Liam’s POV
I stood before the bathroom mirror, barely recognizing my own reflection. The restless night had taken its toll-my eyes were bloodshot, dark circles clinging beneath them like shadows of exhaustion. Ghost had been relentless, pacing and growling in my mind, making sleep impossible. And now, I was paying for it. My normally tousled waves were a tangled mess, sticking out in every direction from tossing and turning. If Lia didn’t let us back in her bed, I wasn’t sure I’d ever get a decent night’s sleep again. Just the thought of it was exhausting.
Shoving that unsettling notion aside, I splashed cold water on my face before tackling the knots in my hair with my fingers. Once presentable, I threw on a pair of gray sweatpants and a white T-shirt, then headed out. Logan and I had agreed to check in on Lia together this morning, hoping to convince her to come to the lake with us and our friends.
Anxious to see her, I wondered how she’d react after last night. Part of me hoped the space we gave her had shown her that we respected her boundaries. The other part of me-along with my wolf-prayed she had missed us as much as we missed her. Ghost was especially impatient, practically vibrating with the need to be near her, pushing me to move faster down the hall.
As I reached Lia’s door, Logan stepped out of his own room. He was moving so quickly he nearly barreled straight into me. I threw out a hand to steady him, catching his shoulders before he could take us both down.
“Shit, sorry, man,” he muttered. “Fang’s been on my ass all morning. He blames me for not sleeping next to Lia last night and doesn’t trust me not to screw things up again. I was distracted trying to keep him in check.”
I took a closer look at him and saw the same telltale signs of sleep deprivation-red eyes, dark circles, the exhausted slump of his shoulders.
“Ghost has been just as bad,” I admitted. “You look like hell.”
“Yeah, well, sometimes having a wolf is a pain in the ass.” Logan let out a frustrated grunt. Ghost grumbled in agreement, muttering something about how having a human wasn’t much better.
“Hopefully, Lia will come with us today and put them both out of their misery.” I turned and knocked on the door.
“Just a minute!” came her sleepy voice.
Soft rustling followed, then slow, dragging footsteps. My heart clenched-she had still been in bed. When the door finally swung open, she stood before us with heavy-lidded eyes, her expression groggy. Her golden curls were a knotted mess, and she was wearing my T-shirt-the same one I had given her when she was sick. It hung loosely over her frame, falling to mid-thigh. The sight of her in my clothes made something primal stir inside me, and Ghost nearly lost his mind.
“Good morning, Kitty,” I teased, unable to stop the grin tugging at my lips.
Her response was a grumbled, “What’s good about it?”
Logan and I snorted in unison.
“Somebody’s not a morning person,” Logan observed.
“Maybe that’s because somebody’s wolf wouldn’t shut up all night long!” she snapped, her voice rising as she shot a pointed glare in our direction.
I bit back a smirk. So, she had missed us too.
“Okay, cranky pants,” Logan said, nudging her toward the bathroom. “Go take a shower, wake up, and get ready for breakfast. We’ve got plans for you today, and they require you to be fully conscious.”
She growled at him but didn’t argue, shuffling into the bathroom and shutting the door with a decisive click of the lock.
“Fuck,” Logan groaned, running a hand through his hair. “That woman is going to be the death of me. Does she ever not look good enough to eat?”
I let out a low chuckle. “I thought Lia dressed up for the club last night was sexy, but Lia half-asleep in my T-shirt? That’s a whole other level.” My lips curled in satisfaction. “She must’ve needed my scent to help her sleep.”
Logan scowled. “She’s wearing my T-shirt tonight.”
I raised a brow. “That’s optimistic, considering she hasn’t even agreed to spend the day with us yet, let alone let us sleep next to her.”
His shoulders sagged. The usual cocky spark in his eyes dimmed. “I know. Every time I open my mouth, I seem to screw things up with her. I just… I don’t want to push her away again.”
I clapped a hand on his shoulder. “We’re not doing this again. Relationships have ups and downs-it’s part of growing, becoming better for each other. And we can be better for her. We just have to show her how much we want to.” I nodded toward the bathroom. “Starting today.”
“What’s today?” Lia’s soft voice came from across the room.
Logan stiffened. We had been so wrapped up in our conversation that neither of us had heard the bathroom door open. His eyes darkened as he took her in, his entire demeanor shifting from serious to something else entirely.
He smacked my shoulder. “Damn, turn around and look at her.”
I did-and immediately felt my resolve snap.
Lia stood there, fresh from the shower, her damp curls cascading over her shoulders, tiny water droplets clinging to her flushed skin. She wore nothing but a towel wrapped snugly around her, leaving far too little to the imagination.
Ghost let out a low growl of appreciation.
And just like that, the day had suddenly gotten a whole lot more interesting.
There she stood, one hand resting on her hip, an expectant look on her face as she waited for an answer. I tried to speak, but my throat had gone bone dry. My angel was standing before me, wrapped in nothing but a towel, barely clutching it closed with one hand. The fabric hung precariously across her chest, dipping dangerously low. Droplets of water slid down her arms and collarbone, teasing me, taunting me. Every ounce of my self-control was being tested-not to step forward, not to close the distance and run my tongue along each and every one of those droplets.
Ghost stirred within me, his presence a burning heat in my mind. He was watching her, too, his hunger mirroring my own. Through the images he pushed forward, I knew-he wanted to taste our mate just as badly as I did.
“Uh… um… why don’t you, uh, get dressed, and we’ll, um, tell you on the way to breakfast,” Logan blurted out, his voice thick with the same tension constricting my throat.
Lia eyed us both, her suspicion evident, but she didn’t press. Instead, she turned and disappeared into her closet. Less than a minute later, she reemerged wearing black leggings that hugged her curves and a cropped T-shirt that revealed just a sliver of toned stomach. Without sparing us a glance, she moved past us and back into the bathroom-this time leaving the door open.
Logan let out a low groan. “When I said ‘get dressed,’ I meant put on something that covers more than the towel did.”
I grunted in agreement, still struggling to regain full brain function.
Moments later, Lia returned, her golden curls now piled into a messy bun, stray tendrils framing her face in soft waves. Effortless. Stunning. Breathtaking. She stole the air from my lungs without even trying.
“Okay, boys, spill it!” she demanded, slipping between us and looping an arm through each of ours. With a playful tug, she pulled us toward the door. “What’s this grand plan for the day that you’ve yet to share with me?”
As we walked arm in arm toward the dining hall, we explained our idea-spending the day at the lake with friends, enjoying the fresh air, the sparkling water, and the easy camaraderie of the pack. It was one of our favorite ways to unwind, especially when the weather cooperated.
Lia’s face lit up with a dazzling smile, and just like that, my wolf and I were completely done for. Seeing her excitement made the anticipation burn even hotter inside me. I couldn’t wait to share another part of our world with her.
By the time we reached the dining hall, our usual group was already gathered at our table. We were running a little late, having waited for Lia to shower and get ready, but no one seemed to mind. As we ate, the conversation turned to logistics-who was bringing what food, what supplies we still needed, and, of course, the inevitable speculation about who might show up and who they’d be arriving with.
The moment Amara mentioned Rowena’s name, Lia stiffened. It was subtle, but I noticed the slight paling of her face before she quickly schooled her expression. Was it Rowena’s obvious pursuit of Logan that unsettled her? Or was it just the unnecessary drama that always seemed to follow that woman like a storm cloud? Either way, I hoped she kept her distance today-for everyone’s sake. I’d be keeping an eye on that situation, just in case.
Excusing myself, I went in search of Naia to ask if she could have one of her staff prepare a picnic spread for us. She readily agreed, promising to have it packed and ready before we headed out.
By the time I returned, the group was beginning to scatter, everyone going their separate ways to change and gather their things. Logan and I walked Lia back to her room, promising to pick her up in an hour before heading to our own rooms to get ready.
An hour later, we stood outside Lia’s door, waiting. When she finally opened it, my brain momentarily short-circuited.
She was wearing a pair of cut-off jean shorts and a white T-shirt, the thin black strings of her swimsuit peeking out from beneath the neckline. She looked effortlessly sexy, and I forgot how to breathe for the second time that morning.
“Are you sure I don’t need to bring anything else?” she asked, holding up a tube of sunscreen. At my questioning look, she shrugged. “I burn easily-pale skin and all. I know it’ll heal fast, but I’d rather avoid it altogether if I can.”
“Here, throw it in the bag,” Logan offered, holding open the beach bag we had packed. “We’ve got everything else you might need. Ready?”
Lia grinned. “Yeah, let’s do this!” she squealed excitedly.
We made our way outside to my truck. Logan, ever the opportunist, opened the passenger door for her, lifting her up before she could use the nerf bar to climb in on her own. She let out a small yelp of surprise when he followed her inside, pulling her onto his lap instead of taking the open seat.
She didn’t protest.
From the corner of my eye, I could see the smug grin he was trying to fight as he wrapped an arm around her waist, his other hand playing absently with a curl that had slipped free from her bun.
Lucky bastard.
He was driving home.