Liam’s POV
As we approached the dining hall, the cheerful hum of conversation grew louder, the pack gathered together in eager anticipation of dinner. I had always cherished this sense of family within our pack. Despite being one of the largest in existence, our members shared deep bonds, always prioritizing community. Nowhere was that more evident than during mealtimes, where laughter and camaraderie filled the air.
However, I noticed the sheer size of the crowd was making Lia uneasy.
Logan must have sensed it at the same time because we instinctively moved closer to her, a silent attempt to reassure her with our presence.
The moment we stepped into the hall, the chatter faded into a hush. Logan and I had never brought a woman to dinner before, and the unspoken curiosity of the pack was palpable. Ignoring the questioning gazes, we guided Lia straight to our table, making it clear that introductions would come on our terms. Understanding our silent message, the pack soon resumed their conversations, trusting we would reveal what they needed to know when we were ready.
Our usual group was already seated, waiting for us. As expected, Nikolai was the first to speak.
“Damn, little Lia, you are one hot mama,” he teased, exaggerating his Southern drawl as he pressed a kiss to her cheek.
A low growl rumbled in unison from both Logan and me, our wolves flashing forward, silver flickering in our eyes.
Nikolai only laughed at our reaction, clearly enjoying himself.
“Relax, Alphas,” he shrugged, his tone unapologetic. “Just speaking the truth.”
Across the table, Bastian cleared his throat, drawing our attention.
“Nikolai’s already had the privilege of meeting this lovely lady, but I haven’t been introduced yet,” he said, his gaze flickering to Lia. “May I?”
Before I could respond, Lia took the lead.
“Hi, I’m Dahlia Sterling, but please, call me Lia. Nikolai obviously does,” she said, flashing a bright smile as she extended her hand toward Bastian.
With a smirk, Bastian took her hand, but instead of shaking it, he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her cheek.
“Pleasure to meet you, Lia. I’m Bastian Ashcroft-Beta to these two idiots and their best friend,” he introduced himself smoothly.
Ghost bristled inside me at the way unmated males were touching our mate, and I knew Logan’s wolf, Fang, wasn’t far behind. Bastian must have sensed it because he shot me a knowing look before playfully winking at Lia.
“You’re playing with fire, brother,” I warned through the mind-link. “Ghost’s patience is wearing thin, and if he’s on edge, you know Fang is ready to rip you apart.”
Bastian chuckled. “I’d like to see him try.”
Turning back to Lia, he continued the introductions.
“This is my sister, Amara,” he said, his pride evident as he gestured to the girl beside him. Bastian and Amara had always been close, and growing up, she had been like a sister to Logan and me as well.
“It’s nice to meet you, Amara,” Lia greeted warmly, offering her hand.
Amara returned the smile, shaking her hand without hesitation.
A brief pause settled over the table as Lia stood expectantly, waiting for the last introduction. When it became obvious that Nikolai wasn’t going to speak up, Bastian reached over and smacked him on the back of the head.
“Ow! What the hell?” Nikolai grumbled, rubbing the spot.
“Where are those famous Southern manners, dumbass? Introduce your sister.”
“Oh! Right.” Nikolai turned to Lia. “This is my baby sister, Thalassa.”
“I am not a baby,” Thalassa huffed, rolling her eyes. “Geez, you’re such a dumbass.” She turned her attention to Lia, her demeanor instantly brightening. “Hi, Lia! Welcome to Blood Moon. How long are you staying?”
“A couple of weeks, I think,” Lia answered. “I’ll need to head home for a day or two next week, but I should be able to come back afterward.”
“You what?” Logan snapped, his voice laced with Fang’s gruff edge.
Shit. I had forgotten to mention to him that Lia would need to check on her patients during her visit. Logan’s wolf was clearly not thrilled about her leaving, even temporarily. The tension in the air thickened as Lia turned to me, looking for reassurance while the table fell silent, all eyes on their interaction.
“Yeah, um, Lia is a midwife in her pack,” I explained quickly. “She just delivered twins a few days ago and needs to check on them. Logan and I will take her and bring her back when she’s done.” I shot Logan a pointed look.
His shoulders relaxed slightly at the mention that we would be accompanying her.
The girls at the table immediately latched onto the mention of newborns, excitement bubbling in their voices as they peppered Lia with questions about her work. She answered each one with patience and enthusiasm, her eyes lighting up as she spoke.
Just like that, the tension dissipated, and the natural flow of conversation resumed.
Lia was incredible throughout the evening, engaging easily with our friends, listening just as much as she shared. Logan and I watched her, admiration in our expressions. She fit in seamlessly, as though she had always been here, and judging by the look on Logan’s face, I knew mine mirrored his.
She was meant to be ours.
And everyone in this room was starting to see it, too.
As we finished our meal, Lia excused herself to find the restroom. Our pack was used to lingering at the table after dinner, so no one made a move to leave while we waited for her return. A few minutes passed before Logan quietly excused himself, leaning in to whisper that he’d be right back.
I was deep in a conversation about allowing Lia to join the warriors for training, so I barely noticed how long they had both been gone. But when Logan finally returned, the barely contained fury on his face immediately caught my attention.
“What’s got you so pissed all of a sudden?” I linked him.
“Lia was taking too long, so I went to check on her,” he bit out, his jaw clenched.
I could tell he was struggling to keep his wolf in check, his rage simmering just beneath the surface. Normally, I’d roll my eyes at his impatience, but something was clearly wrong. I stayed silent, waiting for him to explain.
“I saw Rowena get up and follow Lia toward the restroom not long after she left. I was worried she might say something cruel to her,” he continued. “Turns out, I was right.”
My entire body tensed. “What happened? Is Lia okay? Do I need to go get her? Why isn’t she with you?” The questions tumbled out in a rush, panic creeping in.
“Just before I turned the corner, I heard Rowena telling her not to get comfortable-that we were just using her, that when we were done, we’d toss her aside like we do with every other girl.” Fang snarled in the back of Logan’s mind, his anger bleeding into my own as he continued. “She told Lia she was going to be Luna, that it was only a matter of time before we settled down, and that she could be patient while we had our fun with our sluts.”
Ghost erupted in rage inside me, growling so viciously I had to fight to keep my own fury in check. It took everything in me not to march across the room and tear Rowena apart.
“Fuck! Where is Lia?” I demanded. “She probably doesn’t want to see either of us right now. Should we send Amara or Thalassa to check on her?”
Logan surprised me with his answer. “Actually… I think she’s fine. I was about to rip Rowena’s head off when I heard Lia respond. I looked around the corner just in time to see her place a hand on Rowena’s arm.”
He paused, as if still in awe of what had happened next.
“She told Rowena she was sorry if I had hurt her, that she understood why she was lashing out and didn’t blame her. She said she knew what it felt like to be let down by someone she cared about and that if she ever wanted to talk, she’d be willing to listen.”
My anger wavered, momentarily replaced by sheer admiration.
“She is fucking extraordinary, Liam! How many women would respond that way to an outright attack? She’s going to be a perfect Luna,” Logan murmured, his rage softening into something else entirely.
I exhaled sharply. “So… are they actually talking?” I asked, doubtful.
Logan scoffed. “No. Rowena yanked her arm away and stormed out the back. It took everything in me not to follow and make her regret ever opening her mouth.”
I didn’t blame him. Hell, I didn’t understand how he had managed to hold himself back.
“I didn’t want Lia to know I was eavesdropping or make her feel like I thought she couldn’t handle it,” he admitted. “So, I waited to see if she was upset. She just shook her head and shrugged… so I came back.”
And just then, as if on cue, Lia returned to the table. She smiled at everyone, her expression unreadable as she asked if we wanted to stay and hang out or head back upstairs. Not a single trace of distress showed on her face.
I leaned in slightly. “Everything okay?” I asked quietly.
“Of course! Why wouldn’t it be?” she answered, tilting her head in confusion.
I studied her for a moment before nodding. “Just checking.”
Despite her easygoing demeanor, I could tell she was tired. It had been a long day. We said our goodnights and made our way upstairs. She didn’t mention Rowena, and we didn’t ask. None of us wanted to let that bitter encounter taint an otherwise perfect evening.
Still, as we reached her room, reality hit me like a brick. I had no idea how I was supposed to sleep alone tonight-or ever again-after having her in my arms the past two nights. But I also knew that had only happened out of necessity. Now that she was well, I couldn’t push her too fast.
So, when we reached her door, I placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. “Goodnight, angel,” I murmured.
Logan followed suit, pressing a soft kiss to the other side of her face before we turned to leave. But just as we did, I could’ve sworn I saw something flicker across her expression-something that looked suspiciously like disappointment.
Did she… want us to stay?
I had to be imagining it.
Ghost whined in my head. “Mate wants us to sleep in her room! Blue told me! Go back and ask her! She will say yes!”
“Let it go, Ghost! We can’t push her. You saw what happened last time she got upset with us. Just give her time!” I snapped back at him.
He whimpered, retreating to the back of my mind. But I knew he wasn’t going to let this go. And honestly? Neither was I.
Tonight would be the last night I spent alone. Of that, I was sure.