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"Looks like we have a guest," Eli says as he walks into the room. Liam looks nervous and tired. His hands are in his pockets as he walks in behind his Alpha. We lock eyes, and he gives a small smile that I can't help but return. Is he thinking about last night, too? When he held me in his arms? Warmth covers my body, but before my brain can go too far down that road, Thorn is out of his chair and taking long strides toward Liam. Before I can get there to stop him, Thorn lands a crushing blow onto his face.
I hear the sound of skin striking skin as Thorn continues to beat on Liam. Damn it, this is a mess! How the hell am I going to break this up?
Chapter 13 - Liam
I don't think I want to shower; I can still smell a hint of Paige on me from holding her late last night. Falling asleep after coming back from Paige's was near impossible, but thankfully, I was able to sleep for a bit. I've been sitting at the end of Eli's driveway trying to convince myself that showing up at their house is a bad idea, but the mate bond is pulling me to be with Paige, and I don't want to fight it anymore. I hold the steering wheel looking down the driveway as the snow lightly falls. My eyes look at the heart tattooed on my right hand.
I don't know if she will ever forgive me, but I need to talk to her. Show her I am not the same person I was back then. When I left the Portsmill Pack, I was determined to put it all behind me. In my naivete, I thought that forgetting it would make it all better, but I was wrong. I was easy to anger and always looked over my shoulder to see who would betray me next or who would challenge me. It was a couple of years into being a part of the Twilight Meadows pack that someone came up to me to talk to me about what really happened at my old pack. After delving into what my life looked like, they helped me see it wasn't going to be as easy as leaving and life intrinsically getting better, but rather that I needed to actively work on my attitude and change how I saw pack dynamics since the Twilight Meadows pack wasn't run like my old one.
Once Eli became Alpha, the culture in the pack was even better than before. Eli sat down with me, and we talked about my past, but I still don't want to be in the upper ranks of the pack because I feel like I am trying to achieve what my old pack pushed on us. Though I realize how stupid that is, it still lives inside me. Besides that, I have never gotten over what I did to Paige. Sleeping with women was a means to an end, which I know isn't healthy, but she was everything to me, and to think she is here now, just a short drive up the driveway…
She could be in my arms. I can't believe she is my mate. But does she even want me? Probably not, but I can't sit in my truck at the end of this driveway wondering.
I start my truck back up and drive up to Eli's house. The snow lightly falling makes for a picturesque view once the house comes into sight. I pull up beside Eli's SUV and hop out of the truck. Taking a fortifying breath, I walk up the steps to the front door. My hands clench and unclench before I work up enough nerve to knock on the door. It makes sense that Seluna paired me with Paige; I knew we had a connection when we were younger. I wish I'd had enough strength to fight back and stand with her, but I will fight this time. I will try to convince her that she is to be with me. I will prove I am a worthy mate.
My fist is just above the door when I notice the doorbell; well, that's embarrassing. I ring the doorbell and wait for an answer. It feels like an eternity before Eli opens the door.
"Liam? What are you doing here? Everything okay?"
"No, not really. I need to talk to Paige."
He doesn't say a word and takes in my appearance. He likely sees my tired eyes and the tension in my body. I really need to see Paige.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea."
"I know, Alpha, it's been a bit crazy, but I need to speak to her…she's my mate. I just need to explain myself and apologize. If she doesn't want to see me after that, I will leave. I promise." I use his title, hoping he can see how much I need him to let me do this. He is my Alpha; he has an obligation to help me.
"Thorn is here; it could go bad for you. He isn't known for his calm and collected responses when it comes to the safety of his sister."
"I'll take any punishment he doles out. I deserve a lot for what I put Paige through."
"You don't have to be a martyr, Liam. You can't carry the guilt of past sins forever. You need to work it out with Paige and then forgive yourself. Living with that guilt isn't healthy. You're not the same person you were."
"I'm not without blame either, Alpha."
He sighs, knowing I can't be persuaded, and opens the door wider so I can enter.
"If you get blood on my carpet, I'm gonna be pissed."
I shake my head at that because, well, I guess there could be blood, but that's not my intention.
I know my shoulders are a bit slumped, but I'm nervous; my wolf is beyond excited, however, that we are getting closer to our mate. I tuck my hands into my pockets as I follow Eli. Laughter comes from the dining room, but as we turn the corner and I come into view, the room goes quiet except for little Maddie's voice. But I don't look, because my eyes find my mate's; those deep chocolate eyes pull me in. Seeing her again feels right; I'm supposed to be with her. A scraping noise comes from the side, but I don't check it; it isn't until I see Paige's eyes widen that I see Thorn coming straight for me and he lands a punch right to the side of my face.
Reflexes tell me to get into a fighting position as Thorn lands another blow, but I don't fight back. I put my hands up to deflect some of his attacks, but I let him land many. Several punches to the ribs and a few more to the head. Shouting comes from the table, but I don't know who is yelling. Eventually, Thorn gets me to the ground and straddles me, landing punch after punch to my face. Arms pull him back, and the ringing in my ears gets a bit louder after he is pulled off me. I can finally hear who is yelling. Paige.
"He isn't even fighting back, Thorn! Enough!"
"That's the least he deserved, and I won't apologize for it."
I start to roll onto my knees to get up, but Eli is there to help me stand. Every bit of my body hurts, but I deserve every punch.
"I told you this morning to let it go! There is no sense holding onto stuff like that."
"He was right to do it; I deserve worse."
Paige's fiery eyes land on me, but I'm not prepared for what she says to me next.
"Don't you dare throw yourself a pity party! You men can't take a damn minute to talk before punches are thrown, and you should have done more than barely attempt to block his punches." Damn, I like this fiery side of her. Then she faces Thorn again.
