Chapter 51 - Listen, I Don’t Want To Worry You Or Anything, But…

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"You didn't hit your head or twist your knee or anything, right? I'm just making sure," Briar asked as she examined Madeline who seemed perfectly fine.

"I'm fine, quit worrying," Madeline whined.

"I have all the right to be worried," Briar said, adding, "After all, when your friend suddenly vanishes out of thin air and is found outside the cave of the ex-alpha on the brink of death, you get worried."

Madeline had to admit, Briar had a fair point.

"I'm sorry," she apologized, to which Briar shook her head.

"Maddie, what in the hell are you apologizing to me for?"

"For worrying you," Madeline answered, feeling guilty.

Briar took one look at her and sighed, "There's no need for you to apologize."

"I'm just wondering… why did you get yourself involved in this anyway?"

"From what I've seen, most humans would've left at the first sight of danger," Briar remarked.

A small smile grew on Madeline's face. Had Briar not known her prior, she would've thought Madeline was crazy. That she was an insane woman trying to get herself killed by constantly putting herself in danger, albeit unintentional.

"Want my honest answer?"

"I don't know either," she admitted.

"Maybe it's because I didn't have anyone before, and I've felt more alive here than anywhere else… or perhaps it's because I've finally met my soulmate and I want to see where things go with him."

Madeline didn't think of herself as a daring person. She'd always been the one lost in the fictional world of books. The one to wish for a fantasy to turn true. For a romance that would defy all odds and was surreal. One that was magical and perfect and all sparks and bliss.

Adventure and action wasn't for her, and yet, action was the one thing that made her feel alive.

"Ah," Briar said, a hint of understanding evident in her voice.

Briar always had difficulty seeing things in someone else's point of view, even if that person was Madeline, a close friend.

"You know, Madeline…"

"Yes?"

"Xavier was incredibly worried about you when you were gone," Briar began, a smirk on her face.

It wasn't something to smirk about, but Briar couldn't help it.

Madeline couldn't help but ask, "Worried? How did you know?"

Briar pointed at a that looked like it'd been punched through and fixed afterwards.

"Xavier doesn't break walls for no reason," Briar said.

'E-eh?! He broke one of my room's walls?!' Madeline thought, quite shocked.

She hadn't noticed it before either.

"Why would he do that?" Madeline asked, her eyes wide in horror.

Was it strange she was somewhat impressed by his strength?

Briar cooed, "Because he was clearly worried about you."

"Walk me through what happened," Madeline ordered.

Briar explained to her how when she was asleep, she'd muttered the word 'Miles', and how Xavier and Adrian were having a conversation so they didn't notice. She continued with how she'd told them and… that was when Xavier punched through a wall.

Madeline never expected for something like this to happen.

Breaking her wall? Now that sounded ambiguous.

'Wah, quit being so dirty-minded,' a voice in her head scolded her.

'Hello, he literally broke his wall out of anger and frustration, it's so clear,' the other voice retorted.

Madeline reasoned, "We're just friends, maybe he was just—"

Briar furrowed her brows, interrupting her mid-sentence, "You two are just friends?"

She emphasized the word 'just', and Madeline found it peculiar.

Was it strange that they were friends? What, were they supposed to be acquaintances instead?

"Okay."

"So, Madeline, what do you think of Xavier?"

"What do I think of Xavier?"

"Hmm."

She tried remembering all the time she and Xavier had spent together and what he was like to her.

"Xavier… he comes off as someone intimidating and someone who's serious all the time but when you actually get to know him he's really fun, and sweet. He probably acts differently because he has to present himself a certain way as the alpha of the pack, but… the man's also saved my life a couple of times so he has my eternal gratitude for it," Madeline explained.

The minute she stopped talking, Briar said to her, "You're so smitten with him."

"Smitten?"

"I'm not smitten with him, we're friends."

"And also soulmates," Briar reminded her.

"And you know the phrase 'we're friends' isn't an excuse right?"

"It's not an excuse. And besides, we've known each other for less than a month!"

"Right, there's also that," Briar nodded.

"And besides, I'm not really ready for a relationship either."

"Wanna talk about it?" Briar offered.

Madeline chuckled lightly.

"I don't know, maybe it's because I'm a diehard romantic or because I read and watch nothing but romance books and movies but…"

Exhaling, Madeline continued on, "I have this unrealistic expectation of what love is supposed to feel and be like, and a part of me knows that if I ever fall for someone and we hit it off, my perception of love is going to be popped like some bubble that we all knew was going to burst eventually."

"So maybe it's because of that I feel like I'm not ready, or it's because I have yet to love someone romantically."

"But, you know I'm just seeing where life takes me and if things will change."

Madeline smiled, "Feels nice getting this off my chest."

Briar hugged her, "Whatever you decide to do you know I support you."

Madeline's heart warmed at Briar's words.

Briar suddenly tensed, hearing something.

"Stay here," she said, taking a peek outside from the window.

Madeline saw Briar's eyes briefly widen in horror.

Trying to keep calm and put on a brave face for Madeline, she said, "Never mind."

"Didn't seem like something you could dismiss," Madeline said.

"What is it?"

Briar shook her head, walking over to Madeline before she gulped nervously.

"What is it?"

Briar hesitated.

"Listen, I don't want you to panic or anything, but…"

"But what?"

"Emilio's right outside."