Winter's Dawn (25 page)

Serena went back to looking for the pills and finally produced both the pills and the whiskey she kept for him. Max took the pills, more than he usually did and he drank for several minutes, desperate to numb some of the lust that was far more primal than it had ever been without the full moon being high in the sky.

“I don’t mind helping you,” Serena whispered as she stood while he continued to drink the whiskey. “Don’t say sorry.”

“I am sorry,” he rasped, before he took another long drink.

“I told you not to say it.” Serena dropped the towel wrapped around her and pressed herself against him.

Max’s eyes rolled back for a moment when he felt Serena’s smooth, still moist skin pressed against his. “You don’t tell me what to do,” he reminded her as his fingers threaded in her hair and he tugged her head back to see that Serena’s eyes were flashing violently. “I’m the most dominant.”

“Yes, I know.” Serena closed her eyes for a moment and breathed deeply as she sagged against him. “Forgive me, Your Majesty.”

“My smell makes you weak-kneed. How sweet?” He set down the whiskey on the desk behind her and wrapped his other hand around her waist. “I thought I was going to come in here and be forceful, but maybe we’ll play sweet games instead.”

Serena’s eyes closed as she moaned. “Gods, help me.”

He smiled, tugging at her hair again and waiting until her eyes opened. When they did, they were pure silver, no longer flashing.

“Miss Katrina is going to be waiting a long time,” he told her as he admired her eyes. “I’m going to toy with you for hours.”

“Three days to the running is a long time,” she told him boldly. “Promise me you’ll make it up to me like last time. Don’t leave me miserable.”

“Maybe I will,” he said before his voice got darker. “And maybe I won’t. Maybe we’ll both be miserable until the running. You know I enjoy your company in the darkness.”

Serena sighed. “Yes, I know that.”

“Tell me why you wanted to go first,” Max asked, his eyes narrowed. “Was it to protect your sweet sister from a mean alpha like me?”

“No,” she whispered as she closed her eyes. “I need to be with you. Even if it’s in the darkness.”

Chapter Fourteen

Susie didn’t knock when she walked into the rooms Serena and Katrina shared. She knew Katrina was off shopping and she wanted to catch Serena alone. It was midday and like Max, Susie knew Serena was probably working.

She hadn’t even made it to Serena’s private office before she heard a low, feminine growl. “What do you want? I’m busy!”

Susie frowned and peeked her head into the office.

“Excuse me?” she asked, unaccustomed to anyone using that tone with her.

Serena flinched and lowered her head, placing a hand over her eyes as she sighed. “I’m sorry, Your Highness. I wasn’t paying attention. I should have noticed it was you.”

“You’re in a bad mood,” Susie observed from the doorway.

“I apologize.” Serena dropped her pen and covered her face with both hands as her elbows rested against her desk. “What can I do for you today, Your Highness?”

“Are you okay?” Susie walked into the office and stood next to the desk, silently studying Serena, who still had her face covered with both hands. “Did he hurt you?”

Serena’s hands fell and she frowned up at Susie. “What?”

“Oh.” Susie stared at her eyes that were the same shade of molten silver as Max’s were when he got primal. She hadn’t known anyone but Max could flash semi-permanently like that. “Gods, I’m sorry, Serena.”

Serena shook her head and lowered her gaze. “It happens sometimes. There’s only two more days until the running. I’ll be fine.”

Susie stood there, feeling awful. “Can I sit down?”

Serena winced and looked like she wished she could say no, but she nodded and gestured to the chair on the other side of the desk. “Please.”

Susie sat and continued to stare at Serena, who seemed incredibly uncomfortable in her presence right then. “Max told me I should apologize to you.”

“He did?”

Susie nodded. “He was a bit out of it when he said it, but I think it’s applicable. It would seem I was woefully naïve of what I was signing you up for when I asked for your help until I was ready.”

“He doesn’t know you’re here?” Serena asked quietly.

Susie shook her head again and looked down at her hands in her lap. “I just feel really terrible. I thought the running was like human mating, but it’s not, is it? It’s quite barbaric.”

“Your Highness,” Serena started, giving her a pained look. “I am probably not the right wolf to talk with you about this.”

“Probably not,” Susie agreed, still looking at her hands. “But, I have no one else to talk to. Max still isn’t speaking to me.”

“He’ll be fine after the running,” Serena promised her. “I am certain he’ll apologize the moment it’s over. ”

“He shouldn’t apologize,” Susie finally looked up, seeing Serena’s silver eyes again. “This time it was my fault and I really hope he didn’t hurt you or Katrina.”

“He never hurts us, Your Highness.” Serena sighed, looking pained again. “We’re full-grown and we can handle it. Katrina loves dominant wolf, you know that.”

Susie studied her quietly again before she asked, “Do you love him, too?”

Serena pulled back, looking stricken. “Pardon?”

“Dominant wolf,” Susie clarified. “Do you love playing it like Katrina?”

“Oh,” Serena said in understanding and looked back down at her desk, making an effort to straighten it. “I don’t mind it at the right time of the month.”

“But, the moon isn’t full yet,” Susie went on. “It’s unfair that you have to deal with Max just because he has more hormones than other wolves.”

“My eyes aren’t silver for nothing.” She glanced up to give Susie an embarrassed smile. “It’s an okay time for me. I’ve got a few extra hormones too.”

“Because you’re a royal beta.” Susie nodded. “You’re stronger than the other betas. That’s why he likes you so much.”

Serena shrugged, looking uncomfortable. “Maybe.”

“Max isn’t a mean wolf,” Susie said in anguish. “I don’t want you to think he’s always like that. He’s really sweet.”

“I work with the king. I know he’s a good wolf.”

Susie heaved a sigh of relief. “I’m glad. If you’d like, I could tell him to be more considerate—”

“No!” Serena said quickly, before she caught herself and toned down her harsh voice. “He’s fine how he is. I don’t mind dominant wolf. I enjoy it as much as Katrina.”

“Okay,” Susie said in surprise, unable to fathom why both sisters enjoyed dealing with Max when he was in that sort of mood. “But, I want you to tell me if he gets out of hand. If I had understood everything better I would have had this discussion with you earlier.”

“Yes, I appreciate that, Your Highness.” Serena still looked horribly uncomfortable. “But, I assure you that he is not a bother. We don’t mind helping him.”

“Very well,” Susie said as she stood. “I’ll leave you to your work.”

Susie was pondering saying something else, perhaps apologizing once more, when she smelled Max before he opened the door to the rooms. Susie saw Serena wince and put a hand to her forehead. She glanced away and took several deep breaths, as though attempting to regain her composure.

“Sue?” Max said when he walked into the office, having obviously smelled her before he saw her. “What’re you doing here?”

Susie stared up at him, seeing that he was wearing dark glasses. His silver eyes were hidden, but she knew they were there. He never wore dark glasses unless he was trying to hide them.

“I was apologizing to Serena. Like you told me too.”

“
Now
you listen to me?” Max snorted and shook his head. “That’s great, Susie.”

“I felt I owed it to her,” Susie snapped. “I would have apologized anyway.”

“Are you done?” Max asked as he arched a dark eyebrow over the rim of his glasses. “I have things to discuss with Serena.”

“I know what things you have to discuss,” Susie growled as she reached up and poked at his chest sharply. “I told her to tell me if you are inconsiderate. I expect you to be kind to her. You and I will have words if you’re anything but caring, dominant wolf or not.”

“Wow.” Max laughed in disbelief. “How much more twisted can our lives get? That’s really fantastic, Sue. You made a fucked up situation even worse.”

Susie growled. “Apologize to me for being smart. Right now!”

Max shook his head, surprisingly defying her when it was usually impossible for him. “Nope.”

“I’ll just step out while you two discuss this,” Serena said as she stood.

“This is your office. You don’t have to leave because she’s being difficult.” Max pointed to Serena’s chair. “Sit!”

Susie reached up and slapped him. “Did you just tell her to sit? Is she your bitch to command?”

“Gods, don’t answer that,” Serena moaned as she sat down and covered her face again.

“You are making her uncomfortable. Look at her. She’s miserable.”

“I want you to apologize to her,” Susie growled, her body shaking in anger. “Do it right now or I will be so furious, Maxwell!”

Max took off his sunglasses and glared at her, his silver eyes narrowed before he turned to Serena. “I’m sorry for saying you had a right to remain in your own office, Serena. The queen seems to think that was really inconsiderate of me.”

“A master of lies and manipulation,” Susie grumbled. “That is a dreadful gift. No one can twist the truth quite like you.”

“Actually, it’s a really handy gift.” Max’s silver eyes were still narrowed maliciously. “I’ve got lots of gifts. Why don’t you ask Serena to enlighten you since you are so determined to toy with things you have no business toying with?”

Susie folded her arms. “The difference between Serena and I is that I don’t think any of this is a gift.”

“You will,” he told her smugly. “And even if you don’t, you still have to play along. You better watch where you toss your power, Susan, because I will get even. A running could be a very long three days for you.”

She stiffened at the warning and took a step towards him threateningly. “I will bow down to you when hell freezes over.
I’m queen
. That means I am the most dominant.”

“What do I get for guarding the moon!” he yelled at her. “What do I get for working myself to death and taking care of your people?”

“Personal gratification for a job well done,” Susie sniffed as she tilted her head to look at him in challenge.

“What do I get?” he persisted, his eyes pulsing brighter silver as they lowered to her breasts. “What do I get for all this hell? I want you to tell me what I get! What is my reward?”

Susie backed up slightly when she saw how predatory Max was looking. “I don’t play dominant wolf.”

“Then get out!” Max shouted and pointed at the door.

Susie closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. She had pushed Max too far and she hadn’t meant to. “I’ll leave because I want too. Not because you told me too.”

“Whatever works.” Max turned around, showing her his back. “Go find a human to play puppy games with.”

“Be careful what you wish for, Maxwell,” Susie told him in a deadly whisper. “You may be surprised at what you get.”

****

Max lingered at the edge of the woods, staring at the Winter Palace and watching the colors play over it the same way he always did at the end of a running. He made it snow, hoping it would make him feel better. It didn’t.

“Go to her.” Serena pushed at his bare back. “Go apologize.”

“I’ve never gone so long without speaking to her,” he whispered and turned around to look at Serena in anguish. “Not since she was born.”

“It was a long week.” Serena sighed heavily. “You should not have stayed in our room before the running. I told you that was a bad idea.”

“She pushed me too far.” Max let his head fall forward and ran a hand through his hair. “I would have done something horrible. Gods, I haven’t braided her hair for five days. The runnings are bad enough, but I ignored her before it—”