42

DAISY

An awkward silence followed as Liam made his confession. I wasn't sure what to say, as I hadn't seen his confession coming. Or maybe I did and that was why I tried avoiding this conversation. I didn't wanna have to discuss feelings with him. It would only make our friendship turn sour. And it would only force me to remember the real reason why I avoided opening my heart to another.

My heart was beating in the tense atmosphere hovering over us. His hazel tears glistened with tears, and I would have reached out to comfort him if he hadn't just said something so disturbing. He was sad, and it had to do with the meeting with his relatives. I don't know much about human, billionaire families but staying close to Liam these past years gave me a little preview of how much pressure they go through.

As a young heir, you have so many responsibilities to take care of. The pressure would make anyone crack, but they can't avoid it. It's the weight that comes with the crown they wear. All these years, I stayed by his side, ready to pull him right out when he starts drowning in the depression that comes with the pressure. We've been there for each other, and I would gladly hear him out and soothe him tonight if he'll just not say stuff like being in love with me. It's only gonna make it impossible for me to be there for him.

I tried stepping back, and away from his touch, ”Liam…“

”You do know that, Daisy,” He insisted, shutting my protest by cupping my face and bringing his dangerously close to mine, ”If you say you don't, then you a goddamn liar,“

Did I? Did I know that he harbored feelings for me all these years? Did I know that Liam Lawrence, my human male best friend, was grooming feelings most discreetly? Did I have a clue about it?

Hating to admit it to myself but knowing I must, I bowed my head, shutting my eyes briefly.

Yes. I knew. Right from the day I met Liam to the days we spent together, I knew he saw me as more than just a friend.

From the moment Mr. Lawrence introduced me to him, I could spot the sparks going off in his eyes. They didn't go unnoticed, I just decided to pretend not to have noticed.

What's the point of confronting him about it, or giving him the green light to profess his feelings, when I have no plans of accepting his feelings?

Liam is a great guy, any girl would wanna be loved and cherished by him. He had the class, he had the money, he had the love, he had the looks, he had it all. But he just isn't it for me. No guy is. My crazy heart still beats for the one guy that has refused to get out of my heart and head. Logan O'Hara. Even the thought of his name sends chills down my spine.

With all the therapy sessions I've been through and how hard I tried to pretend that I was okay, it was depressing having to admit to myself that nothing has changed.

I was still in love with the one guy that I should be loathing. Writing a hundred sad books didn't make me get better. I tried pouring all my sadness in my ink, but nah, didn't work. Cursing at him in my private time, and forcing myself not to stalk him on social media or try to call him up didn't do a thing in dwindling the feelings I had for him.

And it wouldn't be fair to Liam or any other guy if I got into a romantic relationship with them when I knew who my heart truly belonged to. I wouldn't wanna lead anyone on, or hurt them like Logan hurt me. He's probably living the best of his life, while I'm still unable to forget him. How pathetic I am!

“Daisy. Hey, look at me,” Liam whispered huskily, tilting my face up. Tears streamed down my eyes and he wiped them off with his fingers,

”I'm sorry, Liam,“ I sobbed, holding his hand that was cupping my face, “I knew you had feelings for me, but…”

“But you don't feel the same way,” He completed, and I could hear the hurt in his voice. He was trying so hard not to break down in front of me.

“I'm sorry…” This was what I was trying to avoid, that's why I pretended these past years like I didn't know how he felt for me. We'll just end up hurting each other.

“Don't be. Not feeling the same way now doesn't mean you won't. All I need to do is give you more time, right?”

He wanted to hold on to a little bit of hope that there was a chance that we might become a thing. But does such hope exist? Would there ever come a time when I'd be freed from the shackles of my feelings for Logan and learn to love another? Deep down, I don't see such a possibility. So I couldn't give him false hopes.

“Liam, we're different. I'm a werewolf and you're human. I don't see how it's gonna work,“ I said. It was one of the reasons, and a valid excuse to reject his feelings. If I told him that I was still in love with the guy who hurt me in the past, it'll kill him.

Liam Lawrence might be all high and mighty, with a gait like some Greek God. But in terms of feelings and emotions, he was weak. He hesitates in trying to show his feelings because he fears he might be taken for granted. That's why he keeps away from socializing and making friends. The fewer people in his life, the fewer the chances of him getting hurt, that was his signatory statement.

But when he's down for you, he goes the extra mile. He'll do anything to protect a bond, as long as the feeling is mutual. For the longest time, I've known I was his kryptonite and one of the few people in this world that could hurt him. And because of that, I've been so careful not to. That's why I indulge almost all his whims, I don't ever wanna be the reason behind his hurting.

But in this situation, it can't be helped. I can't go against my heart and that only means he might eventually get hurt, someday. I dreaded seeing that day, the day I would hurt Liam Lawrence.

”Daisy, our love would be strong enough to overcome our reality of coming from different worlds. You don't have a mate yet, and there's a little chance you would since your wolf side is inactive. So loving me is easy, and I know Father would appeal to your Alpha on our behalf. He'll give us his blessings because he knows I'll take good care of you. Daisy, please…”

”Liam…” My words choked as he pulled me into a hug, nuzzling my neck,

“Just say there's a chance for us, tell me you'll try to love me back. That's all I want to hear. Is it too much to ask?“

Even with his face hidden away at my neck, I could still hear the tears in his voice. It only broke my heart into debris.

Dear goddess, what do I do? How do I resolve this without hurting anyone? What if I never learn to love him like he's asking for? What will happen to our friendship? What will happen to us?

Liam let me go and his brooding eyes gored into mine, “Is it because we're different or because you still love him?”

”What?” My throat dries instantly, and I did a series of coughing to clear it up,

“Your Ex. The guy who broke your heart, and took your virginity. I'm asking if you still have feelings for him,“

The way he said 'took your virginity' made it sound as if Logan had forced himself on me. Like he was some rapist. It didn't feel good hearing him put it that way. And no matter what happens, the fact remains that I gave Logan my virginity. Maybe he'd manipulated me into giving it to him, but yeah, It was all me. Logan might have been a lot of things, but he wasn't a rapist.

But Good Lord, why am I defending him? After all I went through in his hands, I shouldn't care if a volcano erupts and takes him in. But I do care, and that's the fucked up part of all this. I still gave a fuck about Logan.

“Your silence makes it seem like you still do,“ Liam said, jolting me from my thoughts,

“No,“ I blurted out, ”No, I don't. I already told you I was over it,“

It was the lie of the century and I might probably rot in hell for it. But that was all I could say to him. If I admitted that I still loved Logan, then I'll lose my friendship with Liam. I've lost a friend once because of my feelings for Logan. I lost Suzy because of Logan, I don't wanna go through that again.

Liam gave a weak smile, but it didn't reflect in his eyes. He pulled me in for another hug, this time he held me longer.

”I'll wait forever, D. You're the only girl I wanna spend the rest of my life with. Father gave me till we graduated to pick a wife. Do you think you can learn to love me before we graduate?”

”I'll try,” I sobbed out, burying my head in his chest. My heart shrank from the pains induced by my lies. Even if he gave me the whole year, it'll never be enough to rid myself of the spell Logan cast on me. A spell that said I was gonna love just him in all my life.

”Thank you,“ He said and kissed my forehead, “I'll let you get dressed now,”

”Okay,“ I nodded, forcing a smile. It was hard to suppress my torrent of tears but I held it in. He needed to see me smile, so he can't see through my lies. My sad lies.

His legs seemed reluctant to leave, but he finally gave in and headed out.

”I'll have your locks changed first thing tomorrow. I'm sorry about it,” He apologized as he got to my doorway.

”It's okay,“ I smiled reassuringly and he headed out.

With him gone, my heavy legs led me to the bed. I clutched at my heart, trying to caress away the pains that were welling up inside it.

Daisy Vince, the liar. Daisy Vince, the rejected one. Daisy Vince, the one who is gonna spend all her life being miserable. Daisy Vince, the lowly one.

At this moment, all the fame I acquired over the years didn't seem to matter anymore. Because despite my winnings, I didn't get the one thing I yearned for – Logan's love. My heart was still aching, and there was no fixing it.

The low vibration of my phone on the nightstand got me looking up. I reached for it and it was Father.

I quickly wiped my tears and cleared my throat in an attempt to erase the tears in it. I didn't want Father to know that I'd been crying.

“Hello, Father,“ I said with fake glee as I picked up the phone.

”Daisy, sweetie. Did I wake you up?” His hoarse, deep voice infiltrated my ears, “I'm sorry,”

”No, Father. It's fine. I'm sorry I didn't call earlier, I just haven't been changed to,“ I quickly apologized.

”It's okay. I know you're busy trying to get settled in,”

“Yup,” I said lowly, popping the 'p',

“Is the house Lawrence gave to you okay? Do you love your new room? Is there anything you wanna fix?“

“No, Father. Everything is great, thank you so much,”

A brief silence and he said, ”What's wrong, sweetie? You've been crying,”

At his words, my tears sprang loose and flooded down. I clasped my mouth to muffle my cries. But it was hard.

”Daisy,“ His voice was stern, and it only reminded me of Logan's voice, “What's wrong?“ He asked, using his Alpha tone.

I felt suppressed by the Alpha tone and it got me opening up to him.

”It still hurts, Father. Hate to admit it, but it does. It hurts like it was just yesterday…“

“I'm sorry, my child. It's my fault. If I hadn't asked you not to accept the rejection, then maybe it wouldn't hurt this much,“

”It hurts,“ I sobbed harder, “Even if I accept the rejection, it's still gonna hurt. The pain I feel runs beyond the mate bond, it goes deeper into my soul. I spent years trying to get over him. I feel so weak right now knowing I haven't,“

Admitting this to Father wasn't so hard. He was Logan's Father and had been my Father figure too. More than that, he knew how cruel his son has been, and he knows how much I cried these past years. Beta Xariel keeps him updated about everything.

“My deepest wish is to see Logan and you rule this pack as Alpha and Luna. But that doesn't mean that I want you to forgive him so easily. I still haven't forgiven him, either, even though he's my son,“

“What are you saying, Father?“

“I'm saying that when you eventually see him, I hope you don't let the love you feel for him blind the rage you should feel. Make it hard for him to get back your love. Show him you are a priceless jewel, and deserve every bit of his love. Don't take it easy on him, as he didn't take it easy on you back then. But no matter what you do, never forget that you two are destined for each other. And when the time comes and your love is the only thing that can save him, I hope you save him. Logan might be a jerk, but he's still my son, and he's still your mate,”

”Yes, Father.“

But if I'm destined to Logan, then what happens to Liam and his feelings for me? What do I do about that?