"Give me a minute," I answered, grabbing a shirt and pulling it over my head. The sense of urgency in Liam's voice had driven away any lingering thoughts of passion, replacing them with cold dread. I opened the bedroom door to see my friend standing there with the look of worry on his face.
"Liam. What's going on?" I asked, my voice sharp with concern.
"Erica," he breathed, his eyes wide and panicked. "I can't get a hold of her. It's been hours, and now her phone is going straight to voicemail." I raised an eyebrow at him.
"How many times have you tried calling her?" I questioned, trying to gauge just how serious the situation might be.
"Eight," he mumbled sheepishly, averting his gaze. I rolled my eyes in frustration and walked past him without another word.
Descending the stairs, I tried to shake off my concerns about Erica and focus on the moment. The chances were that she was still avoiding Liam after the shit he did before we left yesterday, but I made a note to phone my dad later just to make sure everything was alright. The rich aroma of spices and simmering meats filled the air as I stepped into the kitchen. Mrs. Hardson, her silver hair piled atop her head, bustled around the counters and stove, humming softly under her breath.
"Mrs. Hardson, you've outdone yourself," I said, my mouth watering at the sight of the feast spread across the table. "I might just have to ask for your hand in marriage." She chuckled, giving me a mock stern look.
"Oh, I doubt you could handle me, young man."
Liam's laughter echoed my own, and I glanced over to see another pair of eyes twinkling with amusement. Little Sophia sat at the table, her dark hair falling in waves around her cherubic face. Her blue eyes were fixed on me, curiosity mingling with shy delight.
"Hey there, sweetheart," I said, shifting my attention to the little girl with black hair and blue eyes. Sophia blinked up at me, her eyes wide with curiosity.
"Hi," she replied, her voice small and timid.
"Would you like a hug?" I asked gently, crouching down to her level. She hesitated for a moment before ducking under the table, only to reappear on the other side with her arms outstretched toward me. A grin spread across my face as I picked her up, her tiny form feeling surprisingly light in my arms. I took a seat next to Liam, placing Sophia on my knee. Her gaze remained fixed on the food in front of her, and she wasted no time in leaning over to grab one of Liam's chips. As she bit into it, a look of pure delight lit up her face, making me chuckle.
"Oi!" Liam pretended to be offended, but his eyes betrayed his amusement. "Those are mine, little miss!" Just then, Audrey walked into the kitchen, a smirk playing on her lips as she watched the scene unfold.
"Sophia, don't take food from a werewolf's plate," she cautioned jokingly, though her tone held a touch of warmth that made my heart stutter. Sophia pouted, sticking out her bottom lip as she looked back and forth between Audrey and Liam. Sensing her distress, Liam quickly handed her another plate piled high with his remaining chips, causing her to clap excitedly before grabbing another chip and stuffing it into her mouth.
Audrey scooped Sophia into her arms, the little girl's pout still evident on her face.
"Come on, sweetheart. Let's get you ready to stay with Mrs. Hardson for the night."
"Can't I stay with the cuddly wolves?" Sophia asked, her big blue eyes pleading.
"Sorry, love, but this is a grown-up thing we have to do," Audrey replied firmly, her gaze meeting mine for a moment before she turned and carried Sophia out of the room. I couldn't help but smile as they left, feeling a warmth within me that I hadn't experienced in a long time. Liam caught my eye, a mischievous glint in his own.
"What?" I asked defensively, unsure what he was getting at.
"Cute kid," he nodded toward the direction Audrey and Sophia had gone. I couldn't help but agree.
"Yep."
"How old is she again?" He inquired, his grin growing wider as he continued to needle me.
"She's five." My glare intensified, but Liam seemed unfazed.
"And you and Audrey are clearly intimate." His enjoyment was apparent.
"Yep," I admitted through gritted teeth.
"And before today, when was the last time you two hooked up?"
"About five or six years ago, give or take," I answered, not liking where this conversation was heading.
"Interesting," Liam grinned, clearly enjoying himself far too much. "I think you might be behind on your child support payments," he laughed.
"Don't, man, seriously," I retorted, knowing full well that Sophia could very well be mine, but Audrey had been nothing but evasive on the subject.
"Alright, man, seriously," Liam said, his face turning serious. "What will you do if she is?" That question had haunted me throughout the day, gnawing at the edges of my thoughts like a persistent itch I couldn't scratch. I sighed, my gaze flickering between Audrey and Liam.
