Liam’s POV

Our wolves tore through the woods, muscles straining, the sound of rushing wind in our ears. The pack's territory came into view, dark and imposing in the fading light.

The moment the scent of Rogues hit my nostrils, it clawed at me like rotten meat—putrid, violent, and repulsive. It was a smell that spoke of danger, death, and chaos.

No time to waste. Rage was already eager, his fury building like a storm in my mind.

We will tear them apart, he growled.

As we approached the pack house, I saw them—my father and Derick, both in their wolf forms, fighting fiercely. They were locked in combat with vicious, snarling Rogues. Blood stained the grass beneath their feet, a grotesque sign of the struggle.

Greg’s brown wolf was already in the thick of it, launching himself at a Rogue’s throat. He shook his head, snapping with savage strength, and the Rogue went limp in an instant. He was with Dad, protecting the pack just as fiercely.

I wasted no time. My wolf surged forward, taking on the Rogue fighting with Derick. Rage’s claws dug into its flesh, tearing into its neck with brutal precision. The sound of flesh tearing, bone snapping, was a melody of violence. I could feel Rage’s satisfaction, but there was no room for enjoyment. We had work to do.

The stench of blood and death clung to the air, thick and suffocating. We had killed all but one Rogue, the last one locked up in the pack’s cells. He’d be questioned later, but for now, the tension in the air remained thick. My mind couldn’t rest—not yet.

Derick was the first to approach me, his anger palpable, even in his human form.

“Where were you, Liam?!” His voice cracked with fury, the words spilling out like venom. “We were caught off guard! We could’ve lost more lives because of you!”

I clenched my jaw. His accusation stung like a slap, but I couldn’t let him see how deeply it cut. I had to keep control.

“Derick,” I said firmly, meeting his gaze, “I had business outside of Waterfalls. I couldn’t avoid it. And the pack appeared safe.”

“Safe?” Derick spat. “You’ve been hiding in your shell for days. Dad and Greg have been running the pack while you’ve been nowhere to be found! If you’d been here, maybe we wouldn’t have been attacked in the first place!”

“Watch your tone, Derick!” Greg’s voice growled through clenched teeth. His wolf was still present, the protective instinct flaring up.

Derick didn’t back down. “Who are you to tell me how to speak to my brother, Greg? I’m not talking to you!” His eyes blazed with irritation. “What business could possibly take you away from your pack? From your family?”

Before I could stop him, Greg snapped. “You really want to know? I wish it were my place to explain, but you’re too much of an ungrateful idiot to understand!”

“Enough!” I roared, my voice cutting through the room like a whip. My wolf wanted to snap at both of them, but I had to keep control. “We have more pressing matters than this petty argument. Our pack was attacked today. Focus on that.”

The room fell into a heavy silence. I took a deep breath and locked eyes with Derick. “As I said, I had business to attend to. And whatever that is, it’s none of your concern.”

Derick opened his mouth to argue, but Greg stepped forward, lowering his voice. “You’re right, Liam. We’ll deal with this later.”

“I’m sorry, Alpha. Got carried away,” Greg apologized, his voice quieter now.

I gave a small nod. “Derick,” I said, my tone measured, “I understand you’re frustrated, but we all need to remain focused. What happened today has everyone on edge, and I’m not above reproach. But I promise you this—this won’t happen again. We will stay alert, and we will protect our people.”

The warriors, having heard enough, left after dinner. My mother had prepared more food than anyone could possibly consume, but it was her way of dealing with stress—cooking up a storm when things were out of control.

The kitchen smelled like comfort, though the unease still lingered in the air. My father tried to convince her years ago to let someone else handle the cooking, but my mother was as stubborn as ever.

After the warriors left, I stayed behind in my office, poring over reports, trying to find some semblance of peace after the chaos. But sleep eluded me. The weight of the day pressed against my chest.

A knock on the door broke my thoughts.

“Son, can I come in?” Dad’s voice sounded from the other side.

“Yeah, come in, Dad.”

He stepped in quietly, his frame towering and solid. He walked to the chair across from me and sat down, the weight of the conversation already hanging between us.

“I’m sorry about Derick’s behavior today,” Dad said, his tone low. “He shouldn’t have spoken to you like that in front of others.”

I sighed and leaned back in my chair, trying to push aside the frustration. “Dad, it’s fine. I know Derick. It’s nothing I haven’t dealt with before.”

He nodded slowly, then hesitated, his eyes softening with concern. “You went to see her, didn’t you?”

The question hit me like a punch to the gut. My body tensed, and I avoided his gaze. I stood and walked to the window, staring out into the darkness, wishing for a moment of peace that never came.

“I did,” I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper. “I couldn’t help it. I had to see her. To catch her scent again. It’s the only thing that’s keeping me sane right now.”

Dad’s gaze softened, understanding in his eyes. “I know, son. It’s the bond. But you can’t keep hiding. You need to tell her.”

“I know,” I muttered. “But how, Dad? She doesn’t even know about our world. She doesn’t understand this. And the worst part is, she’s with someone else. How do I tell her that I’m meant to be with her, that I need her, when she’s already in love with someone else?”

Dad sighed deeply, rubbing a hand over his face. “She’s human, yes. But that doesn’t change the bond between you. You’re connected. Even if she doesn’t know it yet, she’s drawn to you. You can’t fight what’s already there. You need her, Liam. We all do. And if you don’t tell her soon, I might.”

I froze. Dad knew me well. He wasn’t one to let things fester. I could feel the pressure building, a sense of inevitability gnawing at me.

“I’ll tell her,” I said, my voice firm. “Soon.”

Dad gave me a sharp look. “Soon isn’t good enough. She needs to hear it from you. And soon.”

I exhaled, the weight of his words heavy on my shoulders. He was right. I couldn’t keep putting this off. The bond was too strong, the pull too intense. I needed her. And so did Rage.

I’ll tell her, I thought, the resolve hardening in my chest.