Side Story 1-14

Side Story 1-14
Roxanne

I'm glad I decided to open up to Paul. That was the best decision I could've ever made. He gets me on a level that no one else has before, not even my siblings.
I realized that if I wanted to keep him a part of my life, I would have to stop pushing him out when things got bad.

I started seeing a therapist. With the therapist's and Paul's help, I was able to work through all of the feelings I had revolving around what happened to Liam and his subsequent leaving.
I started to understand that while I am responsible for my siblings, I will not be able to stop every bad thing from happening to them. It's all a part of life.

Time continued to fly by. We still didn't know where Liam was, nor had we heard anything from him.
Sometimes I would get so lost in thought about Liam, I would just sit there staring out of the window for minutes on end.

Talking to Paul would always bring me back to reality, so when I found myself dwelling on Liam's situation for a while, I would snap myself out of it and call Paul.
He would bring me back to the present in the most wondrous of ways.

He would whisper in my ear over the phone, sending shivers through my body, a
s he would talk about all the things he wanted me to do to him.
Time passed like this. I got more and more wrapped up in Paul.

He was staying at my house most nights, and pretty soon, I think I'll ask him to move in with me.
It's been two years since Liam left. I miss him so much. I hope that wherever he is, he's happy and healthy.

The firm has been super busy; we've taken on bigger clients, so there's more work to be done.
However, I have not let that get in the way of my spending time with Paul. I want him to know that he is the top priority in my life.

So I make sure I'm available when he needs me, especially when his dad passes away.
He's so heartbroken, but I'm there with him every step of the way. Nudging him when he needs it, and keeping him on track when he can't hold himself up.
I hold him when he would break down crying in the middle of the night.

I let him know that I'm here for him as I murmured soothing words and let out calming pheromones.
He always stops crying and looks at me with his big, beautiful blue eyes.

"Thank you," he whispers.

I just kiss his forehead and his nose and reply, "No need to thank me, I'm your alpha. This is what I'm here for.. As much as you want to be there for me when I'm going through tough times, the same holds true for me."
"I want your tears and your pain, your smiles and your laughter. The good with the bad." I finish, repeating the words he said to me two years ago.

He gives me a watery smile and leans forward, pressing his lips to mine in a soft kiss. "I can't thank you enough, Roxanne. You have been everything I could wish for in an alpha," he says softly.
I return the smile and say, "I love you, Paul. I don't think you know how much. I would do anything, be anything, and say anything you want me to say. That's how much you own me."

He flushes a pretty shade of pink and ducks his head into my chest, tucking his face between my breasts, "I love you too, Roxanne. So, so much," he mumbles, his breath sending shivers down my spine.
I wrap my arms around him and pull him close until our bodies are flush, "You don't know how grateful I am that you gave me another chance," I murmur.

He pulls his head back and looks at me when he says, "I do know, you show me every day. I love you so much for that."
He kisses my lips, slipping his tongue into my mouth. I groan, but I don't push; I can tell he's just seeking comfort and reassurance.

He pulls away from the kiss and tucks his head back into my chest. I kiss the top of his head, listening as his breathing changes as he soon falls asleep.
I listen to him breathing for a few minutes before I close my eyes and follow him into slumber.



Levi is in my office the next day, and we're talking about a case we'll be in court for tomorrow when he gets a phone call from Chase.
I listen in to his one-sided conversation.

Levi says, "Hey, Chase, my man, what's up?" Then he listens quietly for a moment before saying, "What? Why Liam's house?"
I perk up at the mention of Liam's name. What are they talking about?
Levi is quiet for another moment before he says, "Fine, this had better be good."

Levi hangs up the phone and looks at me. I say, "What? What's going on?"
He shakes his head and says, "Chase wants me, you, and Tim to meet him at Liam's house in half an hour."

"Why?"

He shakes his head again, "I don't know, he didn't say."
I stand up, "Okay, let's get Tim and be on our way."
We walk out of my office and head to Tim's office. I knock on the door before I turn the handle and walk inside. Tim looks up from his computer with a question in his gaze.

"What's up, guys? Everything okay?"
I say, "Chase wants us all to meet at Liam's house."

He looks at me with a puzzled expression on his face, "Liam's house? Why there?"
Levi and I both shake our heads. Levi says, "We don't know, we were going to go and find out, you ready?"
Tim nods, "Sure, I'm not doing anything, let's go."

We turn and walk out of Tim's office and head out of the building. We all get into Levi's car and he drives us to Liam's house.
We all file out of the car and walk to Liam's house. Levi unlocks the door, and we all walk inside.

We walk to the kitchen to see Chase standing by the island. We all look at him with puzzled expressions on our faces.

Chase looks at us and smirks before he says, "Thank you all for coming, I wanted everyone here to hear this cause I only want to say it once."
"I think enough time has gone by of me waiting, praying, looking for any sign that Liam was coming back."
"I'm sure you all remember how hard things were for me, dealing with Liam's absence. You all have picked up my pieces at some point."
"Which, by the way, I have never fully thanked y'all for. I appreciate you guys being there for me, treating me like family. I appreciate all you've done in Liam's absence."
"So, I'm saying all of that to say that the Blessed Mother has helped me move on."

We all stare at him in shock, at a loss for words.
It's Tim who finds his voice first as he exclaims with his eyebrows raised, "What?!"

Chase continues to look at us with a smug look on his face. Then he says, "I bought you guys here cause I wanted you to meet him."
I'm vibrating with anger as I turn in the direction that Chase is holding out his hand to. Levi, Tim, and I all let out gasps as we see who's standing there.

It's Liam!
I'm the first one who moves as I run over to Liam and wrap my arms around him tightly. Levi and Tim soon join us, laughing, creating a group hug with Liam at the center.
We order food and sit down to eat with our baby brother, who's finally returned home after over two years.