His Touch
Scarlett
My heart skipped a beat. My nerves rippled through me as I stared at the man before me.
I could barely recognise him, save his strawberry locks and his features that were a mix of both mine and Elijah’s.
The coldness and darkness that exuded from him made my gut twist, but it was the cold smile on his face that reminded me of someone long ago, someone that I still sometimes had to remind myself was dead.
Someone who would still creep into my mind on an occasional rare night…
No. My son was not anything like him.
“Liam,” I said, getting up. I walked towards him, cupping his face as I perched on the armrest of the sofa next to him. “Liam, look at me.” My eyes flashed silver as I tried to get through to him, but he simply pulled away from my hold, something he had never done in his life.
“Liam… I think a trial sounds fair,” Raven said, taking hold of his hand.
I felt him tense. The darkness seemed to flare up before it ebbed away. Raven caressed his hand, her eyes focused on Liam. Something was going on… something that I had a feeling the three of them knew of. This was not just the mate issue here…
Liam looked at Raven, who gave him a small smile, and I turned to Elijah, who was watching the entire scene with a thoughtful expression.
“Something’s felt different about you since you returned, but now I know there’s definitely more to it. Care to share what the fuck is going on?” He asked.
“There’s nothing to say,” Liam said, about to stand up when Raven took hold of his wrist.
“It’s… there’s a curse!” She blurted out. I raised an eyebrow, trying to make sense of what she’d just said.
“I told you it’s no big deal, and that was something you shouldn’t have mentioned!” Liam glared at her. His voice had never been harsher.
“Liam, do not speak to her like that,” I said icily.
“She will tell us whatever is going on.” Elijah added firmly, “and you will learn to speak to her properly.” Liam ignored us, his gaze fixed on Raven.
“Do whatever the fuck you want, Raven. I trusted you with that and expected you to keep it confidential,” he said. Despite his anger, I could feel the sadness and hurt in his voice.
“Liam, I-”
Raven closed her eyes when the door slammed shut behind Liam. I ran my hands through my hair and looked at the two that were left.
“Start from the top,” I said quietly.
Raven’s eyes were trained on the door before she looked back at me and then at Elijah.
“Damon can fill you guys in…” she murmured, getting up and rushing from the room.
I glanced at Damon, seeing the flicker of sadness in his eyes as he watched her leave. I frowned, remembering how Elijah had taken the news when I told him about both boys being mated to Raven…
“How… how can any man accept that?” Elijah asked, running his fingers through his hair.
“Baby... if the Moon Goddess paired them, surely she had something in mind,” I replied softly, getting up and wrapping my arms around his waist.
“She creates a connection, not love,” he replied quietly, looking down at me. “I don’t blame Liam for acting the way he did, but I also don’t like the way he’s treating Damon. And is that boy crazy that he actually wants to make this work?”
“We can’t question what they want. Regardless of their decision, we will support them,” I murmured, kissing his neck.
“Yeah… but the bond alone isn’t enough to make it work. If the bond was everything, people wouldn’t cheat on their mates. There wouldn’t be rejections, there wouldn’t be anyone hurting their mates. The bond… it’s a strong pull that ties us to people, but it’s way fucking far from absolute.”
I looked into his eyes. Elijah had never placed the same value in the bond as I did. Yes, we were fated, but he had been ready to throw away his fated mate for me, and that was the true extent of his love.
“I know it is, but I’m sure they will do what is best for them.” Elijah shook his head.
“Yeah, maybe,” he said. “I just don’t think they should use the bond as an excuse to stay stuck without moving in any direction. I guess Liam is your son, so he places some value on the bond.”
“He’s your son, too, and loves unconditionally,” I replied, my gaze lingering on his lips.
“That’s the way it should be,” he replied before claiming my lips in a sizzling kiss…
I pushed the thoughts away, looking at Damon as Elijah told him to start from the top. He took a deep breath. I knew he was worried about Liam as well.
“We need to know, Damon,” I pushed, sitting on the sofa next to him as I took his hand in my own.
He looked at me, smiling softly. I reached over and kissed his cheek delicately.
I had seen this boy grow up into the man he was today.
Every time I thought of Aaron, all I remembered was Monica telling him she was going to be a mama and giving him that ‘Daddy’s Favourite BayBee’ romper, a moment that would always remain in my mind, yet it hurt knowing Aaron was gone and Monica was not who she once used to be.
Our little BayBee was brave. He was a selfless, loving young man who deserved the very best in life.
I would never show him the sadness that I felt because he was staying strong, and so would I.
“Tell us,” I said, not letting go of his hand.
He sighed in defeat and began telling us about this curse…
“That’s all we’ve got for now,” Damon finished.
My heart was thundering, and I could feel Elijah’s walls were up.
Goddess… Indigo, Dad, Mom, Grandma Amy, Liam, Aaron, Rafael, Daniel... how many people would you take from us? Now Liam?
Elijah was silent, running his fingers through his sandy brown locks.
“So, he practically has about two and a half months,” Elijah said. “We break this curse, or he’s gone.” His voice was emotionless, yet I knew that wasn’t the case inside.
Goddess, don’t give my baby any more pain… please. He has been through so much… I looked away from Elijah, trying to contain my pain for him. I stood up, ruffling my hair.
“There is no ‘or’ or ‘ifs’ in this scenario. We are going to break this curse one way or another, or I’m up to facing Helios himself,” I said, frowning. “No one is taking my son from me.”
My eyes blazed at the very thought. I had lost far too much already.
Then we had no choice. There was nothing we could do but this was different.
There was a chance. I didn’t care if he had drawn the same card as Zidane.
I didn’t care if we didn’t have the answers. We were going to get through this.
Liam had always put himself second to everyone else.
He was loving, tender and passionate in everything he did.
My son was still inside there. He was battling this in his own way, and he will know that his family is with him.
We are goddamn relentless, stubborn, and ambitious.
We do not take shit from no one, whether that’s a god or a curse.
After all, we’re the Westwoods, we don’t bow down to anything or anyone.
Raven
I knew that by blurting that out, I was breaking his trust, but I couldn’t just keep it secret when we needed all the help we could get.
“Liam!” I said, running after him. I grabbed the back of his shirt just as he exited the house.
His anger flared up and he spun around, the deep magnetic blue of his wolf’s eyes piercing into my own. Thank the Goddess it wasn’t those dark eyes…
“I trusted you. Don’t you think I had my fucking reasons not to tell them?” He asked coldly, just as a strong wind blew around us.
“Liam, you need help-”
“Don’t give me that fucking shit! I don’t need help.
You know what? I regret ever telling you about the fucking curse and card, then no one would have fucking ever known about it,” he said.
His voice was so full of anger and bitterness that I felt it inside.
“I didn’t want to tell Mom and Dad because they are already going through so fucking much. ”
“I know... but if they lose you, then-”
“Don’t act like you know what you’re going on about, Raven!” Liam snapped, making me internally flinch. He wasn’t wrong… I felt like I always messed everything up.
“Okay… I’m sorry… I just wanted to help. I don’t want to lose you. None of us do. They would never forgive themselves…” I said, staring up into his eyes.
He closed his eyes, exhaling sharply as he pinched the bridge of his nose in irritation. I looked down, feeling my stomach twist. We’ve never argued before…
“I’m sorry for shouting at you.” His voice was a lot calmer. He cupped my face, and my heart skipped a beat as the electrifying sparks at our contact coursed through me, making my breath hitch.
I looked up slowly, trying to hide the hurt from my eyes, but it was hard to when it came to Liam. It felt like he was bearing into my soul. I felt bare and vulnerable. I gripped his wrists, brushing my thumb along the inside of his wrist.
“I don’t mean to mess things up, although I know I always do.
I just… we all love you. I love you,” I said softly.
“We only want to help, Liam. By shutting us out, what good will it do? I know you don’t want to upset your parents…
but don’t you think they would be more hurt if you died?
” I whispered, yearning for him to understand.
I could see the struggle in his eyes before he looked down, his gaze flicking to my breasts, making my cheeks burn.
“A part of me wants to tell you to stay away from me. I don’t want you to get so fucking invested in us when who knows what will happen in a few months’ time…
and then, another part of me wants to live every damn day as if it’s my fucking last and to make the most of it with you…
” he murmured, his thumb caressing my cheek.
“Liam... you will make it out of this, and we will be together,” I said softly, my heart pounding at the intensity in those eyes of his.
“Will we?” He asked softly, his head tilted slightly as he looked at me.
“We will,” I promised, and I meant it. “I love you, Lia-mmh!”