Chapter 239
Freya
I stepped out of Bella's villa, my mind set on finding Liam and getting answers. But as I walked through the front gate, I stopped short. There, parked right outside, was Liam's car.
Liam was leaning against the driver's side, and our eyes met instantly. Neither of us moved for a moment, just stared at each other with the kind of hostility that ran bone-deep.
I walked toward him slowly.
"We need to talk," I said, my voice cutting through the silence.
Liam studied me for a long moment, his dark eyes unreadable. I caught a flash of something dangerous there – the telltale sign of an Alpha sizing up a threat. But instead of challenging me, he simply nodded.
He said, "Get in."
The drive was silent except for the low hum of the engine. Liam's jaw was set, his knuckles white on the steering wheel.
He pulled into the parking lot of an exclusive private club about ten minutes away. The room he led me to was elegant – soft lighting, the subtle scent of sandalwood incense burning in the corner.
I dropped into one of the chairs and got straight to the point. "What are you planning to do about Bella?"
Liam's expression hardened.
"That's my business," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "It has nothing to do with you."
I let out a harsh laugh. "Are you serious? Bella is my best friend. She's family, Liam. She's as important to me as Flynn is. You think I'm just going to stand by and watch you hurt her?"
Liam's eyes flashed, and for a split second, I saw something wild flicker behind them.
---
Liam
"Family," I repeated, the word dripping with disdain. "How convenient that you've suddenly developed such strong family loyalty."
The disgust in my chest threatened to spill over. I could feel my wolf stirring, responding to the bitter irony of Freya's words. She had no idea what her precious friend had done for her.
I still remembered the night Bella first came to me. She'd just turned eighteen, looking like an unopened flower - innocent and vulnerable. But beneath that sweet exterior was calculation that would make a seasoned Alpha proud. She'd climbed into my bed with purpose.
I'd been drunk that night. Whiskey and rage over Selina's latest rejection had clouded my judgment. And Bella looked so much like Selina had at that age. Same delicate features, same way of moving. In my drunken haze, I'd mistaken her for Selina who'd been haunting my thoughts for years.
When I woke up the next morning, I'd expected the usual. Either this was a trap set by business rivals, or Bella was trying to sleep her way to the top. But her request had blindsided me completely.
She wanted me to invest in Freya. That's all. Not money for herself, not a position in my company, not any of the usual demands. Just help for her friend.
"Freya," I said, my voice cutting through the heavy silence. "Have you ever considered that maybe Bella's disasters are all because of you?"
The words slipped out before I could stop them. Freya froze, her eyes widening with something that might have been fear.
"I mean," I backtracked quickly, "what's between Bella and me isn't your concern."
Freya's expression had hardened again, those strange golden flecks in her eyes seeming to glow with inner fire.
"Liam, from the moment you started hurting Bella because of Selina, this became my business," she said, her voice dropping to that dangerous pitch. "I won't let you bully her."
The threat in her voice was unmistakable. "If anything happens to Bella, I won't show you any mercy. You know what I'm capable of now, what kind of power I have. I keep my promises."
"You think too highly of yourself," I said, unable to keep the sneer out of my voice.
Her eyes flashed dangerously. "Right back at you."
We stared at each other across the table, two Alphas sizing each other up. The air crackled with tension, with the kind of energy that came when predators circled each other.
Finally, Freya spoke again, her voice deadly calm. "Liam, you should know I'm not bluffing. When I say I'll make you pay, I mean it."
"The Wilson family is messy enough. Not everyone wants you in charge. Finding a replacement wouldn't be that difficult."
My jaw clenched. She was talking about Frost, my half-brother. The bastard who'd been plotting against me since we were young.
"Let me guess," I said mockingly. "You're thinking of Frost?"
Freya's face showed exactly what I'd expected - disgust. Frost was mated to Selina, after all.
"You're Lucas's friend," Freya said after a long pause. "I don't want to be your enemy. I have one simple request - stop hurting Bella."
"I'm here because I want you to make the right choice," she continued. "If you choose Bella, then clean up those rumors online and keep your distance from Selina. But if you choose Selina, I expect you to let Bella go. A clean break would be better for everyone."
I studied her face, noting the determination there. She'd thought this through, probably spent hours planning this little intervention.
"You don't deserve Bella anymore," Freya continued, her voice growing harder. "Break the bond with her. I'll reimburse you for any investments you've made, any gifts or property you've given her. Every penny."
"If you can't make a choice, I'll make it for you," she said finally.
I stood up, suddenly tired of this whole charade. "Freya, this is between Bella and me. It has nothing to do with you."
Time to remind her that she had her own problems to worry about.
"You might want to focus on your own affairs first," I said coldly. "The Morgan family situation is messy enough. Have you figured out how to handle the Chandler family's attacks on Lucas yet?"
Her face tightened, but I pressed on.
"And there's still the matter of you, Paxton, and Kai Sterling. That's not exactly resolved, is it? Do you know about your mother's connection to the James family?"
Each point hit home. I could see it in the way Freya's jaw clenched, the way her hands gripped the edge of the table.
I continued, "You've got enough problems of your own without meddling in my affairs, Freya. Don't overestimate yourself."
"I told you," Freya said. "Bella is my family. All of those problems combined don't matter as much as she does."
I started laughing. The sound was harsh and cold.
"I understand your position now," Freya said, standing as well. "You won't let Bella go. In that case, we have nothing more to discuss."
Her Alpha presence pressed against mine, a challenge that made my wolf respond with interest.
"If you truly plan to hurt Bella, I have plenty of ways to force that unmarking. You know I have that kind of power." With that, she walked toward the door, her spine straight and shoulders back.
I watched her go, that cold smile still playing at my lips. She was right about one thing - she did have the power to force an unmarking if she really wanted to.
But she wouldn't get the chance.
I pulled out my phone and sent a message to Bella. Just a few words, but I knew they'd be enough. After all, I understood exactly what motivated her.
Bella would never agree to break our bond, not after she read this message. Not when it concerned the person she cared about most in the world.
She'd endure anything to protect Freya.