Chapter 45 Losing Scares

~Liam~

A solemn look fell upon everyone’s faces as our comrades retrieved our fallen. Seventeen from our borders with six more from the infirmary. All their lives were on me. I should’ve been more careful at the Alpha Duel. I should’ve woken immediately. I should’ve remembered soon. They needed me and I wasn’t aware they needed me.

Growing up, our predecessors instilled that there was no greater honor than giving our all to the pack in honor of the Moon Goddess. Now I hoped that our fallen brothers and sisters found peace in her arms.

I felt a hand squeeze down on my shoulder.

“It’s not your fault, Alpha.”

A rumbling came from the skies and harsh winds blew. Then it rained heavily, drenching all of us. They shifted into their wolves and howled and whimpered. There was no moon tonight, but their cries should reach Her, nonetheless.

They shed tears masked in rain and sent silent messages on links that’d never light up again. The stench of death, blood, and salt brought up memories I’d rather forget. The last time and this time…

Goddess, help whoever set this up because I’m coming for him…

“We don’t get to choose tomorrow Liam. We can’t undo the past. We can only trust that they’re with the Goddess,” said Helia.

I turned my back on them, dragging my feet in the mud, thinking of nothing. When I looked up, I was already at the front of the mansion.

I kept her waiting. She must’ve had questions for me to answer.

It was early in the morning. She was most likely asleep by now. Sighing, I made my way inside. I took my shoes and socks off, dropping them before I reached the bottom of the stairs.

She’d most likely yell at me for keeping it a secret. If I was in her shoes, I’d get furious at myself. She had every right to, but this could all wait for later.

I hesitated in opening the door. If it was I who got mad, I knew what the room would look like. Gathering courage, I slowly turned the handle and pushed it open slowly.

Her sweet scent instantly calmed me, but I frowned at the saltiness, which was similar to the night I found her. She was on the bed, hugging a pillow between knees and chest. Then she stirred, putting the pillow down to the side.

Did she wait for me? I couldn’t find the words to speak.

She got out of bed hurriedly, then ran to me.

Here it comes.

I waited for a sharp slap, maybe another kick down there, for her to scream at me and call me a jerk for lying to her. I waited for her to break down in nervousness for leaving her alone while I joined the fight. I waited for her to cry so I could comfort her the soonest.

She didn’t do any of those. She wrapped her arms around my waist and buried her head in my chest, holding onto me tightly like I was going to disappear if she didn’t.

I stiffened at the suddenness, my arms to my sides.

I felt her warmth through my drenched shirt. I heard the relief in her voice when she murmured my name.

I could hear my own breathing and the racing beats of my heart. I let her scent calm me, then I hugged her back.

She made a move to let go but I didn’t. Not yet. She was warm…

“You’re soaked,” she whispered.

Not only was I dripping on the carpet, but my clothes were also sprayed with blood and mud. Hesitantly, I let her go.

“Sorry.”

She held my hand and pulled me towards the bathroom.

“You need to change out of those clothes before you catch a cold.”

That made me smile. I hadn’t caught a cold since I shifted. A little rain wouldn’t get me sick, although the idea of staying in bed with her doting on me appeared rather pleasant. Could I still get sick? Since I shifted, I never had a fever.

I helped her take my shirt off, noticing how her fingers lingered longer on my skin, then I let it drop to the floor. The glint in her eyes made me smirk. Unbuckling my belt, I pulled it off before it clamored on the floor. Her eyes still glued on mine, she breathed through slightly parted lips.

A zip, a struggle, and my pants were on the floor. I stood before her, revealing all of me. My breathing was as laborious as hers, my eyes just as hungry.

As if snapping out of a trance, she shook her head slightly and held my hand, leading me inside the shower. With her clothes still on, warm water cascaded on both of us as I held her by her hips.

I kissed her hair, then her forehead, her nose, then her soft sweet lips.

She relinquished control, and I explored every inch of her mouth, gliding my tongue against hers. Intoxicating, addicting – every aspect of her was mine. I grabbed her thighs and pulled her up, then slammed her to the wall. I pressed myself against her, the scent of her sweet arousal clouding my mind.

“You do this to me,” I whispered in her ear, then I nibbled lightly at the tender flesh.

She relaxed in my hold as she sighed. Then her hand grabbed my length and pumped it gently, swiping her thumb over the head with added pressure. I growled when she looked me in the eye and flicked her tongue at her thumb to taste me, her lashes fluttering as she savored my cum.

Unable to hold back any longer, I impaled her in one hard thrust.

So tight…

Her beautiful moans made me harder as I built a steady rhythm, pumping in and out of her faster and faster. Her legs swung to the side as I kept her thighs parted, my hands on her breasts as I placed kisses on her neck.

“Liam...”

My name left her lips most sensually. Her moans, her sweetness, this blissful feeling we shared…

I don’t want to lose you, Anna.

“Liam!!!”

Her limbs shook, she bit down on my chest, then she clamped down on me as she came. Beautiful… So fucking beautiful…

Eyes shut as she threw her head back, her walls clenched around me, milking me as her sweetness coated me. She parted lips begging to be bitten.

This face she makes was mine. No one will ever see it but me.

As she came down from her high, I could feel mine coming. Thrusting faster and harder, I groaned as I released deep inside her. I kept spurting as I moved in and out slowly, determined to let this last longer. Her warmth exploded on my dick once more, and I shuddered as I filled her again.

Don’t leave my side. I’ll protect you so stay by my side.

“I love you,” she whispered between pants. “I love you, Liam.”

I’ll make you happy.

I kissed her breathless then pulled out.

I’ll let you break down my walls… just promise me your words are true – that you’ll always stay beside me.

We showered, dried ourselves, then slipped in bed. Both of us didn’t bother with clothes, and I was more than alright with it. I sighed as my body sank.

Exhaustion hit me like a ton of bricks, the adrenaline from my system is now gone. With her head on my chest and an arm around my waist, her body heat warmed me.

“What are you thinking of?” I asked.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

I was tired, but I explained everything to her.

She pecked me on the lips as a sign of forgiveness. She could be so adorable.

“What do we do now?”

“Carry on,” I replied.

Bury our brothers and sisters, keep their memories in our hearts, and live on with our lives. Wounds heal into scars, and some wounds never heal, but… if the Goddess wills…

“I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for, Anna. This happens all the time with our kind. There will always be a conflict between packs, among pack members, and we will never run out of rogues. The most we can do is carry on.”

She kept quiet, keeping her thoughts to herself. I kissed her hair and inhaled her scent. Her breathing was now calm, I pulled the sheets over us.

I love you, too, Anna Bella Fiora. But if I told you, I get this feeling that I’d lose something…