Page 115 of Alpha's Forbidden Fate

“I want to,” he replies, his eyes warm with sincerity. “You’re important to me, Selene.”

After a quick kiss, he brings his hand to my lips, urging me to bite. I hesitate for a moment, uncertainty clouding my mind, but the need for his blood is overwhelming. I press my lips and teeth against his skin, tasting the metallic tang of his blood as I drink from him.

His warmth flows through me, soothing the ache in my soul as he holds me close. “That’s enough,” he whispers gently but firmly. And without hesitation, I obey, my body instinctively responding to his words.

As he leaves the room, I’m left alone with my thoughts, the weight of last night’s revelation heavy on my mind, and the steaming cup of coffee Liam left behind. But amidst the uncertainty, I feel comforted knowing that Liam’s by my side and that he is determined to care for me.

I stay in my room, avoiding going out to face the family alone. I am lost in my thoughts when a soft knock on the door startles me. It’s Grayson, standing in the doorway, looking sheepish. “Hey,” he says tentatively. “I’m sorry to bother you. Mom sent me to get you.”

I manage a small smile, trying to ease the tension between us. “It’s okay,” I assure him, stepping out into the hallway.

He sighs, running a hand through his hair. “I feel like I’m always apologizing for my family,” he admits.

I give him a sympathetic look. “You don’t have to apologize for them,” I say softly, though a part of me wonders if that’s really true.

Downstairs, the kitchen is a hive of activity. Liam’s back, bustling around the stove as he prepares breakfast for the whole family. Layla’s hunched over her laptop, and Colt’s glued to his phone, both barely acknowledging my presence with murmured greetings.

Emmett ignores me completely, his attention focused elsewhere. Liam’s mother is seated in their father’s lap, a sight that should be strange but somehow feels oddly natural here.

“Morning, Selene,” Liam’s mother says, smiling warmly as I enter the room. “Did you sleep alright?”

“Yes, thank you,” I reply, taking a seat at the dining table.

I watch as Liam cooks, surprised when he pulls out a brown paper bag from Mariya’s, my favorite local restaurant. “I love that place,” I blurt out before I can stop myself.

Everyone turns to look at me, and Layla raises an eyebrow. “I had no idea your kind eats regular food,” she says, her tone incredulous.

I feel my cheeks flush with embarrassment. “I just… I enjoy the soup,” I stammer, wishing I could disappear into the floor.

Liam’s mother smiles indulgently. “Well, we’ll have to tell the owner that you’re a fan,” she says, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

Liam turns to me, a grin spreading across his face. “I’m glad you like my food,” he says warmly.

“Wait, you’re a chef?” I ask, incredulous.

He nods, looking almost bashful. “Yeah, it’s just a side gig,” he admits, though I can tell there’s more to the story.

His father raises an eyebrow. “How did that never come up?”

I blush, feeling self-conscious under their scrutiny. “I don’t know. It just… didn’t,” I mumble, avoiding their eyes.

But Liam’s expression turns somber as he mentions Rosa and Marco, and the mood in the room shifts once again.

I watch as they dig into their breakfast, surprised by the amount of food they consume, especially Liam and his father. They eat like they’ve been starved for days while I content myself with just a glass of orange juice, not wanting to draw attention to the fact that I fed on Liam earlier. Though I’m pretty sure everyone suspects it.

Liam’s mother interrupts the meal with an announcement. “After breakfast, we should swing by the sheriff’s station to bring Alyssa up to speed,” she says, all business-like. “I’ve informed the other council members, and we’re meeting at ten.”

Layla volunteers. “I can drop off Grayson and Emmett at school on my way to work.”

Colt nods, finishing off his food. “I’m heading to the office,” he announces, pushing his chair back from the table.

I sit quietly, feeling like I’m on the outside looking in. This family is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, and I’m just trying to melt into the background, hoping they won’t notice me.

The drive to the sheriff’s office is surprisingly less tense than I expected. I sit in the backseat of the car, wearing clothes Liam’s mother lent me. She’s a nice person, I can tell, and under different circumstances, we might have gotten along.

Liam and his mother head inside to talk to Sheriff Wraith, or “Alyssa,” to the Night family. Alone in the car with Gabriel, he turns to me with a sympathetic expression. “I know you’re scared,” he says softly, “but I’m glad you’re here and willing to share what you know.”

I feel a pang of guilt twist in my stomach. Gabriel doesn’t know the half of it—I haven’t even mentioned my family’s involvement in the vampire revolution. But I push the guilt aside, telling myself I’ll tell Liam everything once this mess is sorted out.

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