Chapter 34 Getting Closer

~Liam~

“How could you?” she whispered, teary-eyed.

While I was glad that she cared for me this much, I was pissed at myself for making her cry the second time around. She had to understand – this was the only way to get the Blue Moon Pack off our backs.

I picked up the crutch that had fallen to the floor when she kissed me. Kissed me, on her own, from out of the blue. I didn’t know what I did to deserve it. Her eyes were different that time too – soft, full of adoration and newfound love.

I let it lean onto the desk, then I pulled her close to me, stroking her hair and placing kisses on the top of her head.

“Why?” she asked.

“For all of us, Anna,” I answered.

She wrapped her arms around my waist and buried her face on my chest.

“You’re insane,” she said, her voice muffled.

“I know.”

“Selfish jerk.”

“I know.”

She sniffled. I kept quiet as she recovered her composure. An Alpha Duel might kill me, but not if I end him first. I had no intention of killing him, he’s their father. But I had no intention of losing either. Not when everything I had was on the line.

There was so much she didn’t know, and more that I wanted to tell her. I’d been keeping her in the dark, every one of us was, but sooner or later she’d start suspecting, she’d get curious, then she’d start asking questions. For the past days, Lexy had been feeding her information on the things she asked about, but the rule was that Anna should only know menial details for now.

It was my burden to tell her the truth, everything that she needed and wanted to know. After all, she was Luna. She deserved to know.

It was… different around her, and it wasn’t simply the bond. When I first saw her, when I saw the cute childish drawings in her pink bedroom, when she smiled at me for the first time, when she manned up to me – I couldn’t find when this started. Maybe it was when I first found her. When she had one foot out the door.

If I told her, she might leave. I didn’t want her to go now. I had to find my second mate to keep myself from marrying Salina and merging the two packs. The sole purpose of my search was to use her. To save me and the pack, and to continue the bloodline.

My emotions weren’t supposed to be involved. I steeled myself for when I met her and yet I yielded to the bond immediately. I was… falling for her, faster than I expected from myself and it was starting to scare me. I was getting dependent on her presence around me that her absence was unbearable.

I breathed in her scent, her ever-calming scent. I didn’t deserve her. I wanted her. I’d been debating with Luca regarding this matter for over a week now. When should I tell her – when would I be ready to reveal the Liam Rose who once was?

“What’ll you do?” she asked, her voice steady now.

“What I should.”

“He’s thinking of doing the same,” she said quietly.

“I know.”

“Then why would you accept his challenge?” she shouted, pushing me away.

She glared at me with those beautiful honey-brown eyes.

Adorable.

“You’re going to get yourself killed!”

I smiled at her. “Do you trust me?”

She bit her lower lip. I was asking too much from her. I should feel bad, and I did, but I was really happy that I already had a place in her heart and head.

“I do,” she said, sighing.

I held her hand, the electrifying sensations coursing through my skin.

She hugged me again, tighter this time. “I trust you.”

My heart must’ve stopped beating for a split second. The blood rush in my head and the loud thumping in my ears left me inhaling deeply for air. It worsened the situation – her scent filled my lungs.

Loosening her hold on me, I tipped her chin, so she’d look up at me. This beautiful creature did things to me at the speed of light I couldn’t remember what I was like before I met her. I brought my face down to hers, and she closed her eyes, already welcoming my advance.

I pressed my lips down on hers, slowly, feeling the softness of them. Nibbling at her bottom lip, tracing the curvature with my tongue. She granted me entrance, and after putting up a fight, she let me dominate.

She tasted so sinfully sweet; I could kiss her forever. Her hands pushed at the back of my head as she moaned into the kiss. The loveliest sound ever made.

My hands traveled down to her waist, tracing her curves then settling on the sides of her hips. I didn’t dare go lower; she wasn’t ready… yet. I tugged on her bottom lip as I let her catch her breath, hungry for more of her.

I was in too deep now. She’d pulled me underwater, leaving me needing air, and I wanted the high it gave me – I hungered for the asphyxiation.

That was all I needed from her – the affirmation that she’d entrust to me, blindly, what lied ahead. They were all depending on me now. This was what it meant to be an Alpha – to carry everyone’s future on the shoulders without so much as showing a hint of weariness, weakness. The weight just got heavier, not that I mind. Because this time and for years to come, I had my Luna. I wasn’t alone anymore.

This would be the last selfish decision I make for the pack. After this, it’d be the two of us. That is if she wouldn’t push me away.

I hope she doesn’t.

“Liam,” she whispered, pulling me in for another thrilling kiss. Luca was howling in my mind, wagging his tail in excitement.

I was losing myself with each passing second. I wished I could manipulate magic and go back in time to relive this moment at my whim if it was possible. Then again, there’d be more moments like this and better ones. We had all the time in the world.

She made a move to break the kiss, but I held her head, gathering her hair in my fist. A sweetness tickled my nose, and I mentally gave myself a high five. It wasn’t the right time. She had to be ready.

I broke away so she could breathe. So, I could breathe. Then I met her forehead with mine, closing my eyes as I calmed Luca down.

“Liam –“

“Shh…” I said, interrupting her. This needed no words. Her actions, the emotions she poured into every twirl of her sinful tongue were more than enough to speak for what words couldn’t possibly convey.

It was perfect until someone cleared their throat. She immediately turned to face who it was – Gale. He had an apologetic look on his face, but it couldn’t be helped.

Anna blushed, hid her face with her hands.

So adorable.

“Let’s you back to your room, babe,” I said, handing her the crutch. She stared at it, then a corner of her lip pulled up. Without warning, she jumped on me. I held out my arms just in time to catch her, leaning back a little at her weight.

“Good boy,” she said, tapping my chest. “Now, carry me to my room.”

I let out a chuckle. I think I spoiled her. “That was dangerous, Anna.”

She rolled her eyes at me. “Please, like you can’t carry me with those arms.”

“You could’ve just asked.”

“If you can manhandle me whenever you want, I can do this anytime I want,” she replied. “Let’s go. Come on. What are you waiting for?”

Gale moved to the side to let us pass.

“I’ll see you at his place,” I told him, and he nodded, smirking.

“See you later, Gale,” said Anna as we headed back inside.

She was being cheerful and carefree for me, so I wouldn’t worry about her. So, I could focus on the upcoming match. I raised her higher and kissed her forehead. My time was yet to come.

I lowered her down her bed. She wouldn’t let go of me.

“Anna, I have to go.”

She shook her head. Sighing, I sat on the bed and let her sit on my lap.

“I’m sorry, Liam,” she said, her eyes downcast. “I should’ve realized you were my mate.”

“I… am your mate. You know it now,” I said, confused.

“I’m sorry I did those things with Flynn.”

My jaw clenched. “That was stupid.”

“I know.”

“He almost killed you.”

“I know.”

“He could’ve killed you.”

She bit her lip. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I just… I don’t know. I’m sorry, Liam. I’m sorry.”

I sighed. “Do you –“

“I don’t want to see him,” she said, interrupting. “I don’t want to face him, or talk to him, or be anywhere near him. He humiliated me, and rejected me, and beat me… and I let him do those things to me.”

She hugged herself. “It was stupid. I was stupid. I’m sorry I let him touch me.”

I kissed the top of her head. If she didn’t want to be anywhere he was, she wouldn’t go back to her pack.

“Apology not accepted.”

She sniffled.

“Maybe if you ki-“

Her lips crashed on mine immediately. Straddling my lap, she tugged on my hair as our tongues danced together.

Fuck!

My hands found their way on her waist, slowly going down to her thighs.

She moaned into the kiss when I gave them a light squeeze.

So, fucking responsive.

I pulled her closer to me, no space between us.

The sweet smell taunted my control. Luca was forcing his way out. I growled when she started moving her hips.