Page 7 of Red and the Alpha
Maxius’s breath was ripped from him. He turned his eyes on the person who held the weapon, finding Kadir shaking his head. The powerful warlock was sending lightning bolts through the silver rope.
Shit.
“I told you, you should have made this easy,” Kadir muttered.
The energy surged through Maxius, his vision darkening. His body fell, crashing to the ground.
Maybe I should have just gone to see what Hazel wanted.
* * *
Maxius groaned, his muscles sore and aching. He rolled over, unsure of when and where he went to sleep. His hands connected with hard concrete, and he froze in place.
What the hell?
His opened his eyes, and his vision was still blurry. He blinked, allowing his vision the time to come into focus. He pushed off the floor and paused, kneeling.
The room swam.
“Where am I?” he demanded. He closed his eyes and held his head in his hand. His brain throbbed as if a jackhammer was drilling inside his skull. He stood, not one to show weakness. His animal was eerily calm and quiet.
The memory of Kadir and his men on his property came flying back.
Son of a bitch.
He stood and recognized Eternal Flame’s official lounge where the witches met. The hexagon-shaped room was bold and dark in color. Sconces lined the walls, casting an orange glow. The marble floors beneath him were old, the building having been built centuries ago. In the center of the floor was a pentagram etched in the hard stone.
Many rituals had been performed here. Maxius could almost sense the powers of the witches who had graced this chamber.
“I apologize for my cousin and his men,” a familiar voice spoke behind him.
Maxius’s heart raced.
His wolf whimpered, and it was no wonder it had gone quiet.
Maxius turned, and his gaze landed on Kamila Stone sitting in the chair of the coven’s leader. It was a chair fit for a queen. The coven members convened here when meeting with their powerful priestess.
Maxius greedily took her in. It had been years since he had been this close to her.
Kamila sat proud in her grandmother’s chair. Her dark hair had grown, flowing down her back. Her medium-golden skin was flawless. A long black dress covered her entirely, and he ached to know what was hidden beneath the material. Her lips were painted the brightest of red, gaining his and his wolf’s attention.
His body remained frozen in place. As much as he had tried to avoid her in the past, it looked like he had no choice but to be in her presence.
His wolf scratched at his stomach while letting out a whine.
Mate, it whispered.
Yes, Kamila Stone was his mate, but she did not know it.
No one did.
It had been a secret of his for years.
He had been attending the celebration of her eighteenth birthday. His parents were expected to attend, being invited personally by Hazel. He had begrudgingly been dragged along by his mother. He was eight years Kamila’s senior and had not wanted to partake in the celebration of someone younger. He, at the time, was an enforcer and had much more on his mind than a young witch’s birthday party.
Two seconds was all it had taken.
His gaze had landed on Kamila, and he had known with every breath in his body that she was the one for him.
