Max the general

Greg’s POV

The stranger's presence in our home left a bitter taste in my mouth, and I felt the weight of his gaze even as he walked away from us, back to his casual exploration of the living room. I pulled Anna to the side, my voice low but edged with frustration.

“Anna, I don’t trust this guy,” I said, my tone sharp. “He shows up out of nowhere, knows all about us, and expects us to just believe he’s on our side? It doesn’t add up.”

Anna crossed her arms, glancing back at the man who was now inspecting a framed photo of us, his expression seemingly lost in thought.

She met my eyes again, her face a mix of concern and determination. “I know it’s hard to trust anyone, Greg, but what choice do we have? Cole’s getting closer, and if this guy really can help us, we can’t just turn him away.”

I ran a hand through my hair, the frustration boiling beneath the surface. “Or he’s setting us up. He’s one of Cole’s people, Anna. He’s dangerous.”

“Maybe he was one of Cole’s people,” she corrected, her voice soft but firm. “But he isn’t anymore. And I think we should hear him out. We’ve been on our own for so long… maybe it’s time we had someone else on our side.”

The thought of relying on a stranger, especially one who had been part of my brother’s world, made my stomach churn. But the look in Anna’s eyes—a mix of hope and a desperate need for some semblance of safety—made me hesitate.

She wanted to believe in something good for once, in someone other than just the two of us, and I didn’t have the heart to shut that down.

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. “Alright, fine,” I said reluctantly. “But I’m not letting my guard down. Not for a second.”

Anna gave me a small smile, placing a hand on my cheek. “Just trust me on this, okay?”

I nodded, though every instinct I had screamed to be careful. Anna kissed me softly before grabbing her purse, preparing to head out to work. “I’ll be back later,” she said, her tone light but her eyes carrying a weight of unspoken worry. She cast one last glance at Max before leaving, the door clicking shut behind her.

I turned to face Max, still feeling the tension simmering beneath my skin. He had taken a seat at the kitchen counter, his posture relaxed but his eyes alert, observing every move I made. I walked over, leaning against the opposite counter, arms crossed.

“So, what’s your story?” I asked, not bothering to hide the suspicion in my voice. “Why are you here, really?”

Max met my gaze, his expression unreadable. He looked tired, like a man who had seen too much, been through too much, and was barely holding it together. “I told you—I’m here to help. But if you want the whole story, I’ll tell you.”

He leaned back, crossing his arms as he began to speak. “My name’s Max. I used to be a general in Cole’s army. High-ranking, trusted, and loyal… at least, that’s what he thought. Cole and I grew up together in the pack. He was the Alpha’s son, destined to take over, and I was just the kid with a talent for strategy and combat. We were like brothers, once.”

I watched him carefully, noting the bitterness in his voice when he spoke of my brother. It was clear there was history there—bad blood that went deeper than just some falling out.

“But as Cole got older, something changed,” Max continued, his eyes darkening. “He became obsessed with power. He wanted to expand the pack’s territory, take over other packs, and anyone who stood in his way was either brought to heel or destroyed. He didn’t care about the lives he ruined or the blood he spilled. He only cared about his vision of being the strongest Alpha. He asked me to do things—terrible things. Things I wasn’t willing to do.”

Max paused, his jaw tightening. “The last straw was when he ordered me to destroy a neighboring pack that posed no threat to us. Just because he wanted to make an example of them. I refused, and that was it. I was labeled a traitor, a criminal. I barely escaped with my life.”

I could see the pain in his eyes, the haunted look of someone who had been through hell and back. For a moment, I almost felt sorry for him. Almost.

“So you ran,” I said, my tone flat. “And now you’re here. Why?”

Max sighed, leaning forward on the counter. “Because I see what Cole’s doing, Greg. I see the lengths he’s willing to go to, and I see how it’s tearing our world apart. And when I heard that you’d left, that you were out here trying to make a life for yourself, I thought maybe—just maybe—we could take him down. Together. I want to be a part of your pack.”

I shook my head, still skeptical. “You want to join me? Be part of my pack? Newsflash, Max—I don’t have a pack. I’m not trying to be an Alpha. I just want to live my life without looking over my shoulder every second.”

Max nodded slowly, his expression earnest. “I get that. But the truth is, whether you like it or not, you are an Alpha. You’ve always been one, Greg. And whether you want to lead or not, people like me… we’re looking to you. Because Cole isn’t just going to stop. He’s going to come after you, and he’s going to come after everyone you care about. You can’t hide from him forever.”

I looked away, feeling the weight of his words pressing down on me. I hadn’t wanted this responsibility. I hadn’t asked to be the one to stand up to Cole. But Max was right about one thing: my brother wouldn’t stop until he had what he wanted. And what he wanted was me, broken and defeated.

Max continued, his voice softer now. “I’m not asking you to start a war. I’m not asking you to be something you’re not ready to be. But I am asking you to let me help. Let me be part of whatever this is. I don’t have anywhere else to go, and I’m tired of running.”

There was a sincerity in his words that was hard to ignore. Despite my instincts screaming at me to send him away, something about his story struck a chord. He wasn’t just some rogue looking for trouble; he was a man who had been betrayed by the same person who was hunting us. He was desperate, just like we were.

I stared at him for a long moment, weighing my options. I didn’t trust him—not fully—but I also couldn’t ignore the reality of our situation. We were alone, constantly on the run, and Max’s knowledge of Cole’s movements could be the edge we needed to stay one step ahead.

“You want to help?” I finally said, my voice steady. “Then prove it. Show me you’re not here to screw us over. Because if you are, Max, I swear you won’t get a second chance.”

Max nodded, his expression resolute. “I will. I promise you, Greg, I’m on your side.”

The tension in the room eased slightly, though the air was still thick with uncertainty. Max leaned back, finally allowing himself to relax a bit, as if he’d been waiting for my approval to let his guard down.

“So,” I said, pulling out a chair and sitting across from him, “what’s the plan? How do we stay ahead of Cole?”