With shaky steps, I left the pack house and made my way to my apartment, the weight of my decision heavy on my chest. The cold night air stung my tear-streaked face as I crossed the distance between the buildings, but it did nothing to numb the pain in my heart. Upon entering my apartment, I saw Gen and Frankie sitting together in the living area, chatting animatedly. Hearing the door open, they both turned to greet me, their smiles quickly fading when they saw my distraught state.
"Erica?" Gen asked, concern etched on her face.
"Are you okay?" Frankie added, her rebellious exterior cracking slightly as she looked at me with worry. I ignored their questions, unable to form words with the lump in my throat.
Instead, I rushed past them and slammed the door to my room shut, immediately collapsing against it as uncontrollable sobs racked my body. In that moment, all the pent-up emotions I had been holding back came pouring out, leaving me feeling raw and vulnerable. As I cried, my thoughts raced with uncertainty and guilt, wondering if I was making the right choice by distancing myself from Liam. The gentle sound of my own breathing eventually lulled me into a fitful sleep, still slumped against the door.
A soft knock stirred me from my uneasy dreams. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, I slowly opened the door, revealing Gen standing there with a piece of paper in her hand. Her expression held a mix of understanding and sadness, and without saying a word, she pulled me into a comforting hug.
"Here," she whispered, handing me the paper before stepping back and leaving me alone once again. I closed the door behind her and sat down on the edge of my bed, unfolding the paper with trembling hands. Inside, I recognised Liam's familiar handwriting, each word written with care and love.
"Erica,
I don’t know what happened, but I will do my best to respect your space, for now. But know that I have vowed to protect you, and I take that vow seriously. I also know that I said I would respect your decision about us either way, but I don’t want that. I have never wanted that, not since the first moment I saw you. I want you, all of you. I want you to be mine and me to be yours.
Again, I will respect your request to stay away, for now, but I mean what I said tonight, I will protect you with everything I have. I will try to find out more information to help you figure this out so you can come home to me.
Sweet dreams, baby,
Liam x."
Chapter 39
Liam
Theweightofthenote in my hand felt like a heavy stone as I handed it to Gen. She forced a smile onto her face as she turned to go to Erica’s room, leaving me with an unmistakable feeling of dread. My heart pounded in my chest as I sat in the living room, trying to make sense of the situation.
"Maybe I shouldn't have given it to her," I muttered under my breath, casting a sidelong glance at Frankie. She was sprawled on the nearby couch, arms crossed over her chest, staring into space. Her black dyed hair with purple tips framed her rebellious face, and her tattoos seemed to tell their own story.
"Perhaps," she replied absently, lost in thoughts I couldn't read.
The door creaked open, and Gen emerged from Erica's room. As soon as I saw her tear-streaked face, my heart sank.
"She okay?" I asked, though I already knew the answer. Gen shook her head, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
"She's hurting, Liam...badly. And so are you. I can see it." I let out a long sigh, my fingers drumming against my thigh. Guilt gnawed at me, consuming me like wildfire. This whole mess started because of me, and here I was, unable to fix it.
"Listen," I began, steeling myself for what I was about to say. "I need both of you to look after Erica while I'm gone."
"Where are you going?" Frankie asked, sitting up straighter.
"North, with my father," I replied, avoiding meeting their eyes. "But I'll be back. I promise."
Despite the uncertainty swirling inside me, I wanted them to believe that I would return and make things right again.
"Erica needs her friends more than anything right now, and I trust you two to be there for her."
"Of course, Liam," Gen said softly. "You know we would do anything for her."
"Good," I murmured, a faint smile touching my lips. "I haven't given up on our love, not yet." As the words left my mouth, I felt the familiar knot of determination tighten in my chest. Erica was everything to me, and I would fight through hell and back to protect her.
"Take care of yourself too," Frankie chimed in, her voice solemn but supportive. "We'll be here when you get back."
"Thank you," I whispered as I stood up, feeling the weight of their expectations resting on my shoulders. With one last glance at Erica's closed door, I stepped out into the night..
The cool night air wrapped around me like a shroud as I walked back to the pack house, my thoughts a whirlwind of emotions and memories. The moon cast eerie shadows across the ground, reflecting my tumultuous state of mind. I clenched my fists, trying to contain the anger and pain building inside me. Upon reaching the pack house, I hesitated for a moment, taking a deep breath before entering. The scent of pine and earth filled my nostrils, grounding me momentarily. I made my way to my father's office, where I knew he'd be discussing the upcoming trip with my mother and Beta Gregg. It was time to face them and announce my decision.
"Father," I said, stepping into the dimly lit room. The soft glow from the fireplace cast flickering shadows across their faces, highlighting their concern.
