Contracted To The Beast novel Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Chapter 36

“Nia, Nia!” I heard Maddox calling behind me, his heavy footfalls pounding against the path. I did not pause or turn around.

My legs carried me on their own, taking a sharp detour through the winding path that led into the rose garden. I dropped onto the curb, tucking myself behind the mini bushes, their leaves brushing against my arms like gentle fingers trying to

calm me.

I took shaky breaths in and out, trying to stop my hands from trembling, pressing my palms flat against the cool stone beneath me. The world felt too loud too close, too full of wings and screeching.

“I’m okay, I’m okay,” I whispered to myself over and over, the words barely audible, my chest rising and falling too fast, too

uneven.

“Here,” Maddox said softly, crouching down beside me and handing me a bottle of water. His voice was gentler than I had ever heard it.

I grabbed the bottle with shaky fingers. Beads of sweat dripped down my forehead and under my nose. I could hear blood roaring in my ears as my heart rate spiked. The bottle slipped from my grip and landed on the ground with a soft thud. I could not hold it steady.

“Nia,” he said again. I flinched when his hand moved toward me. “Breathe. I’m right here with you.” He patted my head gently, his touch surprisingly light, almost careful, like he was afraid I might shatter.

“I don’t want to go back there,” I said, tears clouding my vision, blurring the roses in front of me into soft smudges of color. “I really don’t.”

“We’re not going back there. Look at me.” He lifted my chin with his index finger until I met his gaze. His gray eyes were steady, warmer than usual, holding mine without the usual sharpness. “Breathe, Nia.”

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered, my voice cracking.

“Why are you sorry?” he asked, his brow furrowing slightly.

“Cause I was scared,” I replied, the words tasting bitter on my tongue.

“If anything, I’m the one who should be apologizing. I was feeling so proud of myself, thinking I had planned an iconic date. Only to put you right in the middle of your phobia.” His voice carried real regret, something so unlike the usual Maddox that it caught me off guard. “I’m so sorry, Nia. I should have known better.”

“It’s alright. There was no way you would have known,” I replied, my breathing finally starting to slow, the tightness in my chest loosening just a little.

“Here,” he said, opening the bottle of water for me and holding it steady while I took small sips, the cool liquid soothing my dry throat.

“Dr. Page, I’m so sorry. Emily filled me in on what happened,” Bill said, appearing at the edge of the path, his face lined with genuine concern.

“I’m very sorry. I didn’t realise you had ornithophobia,” Emily added, her voice full of remorse as she stood a respectful distance away.

“It’s alright,” I replied, managing to muster a small smile, my hands still trembling slightly in my lap.

“To make it up to you, we have set up a sip and craft section for you both,” Bill said, gesturing toward a shaded area nearby.

“Would you mind?” Maddox asked, turning to me, his expression softer than I had ever seen it.

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Chapter 36

close to anger. “How did he think such an experience was funny?”

“I don’t know.” I could bring up a multitude of instances right off the top of my head that involved my dad disappointing me multiple times. He was long gone before he officially left, never really there when we needed him most.

I looked up and locked eyes with Maddox. His gray eyes looked warmer than usual, carrying a hint of pity that I recognized all too well. I had seen that look in high school more times than I could count.

I hated it.

I hated being pitied. Pity did not solve the problem. It never had, and it never would.

“Done.” I said, raising my new creation excitedly, pushing all the dark thoughts out of my head. “Is it beautiful?”

“It’s cute, I guess,” he smirked, his lips curving in that familiar half-smile.

“Guess? Boy please, this is couture?” I sassed, holding it up to the light so the knots caught the sun.

“Okay, designer,” he said, laughing.

I froze as the beautiful sound rang through my ears. I had never heard Maddox laugh before. He smiled only when he had something evil in mind. He should laugh more often. He looked different this way, alive, carefree, almost boyish, the hard lines of his face softening for just a moment.

“Let me see yours.”

He raised his vase, and it had the most beautiful painting of two koi fish. It was exactly like the ones we had seen earlier while walking through the conservatory. I never expected him of all people to have such attention to detail, the colours blending seamlessly, the scales shimmering as if they were alive.

“That’s so pretty. I never knew you could paint,” I said, genuinely impressed.

“Yeah, it was a passing hobby of mine,” he scratched his head gently, looking almost embarrassed.

“Do you still paint?” I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.

“I won’t answer that question,” he said, beckoning Emily to take the vase to be glazed and cured.

“Why?” I pressed on, leaning forward slightly.

“It’s a secret,” he replied, his eyes meeting mine with a spark of mischief that made my stomach flip unexpectedly.

We waited for Emily to finish with the vase before we left the conservatory, the afternoon sun warming our skin as we stepped outside.

“Here you go,” I handed my keychain to him, the green cords dangling between us.

“You want me to have it?” he asked, sounding genuinely shocked, his fingers brushing mine as he took it.

“Yeah, I do,” I replied, watching as he attached it to his car key immediately, the small mermaid tail swaying with the motion.

“Thank you,” he said, his voice quieter than usual. “Here you go then.”

“You want me to have the vase?” I asked, feeling a rush of unexpected excitement as he held it out.

“We might as well exchange crafts. You love it more than I do though,” he said, averting his gaze uncomfortably, his cheeks carrying the faintest flush.

“Thank you very much. I promise to take good care of it,” I said, cradling the vase carefully in my hands, the painted fish

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