Chapter 29 Little Things

~Liam~

I woke up with a weight on my chest. The tingling sensations that washed over me told me who it was. I was on a dopamine high, and so was Luca. Ever since I almost gave in to Salina’s seduction, something I want to beat myself up to until today, and after the exhausting run, I put him through, he took advantage of my lowered guard and took over. I didn’t have the strength to stop him, and at that point, I didn’t care for what he intended to do. Turned out, he just wanted to comfort our mate. He had been keeping quiet since.

It was for the best.

If it wasn’t for him warning me that something wasn’t right, I wouldn’t have left the office to search for her. What was she doing out there anyway! I shook my head – that was the wrong question. She should be safe everywhere she goes within the pack’s territory.

It was my fault. I took it back. Carson voted against it because he was worried for her safety, just in case she somehow got herself in trouble. Lexy voted against it because she was worried that Anna might try to run away. They were just worried that something might happen to her and neither wanted her to do anything that’d hurt herself.

But I couldn’t bring it to myself to have my men guard her at all times without her knowledge. It was an invasion of her privacy, and after she learned about my engagement the first day she was here, I felt like I at least owed it to her – to give Anna her freedom, adhere to her conditions strictly.

It didn’t occur to me that she would permit me to break the first condition, to let me hold her in my arms.

I ran my hand down her hair. Thank you… for letting me in.

I let her down this time, but the next time she calls for me, I would be there. I’d keep her safe, at the cost of my life.

The rogue’s invasion was an urgent matter. Gale had been reporting the progress of the investigation while Lexy nagged me until she got tired and slept, both via a mind-link. She was letting out her frustration and guilt on me for not answering Anna’s calls, and I was sure later today she’d mumble an apology. As for Gale, he better leaves no stone unturned.

Of all the pack warriors, it had to be Rigel. My mate easily drew attention to herself and she doesn’t even know it. She was either innocent or apathetic. Her best friend may be decent, but Rigel… the word didn’t exist in his dictionary.

I kept the pack channel open just in case something came up, any small matter that could easily be overlooked. Listening to different voices in my head, filtering and analyzing every message that was sent, it’d divide my attention and drain my mental energy, but for my Anna, it was a small thing.

If the rogue was sent by the one person on my mind, I swear he better start praying. I wasn’t losing anyone anymore. I wouldn’t let him take another from me. As always, there was no proof that it was his doing. But someday, he’d get what he deserved and more.

A murmur reached my ears. Cracking an eye open, I looked down to see Anna blinking her eyes open. Then she yawned. Her arms went to my sides, hugging me as she rested her head back down on my chest. “Good morning,” she whispered, still half-asleep.

“Good morning… mate.” She was so adorable. And innocent. If it wasn’t for her ankle, I’d have already turned us over. Her scent was driving me insane that my canines were itching, and I just woke up for fuck’s sake!

I shook my head – these thoughts need to be stored in the back of my mind for now. I had to prioritize her safety… and the party we had to organize. If she’d have me – I know she would, but the doubt was still there for some reason. I’d be honored to introduce her to the pack as my Luna. Let it be known across the werewolf community that Anna Bella Fiora was mine and Liam Rose was hers. Soon... she’d be more than Anna Bella Fiora.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked, interrupting my thoughts.

“Nothing,” I replied.

She was still using me as a pillow. Not that I mind, I would gladly be her pillow, her comforter, her mattress. Fuck, anything that would make her comfortable. Except that, I was painfully hard down there and she wasn’t making it any easier.

“You’re smiling with your eyes closed,” she said. How could she tell?

“You’re talking with your eyes closed.”

“This is normal. You, on the other hand, look like a creep.”

That made me laugh. “If you must know, I was thinking about you.”

“What about me?”

“Everything about you. It’d always been about you since the day I walked in on you without your pants on.”

“You knew!” She sat up, turned to face me, both hands pressing up against the mattress on both sides of me, her face registering shock. “Forget what you saw!”

“No,” I said. Why would I want to forget seeing my girl…

Pomp!

A pillow came down on my face. I kept laughing as she assaulted me with it. I raised a hand to cover my head, but my girl was completely energized that she didn’t stop until her arm was tired. Lucky for me, she couldn’t move her leg. Else, she might’ve suffocated me instead – who knew what she might do! She brought the pillow down one last time and left it there.

So adorable. I couldn’t help but laugh. This was what I wanted – moments like this where it was just the two of us and she was being adorable. It felt good. It felt right. I felt alive.

“Don’t be mad, babe,” I said, taking the pillow off. “It won’t be the last –“

I stopped when I saw her. She had her small back to me. She was leaning forward with both her legs straight. I sat up and placed a hand on her shoulder to get her to turn around and face me, but her face was covered with both of her hands, her long hair falling to the sides of her face. “Anna?” I asked, my mind working equations as to what just happened.

Was it something I said? Which one? What did I say?

“You saw… everything, didn’t you?” she asked in a hushed tone.

“It wasn’t exactly hidden from sight,” I said, scratching my head. Was it that?

“You saw the scars.”

I could feel her heartbreak the moment she said those words. I didn’t want to talk to her about it. I saw those scars the first time I laid eyes on her trembling body. It sent my blood boiling in anger amidst the excitement that I finally found my mate. It was a very personal matter, and we were both, just as she said, “basically strangers.” So, all this time, Lexy and I kept it to ourselves and we had never spoken a word about it.

We weren’t at a level yet where I could ask her about it.

I knew I should’ve done more on that fucking Flynn! Fuck! He touched my girl, and she didn’t give a flying fuck!

“Shut the fuck up,” said Luca, snarling.

“Now you show up.”

“’Cause you won’t shut up when mate needs you,” he said.

I sighed. He was right. Damn it! That fucking Flynn ruined everything, even the memory of our first meeting.

“Anna,” I said, sliding down the bed to be beside her. I pulled her hands gently away from her face, tipped her chin up so she’d look at me. “Anna…”

I cupped her beautiful face with both hands, swiping my thumb over her trembling lips. Her honey-brown orbs stared at me; fear etched deep within them. I kissed her. I kept still, relishing the feel of her soft lips against mine. “I don’t give a fuck about your scars.”

“But – “

No buts. I hushed her with my mouth before I could hear her belittle herself. My tongue danced with hers and as always, I gained dominance. I explored her mouth hungrily as her fingers tugged on my hair. So sweet…

“Good more-!”

“Oh.”

Someone interrupted. They interrupted. She broke away, and we both looked towards the door. Lexy stood there holding a tray in both hands, a wide grin on her face. Gale was already turning on his heels to walk away. He had more sense in him to know when his presence wasn’t welcomed, unlike my sis who happily went to us.

She was doing this on purpose. “Sorry to interrupt but you’re needed,” Lexy said, pointing at me. “Gale has to talk to you.”

“No, he doesn’t!” Gale yelled. “Take your time, Alpha!”

Too late for that now, isn’t it?

“I’ll see you later, gorgeous,” I said, then pecked her lips. “Don’t go anywhere.” I got off the bed, giving Lexy a glaring side glance, and went out of the room, closing the doors behind me. She better let me have this chance.

Gale was already at the top of the stairs. “What is so important that it can’t wait for later, Gale?” I asked as I calmly made my way over to him.

“Salina was looking for you since this morning,” he said.

Is he fucking serious right now?

He flinched and took two steps down. “And?” I asked, taking a step closer.

“Her father’s coming today.”