39. Selene
Chapter 39
Selene
D id he just say ‘mate’?
Liam’s words hang in the air, heavy with meaning and expectation. I feel a knot form in the pit of my stomach, and all eyes are on me. The wolves and fairies watch me like I’m some kind of exhibit, and I’ve never felt more terrified in my life.
But amidst the tension, I can’t help but notice the dynamic between Liam and his siblings. Their banter is nothing like the cold formality I grew up with. It’s almost… cute.
Then Layla speaks up, her voice sharp with disbelief. “There’s no way she’s your mate,” she says, her eyes boring into mine.
Liam stands his ground, his gaze unwavering. “I’ve known for a while,” he says, and my heart skips a beat. “And I’ve confirmed it.”
They press him for details, but I’m too lost in confusion to pay attention. What does it even mean to be someone’s mate? And why does it have to be me, of all people?
I turn to Liam, desperation creeping into my voice. “There must be some mistake,” I say, hoping that he’ll take it back.
But he just cups my cheek gently. “I thought the same thing at first,” he says, his voice soft. “But I know what I feel, Selene. You’re meant to be mine.”
I want to argue, to tell him he’s wrong, but the hurt in his eyes stops me in my tracks.
His mother clears her throat, breaking the tension. “We all need to sleep on it. We’ll figure everything out in the morning.”
I offer to call an Uber, but Liam insists we stay at his parents’ place. His father backs him up, not wanting to risk us running off in the middle of the night.
So, reluctantly, I follow Liam’s mother to a guest room. It’s spacious and elegant, with a cozy bed piled high with fluffy pillows and soft blankets. She even gives me a set of pajamas to sleep in, which is more than a little embarrassing.
Alone in the room, I slide under the covers, my mind buzzing with questions and doubts.
How did I end up here, tangled in a mess of wolf politics?
In the darkness of the room, the door creaks open, and Liam slips inside, his footsteps barely audible against the carpet. “Hey,” he whispers, his voice a gentle caress in the stillness of the night. “I’m sorry about everything. Can I… hold you?”
I nod silently, too overwhelmed to speak. As he wraps his arms around me, I bury my face in his chest, seeking solace in his embrace. The scent of pine envelops me, a familiar comfort amidst chaos. “I just… I didn’t know how else to tell you,” he murmurs against my hair. “I didn’t mean to drop such a bomb on you.”
“It’s okay,” I manage to whisper, though I’m not sure if I truly mean it. “I’m exhausted, Liam. Can we talk in the morning?”
“Yeah, sure.” He says, sounding a little worried.
But I just can’t deal with one more thing tonight. I turn into him and fall asleep in his arms.
The next morning, I’m awakened by Liam’s gentle touch, his fingers brushing against my cheek with a tenderness that makes my heart ache. “Morning, beautiful,” he says, his voice soft with affection. “I’m going for a run with Dad, but I wanted to make sure you were fed first.”
I try to protest, to tell him that I’m fine on my own, but he insists on bringing me breakfast in bed. “You don’t have to do this.”
“I want to,” he replies, his eyes warm with sincerity. “You’re important to me, Selene.”
After a quick kiss, he brings his hand to my lips, urging me to bite. I hesitate for a moment, uncertainty clouding my mind, but the need for his blood is overwhelming. I press my lips and teeth against his skin, tasting the metallic tang of his blood as I drink from him.
His warmth flows through me, soothing the ache in my soul as he holds me close. “That’s enough,” he whispers gently but firmly. And without hesitation, I obey, my body instinctively responding to his words.
As he leaves the room, I’m left alone with my thoughts, the weight of last night’s revelation heavy on my mind, and the steaming cup of coffee Liam left behind. But amidst the uncertainty, I feel comforted knowing that Liam’s by my side and that he is determined to care for me.
I stay in my room, avoiding going out to face the family alone. I am lost in my thoughts when a soft knock on the door startles me. It’s Grayson, standing in the doorway, looking sheepish. “Hey,” he says tentatively. “I’m sorry to bother you. Mom sent me to get you.”
I manage a small smile, trying to ease the tension between us. “It’s okay,” I assure him, stepping out into the hallway.
He sighs, running a hand through his hair. “I feel like I’m always apologizing for my family,” he admits.
I give him a sympathetic look. “You don’t have to apologize for them,” I say softly, though a part of me wonders if that’s really true.
Downstairs, the kitchen is a hive of activity. Liam’s back, bustling around the stove as he prepares breakfast for the whole family. Layla’s hunched over her laptop, and Colt’s glued to his phone, both barely acknowledging my presence with murmured greetings.
Emmett ignores me completely, his attention focused elsewhere. Liam’s mother is seated in their father’s lap, a sight that should be strange but somehow feels oddly natural here.
“Morning, Selene,” Liam’s mother says, smiling warmly as I enter the room. “Did you sleep alright?”
“Yes, thank you,” I reply, taking a seat at the dining table.
I watch as Liam cooks, surprised when he pulls out a brown paper bag from Mariya’s, my favorite local restaurant. “I love that place,” I blurt out before I can stop myself.
Everyone turns to look at me, and Layla raises an eyebrow. “I had no idea your kind eats regular food,” she says, her tone incredulous.
I feel my cheeks flush with embarrassment. “I just… I enjoy the soup,” I stammer, wishing I could disappear into the floor.
Liam’s mother smiles indulgently. “Well, we’ll have to tell the owner that you’re a fan,” she says, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
Liam turns to me, a grin spreading across his face. “I’m glad you like my food,” he says warmly.
“Wait, you’re a chef?” I ask, incredulous.
He nods, looking almost bashful. “Yeah, it’s just a side gig,” he admits, though I can tell there’s more to the story.
His father raises an eyebrow. “How did that never come up?”
I blush, feeling self-conscious under their scrutiny. “I don’t know. It just… didn’t,” I mumble, avoiding their eyes.
But Liam’s expression turns somber as he mentions Rosa and Marco, and the mood in the room shifts once again.
I watch as they dig into their breakfast, surprised by the amount of food they consume, especially Liam and his father. They eat like they’ve been starved for days while I content myself with just a glass of orange juice, not wanting to draw attention to the fact that I fed on Liam earlier. Though I’m pretty sure everyone suspects it.
Liam’s mother interrupts the meal with an announcement. “After breakfast, we should swing by the sheriff’s station to bring Alyssa up to speed,” she says, all business-like. “I’ve informed the other council members, and we’re meeting at ten.”
Layla volunteers. “I can drop off Grayson and Emmett at school on my way to work.”
Colt nods, finishing off his food. “I’m heading to the office,” he announces, pushing his chair back from the table.
I sit quietly, feeling like I’m on the outside looking in. This family is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, and I’m just trying to melt into the background, hoping they won’t notice me.
The drive to the sheriff’s office is surprisingly less tense than I expected. I sit in the backseat of the car, wearing clothes Liam’s mother lent me. She’s a nice person, I can tell, and under different circumstances, we might have gotten along.
Liam and his mother head inside to talk to Sheriff Wraith, or “Alyssa,” to the Night family. Alone in the car with Gabriel, he turns to me with a sympathetic expression. “I know you’re scared,” he says softly, “but I’m glad you’re here and willing to share what you know.”
I feel a pang of guilt twist in my stomach. Gabriel doesn’t know the half of it—I haven’t even mentioned my family’s involvement in the vampire revolution. But I push the guilt aside, telling myself I’ll tell Liam everything once this mess is sorted out.
Before long, Sheriff Wraith emerges from the building. I can tell she’s a little apprehensive about meeting me, but I muster up a smile as she approaches.
“Hey,” she says, offering her hand for me to shake. “I appreciate you coming forward with information.”
I return the handshake, feeling a little out of my depth. “I’m Selene.”
Sheriff Wraith nods. “Nice to meet you, Selene,” she says. “We’ll get through this together.”
Just then, Liam appears looking expectant. “We need to get to the council meeting.”
The sheriff nods and turns to head toward her car. “I’ll be right behind you.”
As we drive off towards the council meeting, I can’t shake the feeling of unease that settles in the pit of my stomach.
Am I really doing the right thing by betraying my own kind?