Can't I Just Stay?

Life before meeting him… how could she explain?

It was as though she was missing something in her life, and now that she found it, she was being asked to leave. Sure, it was only for a couple of days, but it'd feel like an eternity to her.

For the most part, she knew it was for her safety, and they were faced with no other choice.

But for some strange reason, as crazy as it may have sounded, she wanted to stay.

"Can't I just stay?" Madeline asked the next day during breakfast.

Xavier spat out water from his mouth.

"What kind of preposterous idea is that?" Xavier demanded while grabbing a napkin.

"Stay here? At a time like this?"

"Ms Delcour, you really are completely out of your mind," Xavier observed.

"And just to clarify, that isn't particularly a good thing."

"You can't stay here," Xavier insisted.

"Why can't I?" Madeline challenged.

He let out a low growl.

"Are you seriously asking me that?"

Madeline lowered her head, staring at her lap.

"Everyone here will turn into werewolves, and even if they know you in their human form, they'll be in their wolf form. They won't recognize who you are until they return to their human forms. They wouldn't hesitate to kill you if they spotted you or picked up your scent."

He spelled it out for her, "You could get killed."

"And why would you care if I got killed?" Madeline asked incredulously.

Startled by her own curiosity, she apologized.

"I didn't mean to imply that—"

Madeline hesitated before letting out a deep sigh.

"I suppose you're right."

"I'll leave," she nodded.

"Hope you're happy now, Xavier," she rested her head on one hand in defeat. Briar would be pleased she was no longer considering staying.

'Go tell Xavier that,' Madeline remembered Briar telling her.

Xavier stared at her - it was one of the first times he'd heard her say his name. It was a strange sensation, but what else could she have called him? Alpha? Mr Alpha?

A line appeared between Madeline's brows.

Was Xavier okay? Why was he looking at her that way?

"I should get going now," Xavier decided.

"Goodbye, Ms Delcour," he greeted before...

WHOOSH!

He was gone in a blink. Literally.

He rushed out the door and disappeared.

Madeline toyed with her spoon.

This place had been homier in a few days than her home had ever been in years. There, she felt lonely. Desolated, even. Did that sound pathetic?

Here she felt... at peace. Or was that overplaying it?

Madeline could see the pain in Briar's eyes when she told her she had to go, even if it was for a while.

'It'll all be over soon,' Madeline told herself inwardly.

'All you have to do is wait a couple of days.'

'Then you can return here and be with Briar again. Oh, and Xavier.'

Madeline paused.

Xavier?

Where had that suddenly come from?

She sighed. This was all done for her sake. Had she not been a regular mortal, she could've just as easily stayed. She could've also been able to protect herself in the face of danger, and not be defeated by a large and heavy piece of wood. That way, Madeline wouldn't have needed to be saved. She'd be her own hero.

'My own hero,' she scoffed.

What was wrong with her these days?

She was surrounded by werewolves that could just as easily kill her in seconds.

Either she was the bravest person in the whole of Alaric to try and fight against them or the biggest fool.

'How things would change if I wasn't just a mortal,' Madeline mumbled to herself, unaware the universe was listening to her… pleas.

"I should go and pack my things," Madeline decided, not feeling too hungry anymore. She'd grabbed a bite, but she had to leave in a couple of hours and she hadn't quite readied herself yet. Then again, she hadn't come here with anything so there wasn't much to pack except a couple of necessities for the road.

It was sweet - Xavier inviting her to breakfast. And as per Briar, completely unlike him.

Then again, everything Xavier had been doing was completely unlike him from what Briar said.

He was cold and ruthless. His temper was short, and it seemed like even Adrian doubted he was capable of... feelings and emotion. There was nothing left of what he once was - that was before he was turned into a werewolf.

'How did he turn into a werewolf anyway?' Madeline was left to wonder.

Surely, the way humans were turned into werewolves in the books she'd read wasn't actually accurate now, was it?

Madeline sighed. Of course, Briar had to tell her that before Xavier was a werewolf, he roamed Alaric as a human.

It was nothing but scuttlebutt - or gossip - but Madeline pondered the reason behind why he was the way he was. Was it actually because he was a human once upon a time? Could that possibly be why he's this way now?

Madeline believed that there was a good reason why. And that there were two people she could get answers from. One of them Xavier himself, and the other his trusted advisor and dear friend, Adrian.

'Speak of the werewolf himself,' Madeline thought as Adrian walked into the room.

"Have you seen Xavier around?" He asked her.

Madeline blinked. Wasn't he supposed to be with Adrian?

"No, I haven't. He left a while ago. Isn't he supposed to be with you?" Madeline asked questioningly.

If he wasn't with Adrian... then where else could he be?

He did say he was pretty occupied before he left. Surely he returned to his office to finish up some work... or whatever alphas do. Right?

To her horror, Adrian shook his head.

"He isn't. That's why I came here."

"But--"

"I've searched the entire site, he isn't anywhere to be found here. And if he is, he doesn't want to be found because he's blocking me out and trying to temporarily cut our mind link off."