Chapter 15
Maxwell’s POV.
When Anna called to say she had arrived at the palace, my heart raced with fear for the first time in my life. Fear–something I had never experienced before. I am the Alpha King, feared and revered by all, yet this small tremor inside me was foreign and unsettling. Among all the women I had been with, Anna was the one I had truly considered as a potential queen. I had even thought about making her my mate. But everything changed when I met Delilah, my true mate. She consumed my every thought, making me forget all else. Including Anna. And now, standing on the precipice of an unavoidable confrontation, I felt like I was spiraling into chaos.
Anna stormed into my chambers, her beauty as striking as I remembered. But my heart no longer raced for her–it beat solely for Delilah now.
“What do you mean I should go back?” Anna’s voice was sharp, her anger unmistakable.
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“You can’t just walk into my palace without informing me,” I replied, striving to keep my composure. Anna was the only woman who had ever compelled me to temper my temper–not because I couldn’t lose it but because I once cared for her deeply.
“When did that ever matter to you?” She stepped closer, her eyes narrowing.
“It matters now. I have a mate,” I said firmly.
She laughed–a bitter, mocking sound. “Another fake mate? When will this stop?”
“She’s my true mate,” I countered, holding her gaze.
Her scoff cut through me like a blade, “She’s not real, Maxwell. You need to reject her. I can’t live without you.”
Her words struck a nerve, and my control’slipped. “I cannot reject my mate. She’s my destiny, Anna. You need to understand that.”
The tension in the room thickened, and suddenly, a familiar energy surged through me. Delilah. She was listening. This power, this connection–it always happened when she tapped into my thoughts, but this time it felt stronger, bolder.
I smirked, understanding what was happening. My goddess had blessed me with a formidable mate, one who intrigued and challenged me in equal measure.
“She is mine,” I said, my voice laced with finality–not just for Anna but for Delilah, who I knew was listening.
Turning on my heel, I left Anna without another glance. “I’ll be back,” I tossed over my shoulder as I strode out of the room.
I encountered Rosa and a maid outside Delilah’s chambers. “Your Majesty,” they said in unison, bowing respectfully.
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Chapter 15
“Where is she?” I asked Rosa.
“In the bathroom, bathing, Your Majesty.”
I nodded. “You can go. I’ll see her now.”
Rosa bowed and departed, leaving me alone. The thought of Delilah bathing while listening to my confrontation with Anna sent a thrill through me. I couldn’t resist the pull anymore. Opening the door, I stepped inside and locked it behind me.
The sound of water stopped, and I knocked on the ensuite door. Moments later, it
swung open.
And there she stood.
Her wet hair clung to her face and neck, her electric blue eyes piercing into mine. The sight of her stole my breath, and my body reacted instantly, betraying the primal pull I felt toward her.
“Maxwell?” she said, her voice a melody that anchored me to her.
Without a word, I stepped inside, closing the door behind me. I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her flush against my chest. Her sharp inhale sent a wave of satisfaction through me–I affected her as much as she affected me.
The scent of jasmine and lavender clung to her skin, intoxicating me. “Like I said before, you are mine,” I whispered, my voice deep and possessive.
Her cheeks flushed, and she stammered, “What? I don’t… I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I raised a brow, smirking at her obvious lie. Her body trembled in my arms, her shyness endearing.
“Well, it’s not my fault I could hear your thoughts,” she shot back defensively.
“No, it’s not,” I agreed, leaning closer until our lips almost touched. “But this time, you didn’t hear my thoughts. You heard me speak.”
She opened her mouth to respond, but I claimed it, pressing my lips to hers. She froze for a moment before melting into me, her soft moan igniting a fire I could no longer
control.
I lifted her effortlessly, setting her on the marble counter, and deepened the kiss. My hands roamed over her, tugging the bathrobe from her shoulders, revealing her flawless skin. My eyes drank her in, and a growl escaped me as desire surged through. every fiber of my being.
Her body was perfect–more than I ever dared imagine. My lips found her neck, trailing kisses down to her breasts. Taking one into my mouth, I relished her gasp as my hand teased the other. My fingers found their way to her wet core, eliciting a soft cry of pleasure,
But before I could lose myself entirely, a sharp intrusion broke through my mind,
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Chapter 15
Cross.
I cursed under my breath, annoyed by the interruption. “Not now,” I growled, my frustration palpable.
“There’s an attack,” Cross said through the link. “You need to see it for yourself. It’s urgent.”
Groaning, I pulled back, my body protesting the separation from Delilah’s warmth. “I’m coming,” I responded, severing the link.
Her wide, dilated eyes met mine, her lips parted. She was as affected as I was, and it took all my willpower to step away.
“I have to go,” I said, my voice heavy with regret.
“Can I come with you?” she asked softly.
“No,” I replied firmly, cupping her face. “Stay here and rest. There’s something I need to tell you when I return.”
Leaning down, I kissed her one last time–a brief, passionate kiss that left me aching as I pulled away. Without another word, I left her, adjusting myself as I exited the room.
Duty called, but my heart and soul were irrevocably tied to Delilah. And no attack or danger could change that.
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