Alethea
Liam stiffens the moment he receives the mind link. I notice the tension in his shoulders, the way his jaw tightens, but I don’t ask what it’s about. It’s none of my business.
At least, that’s what I tell myself-until he turns and looks at me.
His gaze is intense and unreadable, but I can feel it. This is about me.
“What?” I finally ask, my spoon pausing mid-air.
Liam exhales sharply. “Alpha Asher says I should bring you back. Immediately.”
My eyes widened. Just like that? He suddenly decides I have to go home?
“He misses you, Ally,” Xena purrs in my head, her voice laced with longing.
I roll my eyes. “To hell with missing me.”
She huffs but doesn’t argue.
I turn back to Liam. “But I just got here.”
He doesn’t respond, but his expression tells me he won’t defy his Alpha’s command.
Still, I push. “Come on, Liam. You can stay with me the whole time if you want, but I’m not leaving yet. The city is beautiful, and I haven’t even seen half of it.”
I pout a little, hoping to appeal to his softer side, but I know it won’t work. Alpha commands always override personal decisions.
Liam slowly shakes his head, but I pretend not to notice.
Instead, I focus on my ice cream, scooping another spoonful into my mouth and humming along to the soft music playing in the background. If he’s going to drag me back, he’ll have to wait until I finish.
Liam watches me intently, but his stare doesn’t faze me. I refuse to let it.
The silence between us stretches until he finally breaks it.
“Ally, please.” His voice is softer now, almost pleading. “Asher is worried. I don’t want to make him angry any longer.”
I sigh, feeling his words settle in my chest. Asher is worried.
I don’t want to care, but I do.
Still, I refuse to give in just because Asher demands it. I tell myself I’m leaving for a different reason. Declan.
At the thought of my son, I push myself up from my seat. I’m not leaving because Asher says so. I’m leaving because my boy might miss me. I’ve been too far away from the pack for too long.
Liam sighs in relief, as he murmurs quietly, “Thank the goddess.”
I roll my eyes at him and scoop the last bit of ice cream into my mouth, enjoying the sweetness.
“Aren’t you going to take yours?” I nod toward his untouched ice cream, now melting into a sugary puddle.
He shrugs. “I’m not really a fan of ice cream. I only got it so I wouldn’t look awkward sitting here while you enjoyed yours.”
I smirk. “Logical, Liam. But need I remind you? You’re missing out.”
He rakes a hand through his already messy hair, looking more exasperated by the second.
“Relax, big guy,” I tease. “I know you don’t want to go against Asher, but if you keep looking so tense, it’ll only make me stall longer.”
His eyes narrow slightly, and I grin.
“Alright, alright. I’ll behave.”
Satisfied, I focus on finishing my ice cream, downing the last bite in one go.
I set my spoon down, wipe my mouth, and mutter, “Let’s go.”
Liam doesn’t hesitate. He moves immediately, falling into step behind me like a silent guardian. His presence is protective.
A guy suddenly steps up, walking beside me. Before I can react, Liam smoothly shifts his position, stepping between us like a silent barrier.
“Back off, man. She’s way out of your league,” Liam says, with a firm voice, as his hand settles protectively on my shoulder.
The guy barely flinches. He smirks, running his tongue over his lips in a way that makes my skin crawl.
“Relax, man. Just wanted her number. She looks hot.”
Yuck. I resist the urge to gag. I’m not in the mood to entertain this nonsense.
The two of them lock eyes in a silent challenge. I can feel the tension between them, but after a moment, the guy backs off, and he mutters something under his breath as he walks away.
Liam doesn’t waste any time. He takes my hand, guiding me toward the car with a firm grip.
“I sense something… something supernatural,” he murmurs lowly. “We should leave. Now.”
A cold chill creeps up my spine. My palms turn clammy, my heartbeat picking up speed. If Liam says there’s something supernatural nearby, I believe him.
Without another word, he opens the car door for me. “Strap in, Ally.”
I roll my eyes but comply, buckling my seatbelt.
Liam chuckles lightly before making his way around the car and slipping into the driver’s seat.
He turns the key in the ignition. Nothing.
I glance at him. He tries again. Still nothing.
A third time-finally, the engine roars to life.
I release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding as he slowly pulls out of the parking lot.
But something’s off.
Liam isn’t as talkative as before. His jaw is clenched, and his grip on the steering wheel is deathly tight. His entire posture screams tension.
Something happened.
Something Asher said.
I narrowed my eyes on him. “What did Asher tell you?”
“Nothing, Ally.”
I don’t believe him for a second. Whatever it is, it better not have anything to do with Declan.
We’re on the main road leading back to our pack. The road is deserted, stretching out like an endless ribbon under the dimming sky. Liam drives at a steady pace, his fingers tapping lightly against the steering wheel.
Then, without warning, the car jerks and sputters before coming to a dead stop.
“Shit,” Liam mutters, his hands tightened on the wheel.
A spike of unease shoots through me. “What’s wrong?”
He exhales sharply. “I don’t know, Ally. Let me check.”
He unbuckles his seatbelt and steps out of the car, moving around to the front. I watch as he pops the hood, peering inside with a frown.
I reach for my purse, my stomach sinks when I realize-I don’t even have my phone. If I did, I could call Amelia or even Kayla to let them know what’s happening.
Now that I think about it… was it really a good idea to come out alone without telling more people? Sure, I mentioned it to Amelia, but does she even know where I am now? Is she worried?
The thought makes my mind wander, and I barely register the sound of the car door opening again. I snap my head up to see Liam sliding back inside.
“What’s wrong with the car?” I ask.
His jaw tightens. “I don’t know. I had it serviced before I left the pack. It shouldn’t be acting up like this.”
He turns the key in the ignition. Nothing. The engine stutters but refuses to catch.
“Shit,” he mutters again, shoving the door open and stepping out once more.
A strange, unsettling feeling creeps over me.
Something isn’t right. Goddess, please help us.
The road is empty and eerily quiet. We’re still far from Redwood Pack, and a sick feeling settles in my gut.
Then, suddenly, the car door on my side swings open.
“Liam-” The words die in my throat as a massive figure looms over me.
Before I can react, a thick, muscular arm clamps over my mouth, pressing a white handkerchief against my face. A sickly sweet scent invades my senses. Chloroform.
I didn’t even smell his approach. My mind races-he must have masked his scent.
Panic surges through me as I thrash wildly, kicking at anything I can reach. My muffled screams are swallowed by the stillness of the night.
Where is Liam? Why isn’t he stopping this?
I struggle harder, but my body is already growing weak. My limbs feel like dead weight, my vision blurs, and my mind fogs over as the drug takes effect.
No, no, no…
Just when I think I might slip into unconsciousness, a strange sensation washes over me. A pull. A shift.
Then, in an instant, the world around me vanishes.
My heart pounds against my ribs as I realize-I’ve been teleported.
The last thing I feel is sheer terror before everything fades to black.