Mon Amour

Chapter 21: Truth Unraveled

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Chapter 21: Truth Unraveled

"Stay here?" Anna asked. The idea was equal parts ridiculous as well as romantic.

"I've got a lot I need to make up to you so excuse my haste." Maks stated, expectantly.

He wanted a chance for her to get to know him. After weeks of pretending to hate his mate, he had finally opened up to her. He wanted to bond as much as he could while he was still in the mood to share.

Maksim's words vaguely swirled around in Anna's head. She was still in shock from everything that was happening.

Had Maksim really given up on trying to push her away? Would he finally allow her to be happy? With him? Was it a good idea to stay?

"Anna"

Hearing her name, the girl looked into scorching eyes, hesitantly.

"Stop thinking the worst. If you're worried about your safety, you don't need to. I grew up in these woods. There isn't anything out here but us." Maksim said, trying to ease a bit of the hesitation clearly written across her face.

These words were meant to soothe her worries, but failed as being alone with Maksim was exactly what Anna feared.

"Im not sure its a good ide-" Anna began, but was cut off before she could finish.

"Your scared of me." Maksim whispered, finally realizing why she was so uneasy with the idea.

"Maksim," She said, ready to deny his accusations, even though they were somewhat true.

"Don't. You're scared. I know you are, and you have good reason to be. The shifter you have come to know isn't who I truly am." He said, looking over Anna's expression.

When he realized she wasn't convinced, he spoke again. "When you first came into my territory, I felt it. Immediately my wolf instincts took over, forcing me to run deep into the woods to find you. I was moving so fast. My heart was pounding in my ears. I was excited to know what you looked like, smelled like." Maksim cupped her chin, bringing her closer before continuing. "You finally got tired and propped yourself up against the tree and began sleeping. From the moment I saw you, I knew you'd give me trouble.

I really did want to take you home, but something in my head kept reminding me of all the horrid things I've done. All the lives I've taken. I went to wake you up anyway, but when i looked at your face i changed my mind."

Anna's face hardened at his statement. Did he not like the way she looked?

"Let me finish." Maksim ground out as his jaw clench. He hated when people misunderstood what he said. The alpha had trouble explaining how he felt and this sort of thing happened to him a lot.

"I saw how young you were. I knew you were around eighteen or nineteen and already your face was filled with grief. I could smell it on you. I only knew I'd cause you more.

I decided to leave you there."

Anna narrowed her eyes at her mate, all her fear forgotten. "You mean you left me to wolves?! I could have been killed or... or.."

"No you wouldn't have. I had Val and Boris check the woods for any threats... My mistake was not telling them why. When Val saw you, He thought you were the threat and brought you back here. Durak. (the fool)"

"When I realized it was you in that interrogation room, I had already decided that I could not pursue you. My mind seemed to have closed off on the idea of accepting you. I don't know how to explain it, but it seemed that I couldn't be with you. The longer I waited, the more distant I became from my wolf side. Unlike the fairytales say, I am the wolf and the wolf is me. We are not separate beings. It would have been easier if we were. By pushing you away, I made my own choice, but half of me hated myself for it. When you walked away, I think the wolf in me took over. I don't really know what I did or how to excuse my behavior. All I know is that something in me... something deep in me, snapped. By you, you finally broke me and when you did, my heart was swarmed with chaos. It seems as if you are my disease, as well as my cure." Maksim explained, his Russian accent becoming much more thick. He seemed to be just as confused as his mate on his condition.

Thinking of her, Maksim looked at her tear streaked face. When did she start that? She wore a look of pity, causing Maksim to growl.

"Don't look at me like that." When he saw her eyebrows furrow he explained further. "Don't look at me with pity. I've never wanted it and that's not going to change."

Anna tried to stop her tears as she watched him. How could he say the most remarkably, lovely thing she ever heard and then be angry with her.

"It's not pity, Maks. It's compassion." She countered feistily. She was aware that he had never felt the difference.

The confusion on his face, showed her how truly stumped on her words he was. She was itching to throw her arms around him, but she didn't think he would take it very well. Apart from the kiss they shared earlier, every time Maks allowed her to touch him, he wasn't in control. She could tell that the contact made Maksim uncomfortable when he wasn't the one to start it.

"What is it? You're trying to figure something out."

"I-I want..." Anna trailed off. Her stomach was a ball of nerves. Was this a good idea?

"Just tell me what you want, mon amour. The worst I can do is deny you." He stated grumpily at her hesitation. Maksim knew that she was most likely requesting to go home.

"I want to hold you." Anna whispered into the midnight air.

Maksim seemed taken aback. "Hold me? Why?"

Under any other circumstance, Anna might have laughed at his evident confusion, but witnessing his expression showed her how foreign love and affection were to him.

"Because i'm your mate. Because I need you and you need me. Because you've been through a lot and I want to comfort you. Because after all that's happened I just want to be near you. Because you said the most beautiful thing I've ever heard a minute ago and you don't even realize it. Because you put me through hell these last couple of months and I love you anyway."

AnnaLee finished, her chest heaving up and down. Before she realized what she said, two massive arms lifted her up and pulled her into a warm chest.

Instinctively, her hands came around Maksim's neck as she huddled closer.

It seemed like forever that they stayed like that before Maksim layed down, Anna still pressed against his chest.

She realized that he didn't say it back, but she didn't let it bother her. She knew that she was lucky he didn't run for the hills at the sound of her words.

Before falling asleep, Anna remembered something that was troubling her mind since Maksim's confession.

"Maks?"

"hmm" came his only response.

"When we first met, you... killed that wolf that hit me..." She trailed off hoping he would hear her hidden question.

"Sickness had nothing to do with that. It was all me."

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