Page 31 of M.A.Y.A
Maya wasted no time in sliding behind them and gripping them by the neck, adding pressure against their wound.
As the intruder continued to struggle against her, Maya knew she had to finish them. She’d never killed a person before, but she had no choice if she was going to help this wolf pack; if she was going to save this dimension from the ugliness in hers.
Acting on instinct, she twisted their head from their neck and heard the nauseating sound of bone crunching before the intruder’s body grew limp, and they collapsed forward into the grass. Maya stumbled to her feet and knew she was going to be sick. The familiar burn in her throat and the turmoil in her stomach were tell-tale signs. Stumbling to the nearest tree, she leaned forward and hurled, emptying her stomach of all its contents. She heaved and choked until there was nothing but faint traces of bile and air. It burned and suffocated her.
She killed a person. She actually killed a person even though they were half robot, and she had no choice in the matter. The thought of taking a life was horrifying, but she hadn’t hesitated, not for a second. Is that really what the scientists had done to her? Had they made her a killer? Is that what they wanted her to be?
She hated it. She hated every second of knowing she was no longer the academic, no longer the crypto linguist who hid away in the archives and who played board games with her parents on weekends. The world had made her this horrible machine.
In that moment, she realized that it wasn’t fear of belonging that had her questioning whether mating with Isaiah was the best course of action. It was not knowing whether she could ever live with herself as a killer and be with someone so good as Isaiah.
With a tortured cry, she stumbled back to the lifeless body and quickly tore off the control panel on their arm. There was a sizzle and snap of wires tearing. What was left was bones and muscle and bloody tissue.
What was left was human.
With the metal piece still clutched in her hand, she turned in the direction of the safe house. She took two steps before she realized that she was no longer alone. Standing in a semi-circle in front of her were six Beta wolves and an Alpha. They watched her with shrewd golden eyes, as if judging her for what she’d done.
No longer able to stop the pain from showing, she staggered forward before she threw the arm piece into the grass at Isaiah’s feet.
“Here,” she said, her words projecting from her mouth like spittle. “I may not be a part of your pack. I may not be good enough to join your meetings. But I clean up my own messes, and I don’t need any of you to help me do it either. I saved myself once before, and I’d sure as hell do it again or die trying.”
Isaiah’s wolf approached just as her knees buckled, and she collapsed in the thick forest brush. Her vision swam and her head pounded. She still felt like she was going to be sick, especially now that there were witnesses to her destruction.
Just as her eyes drifted closed, she felt the cold muzzle of a beast against her chin, and the sound of howling wolves. When she couldn’t fight it anymore, the darkness consumed her, and she fell into a dreamless unconsciousness.
ChapterTwelve
Isaiah knew he had royally fucked up the minute Maya stormed out of the dining room. All of his Betas knew he’d fucked up as well with the way they were avoiding his gaze. But shit, he didn’t want his mate in the middle of a fight. He wanted her safe.
As if Alex could read his mind, his second in command spoke in a quiet voice. “Your mate has her fair share of Alpha aggression and should stand by your side when we’re defending the pack.”
“She’s not ready,” he repeated.
“Looks like she’s ready to me,” Sonya replied as she began taking her knives out of her holsters in preparation for a shift. “She nearly kicked my head off during training today.”
The other Betas nodded; they’d all taken turns working with Maya to improve her skills.
“I’ll talk to her later,” Isaiah grumbled.Much later.“Let’s just get to the portal. Have you heard back from the Omega who reported the disturbance?”
Drayden shook his head. “Michelle. She lives in sector six with her sister. She isn’t responding to requests for communication at this time.”
“She could be in trouble,” Nako said.
“Which is exactly why Maya can’t go,” Isaiah replied. “I don’t want this cyborg anywhere near her or the rest of my pack.”
They rose from the table and quickly rushed through the Den to the front courtyard, ready to strip and shift. Drayden was the only one who would remain in human form, so he could continue to track the intruder.
Just as they were about to leave, their alarms went off again.
“Oh shit,” Drayden muttered.
“Oh shit?” Isaiah repeated. “What do you mean ‘oh shit?’”
Drayden handed his tablet over with a map pulled up on the screen. The territory markers were clear—the safe house was at one corner of the screen while the bunker was at the top left. A second figure appeared near the safe house location with a marker that was perilously similar to that of the intruder.
Maya.
Isaiah roared. “Let’s move out! Now!”
