Liam’s POV
This was what had been missing, what I had been searching for to fill the empty void inside me. Lia was my angel-my saving grace. Just being near her made me feel whole in a way I hadn’t even realized I was craving. The entire day had been perfect, just the three of us spending time together, lost in the moment.
Every time I glanced at Logan, I caught the same massive grin on his face that I had been wearing all day. He looked lighter, freer-more at ease than I had seen him in a long time. As much as he played into the role of the carefree flirt, I had always known it was just an act. It felt good seeing him genuinely happy.
Driving up into the mountains had been the right call. The wonder in Lia’s eyes alone made the trip worthwhile. She had confessed that she had never played in the snow as a child, and Logan and I had taken that as an invitation to teach her the art of a proper snowball fight. Unfortunately for us, she learned fast. Before we could react, she was pelting us both in the face, her aim unnervingly accurate.
“You are in so much trouble now, baby girl!” Logan warned, his tone playful yet laced with mock menace.
“You have to catch me first!” Lia shot back, dashing behind a massive boulder, her arms loaded with ammunition.
What followed could only be described as an all-out war. Lia was relentless, her precision unnerving, her laughter ringing through the crisp mountain air as she nailed us over and over again. We chased each other for nearly an hour, her joyous shrieks and uncontrollable giggles filling the space between us, tears of mirth streaming down her face.
Finally, I managed to close the distance, ducking under her arm and tackling her into the soft snow. She landed beneath me, breathless, her laughter still bubbling up as she realized she had lost. Then, as her giggles subsided, she pouted up at me, her bottom lip pushing out in a way that was both endearing and utterly irresistible.
In that moment, staring down at her, feeling the warmth of her body beneath mine, I lost the battle against my instincts. My lips were on hers before I even realized what I was doing. Soft, inviting-electric. The rush of sparks where we connected was exhilarating, awakening something deep inside me. Before I could deepen the kiss, Ghost, my wolf, purred in approval, pulling me back to reality. I tore myself away, standing quickly and offering her a hand.
I stole a glance at Logan, catching the knowing smirk he shot me as he shook his head.
“Way to waste an opportunity, bro! You had her underneath you, kissing her, and you stopped after two seconds?” he teased through our link. “She wasn’t exactly pushing you away, in case you didn’t notice.”
Damn. He was right. Maybe-maybe she had wanted me to keep going.
“Whatever, Logan. That’s still closer than you’ve gotten,” I shot back, my voice laced with amusement.
That wiped the smirk off his face.
“Not for long, little brother,” he growled in return.
By the time our snowball war ended, the sun had started to dip below the horizon, and our clothes were thoroughly soaked. Deciding to call it a day, we made our way back to the pack house to clean up before dinner. We had planned to take Lia to see the lake on the outskirts of town-a favorite gathering spot on the weekends-but that would have to wait for another time.
Logan took the wheel, while I sat in the back with my angel. Every part of me itched to pull her into my lap, but I held back, not wanting to push my luck. Instead, I settled for lacing our fingers together, tracing gentle patterns on the back of her hand with my thumb. The small gesture was enough to keep the bond between us humming with warmth, a silent reminder of what we were becoming.
Lia seemed content, her fingers curling around mine as she relaxed into her seat, peppering us with questions about our childhood and life in the pack. She was genuinely curious, listening intently, and it made my heart swell.
When we reached the pack house, we walked her to her room, agreeing to meet back there in an hour for dinner. It would be her first time eating in the dining hall with the rest of the pack. The moment we mentioned that most of our packmates would be present, I caught the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes, but she nodded nonetheless.
Logan and I had already discussed how to introduce her-just a visiting family friend. It was close enough to the truth, and we knew she wasn’t ready for the weight of being publicly acknowledged as our future Luna. She hadn’t even fully accepted our bond yet. Logan wasn’t thrilled about keeping it quiet, eager to shout to the world that she was ours, but we both knew we had to be patient.
An hour later, Logan and I met outside Lia’s door, anticipation thrumming between us. I raised my hand to knock, but before I could, the door swung open.
And then-I forgot how to breathe.
She stood before us, her curls tamed into soft waves cascading down her back. She wasn’t wearing much makeup, but what little she had on made her deep blue eyes even more striking, her long lashes casting delicate shadows against her cheeks as she glanced downward, suddenly shy under our scrutiny.
Her lips-shiny and soft-made my chest tighten with the urge to claim them again.
And that dress.
The navy blue fabric hugged her body in a way that made my thoughts turn dangerous. A scoop neckline framed her delicate collarbone and ample cleavage, while the fitted waist accentuated every curve. The skirt clung to her hips, stopping just above her knees, the small slit at the side revealing toned legs. Silver heels completed the look, emphasizing the graceful curve of her calves.
All I could think about was how badly I wanted to strip her of everything except those heels and lose myself in her.
Ghost let out a low, appreciative growl in my head, clearly enjoying the same fantasy.
“Fuck, baby girl! You look so damn sexy!” Logan blurted, snapping me out of my trance.
Lia’s blush only deepened, making her even more irresistible.
“You really do look amazing, Angel,” I murmured, my voice quieter but no less sincere.
She met my gaze with a radiant smile, and for a moment, I swore my heart might beat right out of my chest.
Get it together, Liam.
“Are you ready?” I asked, offering my arm.
She nodded, stepping forward to take it, while Logan moved to her other side, tucking her arm through his.
Together, we made our way toward the dining hall-toward the future that, whether she realized it or not, was already set in motion.