The room grew darker as I watched her, my concern for her safety overshadowing everything else. I wanted to stay by her side, to protect her from whatever invisible danger might be lurking in our midst, but there were others who needed me just as much. I had a business with hundreds of employees to run, and I was the alpha of the Keller pack. Liam was offering to help, and I had to take that gift. Not allowing him to train Liza to her full potential would only harm her.
A soft sigh escaped Liza’s lips as she slept, her body finally at ease after the tumultuous events. I watched her for a moment, love swelling in me for this woman who had become my everything.
Her chest rose and fell in a slow, even rhythm, and her face relaxed in peaceful repose. All the tension and chaos from earlier faded away, leaving only the quiet beauty of this moment.
But I couldn’t stay. Not when there were still so many questions left unanswered. With a lingering kiss to her forehead, I reluctantly tore myself away from Liza’s bedside and closed the door behind me as quietly as possible before I made my way toward my office. My thoughts turned to Nico and the confrontation he’d had with Liam.
I harbored no ill will toward either of them. In fact, I’d figured something like it would happen eventually. I had thought if anyone was going to challenge Nico over the death ofJosef Wylde and his pack, it would have been Liza. I couldn’t blame Liam for being the one to do it. We all had our breaking points, especially when we were protecting those we cared about.
The tension in the room was like a tightrope, ready to snap at any moment. I stood in the doorway, observing Liam and Nico sitting on opposite sides of my office. Both wore stony expressions, their body language screaming animosity. The space between them felt dense with unspoken words and unresolved issues.
Forcing the two to talk it out was pointless. After their violent confrontation and Liza’s reaction, I was confident it was over. If it flared up again, I would reevaluate my strategy and sit Liam and Nico down to talk. For now, I thought it best to continue as if nothing had transpired.
“Hey.” I opted for a casual approach when I stepped into the room. “Nico, what brings you here?”
“I came with news about the shooting in town. Liam was right.” Nico glanced at Liam, and I did the same to gauge his reaction. “We tracked down the car, and it’s registered to a man named Benny Leopold.”
All the oxygen in the room seemed to dissipate. Liam’s face contorted into a mask of fury, and his clenched fists spoke of his readiness to tear something apart. As his power surged and his alpha instincts kicked into high gear, it felt like I was standing too close to a roaring fire.
“Benny,” Liam seethed, his teeth grinding together as he struggled to keep his anger in check. “That bastard is one of my biggest rivals.”
“Your rival?” I asked, my eyebrows knitting together in confusion. Obviously, I was aware Liam had enemies—any alpha worth his salt did—but this sounded much more personal. Hespoke his name like it was poison on his tongue. It made me uneasy.
Just what exactly was Liam mixed up in?.
“Long story,” Liam said with cold hostility. He glanced downward, his body language suggesting that he desperately wished the floor would swallow him up and spare him from saying any more. “He’s bad news. If he’s behind the shooting, we need to prepare for the worst.”
“Agreed.” I swallowed tightly. There was no telling what Liam’s rival was capable of or how far he’d go to get what he wanted.
“Ty,” Liam began, his shaky voice betraying his deep concern. “I’m sorry for bringing this danger to your doorstep. I never meant for my past to catch up with me like this.”
With a quiet nod, Nico discreetly exited my office. I was grateful my father’s informant had stuck around after his retirement. My own informant, Isaiah Culver, was currently doing a job for me that meant he couldn’t stay close to the estate, so having Nico on hand was helpful.
Liam paced back and forth with his fists clenched at his sides. His infectious energy pulsed through the room, his footsteps creating a rhythmic pattern. The air seemed electric with anticipation. The scent of nervous energy hung in the air, mingling with the faint smell of sweat. I could feel the tension building like a coiled spring ready to explode.
“Hey.” I was getting dizzy watching the man pace. “Have you thought about shifting? Letting off some steam?”
Liam stopped pacing and turned to face me, his eyes dark with barely restrained anger. He barked out a laugh, but it sounded harsh and bitter. “Shift? Hell, Ty, what I need right now is a good fuck, not a run through the woods.”
“Jesus.” I burst out laughing, taken aback by his crude remark, but understanding the sentiment behind it. The stress ofthe situation was getting to him, and he needed an outlet for his pent-up emotions.
“Sorry,” Liam scrubbed a hand through his hair. “That was…uncalled for. I just?—”
“Save it.” I raised a hand to stop him. “We all deal with stress in our own way. Just… try not to take it out on anyone here, okay?”
“Right. Oh, by the way,” he said, changing the subject abruptly. “Liza’s friends are waiting in the tearoom. They wanted to make sure she’s okay.” He paused, then asked, “What can you tell me about Sabrina?”
I chewed the inside of my cheek. Why was he asking about Sabrina? “She’s Liza’s best friend, works with Liza in her catering business as a cook and as a waitress. She’s pretty spunky, but she’s been a good friend to Liza. Why? Is there something wrong?”
Liam hesitated, uncertainty flashing across his face, then he resolutely shook his head. “No, it’s nothing. Just curious.” There was a hint of something else hidden in his words, but he didn’t elaborate.
I studied him, trying to gauge his thoughts, but his face remained an unreadable mask. Deciding not to pry, I shifted gears. “Well, if you’re up for it, maybe you should take that offer of a run. It might help you release some of that pent-up energy.”
For a moment, I caught a flicker of amusement in his eyes. “Yeah, maybe you’re right. A good run might just do the trick.” His lips quirked into a half-smile, the tension in his shoulders easing ever so slightly.
The moment Liam stepped out back, I turned my attention to the women in the tearoom. They needed reassurance that Liza was okay, and with everything that had happened, they’d been forgotten. They deserved some peace of mind.
Before I took a step toward the tearoom, footsteps approaching the front door stopped me in my tracks. I allowed a little of my wolf to bleed through so my senses sharpened, and caught the familiar scent of my best friend and business partner Bryce. Thank God. I certainly could use his support right now.
