"Wait," Erica suddenly cried out, her voice shaking with panic. "Please, Liam, don't exile him!" Her eyes were wide and pleading as she turned to face me.
"I'll do anything if you let me explain first," she continued desperately, her green eyes filling with tears. "I'll even move in with you." The words hung heavy in the air between us, and I couldn't help but feel a flutter of confusion mixed with hope. After our argument this morning, I hadn't expected her to make such an offer. Something serious must be happening.
"Tell them who I am!" Grant's voice rang out, his screams echoing throughout the room as he struggled against the guards. Over and over again, he repeated those five words, each time more desperate than the last.
"Alright," I finally conceded, my own voice strained as I fought to keep my emotions at bay. "Take him to the Pack Cells until I decide otherwise." As soon as the words left my lips, Erica rushed towards me, her arms wrapping tightly around my waist as she sobbed into my chest. I held her close, doing my best to calm her trembling form despite the torrent of questions and worries that plagued my thoughts. "Thank you," she whispered between sobs, her grip on me never wavering. "Thank you, Liam."
"Liam," my father approached us as we entered the pack house, his brow furrowed in concern. "I felt the bond break, but I can still feel him. Why is he still on our territory?" I didn’t even have a chance to get any words out before Erica stepped forward with a determined look.
"Alpha," she began, hesitating briefly before continuing. "It was me. I asked Liam to hold off on the exile. I need to be sure about something first and I need Marshall and Becca here to do it."
"Marshall and Becca?" My father looked puzzled but nodded. "Very well, I'll call them immediately." As he moved away to make the call, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of protectiveness and worry wash over me. What did they have to do with this situation?
The sun dipped low in the sky, casting long shadows across the pack house grounds. It had been a long stressful day. Erica had barely spoken and seemed to be lost in thought the whole time. We tried filling time with helping Erica pack up some of her belongings at the apartment. And I helped the girls to clean up the mess that my fight with Grant had caused. Gen had tried to talk to Erica, but all Erica would say was that she needed to be sure. I didn’t like whatever it was that was causing her to act like this. It was like she was in some sort of shock. Erica and I returned to the pack house, her belongings in tow. Her eyes were rimmed with red, evidence of the tears she had shed earlier, but her jaw was set in determination. It was clear that whatever was going on; it mattered deeply to her.
The fire crackled softly in the corner of the Alpha living room, casting flickering shadows on the walls. But the warmth it provided did little to ease the heavy tension that hung in the air. Erica's lithe form paced back and forth like a caged animal, her light red hair swaying with each frantic step. Her green eyes darted between the windows and the door, as if willing Marshall and Becca to appear. I could feel her frustration and anxiety churning through our bond, a palpable storm of emotions that left me feeling helpless.
"Come on, sit down for a moment," I urged her, reaching out to touch her arm. But she shrugged me off, resuming her restless pacing.
"Any word yet?" she asked again, her voice tight and strained. "Are they here?" I shook my head, unable to hide a grimace as I watched her wear herself down with worry. My mother had made several attempts to offer Erica food, but every plate remained untouched, a collection of abandoned sustenance on the coffee table.
"Erica, please," I pleaded, standing up to block her path. "You need to rest."
"Rest?" she scoffed, her eyes flashing with anger. "How can I rest when everything is so uncertain? I need to know Liam. I need to know that I am not going crazy."
"Whatever happens, I will protect you," I promised, my voice firm and unwavering. "No one is going to hurt you while I'm here." For a moment, something flickered in her eyes – a glimmer of gratitude, perhaps, or a hint of trust.
The distant rumble of a car engine caught my attention, pulling me from my thoughts. Peering out the window, I saw headlights approaching through the thickening twilight. Relief washed over me as Marshall and Becca's vehicle came to a stop outside the pack house.
"Erica," I called softly, "they're here." She whirled around, her eyes wide and hopeful. The moment the door to the Alpha apartments opened, Erica dashed out of the living room, her desperate need for answers driving her forward like a relentless force. I followed closely behind, concerned for her well-being never far from my mind. As Marshall and Becca stepped inside, their expressions shifted from worry to shock at the sight of Erica's dishevelled appearance.
My father cleared his throat, drawing their attention.
"Thank you for coming so quickly," he said, his voice tinged with both gratitude and unease. "We've had some...troubling developments with one of our warriors, Grant Davis. He tried to convince Erica to leave with him. We suspect he may have been affected by Erica's Alpha power somehow, but we can't be certain." Marshall frowned, clearly disturbed by the news, while Becca glanced over at Erica. Before they could respond, Erica threw herself into their arms, embracing them tightly.
"I need your help," she choked out, tears streaming down her face. "I can't explain it; you just have to see for yourself. Please." Their concern deepened as they exchanged glances, silently agreeing to support her no matter the circumstances. With a nod, I led the group back to the Alpha living room, watching as Erica clung to Marshall and Becca as if they were her lifeline.
"Can we go see him now?" she implored, turning her tear-streaked face toward me. Her desperation was palpable, a tangible weight in the room. I hesitated for a moment, feeling torn between my instincts to protect her and the need to uncover the truth. I glanced at my father and he nodded to say that it was my decision.
"Alright," I finally consented, my heart heavy with apprehension. "Let's go."
As we made our way toward the cells, I couldn't shake the nagging sense of unease that settled over me like a shroud. Whatever secrets lay hidden within Grant's actions, they threatened to change everything. The doors to the cells slid open, and we stepped into the brightly lit corridor, the air thick with tension. My father, Erica, Marshall, Becca, and I made our way toward where Damon, Gregg, and Gideon stood waiting. Their expressions were a mixture of concern and confusion, and I could tell they were eager for answers.
"Alpha," Gregg greeted my father with a nod before turning to me. "What's going on, Liam? Why is Grant back? And why is he in a cell?" I explained briefly about Grant's actions and his subsequent return to pack territory, trying to keep my voice steady despite the turmoil raging inside me. Gregg's eyes widened in shock as he processed the information.
"Grant disappeared mid-mission," he confirmed what I already knew, disbelief evident in his voice. "We had no idea where he went."
As we spoke, I noticed Erica fidgeting; her gaze constantly drawn toward the cells. Her anxiety was palpable, and it only served to heighten my own. Erica turned to me with a determined look.
“I think that Marshall, Becca and I should see him alone first,” she said, her eyes pleading.
“Absolutely not!” I said.
“Fuck that,” from Damon.
“Not a chance,” from Gregg.
“I think not,” from my dad, all of us at the same time. Erica looked at the four of us and smiled, the hint of amusement playing on her face.
