"Deep breaths," Declan instructed, his voice a lifeline in the storm of memories that threatened to drag me under. I tried to follow his guidance, but it felt like I was sinking deeper and deeper into the darkness that surrounded me. "Please," I whispered through ragged breaths, the world darkening around me, praying for an end to the torment.
Chapter 30
Liam
AsIsteppedontothe dew-drenched training grounds, the sun was just beginning to rise, casting a soft golden glow over the earth. My muscles ached from lack of sleep, but I pushed through it, focusing on the task at hand. Jacob, my future Gamma, stood across from me, his eyes locked on mine as we prepared to spar.
"Ready?" he asked, his voice steady and determined.
"Always," I replied, forcing a smile despite the storm raging inside me. We began our dance of power and agility, each strike carefully calculated and met with a parry or dodge.
But my mind kept drifting back to last night when I had burst into Erica's apartment, only to find her there with Grant. The anger still simmered within me, even though I knew deep down that she hadn't done anything wrong. In between thrusts and dodges, I couldn't help but recall how the situation had escalated, turning sexual and primal. How I had held Erica against the wall, showing her who her Alpha was and to whom she belonged. Her body writhed in pleasure, and she reached her peak without me even touching her intimately. A small flicker of guilt gnawed at me for being so rough with her, but satisfaction swelled in my chest knowing I was slowly wearing down her walls.
"Focus, Liam!" Jacob barked, snapping me out of my thoughts as his fist narrowly missed my jaw.
"Sorry," I grunted, ducking under another swing and countering with a swift kick.
"Your head's not in this, is it?" Jacob observed, eyebrows furrowed in concern.
"Let's just keep going," I muttered, avoiding his gaze and throwing myself back into the fight.
With each blow exchanged, I struggled to keep my emotions at bay, feeling both protective and guilty over Erica. Our bond was growing stronger, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was treading on dangerous ground.
"Enough," Jacob said firmly, stepping back and lowering his fists. "What's going on, Liam? You're too distracted."
"Nothing," I lied through gritted teeth, my chest heaving with exertion.
"Let's just do one more round."
"Fine," Jacob agreed, though his eyes still held suspicion. As we continued to spar, I tried to focus solely on the fight, but my mind refused to cooperate. Thoughts of Erica filled every corner of my consciousness, and I couldn't help but wonder if my actions had further damaged our fragile bond. Would she ever trust me enough to see past her fear of Alphas?
"Enough," I finally conceded, panting and wiping the sweat from my brow.
"You're right, I'm not focused." In a blur of motion, my body moved instinctively, and I flipped Jacob onto the ground with a heavy thud. He grunted in surprise, momentarily winded by the impact.
"Damn, Liam!" he exclaimed, staring up at me from the dirt. "What's got into you?" I offered him a hand and pulled him to his feet, brushing off his clothes in an attempt to regain some semblance of composure.
"Sorry, man," I muttered. "I'm just... distracted." Jacob laughed, rubbing his sore back.
"Let me guess, is this distraction a certain hot redhead?" My face grew warm, and I quickly looked away.
"Ah," Jacob nodded in understanding.
"Is she...?"
"Complicated," I finished for him, unable to find any other word to describe the tumultuous emotions she stirred within me.
"It's not just that," I said defensively, clenching my fists. "I'm not happy with Grayson. If Erica was hurt, he should've called me, not sent her home with some mutt of a warrior."
"Grant?" Jacob asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Exactly," I confirmed, anger bubbling beneath the surface. "But don't worry. He won't be a problem anymore. I spoke to my father last night, and we arranged for Grant to go away on a mission. I don't trust him near Erica." The mention of my father reminded me of the burdens that came with being the Alpha heir, and the weight of those responsibilities settled heavily on my shoulders. I glanced around the training grounds, the familiar sight doing little to ease the turmoil within me.
"Good call," Jacob replied, nodding in agreement. "We can't afford any distractions right now, especially with everything going on."
"Right," I agreed, though I couldn't help but wonder if removing Grant from the equation would truly make things any easier.
My thoughts drifted back to the previous night, the memory of our heated encounter still fresh in my mind. I could still feel the heat of Erica's skin beneath my touch, the way her body responded to my dominance. A mixture of guilt and satisfaction warred within me.
