Episode 14

★ LIAM ★

I am still struggling to cope with the loss of my family. Even though I know I can never forget them, they will always hold a special place in my heart.

Despite the pain of their absence, I know I must move forward with my life. If I am to do so, the only way I can find peace is by seeking justice for their senseless deaths.

However, I don't even know where to begin. I have no idea who these perpetrators are or where they may be hiding.

Even though I don't feel an immediate need to seek revenge, I know it's only a matter of time before I do something to avenge my family's death.

Soon after, my Uncle Sydney, who had been out for a while, walked into the living room. "Welcome back," I greeted him. However, my surprise grew when I saw a girl accompanying him.

"Thank you, my dear," he replied as he helped the girl carry her belongings and set them on the table. I hoped he would introduce her soon.

"Meet Zyphyrine," Dr. Sydney introduced the new girl to me. As he spoke, the lady interjected, "Oh, he looks so handsome, just like the way you described him to me," stepping closer to me with a smile that mildly irritated me.

To be truthful, I sensed that our spirits did not mesh well from the moment I laid eyes on her; there was nothing about her that appealed to me.

"Anyway, I'm so happy to meet you, Liam," she said, extending her dirty hand for a handshake. I gave her a disdainful look and did not reciprocate the gesture.

"Oops, sorry," she apologized, retracting her hand as she could see I was not willing to shake it. She looked at Sydney, puzzled by my behavior.

"Come on, Zyphyrine, let me show you to your room," Sydney said to her, acting like he didn't notice the awkward interaction between us. They then left for her room.

I kept staring at them until they disappeared into the inner room, although I must admit that the lady was quite beautiful and pretty.

However, I had a nagging feeling that Uncle Sydney had brought her here solely for my sake. But how could he think that she could make me happy in my current condition? I needed to have a conversation with him about this.

Not long, the two of them emerged from the room.

"Uncle Sydney, can we talk for a moment?" I requested, motioning for him to follow me to a corner.

"Who is that girl, and why did you bring her here to live with us?" I inquired, feeling a bit irritated.

"She's your mate, Liam. She's here to keep you company and bring a smile to your face every now and then," he answered. However, I found his choice of words somewhat offensive.

"I feel very uncomfortable with her being here. I'm not sure why. And even if she happens to be my age-mate, what difference does that make? There are many people my age out there," I explained, while uncle Sydney smiled.

"When I say that she is your mate, I mean that she is your wolf mate and your future partner," he announced, leaving me stunned and speechless.

I don't get what the fuck he is trying to say? my future wife? how can he point her out to be my future wife.

"I'm confused, how could you say that she's my future wife? Can you really see the future?" I asked, trying to make sense of his statement.

"Well, as a lone wolf with many abilities, I have a knack for sensing things that others might miss. Sometimes I can easily discern things about people that they don't even know about themselves. In this case, I have a strong feeling that this girl is meant to be your future partner," he explained, placing his hand on my shoulders.

I brushed his hand off and looked at him with annoyance, still skeptical of his claim.

"We are talking of a girl I just told you that I feel so uncomfortable from the moment I laid eyes on her," I explained.

"That discomfort you're feeling is actually attraction," Sydney said causing me to almost shout in frustration.

However, I managed to collect myself and responded calmly, "Don't tell me how I feel. I know my own emotions."

"Of course you don't," he shot back, leaving me to simply stare at him.

"You don't really know yourself, Liam. There's a lot I need to teach you, starting with having a good time with Zyphyrine," he said as he gently tapped my shoulder.

"I can teach you everything you need to know about yourself. Just give her a chance and enjoy spending time with her. You'll like her," he said before leaving me in silence.

★ ZEPHYRINE ★

I'm not sure why he reacted that way towards me. Does it mean that Sydney lied to me? I don't understand why someone would be so rude to their friend.

Despite his recent behavior, I still find him attractive, but I'm starting to feel hesitant about getting too close to him.

However, I shouldn't be too quick to judge him until I hear his side of the story, especially considering what Sydney said about him.

Losing family members in such a way is always a painful experience to overcome. I believe that might be contributing to Liam's strange behavior towards me, but I hope he changes soon.

Soon after, Sydney walked back into the living room with Liam.

"Zyphyrine, can you stay here with him for a moment? I just have something to attend to," he said to me.

"Do you mean you're leaving the house?" I asked, just to confirm what he was trying to say.

"Yes, I won't be gone for long. I'll be back soon," he replied. I nodded with a small smile and he left the house.

Now, it was just Liam and me in the room. I assumed Sydney left to give us a chance to talk.

However, I couldn't bring myself to look at Liam's face. I just stared at the ground, aware of his intense gaze fixed on me. I couldn't bear the look, so he walked over to the couch and sat down and kept looking at me.

I attempted to approach him to speak, but I couldn't even bring myself to look in his direction. How am I supposed to talk to him if I can't even make eye contact?

Despite this, I ultimately decided to retreat back to my room. However, my conscience weighed heavy on me and I felt compelled to apologize for his loss.

Summoning all my courage, I forced myself to face him, though my heart raced with anxiety. To my surprise, he was already staring at me, as if he harbored some sort of ill will towards me.

I mustered the courage to approach him and took a seat beside him. He gazed at me intently, causing my heart to pound with nervousness.

"Um, Liam, I heard about what happened to your family and I..." I began to speak, but he rudely cut me off.

"I don't fucking need your condolence! The only thing I want from you is for you to leave this house the same way you came in!" He shouted at me before storming out of the room in anger.

I sat there, staring at the empty space he left behind, wondering what was going on with him. After a moment of reflection, I realized that he was right.

I need to give it more time and see if anything changes. If things don't improve, I will have to leave the house for his sake, since that will make him happy. However, it would be a painful experience for me, as being rejected by my mate would leave a lasting emotional scar.

Moreover, I remember being homeless before Sydney took me in, and I don't want to return to that situation. Therefore, going back to being homeless is not an option for me.

Here's a better version:

"I think it's time for me to start preparing dinner," I said, concluding my thoughts before making my way to the kitchen.

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★ Alpha Jesse ★

Words cannot express how happy I am that my daughter has finally accepted me as her father.

Now that I know her weakness is her mother, I am determined to find Ulva and bring her back. Both of them are my source of happiness, and I want to see us together again.

Currently, I am in my room going through the company's documents that I recently acquired when a knock sounded on the door.

"Come in," I called out and Silva stepped into the room.

"Why are you here, Silva?" I asked, confused because I didn't request his presence.

"We found someone who was wounded and is now at the pack's clinic," he replied as I nodded. "Yes, go on. What about him?"

"I think he's one of us. Your daughter, Lucia, found him. He has our mark and was brutally beaten by unknown assailants," Silva explained, which left me surprised.

I need to see this for myself to fully understand the situation.

"let's go see him" I ordered