53. Liam
Chapter 53
Liam
I ’m sitting alone in my house, drowning my sorrows in a glass of whiskey.
The events of the past few days weigh heavily on my mind, and I can’t shake the feeling of helplessness that consumes me.
Where are the vampires hiding? Why can’t we find them?
We have looked everywhere. Raskogr and Ariana looked through the surrounding forests while Mom and I searched all the abandoned buildings.
None of us can track her scent. I know everyone is beginning to fear the worst, but at least none of them are voicing it.
She is not dead. I just know it.
I would feel it if she was no longer here.
Maybe I can get Dad to help me sweep through town once more. Maybe there is something we missed.
Just then, the doorbell rings, and I drag myself up to answer it. It’s my mother, looking worried as she takes in my disheveled appearance. “How are you holding up, Liam?”
“Terrible,” I admit, not bothering to sugarcoat the truth. “I don’t know what to do, Mom. Selene is out there somewhere, and I can’t find her.”
My mother’s eyes soften, and she steps closer, placing a gentle hand on my arm. “When was the last time you slept or ate?”
“I can’t sleep, Mom,” I confess. “Every time I close my eyes, I see her face, and I start imagining all the things that could have happened or might be happening to her.”
“We’re all worried about you, Liam. You can’t keep going like this. Why don’t you come join us for dinner? It might do you good to be around family.”
I shake my head, unsure if I have the energy to face the world outside my front door. “I’m not hungry, Mom,” I mumble, avoiding her gaze.
But my mother is persistent. “You can stay here as long as you need to, Liam,” she says, wrapping me in a comforting hug. “We’re all here for you, and we’ll get through this together.”
I don’t realize how much I need her words of comfort until she holds me in her arms, and the tears begin to slip out.
She continues holding me until the exhaustion of the past few days finally catches up with me, and I fall asleep in her embrace.
I wake up to the sound of clattering dishes, my head still heavy with sleep. Blinking away the remnants of dreams, I realize it’s my mother tidying up the kitchen. “How long have I been out?” I ask groggily.
“About six hours,” she replies with a smile. “You needed the rest.”
I sit up slowly, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. “You didn’t have to stay,” I say, feeling a pang of guilt for burdening her with my troubles.
She shakes her head. “I’m your mother, Liam. Of course, I stayed.”
I appreciate her words more than she knows, but I push myself to my feet, feeling restless. “I’m not hungry,” I tell her, my appetite still nonexistent. “But maybe I could shower, and then we can head home. I don’t want to be alone right now.”
My mother nods. “Alyssa is at the house, and all your siblings are there too. We can all stay together. Emmett is there as well.”
I feel a sense of relief wash over me at the thought of being surrounded by family. “Okay. Thank you, Mom.”
She walks over and wraps me in a warm hug, her embrace comforting and familiar. “You’re the blessing in my life that I never knew I needed,” she murmurs, pressing a kiss to my cheek.
Tears prick at the corners of my eyes as I return her hug, overwhelmed by her love and support.
Stepping into the shower, I let the warm water wash away the physical and emotional exhaustion of the past few days. I realize my stepmom’s love is a gift I’ll always cherish. My biological mother couldn’t even love me the way Mom chooses to every single day.
I trudge down the stairs, my footsteps heavy with exhaustion. My mother is already bustling about, packing my bags for the trip to the mansion. Without a word, I grab my bags and follow her out to the car.
The drive home is quiet. The only sound is the hum of the engine and the occasional sigh that escapes my lips. But as soon as we walk in, I’m enveloped in a wave of warmth and familiarity. Grayson comes running, throwing his arms around me in a tight hug. This is my family.
Layla is in the kitchen, cooking up something delicious, while Alyssa is curled up on the sofa, lost in thought. Colt is glued to his laptop, his fingers flying across the keyboard, and my father is standing in the kitchen, a glass of whisky in hand.
He walks over and wraps me in a hug, the familiar scent of his aftershave engulfing me. Then, he kisses my mother.
“You brought him home,” he tells her.
“I promised you I would,” Mom replies.
“Welcome home, son,” my father says, pulling me in for a longer hug.
As soon as he lets me go, Layla lets out a loud whoop. “I am so glad you are here. I am making my world-famous pizza.”
These are my people.
“I have the pizza place on speed dial,” Grayson replies, which leads to my sister tossing a kitchen towel at him.
A sense of relief washes over me at this normalcy. “I’ll just put my things down in the room and come down,” I say, already feeling lighter.
Emmett approaches me nervously. “Hey, Liam,” he begins tentatively.
I turn to him, noting the tension in his posture. “Hey, Emmett. How are you holding up?” I ask with genuine concern in my voice.
He hesitates for a moment before responding. “I’m... I’m feeling better,” he admits, though his eyes betray the truth. There’s a lingering pain, a heaviness that weighs on him.
I sigh inwardly, feeling a pang of guilt. “I’m sorry, Emmett. I should have been a better alpha for you.”
“You gave me a home. I know the last few days have been hard, but you did.”
“That was not enough,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. “I should have done more.”
He shakes his head, a small smile playing on his lips. “It’s okay. I’m just glad we’re all together now.”
I run a hand through his hair, gratitude swelling in my chest. “Thanks, Emmett,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. “Thanks for being here.”
“Hey, Liam, don’t sweat it. We’re all in this together, right?”
I nod, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. “Yeah, you’re right.”
As we make our way up to my room, Emmett chatters on about everything and anything, his words a welcome distraction.
I listen intently, grateful for his company and his unwavering support.
Once we reach my room, I drop my bags onto the bed, and Emmett offers to help me unpack, but I shake my head. “Thanks, but I think I need a moment alone,” I say, sinking down onto the edge of the bed.
“Take all the time you need, Liam,” he says, giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze before heading back downstairs.
Alone at last, I let out a long, shaky breath, the events of the past few days and the relief of having support catching up to me all at once. I bury my face in my hands, feeling the tears pricking at the corners of my eyes.
But as I sit there, lost in my thoughts, a sense of peace washes over me.
For the first time in what feels like forever, I’m surrounded by the people I love.
They are going to help in any way they can. I know they will help me find Selene. In the morning, and every day, we will search again and again, until we find her. I know I can put my trust in that.
I am almost convinced that everything will end up being alright.
And that’s when I hear a loud crash downstairs.