Chapter 16: Talk is cheap

Maya’s POV Alexander scares me a lot more than Ezra ever did. Ezra broke my body, my family, and my spirit, but Alexander has the power to break my soul into a million pieces. I didn’t want it to be this way, but I can’t control my stupid wolf. Every time he comes near me, every time hie brushes against me, my wolf hums happily. I’ve already been through the mate bond before, and it didn’t end well. It ended in blood, loss, and pure misery. The exact same thing is going to happen this time,l can feel it in my bones. But no matter how hard I try to fight it, there’s nothing I can do to stop my heart and my soul from calling out to him and loving him. "I’m not surprised that you think that way, because a woman’s value is always placed at the hands of her mate or a ma," I said, pulling away and this time he let me. I started walking around his massive living room, needing some physical space between us and despite my cold attitude, I couldn’t help myself from touching things around the room as I passed by. It was just so ridiculously gorgeous, dark, and classy here. I mean, is very rich, but this royal wing was just on another level of wealth. I stopped in front of a grand, gold-framed canvas hanging on the wall and my fingers brushed gently against the textured paint. "Is this a painting from Natasha Balcarra?" I asked, staring at the artwork. It was a painting of a massive wolf that I’ve never seen before, but somehow it looked so familiar. The wolf was pitch black, huge, and its eyes were glowing with a mix of red, yellow, and blue altogether. It was just a fascinating, terrifying wolf. "She’s a good friend, more or less" he said from across the room. He walked over to a bar in the corner, picking up a heavy crystal bottle. The ice clinked softly against the glass as he poured himself some amber liquid. "Fancy a drink?" he asked. "Some red wine, please," I said, turning away from the painting. He picked up a glass of red wine and walked over to me. His long, confident strides were smooth and my heart did a stupid little flip in my chest as he stopped right in front of me. He handed me the glass, his fingers deliberately brushing against mine as I took it. I took a slow sip, letting the sweet liquid burn down my dry throat before looking up into his piercing blue eyes. "A good friend, or a good lay?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him. "Because I think 'good friend' is just a subtle way of saying that you two are sleeping together." A slow, dangerously attractive smirk spread across his handsome face and a twinkle danced in his eyes as he took a sip of his whiskey, looking down at me like he was thoroughly enjoying himself. "Jealous, mate?" he asked leaning a bit closer so I could smell his intoxicating scent. "Not even in your wildest dreams, your majesty" I said, taking another sip of my wine and giving him a cold, unbothered smile. "I don't get jealous over men. Especially not men who think every woman in the room is falling at their feet." "Good" he growled as his grin turned possessive. "Because there is no other woman. There never will be. Natasha is just an artist I hired to paint my wolf after my first battle." He stepped even closer, his frame towering over me, trapping me between him and the painting on the wall. He didn't touch me this time, but his presence was so strong and dominant, that it made the air around us feel thick and warm. "Look at me, Maya" he commanded and I tried to keep my eyes on my wine glass, but my body obeyed him and I looked up, locking my eyes into his fiery blue ones. "I searched for you for thirteen years" he whispered, his deep voice shaking with a rare, raw emotion that made my breath catch in my throat. "Do you really think after waiting more than a decade for the Moon Goddess to bless me with a mate, I would waste my time with anyone else?" My tongue felt dry. Thelogical part of my brain wanted to tell him to back off, to tell him that I don't want him but standing this close to him, feeling the sincerity radiating off his body, my icy walls began to melt just a little bit. It terrified me how gentle he could be with me. A man who had just bragged about snapping a hybrid's neck in his dungeon was looking at me right now like I was made of glass. Everybody knows what he is capable of, she's one of the most ruthless alpha Kings to ever exist. "You don't know me" I murmured, my voice losing its sharp edge for the first time since I arrived at the summit. "You don't know what I've been through, or how broken I am inside. A mate bond isn't a fairy tale. It's a chain." He didn't get angry, instead he slowly set his whiskey glass down on the small table beside us. Then, with reached out his hand, giving me time to pull away if I wanted to. When I didn't move, his hand cupped the side of my face and his thumb gently traced the top of my cheekbone, his touch so soft that it made a shiver run straight down my spine. "I don't care how broken you think you are, Maya. I don't care about your past, or how many walls you build around your heart. I have all the patience in the world. I will fight every single ghost in your mind until you realize that you are safe with me." My chest rose and fell in heavy gasps and my wolf let out a soft, happy purr soaking in his comfort and protection. For a fleeting second, I wanted to lean my head into his hand, close my eyes, and let myself rest in his arms. I wanted to forget Ezra, forget the revenge, and just let this powerful King hold me. My heart was melting and I hate how helpless it made me feel. I forced myself to take a step back, breaking his touch, though my cheek felt instantly cold without his palm against my skin. I cleared my throat, swirling the red wine in my glass to hide my trembling fingers. "You talk a big game, Your Majesty," I said, trying desperately to bring my cold armor back up. "But talk is cheap. I have a pack to protect, and a war to prepare for." He didn't look offended. Instead, he smiled and picked his whiskey back up. "Actions speak louder than words, Alpha Maya" he said, taking a sip and holding my gaze. "And I promise you, you're going to see plenty of action."