VII

I was about to close the door, but he blocked the way with his foot. He looked at me indignantly, but quickly managed to calm down.

“There is something you can do for me, Alpha Logan,” Maddox said with unusual formality. It bothered me that he called me “Alpha”; I considered Maddox and Lincoln my brothers, and I always insisted that they call me by my name.

However, Maddox looked so helpless now, his eyes pale and tired, as if he hadn't slept in days.

“All right, tell me everything you know about your mate,” I agreed. I motioned for him to come into the attic, and we headed to my office.

“I assume your mate is still in the basement,” I said.

I already had an idea of the favor he would ask of me: he wanted me to free his renegade mate.

“Yes. And Henry tortured her, Logan,” Maddox complained, raising his voice. I raised my eyebrows. He seemed to want me to be angry with Henry.

“Henry's job is to interrogate renegades who dare to set foot on our territory, Maddox,” I reminded him. But the indignation on his face told me he wouldn't accept that logic.

“I know, but she's my mate,” Maddox replied, his voice thick with defensiveness.

“Tell me about her, Maddox,” I said, leaning back in my swivel chair. Maddox sat down on the loveseat across from my desk.

“Henry captured her yesterday,” Maddox began.

"I went down to the basement late that night because I smelled an intoxicating aroma of coffee and vanilla. When I reached the interrogation room in the basement, I came face to face with the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. I lost control the instant I saw the terror and pain in her eyes. I flew into a rage and attacked Henry to stop him from whipping my mate with that damn whip. Henry apologized, realizing that the renegade he was torturing was my mate, but I'm still furious about what he did to her." Maddox told me the story with feverish intensity.

“You have to help me, Logan. My mate may be a renegade, but she's not savage. Her wolf eyes are still blue. She's fragile and needs my care. I know my mate is incapable of killing; she's too pure and innocent for that,” Maddox said anxiously.

I raised an eyebrow. "Don't be swayed by the mate bond, Maddox. Renegades are often cunning, and some like to disguise themselves as fragile and innocent. Don't judge a renegade by its appearance; they're called renegades for a reason, and those reasons aren't always good." I reminded him, but his mind seemed clouded by his sudden love for his mate.

He was convinced his mate was good, incapable of the evil of other savage renegades.

“You don't understand me, Logan. She's my mate, what am I supposed to do now? Are you suggesting I let her rot in the basement and have the warriors torture her?” Maddox replied, his eyes flashing with annoyance.

“I didn't say that, Maddox. You know I detest renegades and am ruthless when it comes to interrogating renegades. But you also know I am fair, and I need time to consider your situation. I can't just release your renegade mate to roam our territory.” I leaned back in the swivel chair.

My head ached with all the complications that were arising.

If not killing the renegades we capture is proof of my mercy, I don't know what else could be.

As Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack, it was my duty to ensure everyone's safety. As much as I wanted Maddox to be happy, I couldn't allow his mate to be released without precautions.

“The renegades and hunters are joining forces to slaughter packs, Maddox. They've already wiped out Morgan's pack. I'm being extremely cautious right now,” I explained, feeling guilty as I saw the sadness on his face.

“I understand, Logan. I care about this pack too, and I will fight for our safety, but what am I supposed to do now? She's my mate, and it breaks my heart to know she'll spend another night in the basement. It's driving me crazy that there's nothing I can do for her.” Maddox's voice trembled, on the verge of tears.

I took a deep breath, weighing Maddox's dilemma.

“What should we do, Kol?” I asked my wolf.

You know what I would do in this situation,

“Logan. I wouldn't care if my mate was a renegade or not; that wouldn't matter anymore. Maddox has found his other half. It would break his heart, or worse, drive him mad, if he can't be with her,” Kol replied.

I let out a long, deep sigh, still debating what to do about Maddox and his mate.

“Okay. I want to talk to your mate, Maddox,” I said.

I saw him swallow. Maddox, always calm and confident, was visibly anxious. The arrival of his mate had changed him.

“Why?” Maddox asked suspiciously.

“I want to see what he's like. Bring me your mate,” I ordered with conviction.

Although Maddox was still hesitant, he slowly got up and left my attic to find his mate.

Almost ten minutes had passed since Maddox went to the basement, and he still hadn't returned. I didn't know what he was doing.

“Why was he taking so long?” I couldn't help but wonder if he had decided to run away with his mate.

But if he was thinking of leaving the pack, why didn't he do it yesterday when I wasn't here?

“Maddox,” I called him using the pack bond. I could communicate with every member of the pack through our minds.

Promise me you won't hurt my mate, Logan. Maddox replied through the pack bond.

I couldn't help but grimace. I couldn't blame him for being suspicious; he knew how much I hated renegades and that my instinct was to attack them without question. But I'm not as cruel as everyone thinks. I would try to behave as best I could.

“Don't test my patience, Maddox. I have a lot of work to do. Bring your mate here right now,” I ordered authoritatively, and cut the pack bond before he could growl or complain again.

A few moments later, I heard the squeak of my office door. Maddox entered slowly, a petite woman hidden behind his large frame. I could barely make out her face.

“Show yourself, renegade,” I commanded. The woman cowered. Maddox glared at me with contained fury.

“Logan, she has a name,” Maddox said, obviously annoyed by my insistence on calling her a renegade.

“All right, what's your name, renegade?” I asked again, unable to help but smile at Maddox's grim expression.

“My mate's name is Elena, and it means ‘bright light’ in Greek,” Maddox replied quickly.

I raised my eyebrows. “I never thought you were the type of person to G****e the meaning of your mate's name, Maddox,” I commented.

I sighed, noticing that the woman seemed to have no intention of showing herself, but wanted to hide behind Maddox indefinitely.

“Your mate is testing my patience, Maddox,” I said firmly, looking him in the eye to convey my displeasure.

I saw Maddox swallow before turning to his mate.

“Hey, mate, it's okay. Logan just wants to talk to you. Everything will be fine,” Maddox said, trying to comfort Elena.

“Hello,” Elena greeted me weakly, slowly sliding out from behind Maddox's body.

“Are you Maddox's mate?” I asked her. Instead of answering, she looked to Maddox for permission to speak.

Maddox nodded slowly.

“Yes, we are mates,” Elena replied.

“You're not planning on rejecting him?” I asked, and Maddox gaped at me in shock.

I felt a pang of guilt for suggesting rejection, especially seeing the fear and nervousness on his face. But I had already said it.