Chapter 5

Owen slowly and silently walked down the pebbled path to where Maksim sat under the weeping willow. As he approached his son looked up and moved over to make space for him on the bench. Owen took a seat and looked out at the swans floating on top of the little pond.

"Did you know what swans get divorced," Maksim said after a while.

"I did not," Owen chuckled. "I thought they mated for life like us."

"No," Maksim watched the white birds. "They can divorce due to nesting failure."

"Huh," Owen.

"Cleo taught me that,"

Upon hearing his son's words, Owen started to laugh, "That does sound like something only Cleo would know."

"She has a future in zoology," Maksim chuckled.

"She does," Owen nodded.

As the conversation died down, the father and son took comfort in the willow's shade and the pond's cool breeze. The summer days were winding down slowly. Their wolves could feel the change in the air more than their human bodies could.

"What's going on, Macky?" Owen asked after several long minutes.

"What do you mean?"

"You've been acting strange for the past two days," Owen observed. "Your mom and I are worried."

Maksim took a deep breath as he ran his hands over his thighs. He felt his chest tighten as the image of baby blue eyes flashed in front of him.

"How's Ella?" Owen asked.

"I don't know,"

Maksim's answer told Owen everything he needed to know. He placed an arm around his son's shoulder and patted his shoulder.

"To be mated with a human is a blessing," he said. "You never have to doubt that they truly love you with or without the pull of the bond."

Maksim nodded.

"You will win her over," Owen tried to comfort his son. "It will take time. You're a Radacovick and a Dorin. Unfortunately our families don't find love easily."

Maksim gave a dry laugh as he straightened his shoulder and looked around.

"Did you tell her she is your mate?"

"Yes," Maksim nodded.

"What did she say?"

"She slapped me across the face" Maksim turned to his father, wanting to see the look on his face. "And told me never to tell anyone."

"Well..." Owen said, a bit baffled. "That's a new one. I don't think anyone in our family has encountered that challenge yet."

"Nope," Maksim shook his head. "Paws got cursed, Gemma turned evil, You gave up your bond, Alec and Eden had to hide.....but no one had a mate that slapped them before."

Owen couldn't help the laugh that escaped him. The swans swimming nearby jumped with fright as they zoomed away from the pair sitting on the bench.

"I'm glad you find this amusing," Maksim shook his head.

"I'm sorry," Owen pressed his lips together but the laugh still bubbled out of him. "My apologies."

"What do I do, dad?" Maksim sighed. "I can't stop thinking about her. Everything reminds me of her and every time I think about her my heart does this weird thing. It stops for a second and I lose my breath and then I forget what I was doing and I can't think straight."

Owen watched his son with a proud smile on his face. He couldn't believe his little boy was talking about his mate like that. When had he grown up so fast?

"You'll find a way," he said after a while as Maksim leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees. "But whatever you do Maksim, just remember to always be respectful and considerate of her feelings first."

"I will," Maksim nodded.

"Never hurt her,"

"Never," Maksim promised.

The thought of ever hurting Ella frightened Maksim. He was reminded of when they were young and she would get upset when he won races with his speed over her. She would have a deep scowl on her face and stomp her feet. The tip of her nose would turn red as a bulb and she would tell him she never wanted to see him again. Maksim would have to run after her as she would walk away with fuming anger. Ella would usually come down within a few minutes. But on days she was really truly mad, Maksim would have to make a peace offering.

A peace offering.

Suddenly, Maksim sat up straight. Why hadn't he thought of that before.

"Where are you going?" Owen asked as Maksim jumped to his feet.

"I have to go see Ella," Maksim said with excitement in his voice. "Thanks for the talk, dad."

He didn't wait for his father to answer as he ran back to the palace. A playful smile started to appear on his face as he searched the halls.

"Clare!" Maksim called out. "Clare!"

"What?" Clare yelled back from the kitchen.

The princess stood next to the chef as her brother walked in huffing and puffing. She looked up at his excitement and raised a brow.

"Let me guess," she said as she stepped around the counter. "You got her pregnant already."

"What? No," Maksim shook his head. "I need you to tell me where she is."

"How am I supposed to know?"

"You know everything," Maksim pointed out. "Come on, please. For me? Use your gift dear sister."

"What do I get in return?"

"What do you want?"

A sneaky smile appeared on the girl's face. Her gray eyes lit up as she tapped her fingers on the counter.

"You will have to do my chores for a......mmm...year."

"No!"

"Six months?"

"One month," Maksim bargained. "Don't forget I can have Matthew find her too."

"Oh I'm sure a palace car following her around wouldn't frighten her at all," Clare laughed.

"Please, Clare."

"Fine," the girl rolled her eyes. "She's at the park in the middle of town."

"Are you sure?"

"I don't know!" Clare shrugged. "That's the first thought that came into my mind so there is a 90% chance it's true."

"Thanks," Maksim said as he spun on his heels and turned to leave. "I'll wash the dishes for you tonight."

And then, Maksim was off. He grabbed a baseball cap and a pair of Ray Bans as he climbed into his car. But before he started his engine, he paused. The Audi would attract too much attention in town. He needed to blend in and not get noticed. No doubt Ella would slip away from him if he got distracted by others.

After quickly deciding on a black jeep, Maksim put the keys in the ignition and hurried to the park. He had his peace offering on the passenger seat and now all he needed was to find his girl.

Maksim's impatience to see Ella made the drive seem longer than it really was. He felt as if the roads stretched on and on forever. He drove past the speed limit for as long as he could, but once he entered town, he was forced to slow down. Quickly parking the car by the side of the road, the eager prince put his baseball cap and shades on before jumping out.

Maksim walked into the park and looked around. The long rectangular lawn in front of him was filled with families enjoying picnics. Children ran around as some laid reading books and listened to music. Off the lawn, little tables and chairs were set up around the perimeter of the green patch of land for those who wanted to stay in the shades of the large trees. Maksim closed his eyes and inhaled the air. His senses picked up all sorts of smell. The grass, the food, the people, the flowers, the soap from the bubbles....everything but what he wanted to find. He opened his eyes and began to walk farther into the park. With each step he took, he sniffed the air, praying to catch the scent of the sweet magnolia.

Maybe Clare was wrong. Or maybe his timing was off again and Ella had gone somewhere else.

Maksim's heart began to sink as he made his way around. The heat of the day made him feel restless and cranky and not finding his mate only added more to that pain. But just as he was about to call Clare and ask her once more for her help, the lightest scent of magnolia tickled his nose.

Maksim turned his head in all directions. His eyes jumping from face to face. His wolf sniffed like an addict as he found his legs starting to move.

Yes, yes...the scent was getting strong.

A new spark of excitement ignited inside Maksim's soul as he followed his nose. It wasn't long after that when he found Ella sitting under the shade of a tree at one of the tables. She wore denim shorts and a thin green t-shirt. Her hair was tied up into a high pony hair. She sat with her legs folded in front of her as the thick test prep book she read rested on top.

Ella didn't know how, but she sensed Maksim coming before he fully made it to her table. She looked up and found him walking towards her. Even with his hat and shades she recognized his tall figure with those broad shoulders. He walked right up to her table and pulled one of the chairs closer. He swung the tiny thing around and took a seat in front of her with his long legs on either side of the chair.

"Hello, beautiful," Maksim smiled as his heart skipped a beat.

Ella felt her own heart stumble at his dimple smile. She became breathless as he took off his shaded and looked into her eyes. The liquid brown of his gorgeous gaze suddenly made her crave chocolate.

As if he could read her thoughts, Maksim smiled and handed her the red box he was holding.

"What is this?" Ella asked as she looked down at the box on her lap.

"Peace offering,"

When Ella looked up at him in confusion, Maksim leaned closer.

"I don't know why you are upset with me," he said slowly. "But this is my peace offering for whatever wrong I have done. I am sorry, Ell."

"Then is that a real apology?" Ella asked. "If you don't know what you have done."

"No......I guess not," Maksim frowned. "But you won't tell me."

"Because it's not important."

"Obviously it is if you're so upset with me."

"Are you here to argue?"

"No!"

Ella frowned. She looked down at the box once more and fingered the ribbon around it. Her skin started to warm as she felt Maksim watching her. Her stomach tightened and her mind scattered. She hated the way he made her feel....but she loved it too. She craved restlessness, the butterflies, the stolen glances and the unspoken words. In the depth of her soul she felt something start to blossom. It was a terrifying and thrilling sensation.

"What are you doing here?' Maksim asked. He placed his chin on top of the chair's back. He looked up through his lashes to try and catch Ella's eyes.

"I should be asking you that," Ella sighed.

"I wanted to see you," Maksim confessed. "I miss you."

By cruel faith, Maksim's words had the opposite reaction on Ella then he was hoping for. She was suddenly reminded of all those years they hadn't spoken. How dare he come back now and say he missed her.

Ella closed the book on her lap and shoved it onto her bag. She set the red box down and got up from her seat.

"Where are you going?" Maksim looked up with alarm.

"Home."

"Please don't go," Maksim frowned. His eyes begged Ella to sit back down.

"I have to go," Ella hated how her body wanted to sit back down and never move.

"Please, Ella bella,"

"Don't call me that!"

"I will if you don't listen," Maksim laughed.

"I'm going home, your highness," Ella teased back knowing he hated being called that just as much as she hated being called Ella Bella.

"Sit down, Ella," Maksim suddenly grew serious.

"No."

"If you do not sit down, I will take off my hat and declare you are my mate to everyone around us."

Ella gasped, "You wouldn't dare."

"It makes no difference to me who knows about us," Maksim smirked. "I want the whole world to know you are my girl."

"I am not your girl,"

Maksim didn't respond with words. He sat up and raised his hand to his hat. Ella watched in horror as he began to remove the disguise.

"What do you want, Max?" She demanded as she pulled the hat back down and forced him to put on his shades.

Maksim laughed as Ella looked around with worry. He adjusted his hat and shades before he got up from his chair.

"Come with me," he held out his hand for her.

"No."

Maksim sighed. He dropped his hand and then turned to the crowd on the lawn.

""Hey everybody!" He began to yell.

"Oh my god!" Ella jumped.

She grabbed her bag, the red box and took Maksim's hand. A deep laughter came from the boy as Ella began to pull him out of the park. A few people standing by looked over curiously but Ella gave them no chance to see his face.

"What is wrong with you?" Ella demanded as they walked out of the crowded park. "You have no security with you and you're trying to attract a large crowd like that. Have you gone insane?"

Maksim's heart warmed at seeing how Ella's first thought in her panic was his safety and not about keeping their secret hidden. There was hope.

"You're right," Maksim nodded. "I shouldn't be here on my own. Not with all the threats being made to me and my family."

"What?" Ella paled. Subconsciously, she took a step closer to the boy and looked around.

"Come with me," Maksim took Ella's hand and began to guide her through the streets to his car.

In Ella's worry, she didn't protest as he opened the passenger door for her and asked her to climb in. She kept her eyes glued on the prince as he walked around the front of the car and settled into the driver's seat.

"Seatbelt on?" Maksim asked.

Ella shook her head. She reached back and buckled herself in. A part of her brain tried to process what was happening and why she was going along, but a bigger part of her controlled her body. She stayed still in her seat as Maksim pulled out of the city streets and headed for who knows where.

"Open the box," Maksim looked over at her and smiled as he drove.

Ella didn't realize she had been staring at him the whole time until he caught her eyes and flashed her his dimples. With one hand on the steering wheel and the other resting on the glove compartment between the two seats, Maksim leaned towards Ella as he shifted his eyes back and forth between the road and her.

"Slow down," Ella said as she noticed the speed limit on the display behind the wheel.

"Don't worry,"

"Max, slow down!"

"Okay, okay," Maksim eased his foot on the gas.

"You drive like a maniac,"

"I would never let anything happen to you, my love."

Ella's heart almost leaped out of her chest. She felt her cheeks start to blush as the handsome boy in front of her casually watched the road.

"Did you open the box yet?" Maksim looked over again.

Ella dropped her gaze to the box on her lap. She picked up the end of the red ribbon and pulled it. The bow gave away without a hitch. Ella pushed it aside and lifted the lid.

Chocolates.

The sweet delicious scent filled the interior of the car. Ella looked over to Maksim and found him smiling.

"Are there any nuts in these?" Ella asked.

"I don't know, why?"

"I'm allergic to peanuts, remember?"

"Oh fuck, you're right," Maksim smacked himself in his mind for not remembering that earlier. Werewolves never had any kind of allergies to anything. He wasn't used to having to think about being around a human.

"You forgot?" Ella frowned.

"No! No." Maksim said quickly. "I remember. Peanuts and hazelnuts. No Nutella for you. I'm so sorry, in my hurry to get to you I didn't stop to think about checking the ingredients."

"They look so good," Ella inhaled the scent.

"Don't do it, Ell," Maksim tried to take the box from her. When she moved it away and sniffed it again, he laughed.

"At least let me try them first before you eat them," Maksim said.

"Why?"

"I'm a werewolf, Ella," Maksim rolled his eyes. "I can pick up on tastes humans can't. I will know if there's any nuts."

"Good idea," Ella looked down and picked up a piece of chocolate. "Here."

"I'm driving," Maksim turned his head and opened his mouth.

"I'm not feeding you."

"Ell, I'm driving!"

"Ugh," Ella groaned as she held the chocolate up and let him take a bite.

"No nuts," Maksim said after a few seconds. "But it's dark chocolate."

"Ew," Ella put it back. "Next."

She fed him another one.

"Good to go," Maksim nodded.

Ella smiled as she popped the half eaten piece of chocolate in her mouth. She felt the shell fall apart on her tongue like silk. With happiness, Ella wiggled in her seat and laughed.

"Oh that one was so good," she said.

"Next," Maksim opened his mouth again.

Ella picked up another piece of chocolate and fed him for testing. She immediately burst into laughter when Maksim's face twisted in disgust.

"Fuck," he said. "It's cherry!"

"Yay!" Ella popped the remaining in her mouth.

"I need water," Maksim shook his head.

"Is there water in the back?"

"No, I don't think so."

"Wait!" Ella reached for her bag. "I have water."

Maksim watched the road as the girl beside him pulled out her water bottle. She unscrewed the top and held it out for him.

"You will have to do this on your own," Ella said. "I will make a mess."

"Give me a second," Maksim said as he pulled the car over to the side of the road and put it in park. He took the bottle from her hand and cleaned his mouth with the cool water inside.

"Where are we going, Max?"

"I have no idea," Maksim confessed. "I've actually been driving in circles."

Ella looked around at the deserted road. They were out of the crowded city streets. Trees and tresses lined both sides of the long empty road as their car sat quietly by the side.

"Okay, I'm good for the next one," Maksim opened his mouth.

"You're not driving anymore," Ella pointed out. She held up the box and let him pick.

Maksim's lips pulled up at the corner as he reached over and picked up a piece of chocolate. He basked in the sweet scent of his mate and the treats as she waited for him to give her the candy.

"Milk chocolate," Maksim said as he slowly chewed the piece in his mouth. "With sea salt."

"My favorite!" Ella held out her hand. "Did you have to take such a big bite?"

"Sorry, my love," Maksim chuckled as he sucked the melted chocolate from his thumb.

Once again, Ella became breathless from his simple action. Her heart began to pound as Maksim read the label on the box. He must have heard her heart so summersaults as he quickly turned to her with worry.

"What's wrong?" He asked with concern.

Ella looked away and placed the half eaten chocolate back in the box. She could hardly breath from the way her heart raged.

"I wish you would tell me why you are upset with me," Maksim said slowly.

Ella stared at her lap. She felt the hurt and frustrations start to tickle the back of her throat as she took in a long deep breath.

"Why....." She began to speak as she turned to him. "Why didn't you try to contact me?"

"What?" Maksim looked up.

"After that Christmas," Ella pointed out. "Why didn't you call or ask to see me when you came home. My mom would tell me when you came home and I would always hope you would one day call or ask me to come over. But you never did."

"That's why you're upset at me?"

"Yes," Ella sighed and then nodded. "I know it's stupid."

"Ell, I'm so sorry," Maksim's heart sank. "I don't know why I didn't try to contact you. Life happened......is that a good enough explanation? I would come home and my parents always wanted to do something. We were always away somewhere. I always had somewhere to be, some Alpha to meet, some event to attend."

"Yes, I know," Ella rolled her eyes as she looked out the window. "Like I said, it's stupid of me to get hurt over that. You're the crown prince. I should have never expected anything from you. You have bigger and better things in life waiting for you."

"Woah, woah, woah. Now hold on a second," Maksim frowned at her words. "Why am I being blamed for all this. This is not all my fault."

Ella turned to him in confusion, "Excuse me?"

"Why didn't you try to contact me?" Maksim asked. "You just said your mom would tell you when I came back home. You could have called or came to visit."

"Why would I do that after you broke your promise?"

"I didn't break my promise!" Maksim said with irritation. "I showed up at the wrong time. We never picked a time. You came in the morning, and I came in the afternoon. We were stupid thirteen year old."

"But you never called after that day!"

"I'm sorry!" Maksim groaned. "I was mad too, Ell. I thought you broke your promise."

"It doesn't matter anymore,"

"Why do you keep saying that?" Maksim shut his eyes as he leaned his head back against the seat. "Of course, it matters. All of this matters. Every second I spent with you growing up matters. Can't you see? You're my mate."

"And what if I wasn't?" Ella suddenly asked.

Maksim opened his eyes and looked over at her.

"Would you have come to see me?" Ella raised a brow. "All those flowers and these chocolates.... None of this would be happening."

"What are you saying?" Maksim's heart began to hurt.

"I only matter to you now because you claim I am your mate," Ella said as she looked into his eyes. "Admit it, Maksim. If that wasn't the case, you would still be living your life at this very moment without a care in the world for me."

Maksim flinched from the truth in Ella's words. He had nothing to say as he realized she was correct....to some extent. She was wrong in assuming she never crossed his mind in all the years that had passed. But she was correct about everything else. He did come after her after his wolf recognized her scent.

But all of it felt wrong. Maksim wanted to argue with Ella and tell her she was wrong. There was more between them. So much more. They shared their childhood together. They were always meant to be. Yes, life had taken them to different places but didn't it also bring them together?

"I need to go home now," Ella said quietly after a while.

The tension between them hung like a frog as Maksim started the car. He didn't want her to go, but he was lost in his thoughts. The drive back to down was silent. Ella listened to Maksim's breathing as she stared out the window.

Once they pulled into the streets of the little town, they began to drive past a small mob of protesters. Maksim parked the car outside of the diner and stared at the people down the block.

"These royals have no care in the world for us!" A man with a megaphone spoke to the crowd. "I can count with my fingers the amount of time I have seen the Queen in the past five years! Want to know why? She's never here! She's always flying off to some foregine land for holidays we pay for with our taxes."

Maksim's hand gripped the steering wheel tightly. Ella noticed how his knuckles turned white. She reached out and took his hand off the wheel.

"Don't pay attention to them," she said.

"What they're saying is not true," Maksim shook his head.

"To them it is," Ella said quietly.

"My parents work day and night to make sure this town and the people of this town are safe. The places they fly off to are not for vacation. They have to meet with countless allies and make sure we are all protected."

"They don't see that, Max," Ella said gently. "They don't know what happens behind the closed doors. All they know is what they see."

Suddenly, Ella and Maksim looked up at each other.

"All they know about me and my family is what they see," Maksim said quietly. "No one knows what happens behind closed doors."

Ella suddenly felt a tug of pain in her chest. She realized she was no better than the mob outside on the street. Hadn't she too judged Maksim from what she saw. She didn't know what happened to him all those years they were away.

"Maybe you need to teach them to trust you again," Ella said slowly. "Show them you are here for them. Let them know you care. They need to know what's in your heart. Reading about you and your family in magazines can create a lot of false illusions in one's mind. It can be so easy to see your smiling face on the cover of the magazine and think you forgot all about m- .... us."

Maksim's brown eyes searched his mate's face. He wanted to push back the piece of hair by her eye. She was everything he wanted.

"I will," Maksim said. "I promise I will win them over."

Ella felt her heart leap up.

"I will stop at nothing," Maksim said.

"Don't break your promise, Max," Ella said with her heart in her throat. "Broken hearts are hard to mend. Sometimes impossible."

"I won't break my promise, Ell," Maksim shook his head.   

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