Page 187 of Toxic

Liam’s face twisted with bitterness. "Peachy, so I never even stood a chance. Ten years of waiting for something that was always a fucking impossibility. Just wonderful," he said, inching closer to the edge of the cliff.

I cursed under my breath. My speech had clearly backfired. Obviously, I wasn’t cut out to talk people down from jumping.

Then, suddenly, Finn stepped forward. "Hey, Liam, did you know that people whose partners found their True Mates are 1600% more likely to find their own True Mate afterward? It’s some weird kind of magic. Think about that for a second—who knows? Maybe you’ll meet yours in a few years?"

Liam snorted angrily. "Yeah, right! I'm a damn beta! It's a fucking statistical error to find a True Mate for us! Let's face it, there's nothing left for me. No hope. Ten years down the drain, and I'll die a virgin on top of it. It's… over."

He whispered and made a sudden move toward the cliff, but Finn, who was closest, lunged forward even faster, grabbing his arm at the last second as Liam’s feet began to slip over the edge.

Finn’s pull stopped his fall, and though Liam’s body was already tilting dangerously, Finn caught him with his other hand and quickly jerked him back. Then I grabbed Finn by the shirt, yanking him toward me, and we formed a human chain, counterbalancing Liam’s weight as he dangled over the edge.

Seeing this, Winter joined us, pulling on me as well, and together we managed to bring Liam back onto solid ground. Finn wrapped his arms around him as Liam wobbled on his feet, shaking uncontrollably.

"Let’s get him away from this damn cliff," Winter growled.

Finn easily scooped Liam up and carried him through the brush. Liam didn’t resist; it seemed like all his strength had lefthim. He was limp like a rag doll. His eyes closed, and tears streamed down his pale, gaunt cheeks.

"Why did you stop me? There’s nothing left for me. No one loves me, no one cares. I have nothing, don’t you get it?" he muttered.

"Someone could love you, Liam," I said, clenching my jaw. "I know from Soren how much you did for him, what a good partner you were, how much you sacrificed, took care of him, cooked, cleaned—practically bent over backward for him. And for God’s sake, you saved Soren’s life when he attempted suicide. I’ll always be grateful to you for that because if it weren’t for you, I’d never have met him. I know you’re a good person, and I’m really asking you to give yourself another chance. Don’t throw it all away."

Liam let out a painful moan and began to sob, burying his face in Finn’s chest. We finally reached the edge of the brush, where a small cluster of rocks marked the end of the trail. Finn knelt down but didn’t let go of Liam, holding him tightly as the young beta continued to shake.

"Dear God," Finn murmured. "He’s all skin and bones. He looks like he hasn’t eaten in a month, poor thing."

"Yeah, about a month and a half ago, Soren told him it was over," I muttered, feeling awful.

Finn cradled Liam even tighter, and I got the sense that the embrace was bringing Liam some comfort, some relief. His sobs began to quiet, and he just lay there, his head pressed against Finn’s broad chest, while Finn looked down at him with those stormy gray eyes, visibly moved.

Winter and I stood nearby, watching the scene with deep concern. After a moment, Liam lifted his tear-filled eyes and met Finn’s gaze. There was a silence between them.

"At least someone handsome saved me. That makes a better memory," Liam mumbled, his face wincing and flushing. I felta secondhand cringe as Liam bit his lip and sighed softly, embarrassed by his own honesty.

"So awkward," I muttered to Winter.

Winter’s face showed a hint of amusement, and we exchanged glances. But maybe I could use what Liam said to help the situation?

"Yeah," I said to Liam, "Finn does look a bit like Soren, don’t you think? The eyes, the features, he even has that black, fading mohawk." I tried to smile, hoping to lift his spirits a little.

The intense crying seemed to have drained some of the adrenaline from Liam’s system. He was now strangely quiet, still resting against Finn’s chest, and Finn didn’t seem eager to let go, his hand reassuringly stroking Liam’s back.

"I think you should get some professional help," Winter said slowly. "And take some time off work to rest and eat better. You don't look well. I'll arrange two weeks of paid leave for you. Does that sound good?"

Liam made a quiet, pitiful sound that seemed like a feeble attempt at gratitude. Winter spread his arms, looking almost like a strict teacher.

"Suicide is never the solution," he stated, furrowing his brows. "There are so many opportunities in the world, limitless possibilities. Don't take that away from yourself, Liam. I know from your supervisor that you're an excellent worker, very talented. Don’t waste that."

Liam remained silent, so I decided to back Winter up.

"Exactly. You shouldn’t be alone right now, not at a time like this. Something unwise might cross your mind again. I think we should go to the hospital, some crisis unit—"

"No, I don’t want to go to any hospital, no way!" Liam groaned.

Then, unexpectedly, Finn cleared his throat and glanced at both Winter and me.

"Listen, Liam, I live just ten minutes from this park. I have a small house with an extra room. Maybe you'd like to stay with me for a few days, just to rest? I've got a bunch of romantic comedies on my hard drive. I could treat you to some laugh therapy," he offered, looking a bit self-conscious.

Liam blinked. "But we don’t even know each other."

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