The woman stood at the back door, leaning casually up against the wood as she watched the exchange between Maddox and I. I don't know how long she'd been standing there, but I know she heard every word between us.

Maddox sighs and turns towards the other witch with a look that says "help me" before turning back to look at me.

"I was going to tell you earlier before you ran off. Hecate is here because we thought maybe she could help you explore your magic a little more."

"Hecate?" I ask again, only this time I can barely manage a whisper.

I'm sure my jaw hit the floor minutes ago, but it takes several silent moments of concentration and sheer willpower to close it. The air inside the tiny cottage is strained, but I'm at a loss for words.

"Poppy? Say something, please," Maddox pleads.

He's still angry, that much is obvious, but I can feel concern radiating from him, too. Instead of answering him, I turn my attention to the gorgeous woman still leaning against the door and square my shoulders.

"So... y-you're..."

She quirks an amused eyebrow at my stuttering and takes a step forward.

"Hecate? Yes, my darling, I believe we've established that."

She moves to grab a third tea cup and gestures for us to sit while she takes her cup and sits on the floor by the fire. The cat gets up and stretches in response, sticking his little tongue out before climbing into Hecate's lap and curling up once more.

"Yes, but- but that means that you're-"

"Goddess of witchcraft, practically the mother of your entire kind and so on and so forth. She knows, Poppy," Maddox finishes my sentence for me, sounding a little bored.

My regret for walking away from him earlier disappears instantly and is quickly replaced with anger.

"Well I'm so fucking sorry for being a little surprised that the entire reason for my existence and the existence of my kind is sitting across from me. You know, Maddox, nobody asked you to come here," I growl at him.

He glowers at me from across the table and I hold his gaze, unwilling to back down in our silent face off.

"Actually, I did tell you it was Hecate who informed me of your arrival here," he retorted scathingly.

"And where in her statement did you hear an invitation for yourself?"

My stomach turns with each biting word we exchange with each other. I hate fighting with him. I hate the way the distance between us gnaws at my insides, the way he's looking at me- no warmth or love or affection in his stare- but I can't easily forgive and forget our last conversation.

He asked me to do the impossible and then got angry with me when I refused. If only Hecate knew what Maddox had asked me to do...

"I think I'll take a walk, I need to collect some herbs anyways. You two should take some time to talk," Hecate chimes in softly.

She stands up slowly, still holding the cat in her arms as she walks to the front door, the dog following closely behind her.

"Oh no, please stay! I'm so sorry, Hecate," I respond to her. "We've completely bombarded you and invaded your personal space uninvited. We should go. Thank you so much for your hospitality, though."

Maddox and I both make an effort to get up from our seats but Hecate holds her hand up to stop us.

"Absolutely not. Anyone from my coven and their mate, especially you two, are always welcome here. Take your time. Talk. Maddox, you know how to reach me when you're both ready?"

She doesn't wait for a response before she leaves and the silence between Maddox and I becomes unbearable.

"Maddox..." I whisper, pushing the tears back as I look at him. "How could you not tell me?"

"About?" He asks sullenly.

I groan at his moody, one-word response.

"About Hecate. Listen, I know you're mad I ran off. It was stupid of me and I'm sorry. It won't happen again. Now what the hell is going on with you?"

He sighs heavily and rubs his hand across his jaw, his eyes focused intently on the soft blaze of the fire. The motion draws my attention to the stubble on his jaw. It had to have been days since he'd shaved, much different than the clean-shaven Alpha I'd grown accustomed to.

The bags under his eyes are dark, evidence of the many sleepless nights Maddox has had since his brother started his revolt. He looks exhausted. I start to feel a pang of sympathy, but I desperately cling to my anger.

I won't let him take his frustration and exhaustion out on me.

"I was going to tell you. I was going to surprise you, actually," he finally mumbles.

"You were going to tell me what?"

"About Hecate. I've known her since I was little, I guess I didn't realize how big of a deal meeting her would be for you. She's been friends with my mom for ages. I called her right before we left to ask for her help. She's supposed to be splitting her time between teaching you and helping the rest of the coven."

For what feels like the thousandth time today, I'm left speechless. The fight leaves me completely, leaving me feeling battered and bone-tired.

"So your mom is friends with an actual goddess?"

So many questions are rattling around in my head but that's all I can manage to get out. The hint of a smile finally quirks at the corners of his lips as he tears his gaze away from the fire to look at me.

"You still have your walls up, I can't read your thoughts. There has to be so many questions swimming around in that brain of yours, Poppy, is that really the one you want to ask?" He laughs quietly.

"I'm having a difficult time processing this all, honestly. I don't even know where to begin," I admit.

The tension between us seems to melt away by the second and I finally start to relax a little. He reaches his hand tentatively across the table and grips mine, playing with my fingers absentmindedly.

"I'm sorry," he murmurs.

"For what?"

"For the way things happened earlier. For all the shitty things I said, I didn't mean any of it. I shouldn't have tried to push you about the black magic thing. Hecate and my mother would kick my ass if they knew."

"I want to help, Maddox, I do," I whisper back, afraid my voice might break if I raise it any higher. "I'll do whatever else you need me to do, just not that."

"I know, I know. It's wrong and I should have never asked. That's why I wanted you to meet Hecate anyways. She can help."

His eyes are hopeful and I give his hand a reassuring squeeze. I stand slowly, making sure to maintain the contact between us, and walk around the small table before setting myself into his lap.

My free hand slides up his chest before wrapping itself around his shoulder and I nuzzle my face into his neck, inhaling his scent. I let my walls come down and open myself up to the mind link again. His thoughts mingle with my own, filling me with feelings of regret, worry, and love.

"I'm sorry, too. I won't run out like that again. I know you just want to protect me."

Maddox turns his head and tilts my chin up to brush his lips gently across mine.

"Stop thinking dirty thoughts about me if you're not going to act on them, Poppy," he smirks against my mouth.

"Who says I don't plan on acting on them?"