Chapter 4 The pression to produce an heir.

As I walked through the palace halls, I felt a sense of dread wash over me. It seemed like everyone was talking about me and my inability to produce an heir.

I knew that Maximus was feeling the pressure too, but I couldn't help feeling like it was all my fault. I can't tell him the truth.

As I entered my chambers, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. I needed some time to myself to think.

But my peace was short-lived. As I was sitting on my bed, I heard a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" I asked, feeling a sense of unease.

"It's Titus," came the reply.

I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should let him in. But before I could make a decision, he barged in.

"Hello, my dear," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"What do you want, Titus?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"I just wanted to see how the queen is doing," he said, his eyes roving over my body.

I felt a surge of anger. How dare he speak to me like that?

"I'm fine," I said, trying to keep my voice even.

Titus just laughed.

"I'm sure you are," he said, his eyes glinting. "But the king is not happy. He's been waiting for an heir for far too long."

I felt a knot form in my stomach. Was he threatening me?

"What do you want?" I asked, my voice shaking.

"I just wanted to remind you of your duties," he said, his voice icy. "And to let you know that the king is losing patience."

With that, he left, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I knew that Maximus was under a lot of pressure, but I couldn't help feeling like I was just a means to an end.

As I lay down on my bed, I couldn't help feeling a sense of despair wash over me. I was trapped in this palace, with no way out.

Another noise at my door snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Come in," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

To my horror, it was Maximus .

"What's going on?" I asked, trying to act casual.

"Felicity," he said, his voice smooth and commanding. "We need to talk."

My heart raced as I tried to prepare myself for the worst. "What about?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Us," he said, closing the door behind him. "Our arrangement."

I could feel the fear gripping me, even as I tried to stay calm. I knew what he was going to say, and I wasn't sure I was ready to hear it.

"I need to know why you're not getting pregnant," Maximus said, his eyes narrowing.

I tried to think of a lie, but my mind was blank.

"I don't know," I said, my voice shaking. "Maybe it's just taking longer than usual."

Maximus didn't look convinced.

"I've been patient," he said, his voice hard. "But I can't wait forever."

I felt a surge of anger. How dare he talk to me like that?

"I'm doing my best," I said, my voice rising. "But I'm not a machine. I can't just produce an heir at will."

Maximus looked taken aback by my outburst.

"I know that," he said, his voice softening. "But we have to think about the future of our pack."

I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. He was right. The pack needed an heir.

Maximus was looming over me, his face so close to mine that I could feel his hot breath on my skin. "You have a choice," he said, his voice cold and hard. "You can either accept your fate and do as you're told, or you can suffer the consequences."

I shuddered, not wanting to even imagine what those consequences might be. "What do you want from me apart this?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Maximus leaned back, his eyes narrowing. "I want an heir, an heir damn it!" he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "And I want it soon."

My heart sank. I had known this moment was coming, but I still wasn't ready for it. I could feel the weight of his expectations crushing down on me, and I didn't know how much longer I could take it.

"What if I can't give you an heir?" I asked, my voice trembling.

Maximus's eyes darkened. "Then you'll be of no use to me," he said dismissively.

Tears threatened to spill over as I took a step back, feeling trapped and helpless. I had no allies here, no one to turn to for help. I was alone, and I didn't know how much longer I could hold on.

"Don't fear me, Felicity," Maximus said, moving closer to me once again. "I won't hurt you. But you must understand that I will not accept any disobedience from you."

I looked into his eyes, searching for any hint of compassion or kindness. But all I saw was coldness and detachment. He didn't care about me, not really. I was just a means to an end for him, a tool to be used and discarded when I was no longer useful.

"We'll see about that," I said, my voice firm. "I won't let you break me."

Maximus looked at me for a long moment .

"I know why I'm here," I said, my voice shaking with emotion. "But I won't be treated like a breeding machine."

Maximus's face darkened. "You will do as I say, Felicity. You don't have a choice."

I felt my blood boil. I had heard this all before, and i was done playing the victim.

But I knew that wasn't true. I did have a choice, and I was going to make it. "I choose to leave," I said, my voice firm. "I won't be a prisoner here any longer."

I could see the anger in Maximus's eyes, but I refused to back down. I was stronger than he thought, and I was going to prove it.

" You just think about an heir ! What about us ? Our relationship ? I'm your wife , I also have needs, and I have feelings, I am not a robot" she cried.

Maximus's eyes narrowed as he stepped closer to me. "Love is for weak people," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "I'm not weak, Felicity. I'm a king, and my duty is to my pack."

"But what about us?" I asked, my voice pleading. "Don't you feel anything for me?"

Maximus's expression softened for a moment, but then he shook his head. "I can't afford to let emotions cloud my judgment," he said. "I need an heir, and you are the one chosen for the task."

Those words hit me like a physical blow. All this while, I had been fooling myself into thinking that there was a chance for us – a chance for him to care for me.

Tears streamed down my face as I realized that there was no hope for us. Maximus didn't care about me, not really. And surely he would never find out who I was his mate . I was just a means to an end for him, and there was nothing I could do to change that.

"I won't stay here and be a prisoner," I said, my voice trembling with emotion. "I deserve better than this."

Maximus's eyes flashed with anger. "If you leave, there will be consequences," he warned. "You know what will happen if you go against me."

But I was done being afraid. "I don't care," I said, my voice shaking with determination. "I won't let you control me anymore."

As I turned to leave, Maximus grabbed my arm, his grip tight and painful. "You'll regret this, Felicity," he hissed. "I promise you that."

And with that, I pushed past Maximus and ran out of the room.

I didn't know where i was going, but i knew that I had to get away from him. I ran as fast as I could, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Stop!" I heard Maximus's voice behind me.

I didn't look back, too afraid of what i would see. I knew that i was risking everything by leaving – my safety, my future, and most of all, the life of my unborn child.

As i made my way out of the pack territory, i couldn't help but think about what my life had become. I had never imagined that I would end up here, running away from a man who was supposed to be my mate. It was all too much to process.

I knew that no matter where i went, there would be no escaping the truth.

As I stepped out into the night, I realized that I had no idea where to go or what to do next. But I knew one thing for sure: I wasn't going back to Maximus, no matter what.