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Maximilian

He wanted to run after her, to hold her and never let her go, but his father’s command held him captive. He couldn’t even get close to her. He watched her turn her back on him—on their family—and walk to the SUV. The man they’d been hunting kissed her hand and helped her inside.

His lip curled into a devilish grin as he rounded the hood and got into the passenger seat while the third man started the engine and sped off. They had her. His sweet little Scarlett was gone, and he couldn’t do anything to get her back.

She was gone .

When he turned back to the entrance, he redirected his anger towards the man who’d sworn to protect his sister. He grabbed Kurt’s throat and pressed against his mind until he opened up. “You fucking knew,” Maximilian snarled.

Kurt tried to shake his head, the walls around his mind cracking until Maximilian could see his every thought.

He searched Kurt’s mind for the secret he’d been hiding. Instead, he found himself watching as Kurt put the pieces together.

How the hunter had called Scarlett our princess.

How she’d closed herself off after the incident at the ice bar.

How he’d seen them for the first time at the mall.

He watched as Kurt replayed every interaction and watched his sister cry through her best friend’s eyes the moment she’d stepped foot on their pack’s land. She’d known then that her time with them had been limited.

Kurt crumpled, mentally and physically as it all came together into one horrendous and painful truth.

She’d met them months ago, had hid them from them, had been in pain and none of them had been able to see past her deceit.

Maximilian could see Kurt’s every thought.

He blamed himself for not protecting her.

He’d always prided himself with her safety and now, she was one of his enemies.