"Goddess, what have I got myself into?" I muttered under my breath, reflecting on the implications of being mated to an Alpha heir. The pack would expect me to fall in line, to become the perfect Luna they envisioned. But that wasn't me. I valued my freedom, my independence, and the thought of losing that made me uneasy.
As I lay in bed, tormented by the changes I knew were going to happen, I couldn't help but notice the emptiness beside me. The sound of running water from the bathroom told me that Liam was taking a shower. The shower stopped, and moments later, Liam emerged, wearing nothing but a towel wrapped low on his hips. My eyes were drawn to his toned muscles rippling with each step he took. His chiselled abs, powerful arms, and strong legs made my heart race and my body ache with desire.
"Morning," I said, trying to sound casual despite the heat building within me.
"Good morning," Liam replied with a wicked grin. He seemed to sense my arousal, his nostrils flaring as he sniffed the air. Maintaining eye contact, he slowly walked towards the end of the bed like a predator stalking its prey.
"Like what you see?" Liam asked smugly, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he stood at the end of the bed, completely exposed.
"Seen better," I replied, feigning disinterest even though my pulse quickened at the sight of his muscular frame and hardened arousal.
"Really?" He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by my attempt to rile him up. My heart raced as I jumped off the bed, eager to put some distance between us.
"Yep. I'm going for a shower," I announced, turning my back to him. But before I could take more than a step, Liam's arm snaked around my waist and yanked me back, pinning me to the bed. His body pressed against mine, trapping me beneath him. I struggled to catch my breath, my chest tightening with a mixture of desire and apprehension.
"Are you sure you've seen better?" he whispered into my ear, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine. He nipped at my neck playfully with his teeth, teasing my skin just enough to make me squirm. I tried to maintain my facade of indifference, but it was quickly crumbling under the weight of his touch.
"Maybe not," I gasped as Liam's fingers deftly traced across my wet folds, causing my hips to buck involuntarily. He slid a finger inside me, making me moan in response. The familiar battle within me raged on, was it worth losing control to experience this undeniable passion?
"Thought so," he murmured before crashing his lips onto mine, swallowing my moans as our tongues danced together. I gripped his shoulders, torn between wanting to push him away and pull him closer.
The pleasure Liam was giving me came to an abrupt halt as he groaned and pulled away from me. I looked up at him, a mix of annoyance and frustration evident on my face. The fire in his eyes had been replaced with something else.
"Damn it," Liam muttered, running a hand through his dishevelled hair. "My mum just mind-linked me. She wants us both at family breakfast."
"Seriously?" I groaned, not even trying to hide my disappointment. It seemed the universe was intent on keeping my needs unmet today. I glanced down at my naked body, then back at Liam.
"And what am I supposed to wear? My clothes from last night are hardly appropriate for a family gathering." Liam's gaze softened slightly as he took in my dishevelled appearance. His smile was infuriatingly charming as he kissed my nose. He pointed to a bag by the door, and I couldn't help but feel grateful when he told me that Kaitlyn had brought it from the bar, along with some clean clothes from my apartment.
"Thank her for me," I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rising tension in the room.
"And we can pack the rest of your stuff later," Liam added. "Wait, what?" I asked, my eyebrows shooting up in surprise.
"The rest of my stuff?"
"Of course," Liam replied, his tone casual. "You'll be moving in with me now."
"Excuse me?" I snapped, feeling my anger flare. "Where was I when you made that decision?"
"It's normal for the Alpha's mate to move in with him," Liam argued, his own frustration evident. "And I have no plans of letting you leave my sight without full security detail."
"Wow," I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest. "Nothing like a little control-freakery to kick off the morning after our great night together."
"Erica, don't make this more difficult than it has to be," Liam growled, clearly not appreciating my sarcasm. "This is for your safety and the sake of the pack."
"Right, because nothing says 'I love you' like stripping away my autonomy and freedom," I retorted, my heart pounding with a mixture of anger and fear.
"Damn it, Erica!" Liam shouted, his patience wearing thin. "Why are you being so stubborn about this? This is how things work in our world!"
"Your world, Liam!" I shot back. "Not mine! Just because you're suddenly a part of my life doesn't mean I'm ready to give up everything I've known!" He stared at me, his eyes filled with a mix of frustration and hurt. I knew he was trying to do what he thought was best for both of us, but the idea of losing my freedom, my independence, terrified me.
"Fine," Liam finally said through gritted teeth. "We can discuss this further after breakfast. But you're still coming with me."
"Whatever, I'm going for a shower," I announced, my voice trembling with barely contained anger. Liam growled low in his throat, a primal sound that sent shivers down my spine.
"You're to listen to me, Erica. Do you understand?" I didn't respond, continuing my march towards the bathroom. The weight of his stare bore into my back like a branding iron.
"Erica!" he growled again, demanding an answer. I halted, taking a deep breath as I turned to face him.
