Liam’s POV
The second the front door creaked open and her intoxicating scent drifted into the room, I was on my feet like a man possessed. Angel. My Angel. Just knowing she was near had my heart racing. After what Alpha Blackwell had said to her-aside from the violent urge to rip the bastard apart-I’d been desperate to hold her, to remind her that she belonged with us, not him.
She tried to play it off. When she turned to us after his brutal insult, her expression was carefully composed, unreadable. But I saw it. The pain flickering behind those stunning blue eyes, sharp enough to tear through me.
My instincts screamed to reach for her, to pull her into my arms and protect her from everything and everyone-but logic made me hesitate. She was fighting to stay composed, to hold onto her pride. I needed to let her walk out of there with her dignity intact. Still, the moment she crossed the threshold again, I vowed to remind her-she never had to pretend around us. With us, she could be soft. She could be angry. She could fall apart. And we’d never see it as weakness.
“I missed you so much, Angel,” I growled with playful exaggeration, lunging at her just as Logan did. We sandwiched her in a hug, and her melodic giggle hit me like a damn drug. That sound? That was everything.
Logan buried his face in her hair like a starving man finally allowed a taste.
“I’ve been gone for an hour,” she said with a dramatic eye roll, stepping away-only for Logan to gently pull her back, not ready to let go.
He cupped her face, lifting her chin with reverence.
“Are you okay, baby girl?” he asked, voice soft, tender.
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” she answered with forced calm. But her eyes betrayed her-just for a heartbeat, a flash of raw emotion she couldn’t hide.
“No,” Logan snapped, louder than intended. His jaw clenched. “Don’t do that with us. Don’t fake it. I see the pain, even if you’re unmarked. I feel it, Lia. We both do. You can’t hide that from us. And you don’t have to.”
“Talk to us, Angel,” I added gently, stepping closer. “Let us in… please.”
She took a long breath, like she was trying to exhale all the weight pressing on her chest. Then, quietly, Logan asked the question we’d both been avoiding.
“Do you still love him?”
Her head jerked back, her eyes wide. “What? No!” she said, the shock in her voice genuine. “Not like that. Not romantically. It’s just… complicated.”
“How?” Logan asked, though I could already see the relief in his shoulders.
I needed answers too. I needed to understand what she carried in that complicated heart of hers.
“I know you heard what he said,” she said softly. Then she glanced up, almost sheepishly. “Maybe I overreacted.”
Logan and I both opened our mouths to argue, but she held up a hand to stop us.
“I was furious. Not because I care what he thinks-I don’t. He lost the right to have an opinion the second he found his mate and erased four years of us like they meant nothing. That’s what hurt. He acted like the bond we had was disposable… so who is he to judge the bond I have now? Who is he to question the Goddess’s will? Why should my fated bond be any less sacred than his?”
Her voice trembled with restrained fury. Tiny fists balled at her sides, her cheeks flushed-and gods, she had never looked more divine.
“So… you think our bond is special?” Logan teased, that stupid half-smile tugging at his lips.
“I think Alpha Blackwell had no right to belittle me for considering it,” she said, dodging the question. But the ghost of a smile threatened her lips-and we both saw it.
I let the teasing drop, my tone sobering. “You know, our situation might be rare, but our parents prepared the pack for it long ago. When we announce you as our Luna, no one will question it.”
“I believe you, Liam,” she said with a shrug. “But honestly? That’s not what matters to me.” Her voice was steady, firm. “Yes, I was shocked at first. But I never cared what anyone else would think. My wolf knew-immediately. You both belong to me, just as I belong to you. I feel the pull toward each of you, equal and unshakable. I have baggage around the mate bond, sure. But one thing I’m certain of… I could never choose one of you over the other. Anyone who has a problem with that can fuck off.”
Logan crashed his lips to hers in a searing kiss that left my blood boiling. I wrapped my arms around her from behind, pulling her against me, pressing my lips to her marking spot while I waited-barely patient-for my turn.
The second Logan pulled back, I gave her half a breath before claiming her mouth for myself. Every kiss, every touch was more than affection-it was affirmation. She didn’t know what her words had done to us. We had always agreed to share her, but deep down, we’d both longed to hear her say she chose us-both of us.
We kissed her like she was our salvation. Because she was.
So lost in her taste, in the feel of her body pressed between ours, I didn’t hear the footsteps behind me until a throat cleared right behind us.
Lia flinched, pulling away so fast she nearly stumbled. Her face was scarlet.
Shit.
We’d just been making out with his daughter-right in front of her father.
Even Logan had the decency to look like he regretted his choices. I braced myself, ready to be thrown out, maybe dismembered.
But Oberon?
He was grinning like the bastard found it hilarious.
“Lunch is ready,” he announced with a chuckle, already turning toward the dining room.
“Shit, I thought he was going to threaten to rip our dicks off or something. Not invite us to lunch,” Logan linked me, still slightly panicked.
“Yeah, me too,” I linked back, stifling a laugh.
Lia shot us both a look-like a kid who just got caught sneaking cookies. We burst out laughing, linked our arms with hers, and followed Oberon.
We hadn’t known him long-Logan only met him today-but Oberon welcomed us like family. He treated us as equals, allies, even partners in crime when it came to teasing Lia. And though her ears were practically glowing from embarrassment, she played along, taking the jokes in stride just to see him laugh.
Gods, I hoped this bond between us and her father would make it easier for her to accept the one she had with us.
“Well, if you’re all done ganging up on me,” Lia announced with mock irritation, “I’m going to rest before we head to Blood Moon. I trust the three of you can handle dishes?”
We stared at her like three kids caught doing something wrong.
She chuckled, shook her head, and walked off. I watched every sway of her hips as she disappeared upstairs.
“We probably deserved that,” Oberon said with a laugh. “I should’ve learned by now not to tease her so much-but damn, it’s just too easy.”
He stood and clapped us on the backs. “Let’s move, boys. None of us want to find out what she’ll do if those dishes aren’t done.”
Logan and I exchanged glances. Neither of us had probably washed a dish in our lives, but for her? We’d learn today.
Once the kitchen was spotless, we followed Oberon to his study. He poured us each a whiskey as we went over the plan for him to join us at Blood Moon. He’d drive separately, stay with us until we could meet with Elder Keziah, and then return home once we knew the next steps.
I could tell-this house, this place-it still held his mate’s presence. And he wasn’t quite ready to let go of that comfort.