Chapter 13 - Who Is Softening Who?

She'd hugged Xavier from the side. Oh, if only the other werewolves could see this. They'd have a field day at the sight of their alpha being hugged.

What more by a human!

Xavier couldn't just push her away.

"Let me go," he ordered sternly.

Madeline opened her eyes.

'What am I doing-?'

'I only thought of hugging him. I didn't actually mean to hug him!'

She let go of him, averting his gaze as she felt her face flush.

Well, that was totally not awkward.

"I'm g-going to go n-now," Madeline said before sprinting away, ashamed and embarrassed of what she'd just done.

'He thinks I'm crazy, doesn't he?' She asked herself when she slowed down her pace now that she was a safe distance away from his office.

Wondering if Xavier heard the palpitations of her heart when she'd realized what she'd done, her face turned even redder.

What was worse was how Briar was approaching her.

Briar wasn't sure of how things would turn out - so when she saw her friend in one piece, she sighed in relief.

Obviously, Xavier couldn't do anything, but what if he'd…

'No, don't think that, you never know what actually happened,' Briar reasoned.

"Maddie!" She called, using her super-speed to reach her in a matter of seconds.

Briar tapped lightly on her friend's shoulder, but Madeline was rooted to her spot.

"Maddie?" Briar asked, moving in front of Madeline so she could get a good view of her face.

Madeline was… blushing?

"What the--"

"What happened?" Briar questioned, now more curious than ever.

What the hell happened? What made Madeline behave like this?

Madeline was never the type of person to freeze up and stay dead silent. She was the type to react quickly in situations and never turn anxious and nervous. So seeing her like this… it was a new sight to Briar.

"Earth to Madeline," Briar waved her hand in front of Madeline, who was lost in thought.

'Xavier… I… hu--'

She snapped out of it.

"Briar!"

"When did you get here?" She inquired, a blank look on her face.

Briar couldn't believe it. Did Madeline not notice her arriving?

"I just arrived," she answered.

"Ah."

"So, how did things go with Xavier?" Briar asked, truly curious.

What the hell made Madeline blush so fiercely?

Was it Xavier?

"They went fine," she grumbled, mumbling something else under her breath.

"You can't just tell me that and leave me in suspense, wondering what happened, Maddie," Briar pouted.

"Unless…"

"Unless what?"

"Nothing," Briar shrugged.

Madeline placed her hands on Briar's shoulders and shook her.

"Tell me!" She exclaimed, trying to convince Briar to tell her what she was about to say before she halted.

Crossing her arms, Madeline said, "Look who's leaving me in suspense now."

"Xavier told me he'd just leave you with a warning. There, I told you."

"Now, what were you about to say?" Madeline asked point-blank.

Briar blinked.

"He said that…?"

"He actually said that? Are we talking about the same person or someone else entirely?"

"You're not doubting your friend, are you?" Madeline inquired.

Briar shook her head, "No, of course not!"

"That's just… extremely out of character of him to do," Briar admitted.

"He'd never usually do that," Briar added.

"How the heck did you get him let me off the hook so easily?"

"It wasn't easy," Madeline corrected.

"My bad."

"So what was it you were about to say?"

"I forgot," Briar lied, scratching the back of her neck.

"Aish."

"You forgot," Madeline frowned.

Sighing, she reasoned, "Well, on the bright side, you're off the hook just this once."

"And… don't tell anyone of this or they'll… you know…"

Briar nodded, already beginning to feel guilty, "Of course."

She'd keep this till her grave - even after what she'd done. Madeline was willing to go to lengths to help her. It proved how compassionate she was.

"Let's head back," Madeline suggested.

Briar nodded.

"Oh, and Madeline?"

Madeline looked back to face Briar, "Yes?"

"Thank you."

"Whatever for?"

"Being such an amazing friend."

Madeline laughed softly, "So what, you're calling me an amazing friend now?"

"And I thought you were about to suggest we have a movie marathon."

Briar blinked, that was an excellent idea on Madeline's part.

"We should definitely do that," Briar nodded in full agreement.

"Right?"

"Come on, let's go," Madeline said, taking Briar's hand, acting as though they hadn't been distant and nothing happened.

A grateful smile made it to Briar's face.

"Let's."

Meanwhile… back with Xavier…

Adrian entered Xavier's office, wanting answers.

"Xay," he called.

"What do you want?" Xavier asked rudely.

"Entertain me," Adrian said, walking over to Xavier's desk.

"Was my hearing off or did I just hear you let Madeline's friend off with a warning instead of punishing her?"

Adrian found himself amused. He'd doubt what he'd heard… but by the looks of it, Xavier actually did!

"So I did. It's a one-time thing," Xavier insisted.

"Are you sure it'll only be a one-time thing?"

A cheeky grin made it to Adrian's face. Only by luck would he make it out of here without doubling down in laughter. This was all too hilarious.

"What did she do to you?" Adrian grilled Xavier for details.

"You've barely known her for a couple of days, and… you're already pardoning her friend."

"I did not pardon her friend because of her. I pardoned her friend due to her previous record which was free of wrongdoings," Xavier argued.

"Then why did it seem like you made her cry?" Adrian questioned.

Xavier hesitated.

"I did not."

'I heard differently,' Adrian mumbled under his breath.

"What are you trying to insinuate, Adrian?" Xavier raised his brow, trying to hide his rage. Why did Adrian have to hear the entire conversation?

Could he not have minded his own business? Why was he being so nosy?

Adrian would never usually take any sort of derision or ridicule from other werewolves, especially those of lower rank.

"What I'm trying to insinuate is…"

"That maybe being around Madeline is softening you."