Finding Forgiveness

With the temporary glimmer of hope Milly had provided gone, Leo had to return to plan A, go back to the base and train his men as well as he possibly could.

Max and I took Milly back to the Alpha house where she immediately declared she wanted to be alone and went upstairs to the library where she sat sobbing for hours.

In the early evening, I decided to go looking for Max. I followed his scent up to the top floor and then through the hatch onto the roof.

It was summertime but the air still had a slight chill to it. I felt the cool breeze on my face as I climbed through the hatch so I pulled my cardigan tighter around me before carefully wandering along the edge of the rooftop and sliding down to where Max sat perched just before the gutter.

"Who's watching the kids?" was all he said as he stared out over the forest.

There were four stories to this house so we were above the treetops, with a clear view of the mountains and lakes, despite the fading daylight.

"Luca came by to drop some groceries off and he's gonna stay for a bit," 1 said.

Max nodded but refused to look at me.

"I'm sorry,” I said after a deep breath.

He shrugged and reached into his pocket before pulling out a box of cigarettes and a lighter. He put one between his lips and lit it before taking a drag.

"I didn't know you smoked?" I said as he breathed out the smoke.

"I used to. A lot. Then I quit and now I only do it when I'm angry, sad, stressed or depressed,” he replied taking another puff of his cigarette. "Tonight it's all four. Congrats on driving me to insanity."

I sighed, "Max-"

"Save it, Ella," he said. "I'm pissed off that you didn't listen to me and there's nothing you could say to change that. I told you it was a bad idea and look what happened.”

"Leo has it under control,” I replied.

Max scoffed, "Leo can only control what people do, not what they think. They won't burn her at the stake because they're afraid of going against him but it doesn't mean they don't want to," he said. "We have sentenced her to a life of being treated as an outcast, a freak..a danger by everyone in this pack.”

"I didn't think this would happen,” I said.

"But you were willing to take the risk. I thought you cared about her more than this," he replied.

"The pack is under threat along with all of its people. Our mates, our friends, our family. Including Milly. It was a risk but so is not doing anything,” I said. "I thought we had a better chance at saving lives with her help. I was wrong but at least we won't watch good people die knowing your sister could have saved them.”

"So we were gonna risk a 17-year-olds life just so we can rest easy?" he asked.

"You know that's not what I meant,” I snapped.

After that he was quiet and we just sat on the rooftop for a bit. He finished his cigarette before throwing the but off the roof with more force than necessary.

"I've decided I'm gonna take Milly away," he said. "Somewhere far from here where no one knows about her. And where she'll be safe from Martinez."

"And I take it you'll be staying with her?" I asked.

He nodded, "I can't leave her on her own. She's too young.”

I nodded, "..Then I'll miss you," I said.

He said nothing stood up and walked along the roof towards the hatch for a few metres before pausing.

I had hoped that he'd say it back. Or acknowledge it at least.

But a few seconds later he just slipped back into the house without a word, leaving me alone on the rooftop.