"Never!" she interjected, her voice rising in pitch. “And stop calling me BABY.” The last was in a ragged scream "You're just another Alpha who thinks he can control me, but you'll never break me. You hear me? Never!" As her words continued to rain down on me like a torrent of daggers, I knew that no matter how much I tried to convince her, she would never believe me. And in that moment, it felt like the world had finally tipped off its axis, sending me spiralling into the darkness.
In a flurry of desperation, I managed to slip past Erica and slammed the door shut just before she could reach me. The sound of her body colliding with the solid wood reverberated through the hallway, followed by the relentless banging on the door as she screamed and shouted from inside the room.
"Let me out, you bastard!" she yelled, her voice cracking under the strain of her anger and fear. "You'll pay for this, Liam! I swear!" I stood there, my back pressed against the door, trying to catch my breath as I listened to her cries.
A twisted sense of satisfaction welled up within me, at least I'd managed to contain her, for now. My heart raced as I struggled with the responsibility I felt towards my pack and the love that burned for this fierce woman who fought me at every turn.
"Baby, please," I whispered, knowing she couldn't hear me over her own screams. "I'm doing this for your own good." But deep down, a gnawing uncertainty began to take root. Was I truly doing what was best for her, or was I becoming just another Alpha who sought to exert control over someone weaker? Was I only this desperate because I have a curse to break.
As I turned away from the door, still grappling with my conflicting emotions, I found myself face-to-face with my father, our Alpha, standing at the end of the hallway with a glare that could have frozen hell over. His eyes bore into me, full of fury and disappointment, and it became painfully clear that he was not happy with the scene that had just unfolded. "I think we need to talk?" he growled, his voice dripping with contempt.
With a heavy heart, I nodded in acquiescence, unable to meet his gaze. As I walked away from the locked door that separated me from the woman I loved, the sound of her sobbing cries echoing through the hall, I couldn't help but fear that I had lost her trust forever.
Chapter 13
Liam
Theofficeseemedtoclose in on me as my father's voice boomed, his dark eyes fixed on me with an intensity that matched the storm brewing outside.
"What were you thinking, Liam?" my father shouted, throwing his hands up in disbelief. "Kidnapping her, and from a funeral? You've gone too far this time!" I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks, anger and frustration intertwining like the roots of an ancient tree. My fists clenched at my sides as I tried to defend myself.
"I went to see her," I said, my words coming out sharp and desperate. "She was packing her clothes, Dad. She was going to leave before I even had a chance to show her I'm a good man, her fated mate." My heart ached as I recalled the fear and distrust in Erica's green eyes when I approached her earlier. The scent of her light red hair still lingered, taunting me, reminding me of what I might lose. She was strong-willed and cautious, traits that both drew me to her and made it difficult for her to trust someone like me.
"Erica wouldn't listen to reason," I continued, my voice cracking under the weight of my emotions. "I couldn't just let her go, not without trying everything I could to make her see that we belong together."
My father's expression softened for a moment, but his eyes remained dark and stormy. He knew the importance of finding our fated mates, especially for me, but he was also acutely aware of the responsibility that came with being an Alpha. His grey-streaked hair seemed to carry the weight of every decision he'd ever made for our pack, and I knew he wanted better for me.
"Kidnapping her isn't the way to prove your worth, Liam," he said, his voice low and heavy with disappointment. "You need to earn her trust, show her that you can protect and care for her. This... this is only pushing her further away." The truth of his words stung like a slap to the face. I knew my actions were reckless, the result of an impulsive anger born from a lifetime of feeling trapped by the curse that plagued our pack.
But it was more than that, it was my fear of losing Erica before I even had a chance to know her, to love her.
"I know," I whispered, my voice breaking as I fought back tears. "I just... I didn't know what else to do. I felt so powerless, Dad. And now I've only made things worse."
“Well, that’s an understatement,” my father snapped. I clenched my fists, trying to control the anger boiling inside me as my father continued to berate me. My heart pounded in my chest, and I could feel the muscles in my jaw twitching with every word he spoke.
"Kidnapping Erica and hurting her is hardly a way to show that you can keep her safe!" he scoffed, his dark eyes filled with disappointment. "You're being irrational and irresponsible. This is not how the future Alpha of our pack should behave!" My blood roared in my ears as I struggled to maintain control over the beast within. The wolf inside me snarled at the injustice of it all. He just didn't understand what was at stake. I couldn't let Erica slip through my fingers.
"Erica is my fated mate!" I shouted, my voice cracking with emotion. "She was going to leave, Dad! It wasn't just me who would lose out, without my mate, I'd never be able to break the curse!" I stared at him, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath.
The air in the room felt thick and oppressive, suffocating me as I waited for his response. The scent of my own fear mingled with my father's disappointment, creating an unbearable atmosphere that made it difficult to think. My father's gaze bore into mine, searching for any signs of weakness or doubt. I could see the pain behind his eyes, the worry that consumed him for our pack and our future.
But there was something else there too, a flicker of understanding that gave me hope.
"Even if she is your fated mate, Liam," he said slowly, his voice softening slightly, "you cannot force her to love you. You cannot make her accept you by kidnapping her and causing her pain." His words cut deep, like a knife slicing through my already battered heart. I knew he was right, but the thought of losing Erica was unbearable. The weight of my actions and their consequences pressed down on me, making it difficult to breathe. How could I fix this? How could I make her see that I wasn't just a monster, but a man who wanted nothing more than to love and protect her? I swallowed hard, forcing down the lump that had risen in my throat.
"What am I supposed to do, Dad?" I asked, my voice barely audible.
"Show her who you truly are," he replied, his tone firm but not unkind. "Prove to her that you can be the Alpha our pack needs, and the man she deserves." He laid a hand on my shoulder, squeezing gently in a gesture of support.
"But most importantly, Liam," he added, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that left no room for doubt, "give her a choice."
My father's words echoed in my head as I stared into the darkness of my soul, searching for the strength to do what was right. I didn't know if I could let Erica go, but I couldn't keep her prisoner either. It was time to face the consequences of my actions, and fight for the woman I loved.
The lingering disappointment in my father's eyes cut like a blade, sharper than any weapon. Before I could try to explain further, the door to the office burst open and Damon strode in, followed closely by Gregg. Their faces were etched with concern and fury.
"Alpha, what the hell is going on?" Damon demanded, his dark eyes blazing. "I heard Liam took Erica from her home." My father's gaze never left mine.
"Yes, he did," he confirmed, the disappointment clear in his voice. I clenched my fists at my sides, my nails digging into my palms as I fought to keep my own rage in check.
