His expression is unreadable. “Can I come in?” he asks low-voiced.

I step back, opening the door wider, and he walks past me. I close the door after him, and we stand there in silence for a moment. It seems that neither of us knows what to say.

“I know about your family, Selene…”

How did he find out?

I feel exposed and vulnerable. “Your parents are responsible for me being an orphan,” I blurt out, my voice trembling with emotion.

Liam’s expression softens, but there’s a hint of sadness in his eyes. “That may be true,” he admits, “but your family attacked first.”

My heart clenches at his words. He’s right, of course, but it still hurts to hear it. “They were defending themselves.”

Liam shakes his head. “Maybe so,” he concedes, “but that doesn’t change the fact that innocent lives were lost.”

“So, because they were vampires, they cannot have been victims?”

“That is not what I am saying, and you know it.”

“Why did you come here? To call me a monster again?” I can feel my anger bubbling to the surface… that and something a lot more volatile.

“No, Selene. This is complicated for both of us.”

“You shouldn’t have come back here, Liam.”

“I know.”

There’s a tense silence between us as we both grapple with the weight of our pasts. I want to ask him to leave, to give me some space to process everything, but I can’t bring myself to say the words.

Instead, I meet his gaze head-on. “Are you working with the other vampires?” he asks.

I shake my head, feeling a bit relieved at his doubt. “No,” I say firmly. “I have nothing to do with whatever they’re planning.”

But as he stands there, watching me with those intense gray eyes, doubt creeps in. Should I tell him about Katya and the others? About how they killed Mia’s pack, not me? But something holds me back. Maybe it’s fear of what he’ll think of me, or maybe it’s just self-preservation.

In the end, I shake my head, pushing the thought aside. “No,” I repeat, my voice steady. “I’m not involved.”

Liam nods, seeming to accept my answer. “I’m sorry I kissed you,” he says suddenly.

I feel a pang of sadness at his apology. “I accept your apology,” I say quietly, my gaze dropping to the floor. “Now, please... just go.”

He nods, his shoulders slumping in defeat. “I understand,” he says, turning to leave.

But as he reaches the door, something stops him. He turns back to me, his eyes searching mine. “Selene,” he says softly, “I... I really am sorry about everything.”

I’m caught off guard by his confession. For a moment, I’m tempted to let him stay, to let him hold me and tell me everything will be okay.

To tell me anything.

But I know it’s not that simple.

So instead, I shake my head, my voice barely above a whisper. “Please, just go,” I say again, my heart aching.

With one last look, Liam nods solemnly, and then he’s gone.

Why is all this happening to me?

Then, there’s a knock at the door. I stand up, wiping away my tears, and open it to find Liam standing there.