FRAGILE

Chapter 22: I Need to Know

Maximus was caught off guard when his timid little mate, Levi, deepened the kiss. The shy omega who had barely dared to touch him just the night before was now responding with a boldness Maximus hadn't expected. But he wasn't about to complain. The warmth of Levi's lips against his, the way Levi leaned into him, and the soft, tentative touches made Maximus's heart swell with pride. His mate was opening up, little by little, and it filled Maximus with hope.

As they pulled away from the kiss, Maximus couldn't help but send a broad smile back at Levi, whose face was glowing with a mixture of surprise and delight. Levi beamed up at him, and for a fleeting moment, Maximus saw the wolf behind the human—a free, joyful creature ready to embrace life again. Maximus's chest rumbled with a soft purr as he wrapped his strong arms around Levi and gently rolled onto his back, pulling Levi along with him.

But the momentary joy quickly faded. As soon as Levi found himself on top, Maximus felt the omega's body tense. The sparkle in his mate's blue eyes dimmed, replaced by a flicker of uncertainty. Maximus's instincts kicked in immediately, sensing the internal struggle warring within Levi. Without hesitation, he rolled them again, placing Levi securely beneath him, his arms braced on either side of his mate's small frame in a protective stance.

Levi's eyes were squeezed shut, and Maximus waited, holding his breath as he tried to read the emotions that danced just beneath the surface. He watched, hopeful, but when Levi finally opened his eyes, Maximus's heart sank. Gone was the radiant, smiling mate he had seen just moments ago. Instead, he was met with the same hollow, vacant look that had greeted him when he first rescued Levi—the look of a soul that had been shattered and pieced back together with pain.

Maximus cursed softly under his breath, his heart aching as he realized how fragile his mate still was. The spark that had momentarily lit Levi's eyes was now snuffed out, replaced by that haunted, hollow look, a reminder of the trauma Levi had endured. Maximus's hands clenched in frustration, not at Levi, but at the monster who had done this to him—Thomas, the one who had broken him.

Yet, even as the pain and frustration gnawed at Maximus, he found a flicker of hope. Beautiful mosaics were made from broken pieces, and Levi, though shattered, could be pieced back together. Maximus would do everything in his power to help his mate heal, to see him stand proudly at his side as the Omega he was meant to be.

A soft whimper pulled Maximus from his thoughts. He looked down, noticing the dullness had receded from Levi's face, replaced by confusion and something softer. Maximus breathed a sigh of relief. The hollow look was gone, at least for now. His Levi had returned.

Maximus moved off Levi and pulled him into a sitting position beside him. He cradled Levi in his arms, holding him close as a deep, soothing purr rumbled from his chest. Levi snuggled against him, burrowing into his warmth, and Maximus couldn't help but smile as his mate relaxed. But beneath that contentment, Maximus knew he had to ask Levi what had just happened. He needed to understand what Levi was going through, what had caused him to slip back into that hollow state.

He kissed the top of Levi's head gently before speaking, his voice soft but serious. "Levi?"

Levi's eyes jumped to meet his gaze, wide and startled. Maximus stroked his mate's back, hoping to soothe whatever nerves had just been triggered. "What happened, darling? Are you hurt? Was it something I did? Did I hurt you?"

The questions tumbled out of Maximus's mouth in a rush, his worry spilling over. He wasn't sure what had gone wrong, but the last thing he wanted was to accidentally cause Levi any more pain. His mind raced with a thousand possibilities, each more troubling than the last.

"Oh goddess, I hurt you, didn't I?" Maximus groaned, the guilt hitting him hard. "I shouldn't have moved you. I forgot about your chest. My god, what kind of mate forgets about that?! I'm so sor—"

A soft giggle interrupted his rambling, cutting through the tension like sunlight breaking through a storm. Maximus blinked in surprise, looking down at Levi with wide eyes. He hadn't expected to hear laughter—especially not from Levi. But there it was, a soft, sweet sound that made Maximus's heart skip a beat.

Levi was smiling up at him, his eyes twinkling with amusement. Maximus arched an eyebrow, trying to figure out what had just happened, but he couldn't help but grin back. It was impossible not to, not when Levi was looking at him like that.

"I'm fine," Levi whispered, his voice light. "I just... I can't—I mean, I don't like being on top. Thomas always said that..."

Maximus's expression darkened at the mention of the name. His grip on Levi tightened instinctively as a growl rumbled low in his throat. "Thomas?" he repeated, his voice edged with barely restrained fury. "Who the hell is Thomas?"

The look in Levi's eyes was enough to answer the question before Levi even spoke. Maximus's mind immediately filled with dark thoughts—Thomas, the monster who had done this to his mate. The one who had broken Levi, the one who had left him scarred, both physically and emotionally.

"Was he the one who...?" Maximus's voice trailed off, not wanting to finish the sentence. Levi simply nodded, his gaze dropping to the floor. Maximus could feel the tension in Levi's body, the way his small frame trembled ever so slightly in his arms.

The rage that surged through Maximus's veins was like wildfire, consuming him in a blaze of fury. He had killed Thomas, but now he wished he had made the bastard suffer. The death Maximus had given him had been too easy, too quick. That vile man had done unspeakable things to his mate, and Maximus cursed himself for not making him pay more dearly for it.

"I'm sorry," Levi whispered, his voice small and trembling. The apology sent a fresh wave of anger and pain through Maximus—how could Levi think any of this was his fault?

"No, love. You've got nothing to be sorry for," Maximus said firmly, pulling Levi even closer, cradling him protectively against his chest. Levi's small hands gripped his arm tightly, seeking comfort in the only place he could now—Maximus's embrace. Maximus held him as if he could shield him from the weight of his past, from all the hurt that lingered in the shadows of Levi's mind.

But Maximus knew they couldn't move forward without confronting what had happened. As much as it pained him, he had to ask. He had to know the full truth, even if it tore him apart.

"Love," Maximus began, his voice softer now, filled with both tenderness and sorrow, "I need to know... What happened to you? What did that bastard do to you?"

Levi's body tensed again, his breath hitching at the question. Maximus could feel his mate's hesitation, the way he shrank back into himself, but Maximus held him tighter, grounding him, reassuring him. He pressed a gentle kiss to the top of Levi's head, letting him know that he wasn't alone, that he didn't have to carry the burden of his past by himself anymore.

"I... I don't know where to start," Levi whispered, his voice barely audible.

Maximus's heart broke at the sound of it. "Start wherever you can, love. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

Levi trembled, his hands clutching Maximus's arm as if he were the only solid thing in a world filled with chaos. The silence stretched between them, heavy with the weight of Levi's memories, until finally, Levi spoke.

"It was... everything," Levi whispered, his voice hollow. "He took everything from me. My name, my wolf, my will to fight. I was just a tool to him. An object."

Maximus closed his eyes, his jaw clenched tightly as he tried to hold back the rage that threatened to consume him. He couldn't let his anger take over now—not when Levi was opening up to him, not when his mate needed him to be strong, to be calm.

"He would punish me for things I didn't even understand," Levi continued, his voice shaking. "And when I... when I didn't obey exactly how he wanted, he... he would hurt me."

Maximus bit down hard on the inside of his cheek, forcing himself to remain calm as Levi's words cut through him like knives. His wolf was pacing inside him, growling, snarling, ready to tear apart anyone who had laid a hand on his mate. But Maximus held it back, knowing that Levi needed comfort, not more rage.

"I'm so sorry, Levi," Maximus whispered, his voice breaking with emotion. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there to protect you."

Levi's head rested against Maximus's chest, and for the first time in a long time, he felt safe. He wasn't alone anymore. Maximus would fight for him, protect him, and help him heal. Together, they could begin to piece the broken pieces of Levi's soul back together.