"He showed himself killing you. And..." His voice trailed off, the fury on his face growing more intense.
"Tell me," I demanded, needing to know what else haunted him. Damon stepped forward, resting a hand on Liam's shoulder as if trying to dissipate some of the rage building inside him.
"You don't want to know, Erica," he said gently. But I did need to know. My memories flashed back to that terrifying moment when Louis, in his human form, had tried to rape me. I shuddered at the thought, my heart pounding in my chest. The crude images he must have sent to everyone made bile rise in my throat.
Liam reached out to me, his fingers brushing against my arm, and I shuddered at the contact.
"You're safe now, baby," he said, his voice low and soothing. "Louis is dead. He can't hurt you anymore."
"Before it happened," I whispered, my voice shaky from the memories that threatened to overwhelm me, "he said he was going to deliver me to some guy." The words felt surreal as they left my lips, and I tried to focus on Liam's face instead of the terror that clawed at my insides.
"Who?" Liam asked, his brow furrowing in concern.
"I don't know." My hands were trembling, and I clenched them into fists to try to stop the shaking. "I don't have any idea who he was talking about." Liam's eyes darkened, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something, conflict or fear, maybe, pass through his expression before he carefully schooled his features back into a mask of calm reassurance.
"You should get some rest, baby," he urged gently, squeezing my hand. "We'll figure this out, but right now, you need to heal."
As much as I wanted answers, I couldn't deny the heaviness that weighed down my eyelids, my body craving sleep after the assault it had endured. But there was something Liam wasn't telling me, a hidden truth that lingered just beneath the surface of his carefully controlled exterior. I knew he was trying to protect me, but I was tired of secrets and half-truths. I needed to know what was going on, even if it hurt.
"Promise me you'll tell me everything when I wake up," I murmured, my eyes drifting shut despite my best efforts to keep them open.
"Promise," he whispered back, his breath warm against my skin.
With that reassurance, I allowed myself to drift into the darkness of sleep. The nightmares that awaited me there would be nothing compared to the reality I'd just escaped, but at least in my dreams, I could fight back. And when I woke up, I'd have Liam by my side, ready to face whatever demons we had to conquer together. As I surrendered to the pull of the medication and exhaustion, I held on to that thought, the idea that no matter what lay ahead, I wouldn't have to face it alone.
When I awoke, the room was bathed in soft morning light. The beeping machines and tangle of wires that had been my companions were gone, replaced by an eerie silence. With Liam and Damon absent, Jacob occupied a chair in the corner, his attention focused on his phone.
"Morning," he said, looking up as I stirred. His voice was gentle, but I could hear a hint of unease beneath the surface.
"Hey," I replied groggily. "How long have I been asleep?"
"Almost 12 hours," he informed me. My eyes widened at the revelation, I hadn't realised how much time had passed. Jacob's expression turned sombre as he continued.
"Erica, I'm so sorry I left you alone. I put you at risk before Liam got there."
I studied him, taking in the bruising around his left eye and the cut on his lip. A surge of annoyance bubbled inside me; I had a strong feeling those injuries were Liam's doing. Despite my anger, I knew that Jacob didn't deserve to be blamed for what happened.
"Jacob, it's not your fault," I reassured him. "Louis probably would've found another opportunity if you hadn't left. It might have ended much worse." He looked down, his face contorted with guilt.
"Still, I should've been more careful."
"It's done now," I said firmly, trying to push past the lingering sense of unease. "We need to focus on what comes next." Jacob nodded, but I could see the worry etched into the lines of his face. He was a loyal friend, bound by duty and honour to protect those he loved and his potential future Luna. And I knew, deep down, that he would never forgive himself for the part he'd played in my ordeal.
I tried to change the subject so that Jacob could feel better.
"Jacob, where's Liam?" I asked, my voice groggy from the lingering effects of the medication. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat before responding,
"There's been an emergency at the pack house. Liam and Damon are in a meeting with Alpha Declan."
"An emergency? What happened?" I pressed further, my concern mounting. Jacob hesitated, avoiding my gaze.
"I was tasked to protect you and take you home when you woke up," he said, dodging my question entirely. "The doctor cleared you, and your leg has already started healing. You can go home whenever you want." His evasion piqued my curiosity even more, but I knew I wouldn't get any straight answers from him right now. My body still felt heavy, weighed down by exhaustion and pain, but I needed to know what was happening.
"Alright," I sighed, conceding for the moment. "I want to go home."
As Jacob and I exited the hospital room, two other warriors joined us, their expressions grim but determined. A third warrior awaited our arrival outside in a pack SUV, his eyes scanning the surrounding area for any potential threats.
"Is all this really necessary?" I asked as we approached the vehicle, feeling slightly overwhelmed by the security measures in place.
