Page 83 of Alpha's Forbidden Fate

I groan as I wake up, feeling sore all over and noticing the faint sting of bite marks on my skin. Liam’s absence beside me is a sharp pang, and I wonder why I didn’t hear him leave. Dragging myself out of bed, I tug on a t-shirt and stumble into the living room, where Annie’s smiling face greets me with a teasing blush.

“Looks like you had a long night,” she remarks, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

I brush off her comment, my mind preoccupied with finding out where Liam went. “Did you see the guy who was in my room?” I ask, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice.

Annie nods, her smile faltering slightly. “Yeah, he left a couple of hours ago,” she replies. “He seemed in a hurry and didn’t say much.”

My anger simmers beneath the surface as I head back to my bedroom, where the scent of Liam lingers in the air like an unwelcome guest. I notice that my mini fridge is open, my collection of blood vials on display for him to see. The realization hits me like a punch to the gut: he must have seen it and bolted.

Fury bubbles up inside me, mixing with the hurt and confusion swirling in my chest. How could he just leave without a word? After everything we shared last night?

Tears prick at the corners of my eyes as I sink onto the edge of the bed, feeling the weight of his absence like a physical ache. I thought maybe... but no, it was foolish of me to hope for anything more than this. Liam is a wolf, and I’m a vampire. We were never meant to be anything more than enemies.

With a shaky breath, I wipe away the tears and steel myself against the pain. Liam may have left, but I won’t let him break me. I’ll get through this, just like I always do.

It was just sex, after all.

Chapter 31

Liam

Ifeel a heavy weight of guilt settling in my chest as I pace around my house, the memory of leaving Selene in the middle of the night weighing on my mind.

I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve betrayed my own beliefs about vampires and everything I’ve been taught. But what choice did I have? I couldn’t stay, not after seeing her blood collection. It was a reminder of what she is and what I am.

Opening her mini fridge was a mistake, one that only fueled my anger. Blood. That’s all I found. I should have known, but somehow, seeing it there, knowing she keeps it close... It made me feel sick and disgusted with myself for even considering the possibility of being with her.

I should forget about her and move on with my life. She’s a vampire, after all. Our worlds are too different, too incompatible. It’s better this way. But as I lace up my running shoes and step out into the cool night air, I can’t shake the image of her from my mind.

I start running, hoping to clear my head, but all I can think about is her—the way her lips felt against mine, the warmth of her skin pressed against mine. It’s infuriating how she’s managed to worm her way into my thoughts despite everything.

Maybe going to the restaurant would have been a better idea, but I needed to get out, to move, to try to forget. But with every step I take, it’s like she’s right there beside me, haunting me with her presence.

I don’t know what to do. Part of me wants to go back to her, to apologize for leaving so abruptly, to try to make things right. But another part of me knows that it’s better this way, that we can never be anything more than enemies.

I push myself harder, trying to outrun my thoughts, but they keep coming back to her. She’s like a drug, intoxicating and addictive, and I know that I’ll never be able to forget her, no matter how hard I try.

Eventually, I slow to a stop, my chest heaving as I try to catch my breath. I’m frustrated and angry with myself for letting her get under my skin like this. But deep down, I know that there’s something there, something between us that I won’t be ignored.

With a sigh, I turn and start heading back home, knowing that I’ll have to face her eventually. But for now, all I can do is try to push her out of my mind and focus on the restaurant and my responsibilities as Protector, even if it feels like I’m fighting a losing battle.

I step into the shower as soon as I get home, hoping the hot water will wash away the lingering scent of lavender and Selene that seems to cling to my skin no matter how many times I rinse off. But as the steam fills the bathroom, I can still smell her, feel her presence lingering in the air.

My phone suddenly rings, breaking through my thoughts, and I practically trip over myself in my haste to grab it. It’s my mother calling, and instantly, panic floods my chest. Did she somehow find out about last night? About me and Selene?

I take a deep breath and answer the call, trying to sound calm. “Hey, Mom.”

“Hey, sweetie,” she replies warmly. “I was wondering if you could come down to the sheriff's station. Your father and I, and some of the council members, are going to be there.”

My heart skips a beat. What could they want? Are they onto me? Did someone see me with Selene last night?

“Sure, Mom,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Great, honey,” she says, sounding relieved. “We’ll see you soon.”

I hang up the phone, my mind racing. What could this meeting be about? And why do I feel like I’m walking into a trap?

After quickly finishing my shower, I dress quickly and grab my keys, my mind still spinning with worry. As I drive to the sheriff’s station, I can’t shake the feeling that something bad is about to happen.

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