41

The evening turned into dusk as Liam watched the Mystic Cove pack house from afar. Standing in the distance, a perfect angle to catch a glimpse of what happened between Colsin and Neliyah. It was very upsetting, to say the least. He’d been standing there for hours following the school day.

It was only after Colsin Stone’s departure from the room that the young Lycan finally decided to leave, but he did a moment longer just to watch her. She was a sight to behold and soon enough she would be his.

While Liam saw the optimism in this small setback, his beast, Vin, was not so happy about his decision to leave. The Lycan within was so enraged, it took a great deal of Liam’s restraint to keep him at bay.

“There’s no need for rage, Vin. Despite the small setback, this is a step in our favor. The more he pushes her the farther apart they become. The closer she gets to me.”

There was a malicious grin on the young lycan’s handsome face as he thought about the possibilities he’d have with Neliyah Larken once she was officially his-and his she would be in his mind. There was no question about it.

With a sense of renewed confidence, Liam sunk into the shadows of the forest, his gaze still on the girl who he planned would be his for the taking soon enough.

“You’ll be mine soon, Neliyah. I will take you away from all of this one day.”

Liam turned away from the packhouse, and started deeper into the forest, tearing his clothes away from himself as he began his descent further into the woods.

With every step his pace became faster, and his body began to morph and transform, his bones and limbs dislocating and relocating to shift into a creature far larger than he was before.

The sleek dark fur that suddenly replaced the fairness of skin covered his form, his arms and legs replaced by large paws with claws larger than curved swords. With a large and dominant howl, the huge beast galloped through the woods in true form.

The run through the Mystic Cove’s Forest spanned nearly two-hundred miles, and every step taken was one that the beast reveled in, needing a release from the stress of their goals.

Eventually, when Vin surfaced from the forest, he traveled another twenty minutes before entering a worn city line, shrouded in darkness where once everything was alight and lively. And still Liam found this and nowhere else a place that he’d always call home. Moon Mist Cove.

“Welcome home,” said Vin to his counterpart as he walked past the city limit sign.

“Good to be back,” said Liam.

As they walked through the once great city of Moon Mist Cove, Liam, as he’d do often, took stock of the beautiful home that had been burned and abandoned nearly two decades ago.

There were buildings that used to be great and beautiful in stature, little knick-knack shops, and vintage stores once loved by all, now dilapidated and abandoned since the great war.

The vivid memory of it all, though Liam was only a child when it happened, was something that the young Lycan would not soon forget.

Further ahead, was a large gate stretching and surrounding the length of what was left of Moon Mist. Liam stood in wait as two keepers stood atop the wide arching entrance, guarding the wall. As soon as they saw Liam, the gates began to open.

As the Lycan began to walk down the street, Liam began to retake his human form, his body gradually transforming back into his other half.

Confidently, the young Lycan walks down the length of Moon Mist’s Street in bare form. It was curfew so many weren’t out besides those who guarded the town. Those who were present bowed in acknowledgment when they saw Liam passing by.

Soon after Liam was in full statuesque form, he approached a large mansion-like home, its size and architecture showing how once prominent and great the place was. Its prominence could be glimpsed through its charred and dilapidated remains.

It was once the pinnacle of Moon Mist, as the greatest alpha family in its history once resided there with their beautiful little girl, a place that was now the center of all that was left of Moon Mist Cove. It was this same place that Liam thought it not robbery to make his own home.

Liam walked into the old home and as he did, an older man surfaces from behind him, closing the door before following the young Liam.

“Did you have a good run, Liam?” the older man asked his nephew he followed him down the hallway.

“It was the same as it always is, uncle,” the young Lycan beta replied. “It’s always something about traveling back home,” he confessed as he went into a master bedroom on the second floor and started a shower.

As Liam prepared to clean himself off, his uncle stood next to the bathroom door, arms crossed. He wordlessly gestured for the human servant to come in and set out his master’s clothes before asking another question.

“You seem a bit offput today, I must say.”

Liam’s harsh exhale could be heard through the shower that he was taking. He didn’t make it a secret that he was a little frustrated despite the optimism that he had earlier.

“There was a hitch in the plan to take our time,” he said.

It was when he heard this that Collin, Liam’s uncle perked up, and turned. “What do you mean? What happened?” he asked.

The water from the shower stopped and Liam stepped out before answering his uncle again. “The alpha’s son is her mate.”

“Yes,” replied Collin. “This, I know. He isn’t interested in her, though, according to you. So, I fail to see what the problem is-”

Liam emerged from the bathroom with the towel around his waist. The servant immediately saw to him after.

“You remember how the great Luna, Rhiannon looked.” He recalled her beauty very vividly.

“It was something to behold,” said Collin as he too recollected the alpha’s mate. “None rivaled her beauty.”

Liam grinned as he imagined how enviable he’d be with Neliyah Larken on his arm. “Her daughter is her spitting image,” he said with pride.

Collin watched his nephew’s reaction to the mere mention of the girl. “I take it, by your demeanor that you and she hit it off better than you let on.”

Liam chuckled nonchalantly. “The girl is beautiful, uncle. Meek when the time calls for it, hard, and aggressive when she needs to be. She was born to be a Luna.” He exhaled, still frustrated by the obstacle that was the alpha son. “I know that she can bring Moon Mist back to its former glory.”

“Well, then we need to work extra hard to get her to see the light.”

Liam nodded in agreement and turned away, putting on a pair of shorts. “That, we do.”

“So, are you going to tell me what this hitch in the plan was?” he asked.

“She’s been moved into the packhouse. I’m sure so that wretched Stone kid can keep a closer eye on her.”

“I’m sure that the young Luna garners a lot of attention. He notices this because he is one who has always been intrigued by her as well. You should have known that it wouldn’t be so easy to get to her. The Stone men are a proud pack who loves power. Mating with one’s soul mate garners much power. Imagine being mated to a young Luna with a powerful gene pool.”

“He doesn’t know who or what she truly is,” Liam said.

“But he has a gut feeling,” said Collin. “Which is why he is not so easily willing to let her go. Her beauty, I’m sure, only adds to the difficulty of releasing her from their bond.”

Collin breaking it down for Liam only served to make the young Lycan more frustrated than before. He began to rub his temples to alleviate the oncoming migraine that was coming on.

“I’ve had to reveal my true nature earlier than intended,” Liam confessed.

“What?” Collin incredulously countered. “Why?”

“Because Stone has become far more possessive than in the past. He turned me away from speaking with her.” He clenched his jaw in anger. “It was all I could do not to rip his head off right then and there.” He shook his head. “She’s become so closed off and afraid that she tries to avoid every moment possible with me after our kiss. I fear she was punished for my candor.”

“What?”

This bit of news seemed to upset Collin just as much as it did his nephew. “I don’t know,” he said. “Not for certain, but I have a feeling. I told her the truth so that maybe she’d feel like she wasn’t alone. I need her to know that if ever she decides to bite back, she won’t be standing alone. I plan to take her off soon-maybe tomorrow, and show her in full who I really am.”

“And what makes you think that will help-”

“I don’t!” snapped Liam. “But desperate times call for desperate measures.” After saying this, Liam considered everything and then said, “Well, maybe he doesn’t have to do no more than what he is doing now,” said Liam as he recalled their heated argument.

“Do tell,” said Collin. Apparently, there was something that his nephew hadn’t alluded to.

“The Stone alpha might be obsessed with Neliyah, but she is not obsessed with him.” He smirked and looked at his uncle almost maliciously. “He pushes her regularly and is quite condescending. She’s been trying to be as unproblematic as she can be, but…she’s getting tired of it. I can tell. That isn’t even including the fact that her mate’s girlfriend is seething with jealousy.”

“And how does she fair?” asked Liam’s uncle Collin.

“Doesn’t hold a candle to the princess. She knows it too. I’m sure that’s why she is so adamant on getting rid of her.”

“You think that Neliyah Larken will eventually win out.”

“Only an idiot would choose that girl over her. I’m hoping that he’s a greater idiot than he’s already shown me to be.”

“So do I, son,” said Collin. “So, do I.”