to control everything in my life for as long as I can remember.”

Max hesitated before reaching out and placing a hand on Bradley’s arm. “I didn’t tell you right away because… I didn’t want to stress you out. But I should’ve told you sooner.”

Bradley opened his eyes, his expression softening as he looked at Max. “I’m not mad at you, Max. I just… I hate that he’s trying to pull this crap. And I hate that you had to deal with it on your own.”

Max swallowed, feeling a lump form in his throat. “I’m just worried about what he’ll do. He’s not messing around, Bradley. He’s serious about this arranged marriage thing.”

“I know.” Bradley’s voice was low, filled with resignation. “And that’s what scares me the most.”

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the conversation settling over them. Bradley’s father was a looming threat—one that neither of them could afford to ignore. But Max wasn’t going to let that man intimidate him into giving up.

“We need to figure out what we’re going to do,” Max said quietly, his mind racing. “Because your dad isn’t going to stop.”

Bradley nodded, his gaze distant as he stared at the floor. “I know. I just… I don’t know what the answer is. He has so much power. I’ve tried standing up to him before, but it never works. He always finds a way to win.”

Max frowned, his hand still resting on Bradley’s arm. “What if we went public? You know, told people what he’s doing—about the arranged marriage, about him trying to force you into it.”

Bradley shook his head. “That would only make things worse. My dad’s got connections everywhere. He’d spin the story in his favor, make me look like some spoiled kid rebelling for no reason.”

Max leaned back, frustration gnawing at him. It felt like they were running out of options. “So what do we do? Just sit back and let him control your life?”

“No,” Bradley said firmly, his eyes hardening with determination. “We fight back. We just need to be smart about it.”

Max nodded, feeling a flicker of hope. “Yeah. We’ll figure it out.”

Bradley’s hand found Max’s, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “We have to.”

They sat together in silence for a while, the storm of emotions swirling around them but unspoken. Max leaned against Bradley, taking comfort in his presence, in the warmth and strength that he radiated. Despite everything they were up against, Max knew they couldn’t give up. They couldn’t let Richard Uppercrust win.

“I’m sorry,” Bradley murmured, breaking the silence.

Max blinked, looking up at him. “What?”

“I’m sorry you had to deal with him alone,” Bradley said, his voice quiet but full of emotion. “I hate that he dragged you into this.”

Max shook his head, squeezing Bradley’s hand. “I’m not going anywhere, Bradley. We’re in this together. No matter what.”

Bradley smiled, a small but genuine expression that made Max’s chest ache with affection. “Thank you.”

Max leaned in, resting his head on Bradley’s shoulder, and they sat there together, the quiet of the night wrapping around them like a protective shield. Despite the storm that awaited them, Max felt a sense of calm being there with Bradley. They didn’t have all the answers yet, but they had each other.

And that was enough—for now.