Free Tessa, Vampire/Werewolf Romance, (Standalone) (Shadow Creek Shifters Book 3) by Maddie Foxx Page B

chance. He didn’t want to see the boy leave the pack. He just had a right to know who his mother was. Especially if she didn’t willingly leave Silver Creek.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

CHAPTER NINE
    Maxwell and Melody went into the schoolhouse after Seth dropped them off. Maxwell was in a bad mood. He couldn’t stop himself from thinking about where his mother might be and if he’d be able to see her one day. He was mad that Melody kept carrying on about her mother when she hadn’t even stopped by to see Melody since Seth brought her to Silver Creek.
    “Good morning, Maxwell,” Katlyn said.
    He glared at her.
    “I hope we’re not going to have a bad day today.”
    “I don’t even want to be here, period.”
    “I guessed as much, but since you’re already here, you might as well learn something.”
    Maxwell locked eyes with Melody and she gave him the dirtiest of looks ever. He was sick of Melody, sick of school, and just plain miserable thinking about his missing mother. While his teacher had her back turned to him, he jumped out of his chair and bolted from the schoolhouse, ignoring Ms. Katlyn shouting for him not to go out that door. He ignored her and made way for the forest not far off. He hid behind a tree when he got there as his teacher called out his name. He stumbled his way through the trees, his bum leg hurting after his jaunt into the woods.
    He walked through a stream, not even thinking about where he was going or that it was away from the direction that would lead him home where his uncle would most likely be very angry at him for running off like he had.
    * * *
    “Maxwell, where are you going? You’ve made our teacher very upset,” Melody said, catching up to him. “Get back to school before you get in real trouble.”
    Maxwell glared at Melody. “You’re not even my sister, so quit acting like it.”
    “Somebody has to tell you that you’re acting like a meathead.”
    “How dare you speak to me this way? I’ll be the alpha of my pack one day.”
    “Like anyone wants a sullen alpha. And newsflash, I’m a red-tailed hawk and couldn’t care less about your supposed future position as alpha of the wolf pack. It wouldn’t surprise me if someone is able to fight and win the right instead of you.”
    Maxwell’s face reddened as he spat, “Is that because I’m a cripple?”
    “Quit playing the victim. My mother always did that and it sickened me.”
    “I’m not!”
    “You’re acting like a jerk lately. You have a limp, deal with it.”
    “It’s not my limp that’s the problem. My dad died and my mother is out there somewhere and nobody will tell me where.”
    “I know and I’m sorry, but you have to deal with that. Your uncle came all the way here to raise you. I’m sure if your mother is out there somewhere, she must have heard that your dad had died by now.”
    “My uncle just came here to take his place as alpha. He doesn’t care about me,” Maxwell replied despondently.
    “That’s not true. He might get on you sometimes, but that’s a parent’s job. I’m sure when you’re grown, your uncle will stand down from being the alpha.”
    “It’s unheard of for an alpha to leave his pack.”
    “Why don’t you ask him then? That way, you can tell him how you feel.”
    “Talking about feelings is something girls do, not boys. I bet my mother doesn’t know my father died, and that’s why she hasn’t come yet.”
    “If she wanted to be here, she’d never have left,” Melody stated.
    “You don’t know that. There are plenty of reasons she might have stayed away.”
    Melody laughed when Maxwell raised his fist to her in a threatening way, but just then her bottom lip quivered. She glanced in the clearing as a woman stumbled, falling to the ground. She raced there and leaned over the woman who was badly beaten and bloody. “Mama!”
    She began to cry as she shook her mama until she stared at her and said, “Melody?” She then closed her eyes and if not for the