Chapter 113
LIZA
The moment we stepped into my parents’ house, the atmosphere turned tense as Liam, Ty, and I, along with some guards, stood in my parents’ living room. Even the delectable scent of Mom’s homemade apple pie couldn’t mask the uneasiness that hung over us like a dark cloud.
My brothers eyed Liam with contempt and wariness, and they moved in front of my mother to shield her. The news of Castro’s stunt had brought a cold sweat to my body, and the fact that he was so close only made the situation even more alarming.
“Are you kidding me? This is absurd,” Michael spat, throwing his hands up in the air.
“Easy, Michael,” I said, trying to keep the peace. “We’re all on edge and need to stay calm.”
“Look,” Ty cut in. “We came here to talk about the Castro sighting and the additional security measures we want to put in place for the house.”
Mason stepped forward with his shoulders squared. “I don’t trust him, Liza.” He jerked his head toward Liam, and narrowed his eyes. “Neither should you.”
“Guys, can we just focus on what’s important here?” I said in exasperation. “There’s a psychopath out there, and we need to protect our family,”
It was one thing when we had no idea where Castro was, but now that he was so close...
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure.
“Damn it,” Mason said under his breath. “What are we supposed to do now?”
“First things first, we’re going to put extra security on this house,” Liam said. “With this war coming, no one is safe, especially your family, Liza.”
My brothers stared at Liam with their jaws clenched. Whatever anger they’d been holding back suddenly exploded.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” Michael growled, taking a step toward Liam.
“Mike, don’t!” I grabbed for his arm, but he shook me off.
“Your little stunt with Liza wasn’t enough? Now you’re dragging our entire family into this mess?” Mason added, his low, menacing growl resonating through the room.
“Enough,” Ty barked, stepping between them and Liam to create a physical barrier. “This isn’t helping anyone. We need to focus on protecting our family and stopping Castro.”
I held my breath and watched the scene unfold, then silently thanked Ty for intervening before things turned ugly.
My brothers’ faces were red, their gazes locked on Liam.
Liam, however, seemed unperturbed. His expression was cool and impassive, betraying no emotion.
In a physical fight, my brothers stood no chance against Liam.
Still, I was glad it didn’t get that far.
We had enough problems without adding family feuds into the mix.
“Look, we’re all on edge here, but attacking each other won’t solve anything,” Ty said, his alpha authority ringing through his voice.
“Fine,” Michael said and stepped back, though his posture remained stiff.
Mason mirrored his actions, still glaring at Liam.
“Let’s focus on what needs to be done,” Ty said, ever the voice of reason. “Liza’s safety is our priority, and we have to work together.”
Liam nodded, the slightest hint of a frown on his brow. “Agreed,” he said, voice barely above a whisper.
“Good.” Ty exhaled, visibly relieved.
While we discussed our next steps, I glanced over at my mother, who was standing near the kitchen counter.
Her hands were clasped tightly together, her fingers digging into her skin.
She wasn’t comfortable with Liam’s presence, considering what had happened to her.
Well, more because of the man whose head had been delivered to us.
My father wrapped an arm around her, offering her comfort and reassurance. “Rory, I promise we’ll do everything in our power to keep Liza and our family safe.”
“I know, honey,” my mother said. She glanced up, giving me a weak but encouraging smile.
“Okay, so what’s our next move?” Mason asked, the anger from before forgotten.
The air was suffocating as we gathered in the living room. I could taste everyone’s fear—a bitter, acrid tang that clung to the back of my throat. Ty stood beside me, his body radiating warmth and strength. It was a comfort, but it wasn’t enough to erase my worry.
“Extra security?” My father’s voice was edged with disbelief, his eyes darting between Ty and Liam. “You’re telling us Castro is out there, planning some kind of war, and you want to put more guards around our house?”
“Exactly.” Ty was unyielding. “This isn’t just about protecting Liza anymore. Your entire family could be at risk.”
“War?” My mother’s hand was shaking as she reached for my father. “A real war? What does this mean for all the men in our pack?”
“Mom, I…” Words failed me. How could I explain the gravity of the situation without scaring her even more?
“It means we need to be prepared.” Ty’s gaze never left my father’s face. “I’ll be holding a pack meeting soon to discuss what’s happening and how we can protect ourselves. If a war is coming, we’ll need every able-bodied man to step up and fight.”
My father sighed heavily. I watched my mother’s hands shake as she clutched at her husband’s arm.
“There hasn’t been a pack war in centuries.
” He shook his head. “It seems history is coming full circle.” My dad turned, his face etched with years of wisdom and experience.
“I’ll fight, Liza. Not just for the pack, but for you.
” He sounded firm, and unwavering, and pride surged in me.
“Us, too.” Michael crossed his arms while Mason nodded, his face set in a grim expression. They might have had opposite personalities, but when it came down to protecting their little sister, they were always united.
The last thing I wanted was for my family to be swept up in this brewing storm. My insides twisted painfully at the thought of losing any one of them. “I don’t want this to come to war,” I began, cracking under my emotion. “There has to be a way to stop it.”
“The only way we can stop it is by being prepared,” Ty answered firmly, his analytical mind already working through possible strategies. “We’ll do everything in our power to protect our home and the ones we love. We’ll face whatever comes head-on.”
Despite his reassuring words, a shroud of unease settled over me. Would we be able to protect everyone we cared about? Or would this war tear us apart, leaving nothing but shattered hearts and broken dreams in its wake?
I looked around the room, studying the familiar faces of my family members. They were all willing to risk everything for me, for the pack. It was both humbling and terrifying. Somehow, I had to find the strength within myself to face whatever lay ahead.
The sun blazed overhead, casting its unforgiving heat upon us as we continued our training.
Sweat trickled down my back, and my muscles screamed for a break, but I couldn’t afford to stop.
Not when Castro was out there, waiting for his next move.
Exhaustion weighed heavily on me, yet the thought of my family and of Ty pushed me forward.
“Come on,” Liam barked as he lunged, his fist swinging at my face. I barely dodged in time, feeling the rush of air as it whizzed past my cheek. “This isn’t a game. You need to tighten up.”
“Damn it, Liam,” I grumbled because he was right. My movements were sluggish, my focus scattered. “I’m trying.”
“Trying isn’t good enough.” His eyes narrowed as he circled me. His voice was harsh, cutting me like a knife. “You’re not some porcelain doll, Liza. You’re a goddamn Wylde. Start acting like it.”
His words ignited a fire within me. I couldn’t cower in fear or let my insecurities hold me back. I needed to be strong for myself and for those I loved.
With renewed conviction, I charged at Liam with my fists clenched and my pulse pounding in my ears. Our blows connected, the sound echoing through the yard as we traded hit after hit. He didn’t pull any punches, and neither did I.
“Is that all you got?” he taunted, smirking while I struggled to catch my breath. Anger bubbled up inside me, fueled by both exhaustion and frustration.
“Shut up,” I snarled, driving my fist toward his face. He dodged it, but I was ready and followed up with a swift kick to his gut that sent him stumbling back. “How’s that for all I’ve got?”
“Better,” he said, catching himself and grinning through the pain. “Still not enough.”
“Enough for now.” I wiped the sweat from my brow.
We continued our back-and-forth until we were both panting and covered in dirt. Finally, we collapsed onto the ground, laughing as we lay there.
“Sorry I’m being so tough on you,” Liam choked out between laughs, his eyes meeting mine. “I just don’t want anything happening to you. If you’re serious about learning to fight, you have to stop holding back and being afraid of your own strength.”
His words struck a chord within me. The fear that had been gnawing since Castro’s appearance had grown into something bigger—something paralyzing—but I couldn’t let it control me. I needed to face it head-on and embrace the power that coursed through my veins.
“Thank you.” I was almost hoarse from exertion. “You’re just trying to help. I promise I’ll keep pushing myself.”
“Good,” he said, offering me a hand to help me up. “Because we’re not done yet. We’ve still got a lot of work to do.”
With his hand in mine, I effortlessly stood up, feeling a sense of security and support.
The sun began to dip below the horizon, and the dim light of dusk fell over the training grounds.
With each passing moment, my fear started to fade, giving way to a newfound sense of confidence.
Liam was right. The only way to overcome my fear was to face it and embrace the power that coursed through my veins.
“Promise me something,” I said, turning to Liam. “Promise me you won’t let me give in to the fear.”
“Of course.” His words were full of sincerity. “I’ll always have your back, Liza. You’re not alone in this.”
“Thank you,” I said, grateful for his unwavering support. With that, we parted ways for the evening, and I hurried into the house, eager to share my progress with Ty.
When I got upstairs, I heard water running from the bathroom. I followed the noise, finding Ty emerging from the shower with beads of water glistening on his skin. My heart skipped a beat as I took in the sight before me, and desire flared through me.
“Hey.” Ty’s voice was husky when he saw me ogling his sculpted muscles. “How was training?”
“Intense,” I said, tracking a bead of water that dripped down his abs. “Liam was really tough on me today, but… I think it’s actually helping.”
“Good.” He grinned. “You’re so strong. You’ll be able to overcome anything.”
His words were like a balm to my frayed nerves, soothing the raw edges of my emotions. The desire I held for him grew stronger, fueled by the connection between us. I stepped closer to him, the heat of his bare skin radiating onto mine.
“I couldn’t do it without you,” I said, my hands finding their way to his waist.
“Neither could I.” He gave me a searing kiss that ignited a fire inside me. In that moment, I needed him more than anything, not just for the physical pleasure he provided, but for the emotional support that helped keep me grounded.