The Lycan Kingpin's Captive: A Baby For The Beast
Beta's Runaway Bride: 5 - Xiomara

I am going to kill him.

Who the hell does he think he is? jDios mio! I am not going to survive this without spilling blood,and I don’t mean mine!

Pacing the floor of what I now know is my prison, I try to come up with some plan of escape. Butwhen I looked outside throughout the day and saw there was no gap between the patrol and howhigh the gates were, I knew that there would be no escaping for me.

And as much as I want to drive a steak knife through Maxim's eye, it would surely lead to my death.So what am I going to do? I want nothing more than to escape here and from my exchange withMaxim earlier, he doesn't want this either.

But a Beta is loyal to his Alpha, I suppose.

My shoulders sag in defeat and I sink down onto the soft bed, feeling annoyed at how absolutelyplush and comfortable it feels. I want to hate it here, I want to pitch a fit and fight my way out ofthis...But is it wise?

I have nowhere to return to, those thieves stole my money in the alleyway and I defected from myold pack. In short, I am screwed even if I do escape.

/“Perhaps we should give Maxim a chance,’/ Yingze says, invading my thoughts. /“He was right, hisearlier move didn't hurt us, it just subdued us.”/

“It doesn't mean he won't still hurt us,” I remind her. “He's Alpha Nikolaos’ Beta for a reason, youknow.”

I don't trust Maxim as far as I can throw him. He might have saved me, taken care of me, and mademe breakfast, but that doesn’t mean I'm about to open my legs for him because of duty. Sighing, Idecide to go to the kitchen and make myself some coffee; it's the only thing I missed after beingforced to lay low for so long.

I sneak out of the bedroom and strain my ears, but I don't hear any other heartbeats in the housebeside mine. So I make my way to the kitchen and set everything up for some expensive, deliciouscoffee.

I'm so lost in the smell and sounds of the machine bubbling and trickling out the liquid into my cup,that I just barely miss the slamming of a car door outside. Oh, hell; I wanted to avoid him all day, butnow I won't be able to since the kitchen faces the living room and front door,

Focusing harder on the machine in front of me, I don't turn around when I hear the front dooropening, nor do I acknowledge the man who I've been thinking about the entire day. As much as Ihate to admit it to myself, he was at the forefront of my thoughts.

Maxim gets to his feet and collects both our plates. “She's seen all the brides on the estate anddoesn’t want you to feel left out or ignored,” he says, and the reverence in his voice causes anunknown feeling to stab me in the heart.

Why does this Luna want to extend an olive branch when I don’t even want to be here? “What doyou mean by all the brides?” I ask with a frown. “There are more being held here?”

Maxim scoffs. “Yes, and unlike you, they know the role they have to play here,” he says as he scrapesthe leftovers into the rubbish and packs the dishwasher. “She will be here at 9 am.”

With that, Maxim walks out and leaves me wondering why I felt jealous when he spoke about hisLuna with such pride.

Only after I realized what that feeling meant, did I rush upstairs to hide my shame. There's no way Icould be jealous of someone like that, especially not someone who Maxim so clearly cares for.

I growl and hop into a shower before bed, but my night is plagued with thoughts I tried to pushaway. What the hell is wrong with me?

By 8:50 AM the next morning, I am in a bad fucking mood but dressed to meet the Luna asrequested of me. I'm sitting in the living room with my hands in my lap when the front door opensand Maxim walks in with her.

I don't know what I expected, a bombshell catwalk model beauty I guess, but Luna Mia was not it.She looked quite average, nothing like most women I see on some Alphas’ arms. Soft brown curls,brown eyes, shorter than me, and plain, I guess?

Maxim walks inside and I don't miss the warm smile on his face or his hand on her lower back, nordo I miss the absolute trust she seems to have when looking at him. He walks her over to where I'venow gotten to my feet and gestures toward me.

"Xiomara, this is Luna Mia; Alpha Nikolaos’ mate and wife,” he says and I blink at the word “mate’.What? I didn't think mates existed anymore! “Mia, this is my bride.”

I try not to blush at the introduction, and the Luna ruins it by walking up to me. “It's lovely to meetyou, Xiomara,” she says with a smile. “Maxim mentioned that you're struggling to settle in-""Struggling to settle in?" I scoff and cross my arms. “I'm here against my will, being forced to marrya man I don't even know!"

Luna Mia blinks back in surprise and her cheeks redden; she looks to Maxim for help and I chucklein amusement. “Not everyone is like you, we don't particularly like the idea of being a sex slave-"The words weren't even out of my mouth before I found myself on the opposite end of the wall withMaxim's hand around my neck. His eyes have shimmered to their Beta gold and the killing intentcoming from him invites a cold shard of fear to slip into my heart.

"Speak to her like that again, and I won't hesitate to rip your throat open,” he growls and the gripon my throat tightens. “She. Is. Your. Luna. Have some fucking respect!”

“Maxim!” I hear her exclaim and through my fading vision, I see her attempt to pull his arm away."Stop this, she just needs time!”

He lets go of me and I hear a growl rumbling in his chest. “She'll get no mercy from me, Mia,” hesays and when I look up at him, I see the disdain in his eyes

I would be lying if I didn't feel absolute fucking fear right now; no one has ever threatened me likethat before. Then again, no one has come to my rescue like that before, either.

"Why don't you go up to Niko and leave me here with her, hmm?” she asks and he growls again.“No fucking way-"

“Maxim, she’s not going to speak to me while you're here lording over us. Give me some time tospeak to Xiomara alone. I promise nothing will happen,” she says and touches his chest with bothhis hands.

That annoying feeling curls up in my heart again and I push it down as I get to my feet. Maxim looksat me, then at Luna Mia. “I'll be back in an hour,” he says before storming off. “But I'm asking Ghostto come here!”

Luna Mia chuckles and shakes her head, looking at him as he walks off. Then she turns her headtowards me and offers me that warm smile again. “Let me reintroduce myself, Xiomara; my name isMia.”