“Don’t mistake forgiveness for integrity.” His eyes were so black his pupils seemed to have devoured his irises. “My father was a mean bastard, but he was still my father. If I let your cousin walk away from this, what sort of Alpha would that makeme?”
“A mercifulone.”
“Mercy doesn’t inspirerespect.”
“That’s not true. Compassion is a laudable trait in a leader. I’d respect you for showing compassion to someone who didn’t deserveit.”
His gaze set on the shiny chocolate marble. “Don’t,Ness.”
“Don’twhat?”
“Don’t tell me how to rule the pack. I’m the Alpha, notyou.”
His words grated against me, made my spine snap straight. “You might win the pack’s respect with those words, but not mine.” I backed away from him and walked into the living room. “Notmine.”
“Where are you going?” He strode behindme.
“Outside.”
He captured my wrist and wheeled me toward him. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m just tired and on edge, and with all that’s going on with you”—he gestured to my abdomen—“it came outwrong.”
I stared at his fingers still clasping mywrist.
“I want your respect”—he tucked a piece of hair behind my ear—“but I can’t change pack laws for as much. Not yet. Intime—”
“You accepted me—a girl—into the pack and you didn’t taint the new pledges’ drinks with the stupid fossil, so youcanchange things! When you want to, you can. Which just proves you want my cousin dead or you’d have forgiven him.” I flipped my hand up to loosen his grip, then yanked my arm toward me to break his hold. His fingers hadn’t hurt me, yet I nursed my wrist against mychest.
His eyes widened as they fastened to the spot of skin they’d manhandled. He palmed the back of his head. And then he fell to his knees in front of me and pressed his face against my stomach, arms hooking aroundme.
“I’m sorry, Ness. Please don’tleave.”
I watched him for a long moment, watched how his apology made his big body quiver. It brought me back to the night on the inn’s terrace when he’d cried in my arms. He wasn’t crying now, but he wasshaking.
Liam might’ve acted strong and brave, but so much inside him was broken, and although I was good with messes, I didn’t know where to start on the one his parents had left behind. CouldIeven fix it? I was such a mess myself. Orphaned. Almost homeless. Penniless.Mated.
I rested a hand on top of his head. “I won’t leave you,Liam.”
He tipped his head up and inspected my face as though to make sure I was speaking the truth, and then he climbed up the length of my body. For a long minute, he just stood there, looking down at me instead of up, and I saw the solid man inside him rise again, push back the wreckedchild.
Then he cupped my cheeks and tilted my head up, and he slammed his mouth against mine. Even though my stomach began to churn, I pried my lips open and tangled my tongue withhis.
I didn’t delude myself into thinking that this was the end of our argument, but it was a ceasefire. I wished it would last, but how could it when tomorrow he’d leave to perform a vile act? I pushed my cousin’s face out of my mind while Liam demolished my mouth. I tasted blood even though none had yet beenspilled.
Liam groaned and kissed me harder. The taste of blood thickened in my mouth to the point where I gagged. I dug my palms into his chest and pushed himaway.
Liam’s mouth and chin were smearedred.
12
“Oh my God, you’re bleeding!”Iyelped.
“You did bite me.” There was a lilt in his tone.Amusement?
How could this amusehim?
I swiped my tongue against my teeth, and sure enough, my canines had lengthened. I touched my mouth. My fingertips came away red. Absolute revulsion seizedme.
Liam’s smile widened as he grabbed a tissue from the leather box atop the console next to the front door. He dabbed his lips, dabbed mine. Blood still trickled from the puncturewound.
