Erica
"Wait,whatdoyoumean by asking your mother?" I demanded, my eyes narrowing. Grant only grinned, his infuriating smile lighting up his face like he had just won a game.
"You'll figure it out soon enough, Erica."
"Ugh, you are so annoying!" I snapped, feeling the frustration boiling inside me. "You're enjoying this way more than you should."
"Maybe I am," he admitted with a shrug, still grinning. "But hey, life's too short to be miserable, right?"
"Whatever," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "Just so you know, I'm not coming back to see you."
"Sure thing, sweetheart," he said, sarcasm dripping from his words. "I'll see you soon."
"Keep dreaming," I shot back before slamming the door to his cell shut with a loud clang. The sound echoed through the dimly lit hallway as I stormed away from the cells, my heart pounding in my ears.
As I made my way down the dark corridor, my thoughts were a jumbled mess of anger, confusion, and uncertainty. Why was Grant being so cryptic about his mother? And why did he seem to enjoy tormenting me so much? It didn't make any sense. My mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle that Grant had laid out for me. What could his mother possibly have to do with my inability to shift? And how would speaking to her help me understand the prophecy? The questions swirled around me, each one more frustrating than the last.
As I stepped out of the dim cell corridor, my eyes adjusting to the harsh light, I saw Liam leaning against a nearby wall. His arms were crossed over his chest and his jaw was clenched so tightly that I could see the muscles rippling beneath his skin. It was obvious that he was pissed off, and that realisation sent a shiver down my spine.
"Hey," I said cautiously, approaching him with hesitation. "I had to speak to Grant." Liam's dark eyes burned into me, but he didn't say anything for a moment. Finally, he sighed and uncrossed his arms.
"I know," he admitted, his voice tense. "I may not like it, but I understand that you need answers to put the pieces of this puzzle together."
"Thank you." I breathed out, relieved that he wasn't going to argue about it.
"Erica," Liam started, his voice heavy with emotion. "I just want to protect you. I hate myself for everything you've gone through and I blame myself for not being able to prevent it." I reached out and placed my hand on his arm, feeling the warmth and strength that radiated from him.
"It's not your fault, Liam," I told him softly. "You're as much a victim of circumstances as I am."
His eyes searched mine, trying to find a shred of doubt or blame, but there was none to be found. I meant every word I said. Liam was my rock, my anchor in the stormy seas of my life, and I knew that without him, I would have been lost long ago.
"Promise me you'll never forget that," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Promise me you'll never let the past tear us apart."
"I promise," I whispered back, feeling the weight of his words settling in my heart. The tension between us hung heavy in the air, but as Liam's dark brown eyes held mine, I saw something shift within them. The anger dissipated, replaced by a tender vulnerability that made my heart clench.
"Erica," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I love you more than anything and couldn't imagine life without you." My breath hitched, and before I could fully process his words, Liam closed the distance between us, his lips finding mine in a searing kiss. His strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me close, and all I could think about was how right it felt to be in his embrace. I melted into the kiss and wrapped my arms around his neck pulling him in closer to me. But just as our passion reached a fever pitch, we broke away, both of us gasping for breath. Liam stared at me, his eyes filled with intensity, and I knew without a doubt what he was about to ask.
"Erica," he began hesitantly. "Will you marry me?" I frowned and scoffed, caught off guard by the sudden proposal.
"Liam, I don't know if I can do that on such a whim," I replied. "And with everything that's happened... It's not exactly romantic standing outside the cells." He seemed to deflate slightly, but then nodded, his determination returning.
"Okay, then let's go back home," he said, taking my hand and leading me away from the prison-like building.
With the weight of Liam's proposal still hanging in the air, we approached a sleek black SUV. I couldn't help but laugh, my nerves momentarily dissipating.
"You drove here? It's barely a five-minute walk!" Liam grumbled, a sheepish grin spreading across his face.
"I wanted to get to you as soon as I found out my father let you see Grant," he admitted, walking around to open the passenger door for me. "I spent thirty minutes waiting outside that cell, because Verity told me I wasn't allowed in."
"Really?" I chuckled, recalling the petite blonde werewolf who had assisted in my escape. "You're afraid of tiny Verity?"
"Hey, don't underestimate her," he insisted, a hint of indignation in his voice. "I've seen her fight, and believe me, I'm not ashamed to say she scares me."
"Alright, alright," I acquiesced, climbing into the SUV. "I've seen her in action too, so I understand." As he started the engine, a moment of silence settled between us, heavy with unspoken emotions.
The moment we stepped into the pack house, a flurry of emotions hit me like a tidal wave. The Alpha floor was bustling with familiar faces, and I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. My gaze landed on Becca, her warm smile instantly calming my racing heart. I hadn't expected to see her here.
"Becca!" I exclaimed, wrapping my arms around her in a tight hug.
