Chapter 19
SHANE
Finally, after taking a couple of deep breaths to calm myself, I open the door. A stream of light floods the room, and Liam’s figure appears, muscular and protective. His gaze lights up upon seeing me. Although my mind is full of doubts and fears, I manage to put on a radiant and happy smile on my face, trying to mask the internal conflict I feel.
-Hey! How are you? -he asks, smiling back, that spark of concern softening between his confidence and love. It is in these moments that I realize I must find a way to weather this storm that not only affects me but both of us. The uncertainty overwhelms me, but in his expression, I find a reason to fight, a desire to see how the future unfolds. Perhaps I’m not ready to share the truth, but in Liam’s warm embrace, I feel that love, though complicated, can be the first step toward what is to come.
As the morning light streams through the window, everyday life seems to take hold of the small, cozy refuge. Taking advantage of a moment of calm, I decide to break the silence.
-Could you show me where the washing machine is? The clothes I had in my suitcase got wet. -I say with a wistful smile, trying to divert my mind from the storm brewing inside me.
-Of course -Liam replies with an honest smile, and he leads me to a laundry room located on the lower level of the cabin, right next to the kitchen. As we walk, the warmth of his presence comforts me. He opens the door and shows me the washing machine-. Here it is. It’s pretty simple to use. -he says, and I feel grateful for his kindness as I start pulling the clothes out of my suitcase.
As I place the clothes inside the washing machine, I hear Liam moving around in the kitchen. The aroma of something delicious begins to fill the air: a smell that evokes memories of warm, family breakfasts. I start the washing machine and exit the room, feeling the fatigue slowly fading away.
When we sit down to breakfast, sunlight filters through the window, creating a cozy atmosphere. Liam pours himself a cup of coffee and offers me another. After a few moments of shared silence, he says:
-Today is finally the last day of mating heat. Tomorrow we could head back to the city. -for a moment, his statement fills me with relief, but then he adds-: I’d like you to come with me to a meeting. It’s an annual “party” with all the other alphas from different parts of the world that belong to the Fenris pack, and our King Hassel will be there.
A wave of fear floods my chest.
-Fenris?
-That’s our race, where we come from. And before you ask, there are some other races of wolves; not all of us are the same.
I smile, feeling embarrassed for being such an open book.
-Will everyone there be wolves? -I ask him, with a mix of curiosity and fear. His affirmation of yes makes my heart race. There’s something very serious about this. The idea of being surrounded by other werewolf men, all with their own dynamics and powers, overwhelms me-: I almost forgot, there’s another human there; she’s paired with an alpha. And my sister is coming from London to attend the meeting. I would love to introduce you to Liliana. -Liam adds, and I can see the excitement shining in his eyes.
I take a moment to process his words as multiple thoughts crowd my mind. Finally, I nod, and with a voice that sounds more confident than I feel, I say yes. But at that moment, a worry arises.
-Wait, I have a boss to answer to -I say suddenly-. I’ve probably been fired… although I haven’t heard from him. -in my words, anxiety travels and multiplies, echoing my concerns.
Liam, who had been serving himself a bit more of his breakfast, looks at me with a reassuring expression.
-Don’t worry about that. Gigit has taken care of calling your boss and telling him that you’re here in the cabin working on the renovation, and she has paid in advance, including the fees -he explains. That leaves me stunned; my mind races trying to process his words.
-What renovation? And you paid for something I’m actually not doing? -I ask, astonished.
-It’s something I had already arranged earlier. I’ve cancelled Rocco in advance. -he says, and in his gaze, I see a mix of concern and determination. That revelation leaves me speechless, feeling worse for the decisions he’s making in my name.
-You had already arranged it? -I look at him in disbelief-: Were you planning to kidnap me for your heat?
-Don’t put it that way. -at least he has the decency to look guilty.
-Oh, really?
-No, Shane, because you’re offending me by insinuating that I only want your body. While it’s true that I had to prepare for the heat, my biggest concern was telling you the truth. So I thought we’d be spending a lot of time together, and I didn’t want your mind distracted by anything other than me. -I raise an eyebrow; he’s acting cocky now.
-Same thing. Either way, you were already planning to spend time with me.
-Because I wanted to tell you the truth, little wolf. -his voice is lower now.
-God, I won’t even ask how much money you’ve spent.
Liam notices my confusion and distress; he stands up and walks around the counter, wrapping me in his arms. His eyes hold mine, and there’s an intensity in his gaze that makes me feel vulnerable but also safe.
-You don’t have to worry about anything. No amount of money matters as much as what you mean to me -he says in a deep, passionate voice. In that moment, the weight I carry on my shoulders feels a little lighter.
My initially chaotic thoughts start to clarify. I might be facing an unknown future, surrounded by werewolves and dynamics I never imagined, but here, now, in this moment, I have Liam by my side. His determination and support seem capable of breaking down any barrier. Maybe, just maybe, everything will turn out okay.
As the conversation flows between Liam and me, a sudden and revealing thought crosses my mind: I actually have an entire week free from work. The idea of being able to enjoy my time without work concerns is a breath of fresh air, but it also leaves me with a hint of unease about an uncertain future.
After our little chat, I get up from the table, stretching my body, when Liam’s phone rings at the side of the counter. I look at it, surprised.