Bark Or Bite

Chapter 19

"How was it? Did he talk?" Maximus interrogates me as soon as I close my door to the car.

"I told you to stay where I left you, Maximus." I snap.

"I did stay." Maximus pouts.

"No you didn't. I left you two blocks away and now you're half a block from his house. He smelled you." Maximus's face turns white.

"Did he hurt you? Are you okay?" Maximus asks frantically.

"Yes, I'm fine. But there's something I need to tell you."

"You can tell me anything." Maximus places his hand on top of mine.

"I'm glad you said that because I want Ian to work with us." I speak quickly. Maximus snatches his hand from atop mine.

"What? No, Hannah!"

"Why not?" I ask forcefully.

"Because it's bad enough that you have to see him every now and then without me there. I will not have him around you any more than now. Can't you see what he's done to you? He's ruined your life. You've lost so much trying to hold onto him, Hannah. Just let go." Maximus had pulled over now. His warm hand is completely around my small one. His brown eyes stare deep into mine.

Staring into Maximus' eyes is everything to me. The way his story plays in the blink of an eye. I see every emotion that I feel from him in his eyes. He is afraid. Afraid that Ian would come between us. He is worried. Worried not only about me, but about the situation at hand. He is possessive. I could see how territorial he was over me when Ian was brought up. Overpowering everything is his love for me. I know he loves me, and he genuinely wants me happy. If he believes that Ian is making me unhappy, he would do anything to keep him away from me. Anything. Of course I love him for it, but a line has to be drawn somewhere.

"Maximus, I know what I'm doing. He needs to be in my life right now. I don't love him, but I do love my pack and I will do anything to protect them."

"No. I'm your mate and I get final say."

"This is my pack. This is my situation. This is my decision. Ian stays." Maximus challenges me with his eyes, holding a dominant stare. After minutes, he lets it go.

"Fine." It's all he says before he opens his door.

"Maximus, what are you doing? Get back in the car!" My screams of protest are no use. Maximus angrily jogs to the small patch of wood on the side of the highway. I shove the keys in my pocket and follow after him.

I sniff for Maximus's scent on the trees and grass around me. He shifted about a mile from the car. I let my wolf take over my body and feel the familiar, indescribable feeling as my body shifts. My senses perk up as soon as I catch Maximus' scent. I knew my wolf would easily and eagerly find her mate.

I follow his scent into a beautiful clearing with jagged rocks and a stream. He is perched on a rock staring blankly at the moving water. Trotting over to him, I stop in my tracks. We're In the same place Cam and Max took me to after my first fight with Maximus. It's still as beautiful as I remembered.

I sit on the rock next to Maximus and don't speak. My head tingles as he broke the tension through the link.

"I just want to protect you." He speaks lowly.

"I know."

"Please don't be angry with me." His head drops a little.

"I'm not."

"I love you so much, Hannah."

"I love you too." He goes silent again.

Maximus and I stare into the creek for what feels like forever. Occasionally he would glance at me or rub his shoulder against mine. When the sun sets behind the clouds, he stands up.