Chapter 112 #2
“Dominic, Persephone, would you like to join us for breakfast?” Liza gracefully glided across the kitchen to fetch extra plates and cups.
“Thank you, Liza. This looks wonderful,” my father said as he joined us at the table. His presence anchored the room, his natural leadership qualities shining through even in this casual setting.
“So?” Liam asked Liza, his eyes gleaming mischievously. “You think you’re ready for Ty’s training?”
Liza hesitated for a moment before responding, her brow furrowed in thought. “I don’t doubt Ty’s abilities,” she said. “But I can’t help but wonder if he might be too emotionally attached to train me properly.”
“Hey,” I muttered. Deep down, I thought she had a point. My wolf’s need to keep Liza unharmed could hinder my ability to push her to her limits.
“I agree with Liza,” my father said.
“Really, Dad?” I asked, annoyed. “You think I can’t handle training her?”
“It’s not a matter of whether you can handle it,” he answered patiently. “It’s a matter of whether you can do so objectively. And I believe that, given your feelings for Liza, it may be difficult.”
I groaned to hide the sting to my pride. “Fine. Liam, you’ll train her, then.”
“Me?” Liam gaped at me. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.” I forced a smile. “You’ll push her to be her best.”
My mother shook her head. “I don’t understand why Liza should train to fight at all. As the lady of the pack, she shouldn’t be concerned about learning to fight.”
“Persephone, my love,” Dominic said. “I understand your concerns, but we must face the reality that times are changing. We can’t expect Liza to sit idly by while danger threatens our pack.”
My mother sighed as her delicate features creased with worry. “I understand. I simply wish it weren’t necessary for her to be involved in such matters. She deserves a life of peace and happiness, not one filled with war and fighting.”
“Believe me, I wish the same,” my father assured her, taking her hand in his. “But we must do everything we can to protect this family, including ensuring Liza has the skills she needs to defend herself.”
“Very well.” My mother patted her mouth delicately with her napkin. “I will support her and trust that you all have her best interests at heart.”
“Thank you, Mom,” I said.
“Let’s get started, then.” Liam pushed his chair back and rose from the table. “Liza, meet me out back in ten minutes.”
My wolf growled in frustration, his instincts still urging me to protect Liza at all costs. I berated him and told him to calm the hell down.
With each step away from the kitchen, my jealousy and frustration grew stronger. My wolf snarled. He didn’t understand why I wasn’t the one training her. As much as it pained me to admit it, they were right. I had to put my emotions aside and trust Liam to do what was best for Liza and our pack.
Ten minutes later, I stood on the edge of the training field, watching as Liam and Liza squared off against each other. I put hand up to shield my eyes from the sun, keeping the other firmly tucked in my pocket as I willed myself to stay put and not interfere.
Liam slipped into a fighting stance. “The most important thing to remember is to keep your center of gravity low and maintain your balance. That way, you’re less likely to be knocked off your feet.”
“Got it,” she said, mimicking his posture.
“Good,” he praised, then lunged at her without warning.
Liza barely had time to react, but she managed to sidestep his attack. Liam immediately followed up with another strike, forcing her to jump back to avoid being hit.
“Stay focused,” he coached. “Anticipate my movements and counter them accordingly.”
“Right,” she panted, ducking under a sweeping kick, and attempting to retaliate with a punch.
Liam easily blocked her attack and pushed her away, grinning at her. “Not bad, but you need to be faster.”
I watched her closely, my wolf struggling to stay still as Liam roughed her up during the sparring match. The sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed in my ears, making it almost impossible to hold back the protective instinct that threatened to take over.
“Let’s try that again.” Liam circled Liza like a predator stalking its prey. “Remember, keep your weight on your back foot, and don’t let yourself be thrown off balance.”
Liza wiped sweat from her brow with the back of her hand. In one swift motion, she lunged toward Liam, directing a forceful punch at his chest. He sidestepped easily, grabbed her arm, and pulled her into a chokehold. She gasped for air, clawing at his forearm, but he didn’t relent.
“Focus, Liza! Use your legs!” Liam barked.
With a sudden burst of understanding, she lashed out, landing a swift kick behind his knee, and forcing him to release his grip on her throat. She spun away, coughing and wheezing as she tried to catch her breath.
“Better,” Liam said, rubbing his leg where she’d struck him. “You need to be faster. If this were a real fight, you might not get a second chance.”
I bit down on the inside of my cheek, trying to block out the image of Liza struggling against an enemy. It went against every fiber of my being—both man and wolf—to watch her in such a vulnerable state. I had to keep reminding myself that this was for her own good.
“Come on,” Liam said, beckoning her forward for another round. “You can do this. Just remember what we’ve been practicing.”
As she squared her shoulders, her expression hardened with resolve, propelling her forward to attack him again.
This time, she managed to land a solid hit on his jaw before he could react, but it didn’t deter him for long.
He retaliated with a swift kick to her midsection, sending her sprawling onto the ground with a pained grunt.
“Look at that, you’re dead,” Liam taunted, standing over her.
My wolf couldn’t take it anymore. A low growl escaped my lips, and I bared my teeth at Liam, ready to tear into him for hurting our mate. But Liza cut through the haze of rage, stopping me in my tracks.
“Stop it,” she admonished, pushing herself up from the ground. “I’m fine. This is what I need to do to protect our pack.”
Her words stung, but she was right. Swallowing down the bitterness, I forced myself to step back. As much as I hated seeing her hurt, I had to trust that she was strong enough to handle whatever fate had in store for her.
One thing was certain: if Castro or anyone else ever dared to lay a hand on Liza in a real fight, they’d have to get through me first, and I would make sure they regretted it for the rest of their very short lives.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, interrupting my tense scrutiny of Liza’s training. I glanced at the screen and scowled at Hiram’s name on the screen.
“It’s Hiram,” I said to Liam.
“Put it on speaker,” he said.
“Ty, we need to talk,” Hiram said, not bothering with the niceties of a greeting. “ASAP. I’m sending you a location.”
The text came through just as he finished speaking, and I stared at the address he’d provided. It was a couple of hours away. It pissed me off to no end that he dared to summon me, but it must have been important.
“I’ll be there,” I said, swiping the screen to end the call.
“Let me come with you,” Liam said. “We’ll leave some extra security here for Liza while she continues her training.”
I chewed on that, my gaze drifting back to Liza as she squared off against one of our pack’s trainers.
Despite her heavy panting and sweat-soaked face, her eyes blazed with intensity.
The thought of leaving her behind, even with extra protection, had my wolf snapping his jaws at the edges of my mind.
“Ty, I get you don’t want to leave Liza, but we have to find out what Hiram has to say,” Liam said quietly.
“Fine,” I replied reluctantly. “But we’re not taking any chances with her safety.”
“Agreed.”
Once we had everything arranged, and the security were told they’d be out on their asses if they so much as blinked and took their eyes off Liza, Liam and I set off for the meeting point.
While we drove, my mind raced with possibilities. What could be so urgent that Hiram needed to speak with us immediately? Why hadn’t he given us any hint of what was going on?
“Any idea what this is about?” Liam asked, echoing my thoughts.
“None.” I gripped the steering wheel tighter. “But knowing Hiram, it can’t be good.”
The wind whipped through the open windows of the car as Liam and I sped down the highway, pushing away the lingering scent of sweat from the training session. My thoughts were consumed with worry for Liza and the impending showdown with Castro.
“Tell me more about your connection to Hiram,” Liam said, breaking the silence. His voice was steady, but there was a note of curiosity that couldn’t be ignored.
I hesitated for a moment, then determined there was no point in hiding it any longer. “Hiram had Sylas when his gambling addiction was at its worst. He helped us out of a tight spot, and we’ve been on good terms ever since.”
“Your father attacked my father’s pack because he believed we were connected to mob bosses,” Liam said, surprise evident in his statement. “Now you’re telling me you have connections to Hiram, who is a mob boss?”
“Wait a minute, Hiram is a mob boss?” I asked, shocked by the revelation.
“I was aware he was into some shady stuff, but I had no idea he was that deep in crime.” I laughed at the irony of how things had turned out.
We had spent years hating each other for the very same reason we were now working together.
“Life has a funny way of surprising us,” Liam said.
After a couple of hours, we arrived at a restaurant tucked away in a small town. This was way more impressive than the last place I’d met Hiram at.
“Business must be booming,” I said, taking in the grandeur.