I made my way back downstairs. I glanced at the clock on the wall, noticing it was nearing eleven. I was emotionally and mentally exhausted after all the laughing and crying I’d done throughout the day. I was ready to say goodnight to the others and go to bed with Liam. I was done with this day. Tomorrow had to be a better day.
Aiden and Caleb were sitting where I had been with my dad. They each had empty plates next to them with smiles on their identical faces.
“Everything go okay with Davis?” I asked them as I sat next to Liam. I reached for his hand, but he slid it away before I could grasp it. Confused, I opened my mouth to say something, but Aiden answered my question first.
“Yes, Davis is in the medical ward of the training facility. We’ll meet Rick and the others in the morning to move him to the burial grounds.”
“I really appreciate you guys helping with that.” I stood up and tugged on Liam’s hand before he could pull it away again. “We’re going to bed. See you guys tomorrow.”
Liam once again yanked his hand back, pulling it from my grip once more. He was starting to irritate me and I was two seconds from punching him in the throat.
“I think I’m going to stay with my brothers tonight.”
“Excuse me?”
“I haven’t spent much time with them lately. Thought it might be nice to change it up.” He shrugged, trying to be nonchalant, but he was fidgeting like crazy.
Caleb’s deep laugh rumbled through the room. “He’s full of shit. He’s just afraid to sleep in your room and wake up with your pops standing over him, holding a knife or something similarly sharp. Nah, sharp would be too kind. I bet your dad would use something dull to make it hurt more.”
I rolled my eyes at him. Caleb had such a morbid sense of humor, but it made sense why Liam was acting funny. It was ridiculous, but at least it made sense. “Come on, lover boy. My dad isn’t going to harm a hair on your head. I promise.”
Liam looked up at me like I had kicked his puppy. He was truly afraid. “I’m not doing it and you can’t make me.”
Seriously? He was acting like he was a child. That was usually something I did when I was being stubborn. He wasn’t allowed to steal my thing and get away with it. I had an idea and I knew who would play along without needing a heads-up.
“Caleb?” I mused.
“Yes, Taya?”
“I don’t feel like being alone tonight and, since you look just like your brother…, would you mind filling in for him? It’s been a long day and I’d like to rest now.” I glanced at my nails like I didn’t have a care in the world, fighting at the same time to keep my grin hidden I so badly wanted to show.
“I would be honored.” He stood from the couch, holding his arm out. “Lead the way, Firecracker.”
“Over my dead body,” Liam growled.
“What’s wrong, big brother?” Caleb teased. “Didn’t think you were so easily replaceable? You should do as the pretty lady says next time or she’s got two more of you to choose from.”
Aiden cleared his throat. “Don’t bring me into your shenanigans. I don’t want any part of it.”
To make matters worse, I took several steps toward Aiden and dragged my pointer finger under his chin, bringing his eyes to mine. “Are you sure? You’re always so wound up. I’m sure I could help with that.”
“Liam,” Augie warned, “she’s not going to stop unless you make her.”
Finally, Liam stood. He snarled at each of his brothers, then swung me up and over his shoulder for the second time that day. I waved goodbye to the others from upside down and enjoyed their snickers. I was usually pretty good at getting my way.
Liam stormed down the hallway and up the stairs, then kicked my door all the way open. He threw me on the bed before slamming the door shut. Growls and grunts were in abundance. I tried speaking with him, but his wolf was in control. I might have pushed him a little too far. Oops.
He undressed down to his boxer briefs before stalking toward me and stripping me down to my bra and underwear. Still, no words were said. Just heated stares and lots of deep rumbles. He began nipping at my neck, then further down my body, marking his territory as if I was his property. My wolf yipped and yearned for more. She was loving every moment of his dominance, but I was actually beginning to worry he’d gone off the deep end.
I tightly gripped both sides of his face and brought it level with mine. “Liam. Take charge. Now.”
His eyes shifted from the swirling green depths to the light seafoam green I was used to and back again before he finally shook his head and had somewhat of a handle on his control.
“We. Don’t. Share.” His voice was clipped, and I wasn’t sure if the broken speech was from Liam or his wolf.
“I’m sorry.” I caressed his bare chest. “I took the joke too far. I won’t do it again. Just breathe, okay?”
“Our mate.”
I gasped in surprise. It was the first time either of us had said the word ‘mate’ out loud, even though my wolf called him that on a daily basis. Maybe it was finally time we had our long overdue talk.
“Liam, you with me?”
He nodded and wrapped his arms tightly around me. “Yeah, I’m sorry.”
“Me, too. I wouldn’t have done that if I knew you were going to go all wolf caveman on me.” He raised a brow at me. “Okay, I probably would have, but I didn’t mean to upset your wolf.” I kept my hands touching him to help calm his wolf. Arms, face, back, legs. Whatever would help.
“He doesn’t like it when others touch you or you touch them.”
“You called me mate.”
“I did. My wolf has called you that since the first time you snapped at me.” Liam smirked. “I tried to fight him, but quickly realized it was a lost cause.”
My cheeks flushed. I knew exactly how he felt, yet I still fought it, because I refused to live without my mate for any length of time. We were each needed in a different territory and that didn’t work for me.
“How does your wolf intend to make things work when you’re in line to be alpha in the Catskills and I am needed here? What do you think it will do to our wolves if we’re constantly being pulled in different directions?”
His knuckles grazed my shoulder. “I’ve talked with Aiden. He would love nothing more than to take the position of alpha-in-training. He’s been a natural at it his whole life. I’ve often wondered if they didn’t accidentally mix us up at birth and it was always meant to be his anyway. We plan on going home when this is all over and explaining it to our father. I don’t see why he wouldn’t accept. The pack shouldn’t be stuck with an alpha who doesn’t truly want to be there. Elijah will see reason.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to be there? This is a huge decision and shouldn’t be taken lightly. It’s only been two weeks. I don’t want you to wake up one day only to look at me with contempt. You’re giving up a lot, Liam. I can’t honestly say I’d do the same for you. I won’t ever be able to leave my pack.”
I had to be absolutely honest with him. It wouldn’t be fair to either of us if I wasn’t. He had to know what he was getting into before he really committed.
Before he said another word, he stroked his finger down my cheek, then grinned at me. The smile he gave me melted my insides. That half-cocked, I-know-what-I’m-doing smile was going to be the death of me.
“Taya, I promise you this decision has been made one-hundred percent selfishly. I have thought of nothing else except how to make this work since I arrived here, and not once did the thought ever cross my mind to ask you to leave here. I’ve seen what this pack means to you and how much you love this land. I’m okay with that.”
He took my hand in his and brought it to his chest. “I feel it in here. If we don’t try now, we’ll be making the biggest mistake of our lives by letting one of us walk away. I plan on asking your father after he’s back up to speed on everything if I can transfer to your pack and hope he won’t kill me for wanting to mate his only daughter.”
My heart was pounding, and I was pretty sure there was a stupid love-struck smile plastered to my face. I mentally kicked myself for not having had this conversation sooner. I had been so worried that I wasn’t enough for him to want to stay. I hadn’t wanted to hear the words that he’d be gone when we finally stopped Declan. Now, though, I couldn’t be happier.
His face became more serious. “I’m assuming your lack of words is a good thing? Or am I wrong to assume you feel the same way? You’re doing wonders for my ego right now.”
“It’s a lot to process,” I said. “A little overwhelming, actually. But if we’re being honest, I can’t say that I feel any differently. I had avoided the conversation, because I didn’t think you’d give up being alpha or leave your family. How was I supposed to compete with those things? But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t extremely happy about your decision. As much as you’ve driven me crazy since we met, I couldn’t imagine not having you in my life anymore.”
His warm hands trailed up my arms and cradled my face. He placed a gentle kiss to my lips and whispered, “I love you, Taya. I’m not going anywhere.”
Holy freaking freak. I sucked in a breath and tried not to hyperventilate. Did I love him? I knew I couldn’t picture another man ever holding me how he was. I knew that he made me feel stronger and better about myself by never holding me back. He was good at pushing my buttons. All of my buttons. He was the first thing I thought of when I woke up in the mornings and the last thought as I went to sleep each night. The sight of his smile gave me butterflies every time he looked at me.
“I love you, too,” I finally whispered back. The words felt weird, but I knew them to be true. I had zero doubts now.
His lips crashed down hard onto mine. For a moment, I forgot we were already pretty much naked, but when he pressed his hard body on top of mine, I was made fully aware of how little lay between us. This time, I was the one to pull back as he had done before to me.
The room felt like it was on fire and the only way to put out the flames was to give in to our needs, but I was pretty positive my dad was still awake and only three rooms away from us. There was no way I was doing that.
“We really need to find a place of our own or one of us is going to combust,” I breathed heavily.
“That’s the best idea you’ve ever had.” He pressed his forehead against mine while we both attempted to calm our emotions.
We laid like that for the longest time, pressed together and content just to be in each other’s arms. My wolf hummed in excitement. She was ready to officially claim Liam as our mate. Her eagerness was contagious, and I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face. Even as I rolled over and drifted off to sleep with Liam’s arms around me, the smile stayed.