Liam's POV

The morning was quiet, too quiet. I had buried myself in paperwork, trying to focus on matters that couldn’t be ignored, but my mind kept wandering.

Every word, every letter I typed seemed to blur into nothingness. I couldn’t shake the feeling of Macy, how her name clung to my thoughts, how every waking moment seemed haunted by her absence.

"Come, let’s eat breakfast together, son. I made your favorite," my mom’s voice echoed in my mind, pulling me from my daze. She had a way of grounding me, even when everything else felt uncertain.

“I’m almost done, Mom. I’ll be down in a few minutes,” I replied, not wanting to disappoint her but needing just a few more minutes.

When I entered the dining room, the usual warmth of home greeted me, but today there was a tension in the air. Dad, Derick, and Greg were already seated, and as soon as I stepped in, Greg’s voice broke the silence.

“It’s about time, Alpha! I’m starving, and Mrs. Torres here made us all wait for you before we could eat,” Greg teased, his grin wide.

I raised an eyebrow, looking at my dad and Derick, who shared a similar expression. Derick, still too carefree, seemed to be enjoying this moment far more than I was.

“Mom, why do they have to wait for me to eat?” I asked, lifting a brow as I took my seat.

“Son, I just wanted us all to start eating at the same time. It’s no big deal—they’re just being dramatic,” she huffed, rolling her eyes, a playful spark in her gaze.

“Alright, that’s enough. Let’s eat,” I said, trying to settle the situation, but I couldn’t ignore the flicker of unease in my chest.

As we ate, the conversation shifted, and I found myself addressing Dad and Greg. “Dad, Greg, and I have some business to handle in the city. We’ll be gone for a few hours, so I’d like you to take charge until we return.”

“I’d be happy to help, son,” Dad replied, nodding in understanding.

Derick, however, couldn’t help himself. He grinned, his voice filled with a mix of teasing and casualness. “I was thinking of going to the city later too. I wanted to surprise Macy. We haven’t had time to meet up with how busy we’ve both been. Maybe I could tag along, and you guys can link up since your first meeting didn’t go so well.”

The room stilled, and every set of eyes shifted toward me. The words hit me harder than I expected, a rush of anger surging within.

“Derick, watch what you say,” Mom said sharply, her tone cutting through the tension.

“What did I say wrong? Why is everyone looking at me like I just committed a crime?” Derick asked, his voice tinged with confusion, completely unaware of the weight of his words.

“Nothing, brother. Just eat,” I said, my voice tight, my frustration bubbling under the surface.

How dare he claim her in front of everyone? My wolf growled in response, pacing angrily within me. But I held myself back, reminding myself that Derick had no clue about Macy being my mate. He was innocent. Clueless.

I pushed my plate away, the food losing its appeal. “Thanks, Mom. I’m done.”

“But you haven’t eaten anything, son. Are you sure you’re done?”

“Yes, I’m sure. Thanks for breakfast,” I said, leaning down to kiss her on the head before stepping away from the table. I needed space. I needed air.

Later, as I stood in my room, Greg walked in, dressed and ready to leave. He didn’t waste any time.

“What business are we really going to town for? Because, as far as I know, the only ‘business’ you have in town is Macy,” he smirked, raising an eyebrow as if he already knew the answer.

“Since you already know, just shut up and get the car ready,” I said, trying to ignore the anger simmering beneath the surface.

“Yes, Alpha,” Greg grinned, leaving the room with a chuckle.

Left alone, I couldn’t escape the nagging feeling in my chest. My mind kept returning to the dream. The one that still felt too vivid, too real. What did it mean? What was the message behind it?

“Alpha, the car is ready,” Greg’s voice came through the mind link, snapping me from my thoughts. I grabbed my phone and headed out.

---

Macy's POV

The past few days felt like an endless spiral, each one dragging me deeper into confusion. I couldn’t escape the whirlwind in my mind. Every thought, every beat of my heart seemed to circle back to him—Liam Torres. The man who, despite everything, kept invading my thoughts.

I glanced at my computer screen, the words a blur. I had been obsessing over him again—searching his name online, reading about him, finding myself consumed by the very man I knew I could never have.

“Oh God,” I muttered to myself, closing the browser. It was becoming unhealthy, this fixation, but I couldn’t help it.

“Bye, Macy. I’m heading out,” Lori called, snapping me from my thoughts.

“Bye, Lori. Thanks for today. See you tomorrow,” I replied, though I was barely aware of the words. I was lost in a haze.

I stayed late at the office, hoping work could distract me, but by the time I finished, it was already seven. I was exhausted, but as I stepped into the parking lot, everything shifted.

My car was surrounded by two men, their intentions clear. They were trying to break in.

“Hey! Get away from my car!” I screamed, pulling out my phone, my fingers trembling as I prepared to dial the police.

One of the men turned, a dagger flashing in his hand as he pointed it at me. My body screamed to run, but before I could move, a blur passed by.

The men fell to the ground, unconscious, and I froze. My heart pounded in my chest as I turned to run, but I collided with something solid.

I looked up, my breath catching. It was him. The man who haunted my every thought.

“You! Wh-what are you doing here?” I stammered, unable to process the situation.

“Are you okay?” His voice was deep, soothing, sending a shiver down my spine.

“I… yes. I’m fine. I was just about to go home before this happened,” I replied, my voice trembling.

I looked at the two men, still lying motionless on the ground. “What happened to them? Did you do that? Are they alive?” I asked, panic rising in my chest.

“Come with me. I’ll take you home, it's freezing.” he said, his voice calm yet commanding.

I stood there, frozen in place, too stunned to move. His hand reached for mine, and the moment our skin met, a strange, electric sensation shot through me, leaving me breathless.

Startled, I pulled my hand away, but he didn’t seem fazed. Instead, he opened the door to his car and gestured for me to get in. I didn’t know how to react, but somehow, I I found myself obeying.

As I climbed in, I saw the familiar face of Greg in the driver’s seat. I didn’t know what to make of this.

Liam’s voice broke the silence. “I missed you, mate.”

I didn’t respond. My heart was still racing, my mind a tangled mess of thoughts.