Chapter 18 Hello Alpha Liam

Chapter 18 Hello Alpha Liam
TALIA POV

A sharp ache pounded through my head as I opened my eyes, my brows tightening in pain.

“Mm…” I groaned softly, burying my face in my hands as the headache worsened.

I tried to remember what happened yesterday, but I couldn’t. All I saw were blurry flashes that made no sense. Then suddenly, it hit me.

Zane.

My breath caught as the memory came rushing back. My chest tightened, and my fingers trembled slightly as I pushed the blanket off and looked down at myself.

I froze.

It wasn’t a dream.

It was real.

I swallowed hard, unease settling deep in my chest. His touch… it didn’t feel the way I thought it would. Something about it felt off.

If it wasn’t Zane…

Then who was it?

My heart skipped, panic rising quickly, but I shook my head and pushed the thought away.

I got out of bed and walked to the mirror, staring at my reflection. My eyes slowly dropped to my neck.

Nothing.

The mark was gone.

I lifted my hand and touched the spot gently. There was no sting, no pain. It was completely gone.

“How…?” I muttered under my breath, confusion written all over my face.

I turned away and walked into the bathroom, washing up as I tried to clear my thoughts. When I finished, I stepped out and opened the wardrobe, brushing my fingers over the clothes.

Everything looked expensive, carefully selected.

I picked a green ball gown and put it on, adjusting it properly before sitting in front of the mirror.

A soft knock sounded on the door.

“Come in,” I said calmly while fixing my hair.

The door opened and a maid walked in. She looked older, her posture straight and her eyes lowered.

“Luna, Alpha Zane has requested your presence in the dining hall,” she said with a slight bow.

I nodded and reached for a red lipstick, applying it carefully. I pressed my lips together and gave my reflection a small smile before standing up. I held the hem of my dress slightly to make walking easier.

I stepped out of the room, the maid following behind me.

We walked through the hallway in silence, my heels clicking softly against the floor. After passing a few rooms, we reached a wide open space.

I slowed down, a large dining table filled the room. Zane sat on one side and Ariel sat opposite him, the air felt tense immediately.

The maid bowed and left. I adjusted my dress slightly, gripping the fabric as I walked forward.

Ariel looked at me, then rolled her eyes and leaned back in her chair.

Zane didn’t say anything.

I stopped in front of a chair, standing still and waiting for him to help me with the chair but he didn't react, not even a glance in my direction. I cleared my throat softly, the sound cutting through the silence. That got his attention. Zane looked at me, his face completely neutral, but his eyes locked with mine, sharp and unreadable.

“Do you expect me to help you sit?”

His voice came out cold, and Ariel burst into laughter immediately.

Heat rushed to my face. I stood there for a second, frozen and embarrassed, before I pulled the chair myself and sat down.

“Pathetic. A Luna who needs help just to sit like the queen of the whole pack, waiting for the Alpha to attend to her.”

Ariel’s mocking tone dripped with disdain as she picked up her fork.

“I am the Luna,” I muttered under my breath, but loud enough for her to hear, lifting my chin slightly as I met her gaze. “And you are the spare.”

Satisfaction flickered through me as her expression darkened instantly.

“You...” Ariel snapped, slamming her fist against the table.

“Enough.” Zane’s voice cut through the room, sharp and commanding. “Sit down and eat your food.”

Ariel clenched her jaw but slowly sat back down, shooting me a glare.

Zane’s gaze shifted to me.

“And you,” he added, his tone colder, “don’t ever do that again.”

My brows pulled together slightly.

What did I do?

I said nothing.

I reached for the fork, gripping it tightly before stabbing it into the raw meat in front of me. I wasn’t much of a foodie, but for some reason, I didn’t feel hungry at all.

My eyes kept drifting to the empty seat beside me.

Liam’s seat.

Where was he?

I didn’t understand why I kept thinking about him, but something about him pulled at me in a way I couldn’t explain. It wasn’t the same feeling I had with Zane.

It was…different.

“Is something wrong? Why aren’t you eating?”

Zane’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I looked up as he cut into his meat and brought it to his mouth, completely composed.

“The meat isn’t something I prefer. Human food tastes better,” Ariel added, her lips curling slightly.

I rolled my eyes subtly and gave a small nod, pretending to agree.

How could I tell him I wasn’t eating because I was waiting for someone?

Not because I wanted to… but because his presence gave me a strange sense of peace.

I tightened my grip on the fork and stabbed the meat again.

“I see you’re all here.”

A familiar voice echoed through the room, my head snapped up immediately as I saw Liam walk in.