Liam’s POV
I was pacing again, my nerves completely shot. What was taking so long? Was Oberon struggling to convince her not to reject me? The longer it took, the worse it seemed. My stomach twisted into knots, and I found myself scanning the room for a trash can-just in case. I was on the verge of being sick.
Ghost, my wolf, wasn’t helping. If anything, he was making things worse.
“Go get her!” he growled impatiently. “She’s ours! You need to bring her home with us! Blue wants to go-she told me so!”
I groaned internally. Kidnapping my own mate? Not exactly the best plan.
Just as I was about to spiral further into my anxious thoughts, footsteps echoed from the staircase. I spun around so fast I nearly gave myself whiplash, my heart hammering in my chest. But the scent in the air told me it wasn’t Lia approaching.
It was Oberon.
Panic surged through me. Was he here to tell me I was leaving without her? My stomach clenched. Yeah, I was definitely about to throw up.
“Well,” Oberon started, clapping a heavy hand on my shoulder, “you better take damn good care of my daughter for the next two weeks.”
I blinked.
Wait. What?
“She’s coming with me?” I asked, barely able to believe the words coming out of my mouth. My legs felt like they might give out, and I collapsed into the nearest chair, exhaling in pure relief.
Oberon chuckled. “She’s upstairs packing now. She’ll be down in a minute,” he confirmed. Then his tone softened. “Be patient with her, Liam. She’s been through a lot. It’s not easy for her to let her guard down.”
“I swear to the Goddess, I’ll do whatever it takes,” I vowed. “Whatever she needs. However long she needs. I’ll be patient forever if that’s what it takes to make her happy.”
Oberon studied me for a moment before his expression turned serious. “And what about your brother? Does that go for him too?”
My gut twisted. He knew about Logan’s reputation. He was my father’s best friend-of course, he’d heard the stories. And honestly? I couldn’t blame him for being concerned. Hell, I was concerned too.
“If she’s Logan’s mate too-which we don’t even know for sure yet-but if she is, he’d die for her just like I would,” I said with confidence I didn’t entirely feel.
Oberon held my gaze, considering my words. Then, he sighed. “Tell her, son. Either way, she deserves to know it’s a possibility.”
I swallowed hard. “I will,” I promised. “I just need to find the right time. Logan won’t even be home until tomorrow night. I’ll tell her before then. You have my word.”
Oberon didn’t look entirely convinced, but he let it drop.
We sat together in silence, waiting for Lia to finish packing. My thoughts were racing. I was finally taking my mate home. I couldn’t wait to show her all the things I loved about my pack, my world. And even though she didn’t realize it yet-I was sure she would love it too.
Then, her scent hit me.
Honey and wildflowers.
It filled my lungs, wrapping around me like the warmest embrace. I stood immediately as she entered the room, dragging a suitcase behind her.
The moment our eyes met, it was like the rest of the world faded away.
She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. Those stunning blue irises stayed locked onto mine, searching for something deep in my soul.
Even though we weren’t marked yet, I could feel her emotions through our bond. Anxiety, uncertainty. But I hoped-prayed-that she could feel my joy, my excitement, and that it might bring her even a fraction of the comfort I wanted to give her.
I stepped forward, reaching for her suitcase. “I’ll go load this in the car. Give you and your dad a few minutes,” I said.
She hesitated, then nodded, letting go of the handle. But the moment she broke eye contact, I felt it-an ache, like something had been torn away.
What was this woman doing to me?
“She’s our mate,” Ghost answered smugly. “Our world revolves around her now, so get used to it.”
I sighed. “Yeah, yeah, I can definitely get used to that.”
As I carried her suitcase outside, Ghost kept rambling in my head about how we should cherish and protect our mate. I finally had to threaten him to shut up, warning that if he didn’t let me focus, Lia might reject us-and it would be his fault.
That got him quiet real fast.
By the time I came back, Lia was standing near the door, her coat on, ready to go.
This was really happening.
I stood aside while Oberon hugged her tight, whispering something to her that made her nod, then kissed her forehead. Finally, she turned to me, her expression unreadable.
I walked her out to the truck, opening the passenger door. My truck was lifted, and she was tiny, so I didn’t hesitate to reach for her waist, lifting her effortlessly into the seat.
I was definitely not upset about that.
For half a second, I thought she might change her mind and make a break for it. So, just to be safe, I ran around to the driver’s side at full wolf speed and jumped in.
I threw it in reverse-probably a little too fast.
The truck jerked backward, and Lia gasped, bracing her hands against the dash.
“Whoa! Wolves can die in car accidents, you know!” she snapped.
I winced. Great start, Liam.
“Shit, I’m sorry! I just-I guess I’m a little excited. And a little nervous,” I admitted sheepishly.
She glanced over at me, her expression softening. “It’s okay.”
I let out a slow breath. “Thank you,” I said quietly. “For coming with me, I mean. It means more than you know.”
She stared at me for a long moment before answering. “Liam… I can’t promise you anything. You understand that, right?”
The plea in her voice made my chest ache.
“I know,” I murmured.
Her fingers twisted in her lap. “Did my dad tell you?” she asked suddenly.
I hesitated. I knew what she meant. Her past. Her pain.
“Yeah,” I admitted. “A little. About your mom. And Alpha Blackwell.”
She turned away, looking out the window. Embarrassed.
That was the last thing I wanted.
I reached over, hesitating only a moment before threading my fingers through hers. She didn’t pull away. That had to be a good sign. I squeezed her hand, hoping the touch reassured her.
“I don’t mean to bring it up to hurt you,” I said. “I just want you to know-I understand. And I swear, I won’t pressure you. All I ask is that you take your time. Get to know me. Give this a chance.”
“…Us?” she asked, scrunching her nose in confusion.
Damn.
I’d slipped up.
“Uh-yeah,” I recovered quickly. “Me and Ghost. You know, my wolf and me.”
Ghost was not happy about that answer.
But she just nodded. “Oh.”
We fell into silence, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Lia struck me as someone who needed time to process things-someone who thought things through before speaking.
That made me happy. Because it meant she understood me too.