Talking it out, Indiana confessed everything. When her feelings had started, and what she intended to do with them.


    How the conversation ultimately ended? Why, the girls simply decided to hug it out - and to never speak of this or bring the conversation up ever again.


    Indiana could see why Madeline was made Xavier''s mate. Regret flashed in her eyes. This was the person she accused of using Xavier.


    Madeline would never.


    "Alright, that''s enough for now. Look at the time. It''s way past lunch," Madeline commented.


    Declining Madeline''s offer for lunch, Indiana reckoned it was better she cleared her head.


    Making some excuse, she left Madeline''s quarters, leaving Madeline and Briar.


    Briar broke the silence, telling Madeline, "Well, that went better than expected."


    Madeline glanced out her quarters'' window.


    "Yeah, but I hope Indiana doesn''t feel uncomfortable around us because of this."


    Briar noticed how dejected Madeline looked.


    "You''re an amazing friend, you know that right? Not just to me, but to Indiana too."


    Madeline laughed softly, "And why do you choose to tell me this now out of all times?"


    "Because you look like you need some praise," Briar responded.


    Rolling her eyes, Madeline said to her, "Let''s just go get lunch already. I''m famished."


    "You and me both, Maddie," Briar said.


    The two ladies left for the dining room, where they hadn''t expected to encounter both Xavier and Adrian.


    Madeline waved at Xavier.


    "Didn''t expect to see you here," she admitted.


    Xavier said, "How unfortunate. We were just leaving."


    Madeline pouted, "Aww. Next time then."


    Briar used her and Adrian''s mind link to tell him she was leaving tomorrow.


    ''If you can''t find me tomorrow, that''s because I''m going out for a morning walk with Madeline, Indiana and Xavier.''


    Adrian raised his brow, ''Oh, you too? Xavier only informed me that it was him and a couple of others. I never expected you to be one of those joining.''


    ''Well, now you know. So, I''ll be gone for a couple of hours tops.''


    ''Noted,'' Adrian replied nonchalantly, adding, ''Have a good lunch.''


    ''I''d say you too, but it seems like you''ve already had lunch,'' Briar noticed.


    ''Well, you''re right. I have.''


    Noticing Xavier leaving, Adrian told Briar, ''I''ll be on my way now. Bye.''


    Briar waved him goodbye, watching as he left with Xavier.


    Xavier had greeted her goodbye as well.


    Strange, he wasn''t usually this courteous with her.


    Correction, he never was. And Briar knew why.


    He was the alpha, she was just a delta. So why would he even feel the need to treat her courteously in the first place?


    Turning to Madeline, she questioned, "What did you do to him? You''re magical, seriously."


    Madeline turned a blind eye towards Briar''s words.


    "Food," she said, her stomach doing the talking. Madeline was getting easily distracted by other obstacles such as the food, all because she was stalling. She had expected Indiana to decline her offer to lunch, and already had a plan in mind.


    Indiana wasn''t the only person who had something she had kept hidden. She thought she had kept hidden, at least.


    It was a similar case for Madeline.


    Hmm, similar was the wrong way to put it.


    Madeline got herself a couple of helpings of her favourite dish. Briar followed, unable to help herself.


    "Got something on your mind?" Briar inquired right before she dug into her helping.


    "How did you know?"


    "It''s all over your face," Briar replied with, her face turning serious and stern.


    "You still haven''t talked much about what just happened with Indiana. And that wouldn''t be the case unless you have something you want to say yourself. Something unrelated to Indiana, I presume," Briar said, continuing, "And since you''re staying completely quiet, am I correct?"


    Madeline muttered, "Maybe…"


    She didn''t feel like eating anymore. Her entire mood had shifted.


    Suddenly, the room turned silent. Not even Briar ate; all she did was stare at Madeline.


    Who would break the silence?


    Madeline looked away from Briar, staring at the spot Xavier would usually be at during their meals.


    She sighed dreamily.


    Briar noticed this, realising what Madeline was staring at. Since she had a great memory, she instantly knew what Madeline was doing. Or, to put it more accurately, what Madeline was thinking.


    "Hey," Briar called.


    "Hmm?" Madeline asked absentmindedly.


    "You do too," Briar said.


    All Briar found herself able to do was gawk at Madeline.


    "You do too," she repeated once more.


    Madeline hid her face, avoiding Briar''s gaze.


    "No," she whispered.


    "Then why are you hiding your face from me?" Briar questioned, wondering why Madeline took a sudden interest in the floor.


    "Because," Madeline began.


    She hesitated.


    "Because…"


    Burying her face in her hands, she asked Briar, "What do I do?"


    Briar was too stunned to speak.


    ''Did Madeline...''


    All this time, she had kept hold of herself. That way, she wouldn''t slip up and blurt it out. Or look at those piercing eyes of his and confess her feelings like someone would confess their sins. One slip up, and someone would know of it.


    It had all started when Emilio had caught her in his cave and tried killing her. The very first person she thought of was Xavier. That was the same moment Madeline had come to a stunning realisation. That something was up with her, and that she held Xavier in different regard compared to everyone else.


    That moment she was nearly about to be killed, she still wouldn''t stop worrying about him, even if she knew he was perfectly capable of taking care of himself and didn''t need someone fretting about him.


    Xavier was the first person she had come to when she had experienced a nightmare not only because he and her were friends, and she felt that she was able to confide in him whenever, but because… She had feelings for him, and she had been harbouring these feelings for the longest time.


    Madeline had already fallen for her mate, and there was no changing that fact.