"Erica," she whispered into my hair. "Charlene told me last night that you needed me, so I came as soon as I could."
“Charlene?” I asked, how the hell did Charlene know. Becca smiled and tapped her nose before Marshall and Beck came over.
"Without telling anyone, apparently," Marshall grumbled, his disapproving eyes locked on Becca. I could tell that Beck also wan’t happy with his mother.
"Marshall, Beck, I'm fine," Becca brushed them off, pulling away from our embrace just enough to wink at me. "I had to be here for Erica. Plus you were going to call me anyway."
As we hugged, Kaitlyn's voice rang out through the room. "Liam, what's going on? Why did you drag us all here?" I looked up to find Kaitlyn, Frankie, Gen, Verity, and Wes entering the room. They all seemed curious, though concern etched their expressions. Fallon, Liam's mother, stood nearby with a knowing smile on her face. Declan, Gregg, and Damon were also present, their gazes scanning the room.
"Give me a second," Liam said, holding up a hand to silence Kaitlyn's questioning.
"Alright, everyone," Liam's voice boomed, causing us all to turn our attention back to him. "I know you're all wondering why we're here."
"Damn right, we are," Kaitlyn muttered under her breath, crossing her arms over her chest. Fallon shot her a stern look, but Kaitlyn just rolled her eyes in response.
"Kaitlyn, this is important," Liam said, his voice firm yet gentle. "Everything will become clear soon." Liam glanced at me with a smile and then said to the room. “I just need to get something first.” He then turned around and headed for the door. I watched as Liam left the room, curiosity and anticipation swirling in my stomach. Kaitlyn glanced at her mother, a mix of concern and impatience on her face.
"Mum, what's he doing?" she asked, her tone bordering on irritation.
"Patience, Kaitlyn," Fallon chided gently, her eyes never leaving the doorway through which Liam had disappeared.
The tension in the room was palpable, and I could feel the weight of everyone's gazes on me. My heart raced, and I couldn't help but wring my hands together nervously. Liam returned, the nervousness evident in his eyes as he stood before me. He dropped to one knee, and my breath caught in my throat. A small black box with a purple bow appeared in his hand, and suddenly, the air felt electric with emotion.
"Erica," he began, his voice wavering ever so slightly. "I had planned to propose to you on your birthday, but with everything that's happened... I wasn't able to." He opened the box, revealing a breathtaking ring with a black stone at its centre, surrounded by a cluster of small diamonds. I gasped, recognizing it immediately and turning my gaze toward Fallon. She wiggled her fingers, confirming my suspicions, the ring had once belonged to her.
"Erica," Liam continued, his voice more confident now. "I don't care how special you are to the world. I don't care if you're a werewolf or a witch or a combination of the two. To me, you'll always be a goddess, and that's all that matters." My heart swelled with love for this man who had been through so much, yet still found the strength to stand by my side. His words stirred something deep within me, and I struggled to keep my emotions in check.
"Erica," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "I love you so much, now and forever. I will always submit to you as my queen. Will you do the honour of being my wife?" Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I stared down at him, my heart threatening to burst from my chest. The room seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of us in this moment of vulnerability and love.
"Erica," Liam urged again, the question hanging heavy between us. I hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of everything we had been through – all the secrets, betrayals, and lies. But despite it all, one thing remained constant: our love for each other.
"Y-yes," I stammered, tears finally spilling over. "Yes, Liam. I'll be your queen."
A look of pure joy spread across Liam's face as he slipped the ring onto my finger, the cool metal nestling into place like it had always belonged there. He stood up and, without hesitation, lifted me into his arms, spinning me around in a dizzying whirl.
"Erica," he breathed against my ear, his voice thick with emotion. "You have no idea how much this means to me." I clung to him, feeling the warmth of his body against mine and the solid certainty of his love. It was a lifeline, something to hold onto amidst the storm of our lives. As he set me down, his dark eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.
Then, with a passion that took my breath away, Liam kissed me. Our lips met hungrily, sharing not just our love but also our pain and our hope for a future together. It was a kiss born of desperation and need, a testament to everything we had endured and survived.
"Get a room!" Kaitlyn called out, her voice tinged with laughter as she broke the spellbinding moment.
"Seriously, you two," Damon chimed in, amusement dancing in his eyes. "We're all happy for you, but there's a time and a place." I pulled away from Liam, my cheeks burning with embarrassment, but unable to suppress the happiness bubbling up within me. As I looked around the room at our family and friends, their faces filled with love and support, I felt a sense of belonging that I hadn't experienced in a long time.
"Sorry," I mumbled, wiping the tears from my cheeks. "I got a little carried away."
"Understandable," Verity said with a teasing grin, her eyes glinting with mischief. "But save it for later, okay?"
"Alright, alright," Liam said good-naturedly, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me close. "We'll behave."
"Good," Fallon declared, a warm smile on her face. "Now let's celebrate this wonderful moment." As the laughter and congratulations echoed through the room, I couldn't help but feel a sense of peace settle over me. Despite the darkness that still lingered on the edges of our lives, in this moment, we were surrounded by love and happiness.
The room buzzed with laughter and conversation as Fallon ushered in trays of food and drinks. I watched her work, a genuine smile lighting up her face, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for her presence in our lives. As people hugged me and congratulated us on our engagement, I tried to shove the nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach aside. This was supposed to be a joyful moment, a moment of celebration, and yet...
"Hey," Liam murmured in my ear, his hand warm on my back. "You okay?"
"Of course," I lied, forcing a smile onto my face. "Just... overwhelmed." He pressed a gentle kiss to my temple, his lips lingering there for a moment before he pulled away.
"I love you," he whispered, so softly that only I could hear.
