28. Selene
Chapter 28
Selene
A fter that kiss, I practically race home. My mind keeps flashing back to every moment we shared like a movie reel, and I can’t seem to shake the memory of his lips on mine.
But as I pull up to my apartment building, my reverie is shattered by Katya’s unexpected appearance. I roll down my window to greet her, but her words freeze me in place.
“We took care of your little problem,” she says casually.
My heart drops to my stomach as I realize what she means—the wolves, Liam’s warning. It all clicks into place, and suddenly, I feel sick.
“What... what do you mean?” I manage to stammer.
Katya shrugs indifferently. “The wolves. They won’t be bothering you anymore.”
My hands start to tremble, and a wave of nausea washes over me. “I never wanted you to... to kill anyone,” I protest weakly.
Katya’s expression darkens, hurt flashing in her eyes. “Well, it’s too late for that now,” she retorts. “Looks like you’re on your own.”
With that, she turns and walks away, leaving me feeling more alone than ever. I stumble into my apartment, full of guilt and fear.
I pace back and forth, unable to sit still as Katya’s words settle over me like a suffocating blanket. She was responsible for four deaths now… because of me.
Just as I’m about to collapse onto my couch, there’s a knock at the door. My heart leaps into my throat, and I freeze in place, my pulse pounding in my ears.
With trembling hands, I approach the door and peek through the peephole. It’s Liam.
I hesitate for a moment, but then I realize I can’t keep avoiding him. I need to face whatever consequences come my way.
With a deep breath, I unlock the door and swing it open. “Liam? What are you doing here?”
His expression is unreadable. “Can I come in?” he asks low-voiced.
I step back, opening the door wider, and he walks past me. I close the door after him, and we stand there in silence for a moment. It seems that neither of us knows what to say.
“I know about your family, Selene…”
How did he find out?
I feel exposed and vulnerable. “Your parents are responsible for me being an orphan,” I blurt out, my voice trembling with emotion.
Liam’s expression softens, but there’s a hint of sadness in his eyes. “That may be true,” he admits, “but your family attacked first.”
My heart clenches at his words. He’s right, of course, but it still hurts to hear it. “They were defending themselves.”
Liam shakes his head. “Maybe so,” he concedes, “but that doesn’t change the fact that innocent lives were lost.”
“So, because they were vampires, they cannot have been victims?”
“That is not what I am saying, and you know it.”
“Why did you come here? To call me a monster again?” I can feel my anger bubbling to the surface… that and something a lot more volatile.
“No, Selene. This is complicated for both of us.”
“You shouldn’t have come back here, Liam.”
“I know.”
There’s a tense silence between us as we both grapple with the weight of our pasts. I want to ask him to leave, to give me some space to process everything, but I can’t bring myself to say the words.
Instead, I meet his gaze head-on. “Are you working with the other vampires?” he asks.
I shake my head, feeling a bit relieved at his doubt. “No,” I say firmly. “I have nothing to do with whatever they’re planning.”
But as he stands there, watching me with those intense gray eyes, doubt creeps in. Should I tell him about Katya and the others? About how they killed Mia’s pack, not me? But something holds me back. Maybe it’s fear of what he’ll think of me, or maybe it’s just self-preservation.
In the end, I shake my head, pushing the thought aside. “No,” I repeat, my voice steady. “I’m not involved.”
Liam nods, seeming to accept my answer. “I’m sorry I kissed you,” he says suddenly.
I feel a pang of sadness at his apology. “I accept your apology,” I say quietly, my gaze dropping to the floor. “Now, please... just go.”
He nods, his shoulders slumping in defeat. “I understand,” he says, turning to leave.
But as he reaches the door, something stops him. He turns back to me, his eyes searching mine. “Selene,” he says softly, “I... I really am sorry about everything.”
I’m caught off guard by his confession. For a moment, I’m tempted to let him stay, to let him hold me and tell me everything will be okay.
To tell me anything.
But I know it’s not that simple.
So instead, I shake my head, my voice barely above a whisper. “Please, just go,” I say again, my heart aching.
With one last look, Liam nods solemnly, and then he’s gone.
Why is all this happening to me?
Then, there’s a knock at the door. I stand up, wiping away my tears, and open it to find Liam standing there.
“I’m sorry,” he says before pulling me into another kiss.
I kiss him back, feeling… confusion, anger, desire. But in that moment, none of it matters. All that matters is the feel of his lips on mine and the warmth of his embrace.