Maximus's gaze swept over , his face expressionless . In his view , Calista had never known when to stop - he'd rejected her so decisively , yet she kept pressing - constantly asking if he was coming home , until eventually he simply stopped answering her calls . After Maisie was born , she became even more of a mess - hair disheveled , reeking of milk . For a wolf as scent - sensitive as Maximus , it only deepened his disgust . But regardless of his feelings , she was still his mate . Yet she seemed to have forgotten that - because right now , she was standing far too close to another man . Maximus said nothing . Jett thought he wasn't interested , but couldn't help adding , " She's a good woman . Any man lucky enough to be with her would be truly fortunate . " Lucky ? Was he ? Maximus didn't think so . He didn't care at all . After all , everything he had had very little to do with Calista . Meanwhile , Calista and Nash had turned the corner by the academic building . " Mr. Gray , " Jett said suddenly , " you and Mr. Carter have both been drinking . I doubt you'll make it back to the city tonight . Perhaps you'd be willing to rough it at my place for the night ? " The town had no decent hotels , and Jett doubted a man like Maximus would stomach the run - down conditions . Maximus gazed into the distance , lost in thought . When Calista returned to her room and closed the door , Jett was leading Maximus this way - Jett's room was right across from hers . Jett had just opened the door when Maximus spoke up . " That won't be necessary , Mr. Jett . I have a place to stay . " Before Jett could ask further , Maximus knocked on Calista's door . She opened it , saw him standing there , and her brow furrowed . " What is it ? " Her voice was ice - cold , lacking the warmth and respect she used to show him . He didn't wait for Calista to invite him - he walked straight in . By the time Maximus closed the door behind him , Jett still hadn't processed what happened . The room was simple : a bed , a desk , a small sofa , and a bathroom . Nothing fancy . Light green bedsheets dotted with small flowers - clean , fresh . Calista stood by the door , eyes narrowed . " You just came in without asking - what's your purpose ? " She was genuinely angry . 11:28 Rejected by the Alpha , I Became the Pack's Queen 61.3 % Chapter 20 Maximus sat on the sofa , his custom tailored suit looking particularly out of place in this room . He looked up at her and said . " I have nowhere else to go . I'm staying here tonight . " If it came down to it , he'd rather sleep somewhere she'd slept than crash in some filthy motel - or in a bed some stranger had used . Calista caught the faint scent of alcohol on him and didn't kick him out . Then I'll go sleep somewhere else . " In the past , she would have rushed to embrace him , drawn him a bath , changed the sheets , found comfortable pajamas and slippers . But now she wouldn't be that foolish anymore . She was reaching for the door handle when Maximus stopped her . " Calista , I want a shower . " In his mind , she'd always given him whatever he asked . He didn't mean to depend on her - circumstances just made it the only option . If he could , he wouldn't even see her . She paused and glanced back . " The school's facilities are limited . If you want to shower , you'll have to use the communal bathhouse . " He frowned . " Is there no other option ? " Without a shower , he couldn't sleep at all . There was , but she wasn't planning to tell him . " No , " she said curtly . With that , she left . Letting him stay in this room was generous enough . Alone , Maximus sat on pins and needles . The place was spotless , but he just couldn't lie down . Because everywhere in the room - every surface , every corner - was saturated with Calista's scent . ( 0 ) ( 0 ) 11:28