CHAPTER 3

Maisie 

I threw my body in front of Lance as Beta Cassian’s sword bore down on him. The sword cut through my clothes and sliced the skin of my stomach. I winced in pain as I covered my son with my body, shielding him from Keith's terrifying gaze. 

“What?” Keith sneered, “You'll die protecting your son?” 

I could hear the mockery in his voice. It was evident that he did not care one bit about killing an innocent child if it was just to hurt me. 

“Please,” I begged, “the boy has done nothing.” 

“Take him away,” Keith roared at his Beta. 

I shook my head and held onto Lance desperately. 

“You'll have to kill me first,” I protested. 

Keith signalled to Cassian and he grabbed the boy forcefully from my arms. I tried to follow Cassian to fight for my son's return, but Keith blocked my path. 

He looked into my eyes, his gaze burning into mine. 

“You could not care less about leaving me all alone in that pack and yet you care about being separated from your son?” The tone of his voice was full of bitterness and naturally, I wanted to tell him that he was pathetic for uttering those words. 

Leaving him all alone? 

He had amended his relationship with his father and slept with another woman. He was the one who had left me all alone, so what was he talking about now? 

But the life of my son was at his mercy so I fell to my knees and begged. 

“I'll do anything,” I pleaded, “please don't kill my son.” 

He threw his head back and laughed bitterly, as if I had said something funny. 

“I should spare the life of your son?”

I nodded my head repeatedly, throwing away what was left of my pride to appeal for my son's life. Lance meant the world to me. He was the reason I woke up every morning and kept going in spite of how difficult it was for me. 

“Yes,” I pleaded, “he's innocent in all this. Your problem is with me and not my son. He has done nothing wrong. He does not deserve to suffer.” 

Both my hands were held up, rubbing against each other to reflect my desperation. 

“I do not want to,” his voice was nonchalant. 

“I will take immense pleasure in taking away his life just like you ran from me, making me look like a stupid fool in front of the entire pack. How did you think it felt like, huh? Being the Alpha with the runaway lover? Hoping every day that you will return to me, only to find out that you've been whoring around and playing house in the human realm.” 

His words were laced with bitterness and anger. I had hurt him deeply, that was certain. But what right did he have to be angry? 

“You… Do you even know why I had to leave? Did you bother to ask?” The question slipped out before I could take it back. 

His eyes widened in bitter amusement, “Are you defending yourself now?” 

He was daring me with that question, subtly reminding me that my child was just outside and he could order his death with just one word. 

“No,” I shook my head, “I was wrong but my son…” 

“It's always your son this! Your son that! And I'm sick of it!” he screamed. 

“Keith…” 

His eyes flashed red with anger, “Don't you dare call my name with that filthy mouth of yours.” 

I looked into his eyes, heartbroken at the lack of love there. He had once used those eyes to gaze into mine like they were filled with stars. 

Keith lifted me by the collar of my shirt, forcing me to stand up and bringing my face close to his.

I opened my mouth before he could give the order to end my son's life, “I'll do anything you want me to do.” 

“Anything?” he smirked, his lips curving upwards. 

I nodded, “Anything.” 

“So you will return to the pack, huh?” he asked me.

I had been so out of touch with the pack that I wondered if his father was still alive. 

“Do you hesitate? Should I call Cassian? Tell him to make your boy's head roll on the ground?” he bent his head to the side a little bit, “Would you like to watch it happen?” 

It was not right for him to utter such dreary words and still goosebumps spruced my arm, not out of fear but of anticipation of his touch. Because my body remembered. My body remembered how he lit up my world with his big rough hands. 

I swallowed, trying to get my head back to the current situation. Keith was threatening my son. Why could my body not recall the pain that had gone into delivering Lance instead? 

“I’ll follow you back to the pack,” I said, against my best wishes. 

Keith smiled. He was enjoying himself. 

He pushed me against the wall suddenly and lifted my chin with his finger, bringing my face closer to his until I could feel his hot breath on my face. 

“Kiss me,” he said and I hated that my body leaned in to do his bidding. But I stopped myself, suddenly charged with anger at him and also myself. What did he think of me? That I was cheap? That I would give my body to him so easily? 

I stared at him with fury in my eyes and no intention of kissing him. 

“Cassian!”

I leaned forward to kiss him, shutting him up. 

His tongue tasted of mint and a longing that said he had been waiting for years to do this. I kissed him back with equal fervour, savouring his tongue hungrily, surprising myself with how much I enjoyed something that was intended to punish me. 

He pulled back suddenly, panting and out of breath as he gazed into my eyes lustfully. 

“You’ll be my mistress when you return to the pack,” he said in a hoarse voice, his hands touched my bare shoulders, “I'll give you a nice place in the pack house and all you have to do is tend to my needs.” 

I was trembling softly with pleasure as my body recalled the heights he had taken me to. But I had to remember that things were different now. And what he was asking was beneath me. I had been his lover once, a soon-to-be wife as his fiancée, and now he wanted me to return to the same pack as a mere mistress? 

The humiliation! 

He brought his lips close to my ear, “You can refuse me but then you'll be burying your son tonight.” 

He brought his face close to mine again, “so what's it going to be? he asked hungrily, “you'll be my mistress or…” 

“I'll follow you to the Silvermoon pack,” I said softly. I could endure any amount of humiliation if it came to my son. 

Keith smiled, feeling victorious. 

He took a step back and eyed me, “Don't get any funny ideas, Maisie. If you try to run away, I'll kill that pretty boy of yours, understand?” 

I nodded my head, more out of fear than anything else. He walked out of my small apartment and when he returned, he came back with Cassian and Lance. 

Lance ran into my arms and I wrapped my arms protectively around him. 

I would do anything to protect my son from Keith.