Chapter 2: The wolf in the shadows

Lila

I never thought I would feel fear from someone like Maximus. I had faced death before—faced betrayal from the man I trusted most. But there was something about Maximus Vito that made my heart race in a way I couldn’t explain. Maybe it was the way he controlled the space around him, the way his presence demanded respect. Or maybe it was because, for the first time in a long while, I felt out of control.

His hand was still wrapped around my wrist, firm and unyielding, but there was something in his grip that wasn’t entirely harsh. It was possessive. Like I was something he had claimed, and he wasn’t going to let go.

“Let go of me,” I hissed, struggling to free myself, but he didn’t budge.

“You’re not going anywhere, Lila.” His voice was calm, too calm, and the way he said my name made my pulse quicken. “You’re not in your pack anymore. And you’re definitely not in control.”

I pulled harder, my nails digging into his arm, but it only made his grip tighten. “I’m not your property!” I snapped, but the words didn’t come out as forcefully as I wanted. The way he was looking at me—like I was something he was slowly dissecting—made me feel smaller than I ever had.

He didn’t flinch. His eyes were dark, unreadable, like he was watching a wild animal trying to break free of its cage. “You think you’re in control, but I can see it in your eyes. You want to fight me, Lila. But you don’t have the strength.”

I gritted my teeth, pushing harder against his grip. But he didn’t release me.

“You’ll learn, eventually.” He leaned in, his breath hot against my ear. “You’ll learn that the only way to survive in this world is to accept what’s yours. And you, Lila, are mine.”

I froze. That feeling—that primal, heart-stopping pull—came rushing back again. It wasn’t just his words, it was the way his voice wrapped around me, like a storm building just beneath the surface.

“Let me go,” I repeated, but it was weaker this time. His scent—the mix of leather and power—seeped into my senses, clouding my thoughts.

Maximus pulled away slightly, his thumb brushing against the inside of my wrist where he still held me captive. “What are you going to do, little wolf? Fight me?”

The question hung in the air like a challenge, and for a second, I wanted nothing more than to give in. But I couldn’t. I wouldn’t.

I jerked my arm away from his grip with as much force as I could muster, stepping back. “I don’t need you. I don’t need anyone.” The words were a lie, but it was the only thing I could say to protect myself from him. From his eyes. From the power that radiated off him.

He didn’t seem bothered by my resistance. In fact, it seemed to amuse him and increased his interest in me.

“You’re so stubborn,” he said, like it was the most interesting thing he had ever seen. “But that’s what makes you more fun.”

I glared at him, my body trembling with a mixture of anger and something else I couldn’t name. I wanted to hate him. I wanted to tear him apart for everything his mafia family had done to mine. But something inside me—something deep down—was pulling me in the opposite direction. I hated that it was there. But I couldn’t fight it.

Maximus stepped closer again, his eyes never leaving mine. He was like a predator, and I was his prey. “I could make this easy for you, Lila.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “I could take you in. Give you protection, a place to belong.”

I shook my head, though a part of me wanted to accept. But I couldn’t. Not after everything.

“I’m not your pawn, Maximus.” I gritted my teeth. “I’ll never be.”

He sighed like he was disappointed in me, but there was a flicker of something else—interest, maybe? I couldn’t tell.

“No,” he said softly. “You’re not. But you’ll be mine anyway.”

His words hit me like a physical blow, and for a second, I didn’t know whether to punch him in the face or run as far as I could. Instead, I took a deep breath and tried to steady myself. “You don’t get to decide that.”

He gave me a slow, knowing smile, the kind that made my heart skip a beat. “I already have.”

Before I could respond, there was a sharp sound behind me. A car engine roaring to life. Maximus turned his head just slightly, his gaze still fixed on me, but I could feel his attention shift, like he was waiting for something.

“You’re not alone anymore, Lila,” he said, his tone cold and final. “This isn’t over. Not by a long shot.”

I didn’t get a chance to say anything back before he was walking away, his footsteps heavy, his presence still lingering like a storm that refused to pass.

I stood there, frozen in the middle of the street, my mind racing. He was right about one thing—I wasn’t alone anymore. But that didn’t mean I had to accept his twisted version of whatever this was.

I wasn’t ready to face Maximus. I wasn’t ready to face the man he was or the kind of world he wanted to drag me into. But somehow, I already knew—whether I liked it or not—this was just the beginning.

I wasn’t sure how much longer I could fight it, but I would. I would find a way to stand on my own again, even if it meant facing the terrifying pull he had on me.

And when the time came, I’d make him regret ever thinking he could break me.