Chapter 23 - Mira

Maxim is standing at the door, looking at me with an odd expression. I had just gotten dressed and was about to write in my journal when he opened the door.

I stand up and look at him. “Can I help you?”

He cocks his head to the side. “Is that any way to speak to the person who’s getting you out of this room?”

“What?” I ask with a frown and he simply chuckles.

“Come, Mirabella. I’m sure you’ve missed the back gardens,” he says and walks out, leaving the door open.

I swallow hard and take a step back, remembering how he fooled me last time. It’s the reason I’m in this room right now, the reason Alpha Nikolaos has me locked up.

He walks back and looks at me with an eyebrow cocked. “Are you coming?”

“The last time I followed your instructions, I ended up in here. Why would I follow you now?” I say, then I promptly sit down. “Please, leave me alone.”

Maxim walks in and gets down on his haunches in front of me. I refuse to make eye contact, but his gaze is burning holes into the side of