Maya thought she had successfully evaded everyone in town and gotten far, and along the way, she had felt an animalistic gaze centred on her. It scared the hell out of her, and that was why she had stepped into the opening where people were walking by, just in case her instinct turned out to be true and there was a wild animal following her.
But it was just Jax.
"But why were you following me?" Maya asked as he began to approach her.
Realising his chest was bare, her breath caught in her throat, and a hiccup found its way out. The sight of it was ethereal, as the expanse of skin is stretched taut over sculpted muscle. It wasn't just his defined pectorals or the ripple as he moved, but there was a raw untamed power his whole being seemed to radiate.
Her pupils dilated as they traced down his torso, and her eyes flickered with desire, and she swallowed tightly as a trail of hair disappeared within the jeans that hugged him just right.
A blush appeared on her cheek, betraying the strong, unmoved expression she had put on. Maya forcefully tore her gaze off him, focusing on whatever else was there apart from him.
"Because you were acting suspicious. No one here is out for your life, I told you you're safe here," He replied, stopping three feet away from her.
Jax gave her a quick scan. Sleep still lingered in her eyes, but she looked much better than before. The exhaustion was gone, and she was standing on her own.
"Are you sure? Because it feels...," she bit her lips to keep the words in. How was she supposed to explain to him that she felt off about this place?
"Feels what?" He took an involuntary step closer, his body naturally drawn to hers.
"I'm going to see my grandma!" Maya exclaimed, turned around and was about to run off when she remembered something, "Do you have my phone? I want it back,"
"No, I don't,"
"It was in my coat the day you guys took me away. You must have it. I need to make some calls,"
He frowned, "Your line isn't secure anymore. No calls till everything is clear,"
"What?" Maya cried, "But I need to call a friend. She's worried sick about me right now. I need to let her know that we are alright,"
"No,"
"Why No?!" She yelled angrily.
"Because she's better worried sick than severely injured like your grandmother. Worse, dead!" Jax proclaimed with finality, his green eyes taking a deeper edge.
Maya had a frown on her face too, frustration now settling in fast. She had been as understanding as she could, but this was overflowing her cup. She was insanely mad at him, and her eyes remained cold and hard.
"So there's no secure line in this town I can use to call her?" She gritted.
"There are several," His voice deepened, and he leaned down a bit, unable to help himself anymore. He breathed in the rosy air around her, and his body warmed in longing and for more, "But I'm not generous enough to let you have any call with them,"
"Are you kidding me?"
"No,"
"You're being arrogant, and Gosh, you're so annoying!"
"I've cut off people's tongues before, my own people, just because they spoke lightly of me, or insulted me," He took a threatening step toward her, looming over her with his magnificent body and height and Maya instinctively took a step back too, sensing an unexplainable form of truth and danger behind his words and demeanor, "Just imagine what I'll do to someone who isn't my person,"
Maya's heartbeat sped up even more, and her legs trembled. But she fired back almost instantly, "You're bluffing. If you really think I have the Shard with me, then you wouldn't dare touch a strand of my hair. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have better things to attend to,"
When she turned around this time, she broke into a run and never looked back till she was safely inside the clinic.
.
.
.
It was almost 10:00pm when Maya decided to go back. The reason was that she had to eat and take her drugs, and there was no food in the clinic except for patients.
Ryan had told her her mother was in a state of coma, and he didn't know when she would wake up. He had taken care of the injury on her head, and hopefully, he would know more about the status of her health once she wakes up.
Maya's heart swelled as she pressed a kiss on her Nana's forehead, wiping a loose tear from her cheek, "I hope you wake up soon," She said softly, "I've never felt so alone. I don't know where I can, and I don't know if I can really trust these people. You're the only person I can rely on, so please... don't sleep for too long,"
Then, Maya left the clinic.
This time, she didn't bother sneaking around to get back to the house and just strode down with a lost expression in her eyes. It was already dark, but Maya was surprised to see that the road was even busier than during the daytime.
Suddenly, she felt the earth beneath her feet tremble. Maya paused, slightly panicked as she glanced around to see if anyone else had felt that, but everyone just continued on with their business.
The vibration came again, and this time she went down and placed her ear on the ground, checking to see if the noise was coming from somewhere... underground.
"What are you doing?" A familiar voice asked from behind, making her jerk a bit.
Maya quickly stood up, dusting herself. Sophie was standing behind her, and Maya gave her a tight smile. Just then, the slight quake happened again, and her eyes broadened, "That!" She exclaimed, "You felt that, didn't you?"
Sophie nodded softly.
"What's making that happen? Is there some kind of... underground factory here?" Maya whispered the last part.
Sophie didn't know how to explain to Maya that the quakes were coming from the training grounds at the far end of town, since a lot of Werewolves are usually training by this time in their full form, "Yes, there's a small factory in town. We are all used to it, and it's safe, so pay it no mind,"
It was easy to believe, but Maya's gut told her that might not be it. Maya was never good at reading people like Penny, but something kept nagging at her about this whole situation.
"Alright,"
"Are you on your way back to the house?" Sophie stood next to her as they began walking together.
"Yes,"
"Are you hungry?"
"A little,"
"While you were gone, I stocked up the fridge in the house. I also made dinner already, and all you have to do is warm it up,"
Maya smiled, "Thank you for everything you've done since I came here," She said sincerely, and Sophie could see it in her eyes.
"Thank you for enjoying my meals. It made me so happy when you finished everything. You're such a big eater!"
Maya ducked her head, a little embarrassed, "You've got great cooking skills. Have you ever considered being a chef? Trying new recipes? I'm sure there's a big restaurant out there that would really appreciate your skills."
Sophie's smile turned a bit sad, and Maya instantly knew she had touched a sensitive topic.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...,"
"No, it's fine," Sophie said, "It's just that I can't just abandon this...town and its people. As much as I love cooking, they're more precious to me, and Jax is the only family I have left,"
"What... happened to your parents?"
"They died horribly right in front of our eyes," Sophie shrugged indifferently, but one could see the emotions swirling in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry," Maya stared at the ground. She hadn't watched her parents die, but she had heard their last screams.
She still dreamt about it up till this day.
Once they arrived at the porch of the house, Sophie said her goodbyes, "We'll see each other often, hmm?"
Maya nodded, "Thank you for walking me back home. You didn't have to,"
Actually, she did. The night of the Full Moon was close, and Jax had earlier instructed her to keep an eye out for Maya in case one of the young wolves lost control early and decided to attack the nearest prey that cannot defend itself, "It's my pleasure. Have a good night,"
"You too,"
Sophie left while Maya walked in. She walked to the fridge and pulled out the cold dinner from it, placing it into the microwave to warm it up. As she waited for the food to warm up, the door opened, and Jax walked in.
Maya had been hoping she would eat dinner and fall asleep before he returned.
Moreover, why is she even living with him? Right...she was his captive.
He was wearing a shirt this time, and a disappointed expression took her face before it disappeared. Maya whirled around and faced the microwave, scared he had seen that look on her face.
His footsteps were as silent as ever, but somehow, she could tell exactly where he was in the room behind her. She was super perceptive, and her anxiousness was growing by the second, fueled by the unknown and undeniable pull of his proximity.
The room was suddenly very silent.
Maya's heart raced with possibilities. Why was he coming close? What would he do? Reckless curiosity mingled her in frantic thoughts, and a sense of deep understanding hit her that ordinary rules no longer applied when he was near.
The sudden jarring beef of the microwave shattered the tense silence. Maya jolted at the sound, and the physical shock sent her stumbling back as she lost her balance. She gasped, but the next moment her back collided with a solid, unyielding mass.
"Oof!" Maya was startled, and before she could register the collision fully, strong arms gently gripped both sides of her waist to steady her. The heat of his body pressed against her back had chills running down her spine, and a somewhat familiar ignition of sparks ran through her body.
It reminded her of the mystery man she had slept with.
She knew very well what his touch felt like...
And this was it.