Chapter 17: The Truth

Samantha's POV

The dagger fell to the stone floor with a screeching sound as I dropped it. I pulled away from Maddox, that guy over there, running. I couldn't believe it, I couldn't believe he had actually brought my ex-mate all the way here for me to kill him.

Did he really think I would do something like that? As much as I hated Finnick, as much as he had hurt me and I would never be able to forgive him, I didn't want to kill him.

When I returned to my quarters, I saw that Maddox had followed me. His face still had a hint of amusement. "Apparently you didn't like my gift," he joked.

"I was expecting a pet, King Maddox. A goddamn pet!" I yelled at him, really annoyed.

He laughed, approaching me. "Did you know I get excited when you swear?" He hugged my waist, pulling me close to him. "That turns me fucking on." Now he was sniffing my neck, his hands caressing my back, teasing me.

I sighed with a gasp. “You don’t deserve this.”

“All because I want to see your ex dead? That's crazy, in my head that makes so much sense,” he laughed cynically, his fresh breath brushing against my neck.

“You took his Alpha position…” Finnick was the kind of Alpha I knew.

“Let’s face it, he wasn’t doing his job well, right?”

Worse, he was right. It wasn’t just because of what had happened to me, the betrayal he and Carmen committed against me. But it was also because of the pack. So Maddox wasn’t so wrong after all.

He held my chin, making me look at him. “I brought the person who hurt you the most on a silver platter straight to you, my love. Others in your place would kiss me to thank me.” His thumb slid across my lips.

I rolled my eyes at him for being so conceited. I pushed him and he fell sitting on the bed. “Wow!”

“I have something much better than just kissing,” I said, kneeling in front of him.

“Oh, you do? Then show me, baby. I am eager to know that…” he encouraged excitedly, eagerly unbuttoning his pants to give himself pleasure.

….

The rest of the day Maddox and I were busy. He was taking care of things in the kingdom and I was making the final preparations for the mating ritual that would be the next day; he and I could hardly wait to exchange vows.

As for Odette, Tori told me she hadn't left her room yet, so she and the king hadn't met. It also seemed that Maddox didn't really want to see her, perhaps because it would be embarrassing to see someone he had almost killed, which could also mean that what they had in the past was truly in the past, that today he had another mate, other loves and other plans, that he didn't want to face a past that I made so melancholic.

It was laughable to think that way, since Odette had come here full of herself, thinking that Maddox still loved her and that as soon as he laid eyes on her he could reject me and send me away automatically as if I were worthless, but reality proved otherwise.

Maddox showed no interest in her and demonstrated that he was in love with me, much to her dismay.

That night, my love and I cuddled after making such delicious and wonderful love under the sheets. We caressed each other while talking about the future, about what the wedding ceremony would be like tomorrow, about how we wanted me to be pregnant soon so we could fill this castle with puppies, about how we would be happy forever.

Then that night I slept peacefully like a baby, sure that I was happy.

In the early morning, a cold breeze entered through the window and brushed my shoulders. I groped around the bed looking for my lover's big, warm body, but the bed was empty.

Confused, I searched for Maddox in the room and soon realized he wasn't anywhere. Maybe he had gone out for some air. I got up, put on my robe, and barefoot left the room looking for him; he wouldn't be far.

That's when I saw him, the ladder, behind a large pillar. He hissed low. “It's dangerous for you to come looking for me at this hour,” I said. There was apprehension in his voice.

“I'm tired of waiting, my king. Why don't you get rid of her? You promised me you love me!” It was Odette's voice. What was happening?

“It takes time, Odette. Samantha is a clever girl. Do you think she won't suspect anything this way?” Maddox asked her.

“But she walks around with that upturned nose as if she owns everything. It irritates me! I just want to get rid of her…”

“Today the healers took her blood to do the first tests for my cure, but until I see a cure I'll still keep her close,” Maddox said, loud and clear.

Odette laughed. “Since that's all you want her around,” she stated. “But tell me, my king, are you even willing to marry her just to keep your cure close by?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” he replied.

“I always knew you never loved her,” Odette smiled triumphantly.

So that was all it was about? Had it all been a lie? Had I never been more than just a soother to him?