My car broke down

[Vivian's POV]

At the sound of the horn, I turned to see Liam, who had stopped his car near me. He smiled and waved. "What happened? Why haven't you gone yet?" He asked, noticing me standing alone outside the police station at that time of night.

"My car broke down. I called a tow truck to have it picked up," I said, looking at him with worried eyes and scratching the back of my neck. He nodded understandingly and said, unlocking the car, "Come on, I'll drop you home."

I glanced at his black car, then back at him, shaking my head. Looking across the road, I started waiting for someone else to come. Liam got out of the car and took my hand, making me sit inside. As soon as he touched me, I recoiled in shock, as if I had been electrocuted. Controlling my racing heart, I said, "How many times have I forbidden you not to hold my hand like this?" My voice trembled with a mix of fear and anger.

"Why?" he asked, looking into my hazel blue eyes, smiling, and tightening his grip on my hand. I tried to free myself from his grasp like a fed-up fish, but it was in vain. His warmth and steady presence soothed my frayed nerves.

"Do you love me?"

"Shut up," I replied, trying to calm the storm inside me.

"Tell me, do you love me?" he pressed. The way I ignored everyone else and only cared about him made me realize that anyone in his place would have understood the same. His smile faded slightly as he searched my face for an answer.

I hesitated for a moment before finally answering, "I don't know."

His heart seemed to sink at my response, but he didn’t let go of my hand. "Why don't you know?"

"I just... I don't feel the same way you do," I said softly, avoiding his gaze.

A lump formed in my throat as I saw the disappointment in his eyes. "Is there someone else?"

I shook my head. "No, it’s not that. I just don’t think I'm ready for a relationship right now."

He sighed, a mix of disappointment and relief washing over him as he didn’t see any worry on my face. I could hear my heartbeat very clearly. He held my hand in one of his and opened the car door with the other, signaling me to sit.

I resisted for a moment longer, but then I relented and allowed him to guide me into the car. For a while, I stared into his dark eyes, searching for something—an answer to a question or perhaps something for myself, but he was good at hiding everything.

Suddenly, he leaned closer to me, causing me to lean back against the seat and close my eyes tightly. I hadn’t expected this move at all. I felt his hot breath on my neck, and the scent of his uniform stirred something within me. His hand searched for something on my waist, and I couldn’t help but shiver at his touch.

"What’s the way, Liam?" I said, barely able to control my breathing.

"Belt," he replied. "I’m just putting on the belt."

At that, I opened my eyes and saw him. His face was so close to mine that if I made a move, our lips would probably collide. A surge of desire coursed through me, and I couldn’t deny that I was attracted to him.

I held my breath, looking at him blankly. He gazed into my hazel blue eyes, then glanced at my lips and whispered softly in my ear, "Breathe."

His words tickled my skin, sending shivers down my spine. I closed my eyes again, savoring the sensation of his warm breath against my earlobe.

As he started driving, my heart pounded in my chest while we drove deeper into the night. We journeyed in complete silence, and the unspoken tension made the trip feel much longer than it was. Though I wished to break the silence, I was uncertain what to say and didn’t want to cause any discomfort between us.

"My car," I asked before getting out of his car.

"I will see to it; you go home and rest," he said, keeping his hand on my hair. Without saying another word, I quickly got out of the car and walked toward my house. As I walked, I couldn’t help but think about how kind he was to offer to take care of my car. I had only met him a few years ago, but there was something about him that made me feel safe and comfortable.

When I reached my house, I went straight to my room and lay down on my bed. I closed my eyes and tried to relax, but my mind kept wandering back to him. I wondered what he was doing right now and if he was thinking about me too.

After a while, I decided to text him to thank him for his help. I picked up my phone and typed out a message: "I just wanted to say thank you for bringing me home. I also wanted to apologize for how I acted before." After sending the message, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders.

"Has anyone doubted your identity?" someone asked.

"Not yet," Liam replied, straightening the chains.

"So why is it so late?" Liam's hands stopped at this question, and like a gust of wind, my face flashed in front of his eyes, but he didn’t say anything in response.

My name alone was enough to reassure him that he was not alone; it soothed him to the core. He had always felt like an outsider, not quite fitting in with the rest of the world. But when he heard my name, it was like a warm embrace that enveloped him and made him feel he belonged. I was a beacon of hope for him. In a world that often feels cold and indifferent, my name reminded him that warmth and kindness still existed, and for that, he was eternally grateful.

"Alpha Liam, you know you don't need a moon to transform?" Gamma Kai, a man with black wavy hair and brown eyes, began asking, question after question because of Liam's late arrival.

Not getting an answer, Gamma Kai looked at Liam, who was smiling without reason.

"What about the case?" he asked again, ignoring Liam's smile.