"Why can't you leave the pack?" Verity inquired curiously. She had vented about her overbearing father and brothers earlier in the evening, and it still amazed me that she was not only the Commander's daughter but also the youngest of six kids. Her combat skills were nothing short of incredible, and she could take down elite recruits twice her size with ease.
"Erica tried to pull off a jailbreak," Kaitlyn interjected with a grin. Verity's eyes widened as Frankie cackled.
"Really? When?" Gen asked, her eyes fixed on me. I winced under their collective gaze.
"I didn't want to join the pack," I admitted. "So during my first week here, I tried to escape. Even enlisted Grant for help."
"Badass!" Frankie exclaimed, laughing even harder. Gen frowned, clearly hurt.
"Why didn't you want to join?" I smiled warmly and pulled her into a hug.
"Because I didn't know you'd be here, silly. If I'd known that, I would've happily joined." Gen giggled and hugged me back. Our friendship had grown strong over the past two months, and she was one of my closest confidants, along with Imogen. I kissed her cheek, and she giggled again.
Finally ready, our group ventured deeper into Barking Brews. The bar was packed with singles from the pack, and rock music pulsed through the speakers. People were already dancing and enjoying themselves. I took a moment to appreciate my friends' outfits: Verity wore a form-fitting emerald green dress that highlighted her pale grey eyes; Frankie had on a black leather skirt paired with a band tee and her signature purple-tipped hair; Gen donned a flowy white blouse tucked into high-waisted jeans, which accentuated her curves; Kaitlyn looked stunning in a sleek burgundy jumpsuit that hugged her tall and slender frame.
"Alright, ladies, let's show 'em what we've got!" Kaitlyn proclaimed, and we wasted no time joining the throng of dancers, getting lost in the rhythm of the music and the friendship of our newfound sisterhood.
Gen grabbed my hand, pulling me onto the dance floor as the bass thumped through my veins. Frankie, with a cheeky wink, disappeared into the crowd to fetch us drinks at the bar. Kaitlyn trailed after Gen and me, her hips swaying to the beat. Before Verity could join us, two large men blocked her path. Even from behind, I recognised them as her older twin brothers, both blond, short-haired, and built like tanks. A mixture of concern and annoyance flitted across Verity's face, but she squared her shoulders and faced them head-on. My gaze flicked around the room, and my heart skipped a beat when I spotted Liam leaning against the bar. He was surrounded by a group of warriors, including Damon and Jacob. His eyes locked onto mine, and I couldn't help but notice how his hair had grown a bit longer, giving him an even more rugged appearance. He looked tired, but every bit as hot as the last time I'd seen him. In that moment, I realised just how much I'd missed him. Reluctantly, I broke our eye contact and returned my attention to my dancing friends. Kaitlyn caught my glance, grinning and wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. That's when it hit me, she'd been trying to get me to dress up for Liam's return.
As we danced together, I couldn't help but steal glances at Liam. The pull towards him was undeniable, but I remained focused on enjoying the night with my friends. Our laughter mingled with the music, drowning out any lingering thoughts of the complicated relationships within our pack.
"Let's show them what we're made of!" Kaitlyn shouted over the music, her eyes sparkling with excitement. The vibrant energy on the dance floor was intoxicating, but I couldn't shake the sensation of Liam's gaze following my every move. I tried to focus on my friends and the music, letting my body sway to the beat. Laughter bubbled up within me as Frankie pulled a ridiculous dance move, but her expression suddenly turned sour.
"Ugh," she scowled, glancing at Kaitlyn before peering over my shoulder. Kaitlyn's face mirrored Frankie's disgust, and even Gen looked worried. Curiosity piqued, I spun around to see what had caught their attention.
My blood boiled the moment I saw Heidi draped all over Liam like a cheap shawl. Her hands roamed his chest as she whispered something in his ear, a smug smile plastered on her face. The primal growl that erupted from my throat took me by surprise, and the three girls stared at me with wide eyes.
"Erica, don't let her get under your skin," Gen warned, biting her lip.
"Play her at her own game," Frankie suggested, her eyes narrowing as she watched the scene unfold.
"Rip her apart," Kaitlyn added, her glare fixed on Heidi. Somewhere deep within me, the bond between Liam and me flexed, and I realised there was no denying it. Our fates were intertwined, and it was time for everyone to know who their Alpha heir belonged to.
My heart pounded in my chest as I locked eyes with Liam, who was trying his best to be polite to Heidi despite her overly forward advances. He noticed my deliberate approach, and the way I put a little extra sway into my step, and his uncomfortable smile slowly morphed into a wicked grin, full of anticipation for what I was about to do. Heidi's voice carried over the music, irritatingly sweet as she promised Liam a "special" homecoming gift. As I came to stand just behind her, she caught sight of me in her peripheral vision and whipped around. "What the fuck do you want?" she sneered, amber eyes flashing with anger. I spared Liam a quick glance before turning my attention back to Heidi. At that moment, I knew exactly what I wanted, and who I wanted it with. My voice rang out clear and strong, fuelled by the bond that had grown between Liam and me.
"Mine," I declared, and all chatter ceased as the entire bar turned to watch the unfolding drama. Heidi's face turned an ugly shade of red, but I ignored her, looking straight at Liam instead.
"Mine," I repeated, the word heavy with meaning.
"Yours," Liam agreed, his brown eyes locking onto mine. With surprising strength, he pulled me towards him, my hands instinctively grabbing at his shirt as our lips collided in a passionate kiss that seemed to set the world ablaze.
The fire within me roared, driving away any lingering doubts or fears. Liam lifted me up, my legs wrapping around his waist as he held me close. I buried my face in his neck, nipping at his marking spot, eliciting a low groan that vibrated against my lips. As Liam pressed me against the bar, I could feel his arousal, a testament to the undeniable connection between us. It was exhilarating and terrifying all at once, but I knew one thing for certain, I wasn't going to let anyone, especially Heidi, stand in our way.
The scream of rage that pierced the air made my heart skip a beat, and I barely had time to react before Liam was violently ripped away from me. The force of the sudden separation sent me tumbling to the ground, my legs no longer wrapped around him. My head spun with shock as I tried to process what had just happened.
"Did you really think you could steal the Luna title from me?" Heidi's voice was dripping with venom as she loomed above me, her face contorted in fury. "I'll rip your filthy omega ass apart!" As I struggled to catch my breath, the anger that had been simmering below the surface took hold and surged through my veins like wildfire. I felt an unfamiliar sense of control over the rage inside me, and a fierce determination to protect what was mine, Liam.
"Try it," I growled, my voice low and menacing. I could feel the change deep within me and knew without looking that my eyes had shifted to the pale gold of my wolf. The power and confidence that flowed through me was unlike anything I'd ever experienced. Heidi didn't hesitate. She lunged at me like a wild animal, her nails aimed for my throat. But I was faster, fuelled by my newfound control and the love I felt for Liam. I reached out, my fingers wrapping around her throat with surprising ease, and slammed her to the floor with a force that shook the entire room.
The rush of something feral deep inside me, guiding me, helping me control the rage. I could feel the fury of cold ice flowing through me, powering me. I could feel it try to take hold, to take over and exact the revenge that I wanted. I knew now what this was; it wasn’t my wolf trying to take over. This was something different, something more ancient, more feral. This was some birthright that I knew was mine to control, and not to be controlled by. There was no denying right now that I was anything other than pure Alpha blood, but Alpha what? What had previously felt hot as it burned through my system taking me over stayed cool while in my control. I could see Heidi’s eyes widen again, this time in fear, and I knew she could feel every ounce of this raw power coursing through me. And deep down in the depths of me, held captive in a prison of unknown origins, I heard her again after two months.I recognised her voice instantly from my first night with Liam. I saw and heard my wolf; she paced the prison looking for a weak spot but for just a moment we saw each other and I heard one word.
“Finally.”
Chapter 41
Erica
Thethickscentofalcohol and sweat filled my nostrils as I held Heidi pinned to the floor of the crowded bar. My heart pounded in my chest, a combination of anger and adrenaline coursing through my veins.
