False Expectations

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Adelina's pov:

Maximus stood by his desk, his body tense with barely contained rage. He didn't speak at first, his eyes fixed on me, scanning every detail. The silence between us was heavy, suffocating. The seconds ticked by slowly, each one amplifying the tension.

I stood there, trying to keep my composure, but inside, I was bracing myself for what would come next. He had made it clear earlier that he didn't want me in the warriors' team, and I could feel that he was on the edge now. The last thing I wanted was to provoke him further, but something in me refused to back down completely.

-"Do you understand what you've done?" Maximus's voice broke the silence, low and threatening.

I held his gaze, steady. "I'm just doing what I think is right," I said, trying to keep my voice even. "I want to be useful. I want to be better, and that means training."

Maximus narrowed his eyes, his jaw tightening as fury simmered beneath the surface. "Training, huh?" His voice dropped lower, laced with accusation. "You think I'm stupid? That I don't see exactly what you're doing?"

-"And what's that?" I shot back derisively, crossing my arms, my tone daring him to continue.

-"Provoking other men," he growled, taking a step closer, his presence towering. "You use training as an excuse to lure them in. I won't allow it. I won't stand by while you flirt with others right in front of me." His voice was sharp, each word slicing through the space between them.

My expression hardened, my chin tilting up defiantly. "Flirting? Is that what you think I'm doing?" I asked coldly, my voice dripping with disbelief. "I'm training, Maximus. You know—training? The thing you supposedly care so much about? Or is it only acceptable when I'm invisible to everyone else?"

 -"You think you can just walk into my pack and disrupt everything?"

I swallowed hard, trying to suppress the frustration bubbling inside me. "I'm not trying to disrupt anything," I said, my voice now rising slightly. "I'm trying to prove that I can contribute. I don't need you to make decisions for me."

His eyes flashed with fury, and for a brief moment, I wondered if I had said too much. But before he could react, I continued.

-"You can't control everything, Maximus. You don't control me," I said firmly, my voice steady even as my heart pounded. "You can't just lock me up in a room for the rest of my life." I held his gaze, refusing to back down.

Maximus's expression darkened, his jaw tightening like a storm about to break. For a moment, I thought he might lash out, the tension in the room nearly suffocating. But then, just as quickly, something shifted. His features softened, and the anger in his eyes gave way to an unreadable intensity.

He exhaled slowly, dragging a hand through his hair in a frustrated motion. "You really have a lot of nerve," he muttered, his voice low and biting. "You think you can challenge me after everything you've seen? After everything I've done?"

I felt my heartbeat quicken, but I refused to flinch. "I'm not challenging you, Maximus. I'm just living my life. I'm not asking for your approval. I'm asking for respect."

There was a long pause, the air between us charged with an intensity that was almost suffocating. The silence stretched, thick and unyielding, until Maximus finally spoke again. This time, his voice was more measured, but no less demanding.