"I understand," I gritted out, my heart pounding in my chest.
"Good girl," he replied condescendingly, riling me up even more. Opening the bathroom door, I shot him one last defiant look.
"But I don't agree," I spat before slamming the door shut. The lock clicked into place just as I heard Liam's weight crash against the other side. The sound of his frustration only fuelled my own, and I leaned against the closed door, struggling to catch my breath. I knew that Liam was just doing what he thought was best, for me, for the pack, but it felt suffocating, like a cage closing around me.
As I stepped into the shower, the hot water cascaded over my body, washing away the lingering touches from last night. But it couldn't wash away the feelings of anger and claustrophobia that had taken root in my chest. My thoughts raced, trying to find a way to reconcile the life I'd known with the world Liam wanted to pull me into. Was there any room for compromise? Or would I have to sacrifice my hard-earned independence for the sake of love and pack loyalty? With each passing moment, as the water continued to pour down, I felt the pressure mounting. The contrast between the intimacy we had shared then and the anger that simmered between us now left me feeling raw and exposed. After rinsing the soap off, I reluctantly turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. The cold air hit me like a slap across the face. I wrapped a towel around myself and rummaged through the bag Kaitlyn had brought, pulling out clean clothes. As I dressed, I caught sight of my reflection in the mirror, my green eyes blazing with defiance and my light red hair damp and tousled.
"Let's see him try to control this," I murmured, a sarcastic smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.
With one last deep breath to steady my nerves, I unlocked the bathroom door and stepped back into the bedroom. Liam sat on the edge of the bed, his sculpted body still naked, his brown eyes fixed on me with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.
"Enjoying the show?" I asked, trying to keep my voice light and casual, even as his gaze made my heart race.
"Erica," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. I ignored him, walking around the bed to gather my discarded clothes from the previous night and stuff them into the bag.
"Is there anything you want to say to me?" I asked, my tone dripping with sarcasm as I continued to pack. "Or are you just going to sit there and glare?"
"Erica," he repeated, his voice strained. The silence that stretched between us was thick with tension, a palpable reminder of the struggle for control that had left us both battered and bruised. Liam's low, dangerous voice broke the tense silence.
"I'm ready for you to stop acting like a brat, Erica." My blood boiled at his words, and I turned on him, my green eyes blazing with fury.
"And I'm ready for you to stop acting like an Alpha dick," I spat out, my hands clenched into fists.
"Damn it, Erica," Liam growled, his brown eyes flashing with anger. "I'm just trying to keep you safe."
"No," I shot back, my voice shaking with barely contained rage. "You're trying to control me." I turned towards the door, my heart pounding in my chest. Liam's voice echoed after me, desperate and confused.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Home," I replied curtly, stalking out of his room without looking back. The corridor outside Liam's bedroom was empty except for his mother, who stood there with a smile on her face. But when she caught sight of my stormy expression, her smile dropped, replaced by concern.
"Oh dear," she murmured, watching me closely as I approached.
"I am sorry, Luna," I said, pausing briefly in front of her. "But I am unable to come to breakfast." Her eyes flicked to Liam's bedroom door just as he emerged, now fully clothed and visibly frustrated. I rolled my eyes and stepped past Luna, making my way down the stairs as quickly as I could. Behind me, I heard Liam call out my name again, his voice strained with emotion.
"Let her cool down, son," his mother advised, her calm tone carrying just far enough for me to hear before I distanced myself from them.
The wind tousled my hair as I rushed across the park to my apartment block, each step fuelled by a potent mix of anger and indignation. I could feel Liam's presence receding behind me like a fading echo, but the memory of our heated confrontation still burned hot in my veins. As I made my way to the apartment, I silently thanked the universe that both Gen and Frankie were away visiting their families this Sunday morning, it was a small mercy that the place would be empty. I stormed into my apartment, slamming the door shut with a satisfying bang, the sound resonating loudly throughout the otherwise quiet space. But before I had a chance to relish the solitude, I walked straight into someone. My breath caught as I looked up to see Grant standing there, his eyes wild and intense, as if he'd been waiting for me all night.
Chapter 44
Erica
WhenIwalkedintomy apartment, the last person I expected to find was Grant. His eyes were wild and searching as though he'd been hunted for days. As soon as he saw me, a mixture of relief and excitement washed over his face.
"Erica!" he exclaimed, rushing towards me like an eager puppy. "I'm so glad you're safe."
"Stay back," I warned, holding up a hand. My heart raced in my chest.
"Erica," Grant breathed, appearing shocked that I didn't trust him. "What's wrong? Why are you acting so strangely?"
"Me?" I scoffed, shaking my head in disbelief. "You're the one who's acting strangely, Grant. Where the hell have you been?" I remembered Damon telling me that Grant had gone on a mission but disappeared after going psycho on one of the kidnappers they'd pursued.
Grant's lips curled into a smile, as if he held some secret knowledge. "I've had some major revelations, Erica. Things make sense now, our connection, everything."
"Revelations?" I questioned, my brows furrowing. The anger inside me simmered, tired of being at the mercy of others' decisions. My green eyes bore into his blue ones, demanding answers.
"Yes," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "But we can discuss it more later. Right now, I just need you to trust me."
