"Do you really think Adam will give up on Anna?"
"He already has. By the time he took her away to be buried, he must have had a wonderful life without her. He's finally come to terms with it."
"Did you put something in my drink?" Maxwell asked, suddenly feeling very sleepy.
"Yes, you fucking vampire! I haven't forgotten anything I saw when you took Anna to the car. Your trick didn't work on me, because I was under the influence of the Alpha's authority. I think that prevented me from being manipulated. All the werewolves were trapped in the Alpha's mind at that moment. I know what Anna is going to be. I won't talk about it with anyone, because I like her, and the Alpha would kill me if I revealed his brother's secret. Don't worry, I won't hurt you. You need to sleep, and be well enough to go and see Anna tomorrow. I'm leaving. I'll take refuge with Anna's father. Adam will hunt me down. I know him. He'll kill everyone who was prepared to help Anna escape, and he knows I'm one of them. I'm going to take my family and leave."
Max felt his eyes grow heavy. He wanted to say something, and fought sleep, but it was in vain. He was beaten. It was the first time this had happened to him, poisons and ordinary medicines had never worked on him. And he didn't know any that did.
When Maxwell woke up, he was in a different room. A double bed and a real office set up in there. He jumped on the wall and hung there for a while, watching and then listening. When he came back to the floor, he left the room, and then recognized Adam's house. He didn't know that Adam kept a room downstairs. He walked down the corridor and met one of the house staff.
"I... I need to get out of here... Can you help me?" He said, knowing that he wouldn't be able to drive, because even walking was difficult and his eyesight was compromised. He would kill Adonis as soon as he got better.
"Of course. But I think you'd better have a coffee first. Adonis isn't here, he had to go out, but he left us instructions not to let you go out fasting. He said that a cup of coffee would make you feel better."
"I'll take it, thanks." Max said thoughtfully. Then he took his cell phone out of Adam's tight jeans pocket and checked it. There were two missed calls from his father-in-law and a message;
"When you wake up, come to the hospital. Anna is worried about you and doesn't believe me when I say you're fine."
Maxwell put his cell phone away again and went to the kitchen, where he quickly had a cup of coffee. He was anxious to see Anna.
Mycon accompanied him to his car and got into another, following Maxwell to the hospital. They were both anxious.
They went into the waiting room and Maxwell met their mothers there.
They hugged him and Suzy cried. He hadn't expected to see them there, and was moved by the support he was receiving.
"I need to go to reception. Henry managed to get in to see Anna, and I can't stand it any longer with all the agony to see her."
Jasmine looked at her son in surprise.
"Yes. Henry is there, with her. But she's been transferred, darling. Anna is in another hospital. We've already been to visit her. And now we've come to visit your brother, too. They're both fine. But Adam seems confused, and he even treated Suzy very well." His mother told him.
Maxwell thought that maybe it wasn't confusion that Adam was feeling. At that moment, when he was wounded, both in body and soul, it was normal for him to cling to a love that he knew was unconditional.
"Which hospital did they take her to?" He asked thoughtfully.
"I'll accompany you. The time has come when Anna will need me."
Maxwell looked at his mother for a moment, forgetting what he had done, but when he remembered, he felt as if the whole weight of the world was on his back.
"Will she hate me?" he asked.
"No. She has no reason to hate you."
"I shouldn't have done that, maybe she had a chance..."
"Don't think about it anymore, my son. Anna's mother knew this day would come. She never knew many details, but she knew that you would change her daughter."
"She'll be like us now."
"Only if she wants to." Jasmine said and headed for the hospital entrance door.
Maxwell followed her.
"What do you mean... 'if she wants to'?"
Jasmine stopped and turned to him.
"She's a Bruma. Do you know which animal wins the fight, Max?"
Maxwell wondered.
"The one we feed the most." He answered, wondering what his mother meant. "I hope you're right." Max said and turned to Suzy, who had stayed behind. She looked confused and lost. "I'll leave Suzy alone. Wait for me here." He said and walked over to her. "Suzy, I want you to find solace within your heart. This is the time for you to try to remarry. To be a woman, as well as a mother and grandmother. Go on, say goodbye to Adam, and find yourself a nice werewolf to live with."
"Adam..."
"You'll visit him sometimes, but for now, worry about remaking your life."
"Let me stay at his house until he's well? Adam needs me."
Maxwell took a deep breath.
"All right. Go to his house now. Get some rest and then come back." Maxwell gave in and left with Jasmine.
She walked in silence, just indicating with her finger which street he should enter.
He arrived at the hospital, went to reception, and a nurse was willing to take him to Anna's room, but on the way, his heart told him to go to Adam first, and he told the nurse so.
She stood paralyzed in the corridor as Max jumped out of the window, spread his wings and disappeared into the night.