An Alpha's Choice

Chapter 5: Maddy

-Chris-

Lucian suddenly disappeared. I had no idea where he had gone, but this was my opportunity. I turned to the small female beside me, opening my mouth to say something just as her eyes rolled back and she fainted. I quickly caught her, holding her up as I scanned the place for an explanation. I hadn’t even touched her, and yet she had collapsed.

“What happened?” Lucian emerged at my side like some strange assassin, ready to strike. I held back a comment, noticing the worried look in his eyes.

I struggled to place this guy. On one hand, he seemed to be helping the parents. On the other, he was anxiously watching over his fainted cousin.

“She fainted,” I said.

“How?”

“You tell me. Why does she shake like I’m about to hit her or do something worse whenever I’m near?” I sneered.

Lucian narrowed his eyes at me but didn’t answer. I didn’t really expect a response. Instead, I quickly lifted the small female into my arms and started walking back towards the house. Lucian followed closely, his gaze shifting between us. An aggressive aura surrounded him, silently warning me that if I dared to harm his cousin in her vulnerable state, he would tear me apart.

Lucian appeared to be around Madeleine’s age, maybe a bit older, and I was surprised he would threaten me like this. Clearly, this family had a lot of secrets.

As we entered the house, her parents suddenly emerged from the living room. Her mother gasped, covering her mouth when she saw her daughter in my arms, while her father narrowed his eyes at me and growled, “What happened?”

“She fainted,” I replied calmly.

“How?” he inquired, blocking my path.

“You tell me. She’s the one shaking whenever I’m near her. Or have you not noticed? Maybe you just ignored it. The smell of her fear.”

“Christopher,” my father warned.

I briefly glanced at him before maneuvering around the threatening father and heading towards the staircase where I had seen Kaytlyn disappear. I suspected that Madeleine’s room was up there. Her mother followed closely behind, stepping in front of me as I reached the next floor.

“In here,” she said.

I followed her into a simple room with white walls and a queen-sized bed, where I gently placed Madeleine down. The room wasn’t heavily decorated, except for some beautifully painted pictures hanging on the walls.

One caught my eye—it depicted a small yellow bird, and in the corner were the letters M.H. painted in dark ink. Madeleine Hayes. She painted that? It was impressive. I quickly turned my gaze back to her mother, who was already pulling a blanket over Madeleine and rearranging her pillows.

Looking over my shoulder, I saw Lucian standing in the doorway, his worried eyes scanning his cousin before narrowing at me.

I approached him, feeling uncomfortable under his accusatory stare. There was something very wrong with this family, and I wouldn’t accept being treated as the villain here.

“Don’t look at me that way. I didn’t touch her,” I growled.

He remained silent, and I heard my father call from the hallway.

“Christopher, let’s go. We’ll come back another time.”

I took one last look at Lucian. He was slightly smaller than me and not as broad, but his strength was evident in the way his calm green eyes met mine. He could almost take my place with the king. Someone like him would be valuable, I thought.

I walked past him and followed my father, who placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of this. The union will still happen. We’ll just schedule another meeting soon.”

Yet his words did little to calm me.

-Kaytlyn-

I heard the commotion coming down the hallway and quickly moved from the bathroom where I was cleaning my wounds. They weren’t serious, and I would recover quickly. I peeked out from the doorway in my old bedroom, feeling the pull before I saw him. I moved back instinctively, only to look around the doorframe and see him approaching, carrying Madeleine in his arms.

“Sh*t. Madeleine!” I whispered.

I felt my feet take an involuntary step forward before I could stop myself. What had happened? Had he done something to my sister? Anger surged through me as I watched him carry her into her room. He would pay if he had harmed her, but now was not the time for recklessness. I needed to remain patient.

I could hear them talking when Chris suddenly emerged from the room, followed by another alpha. They looked remarkably alike, and I assumed they were father and son. They started to walk away as my own family joined Madeleine in her room. Goddess, what has happened to my sweet baby sister? I wondered. I sighed and leaned back against the wall, resigned to waiting.

After a while, I heard people moving further down the hallway. I couldn’t make out their words, but I quickly slipped out of my hiding spot to peek into the corridor. I saw Lucian, along with my mother and father, leaving Madeleine’s room while still deep in conversation.

Lucian had always felt like a brother to us. After losing his parents and older brother in a tragic fire when he was just fifteen, he had become part of our lives.

I quietly made my way out of my room, clutching my jacket as I moved stealthily across the floor. I reached my sister’s room, where the two white doors were closed. I pushed them open carefully and closed them behind me. Turning around, I saw Madeleine on the bed.

“F*ck, Madeleine,” I murmured, tossing my jacket aside and rushing to her side.

She didn’t respond as I cupped her face and shook her gently.

“Maddy!” I whispered urgently.

Still no response. She lay there so still, and guilt washed over me. I had promised to be there for her, yet I had been on my way to a poker game instead of at her side.

“I’m so sorry, little sister,” I said, gripping her hand tightly. “I’m so sorry.”

-Madeleine-

I felt something warm wrapped around my hand. I tried to pull it to me, but whatever was holding on wouldn’t let go.

“Maddy?” a voice called softly.

I slowly opened my eyes; the world was blurry at first, but after blinking a few times, I saw Kate leaning over me, worry etched in her green eyes.

“Kate?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

She nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. I quickly sat up and wrapped my arms around her, but then the reality of the situation hit me. I pulled back and grasped her shoulders.

“You can’t be here!” I said, glancing anxiously at the doors. “They will know.”

“Don’t worry. I saw them go downstairs. It’s fine,” she reassured me.

I took a moment to look her over, hardly able to believe she was here after months apart.

“What are you doing here?” I inquired, my heart racing.

“Had something to take care of,” she replied, but it was then that I noticed the cut on her lip and the bruise around her eye.

“Your eye,” I said, reaching out to touch it gently.

She hissed, and I quickly pulled away.

“What happened to you?” I asked.

“Don’t worry about it,” she replied.

“Kate!” I pressed.

“Seriously, Maddy, it’s nothing.”

She was the only one who called me that, just like I was the only one to use her nickname. We had both been named after our grandmothers, but she couldn’t stand it.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked.

She nodded and offered a reassuring smile. “Of course. How about you? I saw them carry you in here.”

I had no idea what had happened. One moment, I was standing in front of Christopher, my future mate, shaking like a leaf, and the next, everything went black.

“I... I think I fainted,” I replied.

“Did he hurt you?”

“Who?”

“Christopher,” she said, her brow furrowing.

I shook my head. “No. He didn’t even touch me. I think he was trying to say something when I fainted, but I’m not sure.”

“I’m glad he didn’t hurt you, Maddy,” she said, brushing some hair from my face. “Because if he had, I would have killed him.”

We shared a smile, but the room fell quiet, and I knew what that meant. “You’re leaving, aren’t you?”

“You know I can’t stay,” she replied softly.

I nodded slowly, but I didn’t want her to go. I needed her here with me.

“Will you come back?” I inquired.

“Do you want me to?”

“I need you,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

She pulled me close and whispered, “I will always be there for you, Maddy.”