False Expectations

Adelina's pov:

Hours passed quickly as we traveled by car, and before I knew it, we had arrived in Maximus' territory. A whirlwind of emotions swirled within me: joy and sorrow, fear and hope all intertwined, filling my heart at once. Would I find happiness here? Would the relationship between us work? A thousand questions about my future consumed my mind. I was so absorbed by thoughts of what my life would be like from now on that I didn't even notice we had arrived at the Drako pack's headquarters.

We parked outside a grand house—or perhaps I should call it a royal palace. The estate was enormous, with sprawling Babylonian gardens, a pool, large garages, tennis courts, a football field, and a basketball court, just to name a few. Maximus immediately stepped out of the car without waiting for me, while I remained in place, mesmerized by the beauty of it all. He didn't even glance back at me, which left me unsettled.

-"Maybe he's just busy," my wolf spoke up in my mind. "He's been away for so long. There must be a lot for him to catch up on."

-"Perhaps you're right," I replied, trying to calm my nerves. "Maybe I'm overthinking things."

I finally stepped out of the car and followed an omega who had come to open the door and guide me inside. As soon as I entered, I was taken aback by the view. The room was filled with modern, stylish furniture and elegant décor. In front of me stood a grand iron staircase leading up to the other two floors. Given the opulence surrounding me, I couldn't help but believe this must be Maximus' home.

I stood in the room for several minutes, unsure of where to go or what to do, when an omega kindly offered to give me a tour. Since Maximus had already disappeared into one of the many rooms, I gratefully accepted the offer. As we wandered through the building, I soon realized that this wasn't Maximus' private home—it was the pack house.

The ground floor housed the hall, an entertainment room with numerous games, a restaurant, a kitchen, a cinema room, and a gym. On the first floor were the offices of the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma, while the second floor contained their bedrooms. There were also rooms for some pack members who lived here, mostly single wolves who hadn't found their mates yet or had lost them. The married wolves lived in houses scattered throughout the land.

Although the tour occupied much of my day, my mind remained preoccupied with Maximus' strange behavior. Why had he treated me so distantly? And why had he brought me here instead of his own home? Normally, when an Alpha finds his mate, he brings her to his house, not to the pack house!

-"Maybe we'll go to his house later," my wolf suggested. "He must have a lot of work to do, especially as Alpha and future King of all werewolves."

-"I hope you're right," I responded, my voice tinged with sadness. The situation didn't feel right. Deep down, something inside me warned that things might not be as good as I had hoped.

I was resting in one of the living rooms when the omega who had guided me earlier left to assist in the kitchen. My thoughts were interrupted when a security guard approached and asked me to follow him. We climbed a few stairs, and upon reaching the first floor, we stopped in front of a set of double doors. He knocked and gestured for me to enter. It was then that I realized—this was Maximus' office.

Maximus sat behind a large mahogany desk, and the office itself was fit for a king. Behind him, a window offered a view of the training grounds and the dense forest beyond. To the left, there was an expansive library filled with all sorts of books. It was truly remarkable! I've always loved books, and I think I know where I'll be spending most of my time from now on. As I mentally planned my daily routine, Maximus cleared his throat, snapping me back to the present.