The sound of Liv’s Jeep barreling down the dirt road had Lawson rushing out the front door of Safe Haven. He was going out of his mind. He desperately needed to talk to her and explain what happened the night before.

When the driver door swung open, Lawson’s heart dropped to his feet. Bart climbed out and headed his way. He was the last person Lawson wanted to see right now. Discussing Liv and what went down between them was none of his fucking business. Given the sourpuss expression pasted across Bart’s face, Lawson would bet his right nut the male already knew.

“Where is she?” Lawson blurted.

“She’s at her mom’s right now,” Bart replied, glaring at Lawson.

“Is she okay?”

“No, she’s not okay. She’s a fucking wreck, thanks to you,” Bart growled. His words slashed Lawson’s heart in two. He could only imagine what was going through her mind.

“I need to see her. Explain things…” Lawson muttered.

“That’s not my concern. Liv sent me to pick up Milo and her clothes, that’s it,” Bart countered, pushing his way past Lawson and walking through the front door.

Lawson grabbed Bart’s arm, spinning him around. “You’re not just going to walk upstairs and go through our belongings.”

Bart stepped closer, getting in Lawson’s face. “Need I remind you who owns this hotel? I can do whatever the fuck I want.”

Lawson fought the urge to strangle the male. Bart was ballsy, alright, considering Lawson could snap his neck without breaking a sweat.

“How could I forget when you remind me at every turn? And, need I remind you how much this place has improved since I moved in, not to mention the nice side business that’s turning a profit for you. You need me as much as I need you, so let’s cut the shit and get to the real issue.”

“And what’s that exactly?” Bart asked.

“You couldn’t be happier that Liv is pissed off at me, but the truth is you will never have what I share with her. You had your chance a long time ago and blew it,” Lawson said through clenched teeth, tightening his hold on the male’s arm.

“You’d like to believe that, wouldn’t you? News flash. Liv came to me last night. She needed me. And she woke up in my bed,” Bart sneered.

Lawson snapped, and in the next second, his fist met Bart’s nose. Lawson heard the pop before blood spurted across the male’s face. “You’re a fucking piece of shit, taking advantage of her like that,” he growled.

“You’re nothing but a cheating piece of shit. Liv and I have a history that goes far deeper than anything you’ll ever have with her,” he spat as he wiped the back of his arm under his nose.

“Seńor Bart!” Ashley shouted and ran over to check on the male’s injury. She handed him a dishtowel to wipe the blood from his face.

“Thank you, Ashley. Would you mind going to Liv’s room and gathering her things? She’s going to be staying in Chattanooga. She no longer feels she has a home here,” he explained and looked at Lawson. Ashley glanced to Lawson, too, her eyebrows squished together in confusion.

“Ashley, it’s okay. Please pack a small bag. I’m sure Liv will be returning soon,” he corrected.

“Si. I’ll get right on it,” she replied and made a quick exit.

Lawson reached into his back pocket and pulled out Liv’s cell phone. “She left this. Make sure she gets it. Now, if you don’t mind, I have somewhere I need to be,” Lawson growled and walked toward the rear of the hotel.

He went through the kitchen and walked out the back door, heading to his truck. “Yo, where you off to?” came a deep voice.

Lawson turned to see Ryan. “I was about to call you. Is Cassie still here?”

“Nah, she left. Why?”

“I need a favor. Call her and find out where Liv’s mom lives. As soon as you have the address, text it to me. I’ll be back in a bit,” Lawson explained with a wave as he opened the door to his truck.

“What the hell is going on? Cassie said she couldn’t get ahold of Liv and now you want to know her mother’s address. What the fuck?” Ryan shouted.

Lawson leaned out of the cab and met his brother’s gaze. “Can’t get into it right now. Get me that address.”

Minutes later, Lawson’s Ford was screaming down the highway. If Liv thought he was going to let her walk away from him and their relationship, she had another thing coming.

Liv’s eyes slowly opened, and she glanced down at the familiar quilt covering her body. Her old room was the same as when she lived there. She glanced over at the small clock and rubbed her eyes to make sure she saw right. She couldn’t believe she’d been asleep for three hours. Sitting up, she stretched her neck. The nap eased the tension, and she felt slightly better. There was something about being back at home that soothed the worst of her frayed nerves.

A delicious aroma wafted through the air. Her mom was making her favorite pot roast, and Liv’s stomach rumbled. She never understood how people couldn’t eat when feeling down or depressed. Her appetite increased tenfold.

The sound of her mom’s laughter grabbed her attention. Was she talking to someone on the phone? And then Liv heard the muffled sound of a man’s voice. Was her mom’s boyfriend there? Liv was dying to meet the mystery man that had her mom smiling all the time.

Liv stood and did a quick check in the mirror. She straightened her messy hair then walked out of her bedroom and into the living room. Her jaw dropped when she saw who was sitting by her mom on the sofa. It wasn’t the mystery boyfriend.

It was Lawson.

He met her gaze, and Liv’s heart sank to her feet. A dozen emotions collided within and her heartbeat echoed in her eardrums. Hurt, betrayal, pain, passion, and desire. All twined together to form a noose tightening around her throat. The worst part was her first reaction was to rush into his arms, seeking comfort. Despite everything, she still loved the man.

“Hello, Liv,” came his deep baritone which sent a shudder down her spine. She didn’t want to react to him, but her body didn’t agree with her head.

Liv crossed her arms over her chest. “You shouldn’t have come.”

Her mom stood up and walked past Liv, patting her shoulder. “Dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes. I’ll give you two some privacy. Lawson, it was a pleasure to meet you,” she said and looked his way.

“The pleasure was all mine, Noel. Thank you for everything,” he replied, and the two shared a knowing look before her mom left the room. What the hell was that about? He was the enemy, and her mom was acting all cordial and friendly.

Liv exhaled. She was not prepared to see him yet. Just seeing him had her heart twisting and emotion clogging her throat. She couldn’t do this. The image of Lawson with Kristi was too fresh in her mind. It still stung.

“You need to leave. Now,” Liv demanded and walked toward the front door.

Lawson hopped up and was standing in front of her in the next breath. She tilted her head and met his gaze. “I’m not leaving until we talk. Liv, I need you to understand,” he pleaded, and his steel-gray eyes held her in place.

“I already know, Lawson. You didn’t need to come all this way to tell me you’ve chosen Kristi,” she croaked, and tears threatened to spill.

“I would never choose her,” he said in a rush.

“Lawson, I was there. I saw the two of you naked in her room. She was riding you! I saw it all!” she shouted then slapped him across the face.

She hadn’t planned on hitting him, but her control snapped as she recalled Kristi straddling his hips while he fondled her breasts. Before Liv could stop herself, her fists were beating his chest with every ounce of force she could muster.

Lawson grabbed her hands, pulling her against his chest. “I am so sorry. I didn’t know what I was doing. She drugged me, Liv. You must believe me.”

Liv pulled away, eyes narrowed. “What?”

“She put drugs in my shot of tequila. Next thing I knew, I was puking in the restroom and I thought you came in to help me. My vision was fucked up, and all I saw was that red wig. I thought we went back to our room,” Lawson declared, grabbing her face between his large palms, his eyes pleading her to believe him.

Liv stared in shock. Was he telling the truth? Lawson had never lied to her. She certainly wouldn’t put it past Kristi to trick him into her bed.

“It doesn’t matter how or why it happened. I will never get the image out of my mind. Do you know what that did to me?” Liv spat, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath.

“Yeah, I do know. It pushed you into Bart’s bed,” he countered, and she saw hurt flash across his face. “Your friend was all too happy to share that tidbit when he came by earlier,” he added and released her face. Lawson rubbed his hands through his hair, and she could see he was trying to control his anger.

“And, did he tell you we didn’t do anything? I went to him because I trust him. Bart is my friend,” Liv confessed and walked over to the picture window that overlooked her mom’s flower garden. The beautifully landscaped yard was her mom’s pride and joy.

She loved the vibrant colors of Fall showcased throughout the yard. Her mom had the greenest thumb around. Liv couldn’t keep anything alive for long. Probably had something to do with the fact that she would forget to water them.

Lawson came to stand beside her. “It kills me to lose your trust. I refuse to give up on us. Liv, come back to Safe Haven and let’s work through this. I told Kristi she has two weeks to find another pack,” he told her.

“This isn’t about Kristi. There will always be someone like her trying to come between us. This is bigger than that. You’re a shifter, and I’m human. It will never work, Alpha! I don’t fit in your world. The sooner we accept that, the better,” Liv explained and wiped her eyes.

“I disagree. Yes, we’re different, but I don’t believe for one minute that we don’t belong together,” Lawson divulged.

Liv felt like her heart was about to explode. The pressure in her chest was constricting her airwaves. She needed a paper sack to prevent the panic attack that threatened.

“I can’t do this right now. Please go,” Liv pleaded as she clutched her throat.

Lawson stared at her for several minutes before he turned and walked towards the front door. “This is bullshit. Liv, don’t do this,” he demanded.

“Just go,” she muttered and turned her back to him so he wouldn’t see the tears start up again.

Moments later, she heard the door open and close. Liv sank to the floor and put her head in her hands. She listened to his truck crank, and then the sound of his old beater faded in the distance.

He left, taking a massive chunk of her heart with him.

Liv felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to see her mom crouched beside her on the floor.

“Oh, honey, what happened?” she asked, and Liv could hear the concern in her tone.

“It’s over,” she replied and fell into her mom’s embrace.

Sobs wracked her body as Liv allowed the hurt to escape. She should’ve known her happiness would end. True and lasting love existed only in fairytales. For a brief period, she felt like a princess and Lawson was her knight in shining armor.

Now, she was in so much physical pain from losing him, Liv could feel her heart breaking into tiny pieces, and she didn’t know if she would survive.