Did he ever truly fight for you??

Rebecca and Maxwell

The dim candlelight flickered across the stone walls of Maxwell’s chambers, casting long shadows as he sat at the edge of the bed, his elbows resting on his knees. His jaw was clenched, his mind racing with thoughts he couldn’t quiet.

Zenobia was gone.

It shouldn’t bother him. He had made his choice. And yet, unease settled in his chest, gnawing at him.

Rebecca, dressed in a thin silk robe, approached him from behind. Her fingers trailed over his shoulders, her voice soft and sweet.

“You’re too tense,” she murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to the side of his neck. “She’s gone now. You don’t have to think about her anymore.”

Maxwell exhaled sharply, his body rigid beneath her touch.

Rebecca wrapped her arms around him, pressing herself closer. “I’m still here,” she whispered, tilting her head so her lips brushed against his ear. “I can make you forget about her.”

He didn’t respond.

Her hands roamed over his chest, her lips trailing down to his jaw. But Maxwell remained still, his expression unreadable.

Rebecca pulled back slightly, frustration flickering in her eyes. “Maxwell…” she pouted, trying to turn his face toward hers. “Don’t shut me out.”

His muscles tensed, and finally, he spoke. “Not now, Rebecca.”

The coldness in his tone made her stiffen.

She bit her lip, trying to keep the irritation from showing. She had him. She had won. Zenobia was gone. So why did it feel like she was still losing?

---

Zenobia and Orion

the warm glow of the fire casting flickering shadows around the room. The scent of roasted meat and spiced wine filled the air, but she hardly touched her plate. Her mind was too tangled with questions.

She studied Orion carefully. He was nothing like Maxwell. Where Maxwell carried the authority of a future Alpha, Orion had the quiet confidence of a man who had long since stopped caring about titles even tho he is a king .

“Why did you invite me here? To eat ?” she asked, staring at him in his crouching position.

Orion leaned back in his chair, watching her with amusement. “Isn’t it obvious? I wanted to talk.”

Zenobia arched an eyebrow. “Talk about what?”

His golden eyes gleamed in the firelight. “Us.”

Her heart skipped a beat. “There is no ‘us.’”

Orion chuckled, shaking his head. “That’s where you’re wrong.” He tapped his fingers against the table, considering his next words. “You feel it, don’t you? That pull between us?”

Zenobia stiffened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Liar.” Orion’s smirk deepened. “You wouldn’t have come here if you didn’t feel it too.”

She swallowed hard, gripping the edge of her chair. “I came here because I was cdesperate. That’s all.”

Orion leaned forward, his presence suddenly overwhelming. “Curious about me? Or about why your heart races whenever I’m near?”

Zenobia’s breath caught in her throat. She opened her mouth to argue, but no words came out.

Orion reached out, his fingers brushing against the back of her hand. “You’re not tied to Maxwell anymore. That bond broke the moment you lost your wolf.”

Zenobia’s chest tightened. She had spent years believing her fate was sealed with Maxwell, that they were destined to be together. Now, everything felt uncertain.

Orion’s voice softened. “But here’s the truth, Zenobia. You were never meant to be his.”

Her stomach twisted. “What are you saying?”

Orion held her gaze, unwavering. “You’re mine.”

The words sent a jolt through her, a strange warmth curling in her chest.

“No,” she whispered. “That’s not possible.”

His thumb brushed against her lower lip, and she shivered at the contact. “It is. You called for me, and I heard you.”

Zenobia’s pulse raced. She wanted to deny it, to call him a liar. But deep down, something inside her whispered that he was telling the truth.

And that terrified her more than anything.

Zenobia’s hands clenched into fists as she stared at Orion, her voice sharp with defiance. “There’s no way I’m connected to a rival.”

Orion smirked, rising to his feet. He loomed over her, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement as he slowly stepped closer.

“Your parents raised you as the perfect Luna for Maxwell because of their own selfish benefits,” he murmured.

Zenobia stiffened, her breath catching.

“You’re just a tool Maxwell used to climb up to where he is, and your parents helped him achieve it.”

His fingers slid under her chin, lifting it gently but firmly, forcing her to meet his gaze.

“You’re so naive to think you were destined to be with Maxwell.”

Zenobia’s heart pounded, but she refused to look away.

Orion’s smirk deepened. “Your wolf abandoned you at the right moment because your stupidity knows no bounds.”

Her lips parted, but no words came out.

“I understand you love your pack,” Orion continued, his tone softer yet unyielding. “The same way I love mine. But you were born to be my Luna.”

Zenobia’s breath hitched.

“Your parents were wealth-hungry fools,” Orion said darkly. “Did they ever tell you the power you carry within you?”

Confusion flickered in her eyes, and Orion leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a whisper.

“Maxwell was only using you. That’s why he was so desperate not to let you go.”

Zenobia’s chest rose and fell rapidly as Orion’s words settled deep into her mind, planting seeds of doubt she didn’t want to acknowledge.

“You’re lying,” she whispered, her voice barely steady.

Orion let out a low chuckle. “Am I?” His thumb brushed over her chin before he released her, stepping back slightly. “Think about it, Zenobia. Everything you did—every sacrifice, every effort—you were only ever Maxwell’s pawn. A stepping stone for his ambitions.”

She shook her head, her pulse racing. “No… that’s not true. Maxwell and I—”

“Maxwell and you?” Orion interrupted with a scoff. “Tell me, did he ever truly fight for you? Or did he just keep you because it was convenient?”

Zenobia’s throat tightened. She wanted to argue, to deny it, but the memories flooded in. The way Maxwell always put his responsibilities first. The way he had hesitated, even when she needed him most.

Orion watched her struggle, his gaze unreadable. Then, after a moment, he leaned in again, his voice softer but no less intense.

“You were never meant to be his, Zenobia. You were meant to be mine.”

Zenobia’s fingers curled into the fabric of her dress. “You don’t get to decide that.”

Orion smirked. “Neither do you. Fate already has.”