34. Liam
Chapter 34
Liam
I ’m on the scent, following the small wolf’s trail through Cedar Creek’s dark streets.
Finally, I spot him rummaging through trash cans for scraps of food. I change back into my human form, and the wolf startles. His fur melts away to reveal a boy no older than fourteen. He’s dirty and disheveled, with hollow cheeks and eyes that betray a hunger that goes beyond the physical.
He reminds me of Grayson when he was younger. “Hey there,” I say softly, trying to put him at ease. “What’s your name, kid? And why were you running?”
The boy shifts nervously on his feet, his eyes darting around as if expecting danger at any moment. “I’m Emmett,” he says quietly. “I... I’ve been on my own for a while now. Trying to stay away from... them.”
I nod, understanding the fear in his voice. “Come on, Emmet. Let’s go somewhere safe where we can talk.”
Emmett hesitates for a moment, but the promise of safety seems to outweigh his fear. He nods, and together, we head back to his trailer.
As I sit across from Emmett in the dimly lit trailer, his young face illuminated by the soft glow filtering through the dusty windows, I feel a deep sense of empathy for him. He’s just a kid, barely fourteen, yet he’s already experienced more loss and hardship than most adults ever will.
His voice quivers as he recounts the events that led him to this moment. “Elias left one day and never came back,” he murmurs, his gaze fixed on the floor as if he can’t bear to meet my eyes. “It was just me and Grandma after that.”
I reach out and place a hand on his shoulder, offering what little comfort I can. “And then the vampires came,” I prompt gently, knowing the answer but needing to hear it from him.
I can smell them in this small, cramped room.
Emmett nods, tears brimming in his eyes. “They... they killed Grandma,” he chokes out, his voice barely above a whisper. “I tried to hide, but they found me. I thought they were going to kill me, but they just laughed. One of them said they should feed on me, but his partner just warned him saying I was young and maybe they can come back when I am a little bigger. I was so scared.”
My heart clenches at his words, a surge of anger coursing through me at the thought of this senseless violence. They kept him alive just to taunt and torture him.
Those vile, despicable creatures.
“I’m so sorry, Emmett. You didn’t deserve any of this.”
He looks up at me then, his eyes shining with unshed tears. “Why are you here? Earlier, you said you were my brother’s friend. Where’s Elias?”
I swallow hard, steeling myself for the difficult task ahead. “Emmett,” I begin, my voice barely a whisper. “Elias... he’s not coming back.”
The words hang heavy in the air between us. Emmett’s shoulders slump in defeat, fresh tears streaming down his cheeks as he comes to terms with this new, harsh reality.
Without hesitation, I pull him into a tight embrace, holding him close as he sobs against my chest. It’s all I can do to offer him some small measure of comfort.
After a while, when his tears have finally subsided, and his breathing has evened out, I gently suggest that we leave the trailer behind and find a place where Emmett can get cleaned up and eat a hot meal. I promise him that he’ll be safe with me, that I’ll do everything in my power to protect him.
But before we go, there’s one more thing I need to do. I pull out my phone and dial my sister Layla’s number, quickly explaining the situation and asking her to talk to Emmett. She has always been great with kids, and maybe her soothing voice will help him calm down.
As they speak on the phone, I watch them from across the room, feeling a strange mixture of sadness and relief wash over me.
As I listen to their conversation, his small form is huddled against the flickering light of the trailer.
I try not to eavesdrop, but I catch bits and pieces of the conversations. She reassures him that he will be fine and I will take care of him.
That he can trust me.
Something about how she talks to him keeps him calm and grounded.
Inwardly, I thank my sister.
Emmett deserves better than what life has thrown at him in his young life. I can’t explain it, but I feel like I need to be the one to show him life can be better.
I may never understand why they killed his family, but I make myself a promise that I will not let any harm come to him.
As we get into the car, I can see the exhaustion and hunger etched into Emmett’s features. I reach into the console and hand him a Snickers bar, offering a small smile. “Here, this should hold you over until we get to the hotel.”
Emmett’s eyes light up at the sight of the chocolate bar, and he eagerly tears into the wrapper, taking large bites as we drive. I watch him from the corner of my eye, feeling a pang of sadness at the sight of him devouring it so ravenously.
The drive to the hotel is quiet. The only sounds are the hum of the engine and the occasional rustle of the candy wrapper as Emmett eats.
When we finally arrive at the hotel, I park the car and lead him to our room.
The room is modest but comfortable, with two beds neatly made and a small table by the window. “Why don’t you go take a shower while I order us some food?” I offer companionably.
After Emmett showers, I take the opportunity to clean myself up, too. The hot water soothes my tired muscles as I wash away the grime of the day. By the time I emerge from the bathroom, Emmett is dressed and waiting at the table with the food that has arrived.
I gesture, giving him the go-ahead to eat.
Wasting no time, he begins to devour his food. “Slow down, kiddo,” I chuckle, taking a seat across from him. “You’ll make yourself sick if you eat too fast.”
Emmett looks up at me sheepishly, slowing his pace as he continues to eat. “Sorry,” he mumbles between bites. “I haven’t had a proper meal in days.”
I nod sympathetically, reaching for my own meal and picking at the food in front of me. “No need to apologize,” I assure him. “You’re safe now, and I’ll do what I can to make sure you have more proper meals from now on.”
As we eat, Emmett finally gathers the courage to ask me a question. “How did you find me?” he asks, his eyes searching mine for answers.
I sigh, not sure how much to tell him. “I’m a protector in the next town over,” I explain gently. “The sheriff sent me to track you down and bring you back.”
Emmett nods, seemingly satisfied with my answer.
A thought occurs to me then. “Would you... would you consider moving to a new town? My town?” I ask hesitantly. “I could help you get back on your feet and find a new life.”
He looks at me, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. “I don’t have anyone here anymore. I think I’d like that,” he says softly.
The drive back to town is quiet. Emmett’s nervousness is palpable, as he shifts in his seat, with his fingers fidgeting in his lap as he steals glances out the window.
“Hey, Emmett,” I say, breaking the silence. “I know this can be overwhelming, but I promise you, everything will be okay.”
He looks at me uncertainly, but he nods in response, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. I appreciate that small gesture of trust.
When we arrive at the sheriff’s station, Alyssa greets us with a warm smile. She apologizes for the tense atmosphere of our last meeting, and I nod in understanding.
“Any news on Marco?” I ask hopefully.
Alyssa shakes her head, her expression somber. “I’m sorry, Liam. We’re still investigating, but there’s been no progress.”
I sigh as worry settles in my chest. Marco’s disappearance hangs over us like a dark cloud.
Alyssa turns to Emmett and asks, “So, Emmett. Have you thought about what you would like to do now? Maybe the council could—”
I take a deep breath, interrupting her. “Actually, I’m going to take care of him,” I say firmly. “I can afford it, and I’ll make sure he’s enrolled in the same school as my brother. That way, he’ll have someone to look out for him.”
Alyssa nods approvingly. “Okay. It sounds like you’ve thought about this, Liam.”
“Yes, I have. And Emmett and I discussed it on the way here.”
Turning to Emmett, she says, “Would you be okay with that, Emmett?”
“Yeah, sure,” he says shyly.
After leaving the station, I call my mother and fill her in on our plans, asking her to organize a family dinner so everyone can meet Emmett and discuss how we can support him moving forward.
As we make our way back to my house, Emmett’s demeanor becomes more relaxed and open. He chats animatedly about his interests in football and swimming and asks questions about the school he’ll be attending.
When we arrive, I show Emmett to the room he’ll be staying in. It’s the same room Grayson occupies when he visits, spacious and comfortable, with a large bed, a desk, and a closet for his belongings.
Emmett’s eyes widen as he takes in the space, “Wow. This is amazing. Thank you, Liam.”
I smile, feeling a swell of pride at his reaction.
I leave Emmett to unpack and chill in his room, then pull out my phone to call Mom.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Hey, Liam! Everything okay?” Mom’s voice sounds cheery on the other end.
“Yeah, everything’s fine. I was just wondering if there’s anything I can bring for dinner tonight.”
Mom chuckles. “Oh, don’t worry about a thing, dear. I’ve got everything under control. Your father is actually looking forward to talking to you.”
“Actually, Mom, I wanted to talk to both of you too.”
Mom sounds intrigued. “About what, honey?”
”About being an alpha.”
There’s a pause on the other end of the line. “An alpha? What do you mean, Liam?”
I sigh, trying to find the right words to explain. “I feel like I’ve just started my own pack, Mom. And Emmett is the first member.”
There’s a soft gasp from Mom’s end, followed by a thoughtful silence. “Wow, Liam. That’s... That’s a big responsibility.”
“Yeah, I know,” I admit. “But I think I’m ready for it.”
Mom’s voice softens. “We believe in you, Liam. Your father and I are here to support you in any way we can.”
I feel a surge of gratitude for her words. “Thanks, Mom. I’ll see you at dinner, okay?”
“Of course, dear. Drive safely,” Mom says before we say our goodbyes and hang up.
I walk into my parents’ house for dinner, the familiar scent of home wafting through the air. Mom greets me with a warm hug, telling me to go to Dad’s office to call him. I nod and make my way there, wondering what he wants to talk about.
“Hey, Dad,” I say as I enter his office, finding him behind his desk buried in paperwork.
He looks up, a smile spreading across his face. “Liam, good to see you. How have you been?”
We exchange pleasantries for a bit. He is interested in how I am handling the job and whether I think I need help at all.
I tell him no.
That is when he drops a bombshell on me.
“So, Liam, there’s something I wanted to tell you,” he says, his expression serious.
I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. “What’s up, Dad?”
“Well, there’s been some... unusual activity in town recently,” he begins, choosing his words carefully.
My curiosity piqued, I lean in closer, eager to hear more.
“There was a vampire spotted at the edge of town,” Dad continues, his voice dropping to a whisper.
My heart skips a beat at the mention of vampires.
“Did they catch her?” I ask, my mind racing with possibilities.
Dad nods grimly. “Yeah, they did. But not before she put up quite a fight. I was there, actually. She nearly attacked me.”
I have so many questions, like what he was even doing there, but I am too shaken to actually voice them.
I feel a chill run down my spine at the thought of Dad being in danger. “Is she... is she still alive?”
Dad shakes his head. “No, they had to kill her to stop her. It was... messy.”
I am grateful that Dad’s okay, but I hold my breath. My mind is reeling from the news.
What if it was Selene?
What if they killed her?
“Do you know who she was?” I ask, trying to push down the panic creeping up inside me.
Dad shakes his head again. “No idea.”
I swallow the lump forming in my throat.
“And you have never seen her before?”
“Nah. She was blonde, pretty young. None of us recognized her, so she must have been passing through.”
I let out the breath I was holding at his description. It couldn’t have been Selene.
Dad glances at his watch and sighs. “As the Protector, you do need to keep your eye out for vampires. Okay, son?”
“Yes, Dad. I will.”
“Well, I’ll tell your mother about it later. No need to worry her before dinner.”
I nod in agreement, eager to change the subject. “Yeah, let’s head to dinner. Mom’s probably wondering where we are.”
We make our way to the dining room, where Mom has already set the table with all our favorite dishes.
“Finally, you two are here,” Mom says, giving us both a pointed look. “I was starting to think you got lost.”
I chuckle and take my seat, eager to dig into the delicious meal Mom’s prepared.