Liz’s POVCarlos led us down a side hall towards a room, Finn and Diana lingering behind. I could feel Diana’s stare burning into me, her worry loud even though she said nothing.Inside the room, I sat on the edge of the couch, hands clenched in my lap. My mother paced for a moment before she sat down across from me, my father taking her hand in his, but neither of them could look at me. Carlos stood to the side, arms crossed, silent but tense.She took a long breath, like the words themselves were a weight she could barely carry. “You were never supposed to find out like this.”Something inside me shifted.“Find out what?” I asked, my pulse quickening, my body bracing for something I didn’t want to hear.She looked at me, and I saw it real fear in her eyes. Regret. Tears welled up and slipped free as her lips parted.“You’re not my daughter, Liz. You’re Ruby’s.”The world stopped.My ears rang, drowning everything in static as the words echoed again and again in my mind. I blinked,
Liz’s POVIt was done.I had said everything I needed to say. The girl who once stood in his shadow was gone. She wasn’t coming back.I turned away from the door— And was nearly tackled by a blur of wild hair and excitement.“LIZ!!!”The voice hit me a second before the body did. Arms wrapped tightly around my neck, pulling me into a breath-stealing hug as laughter bubbled out of my best friend’s throat.“Diana,” I gasped, but it came out as a laugh, my arms wrapping around her instinctively.She clung to me for a second longer before pulling back just enough to look me dead in the eye.“You’re so lucky you came back,” she said seriously, brows furrowing. “Otherwise, I was going to resurrect you myself just so I could kill you for leaving me in this dump.”I burst out laughing, and she grinned like that was the best compliment she'd ever received.“I'm serious,” she said, her hands flying wildly. “I was already plotting. A shovel, a witch, maybe a full moon sacrifice. I was this clo
Liz’s POVFinn’s eyes were locked on me. “Liz… Arthur would—”“Arthur would understand,” I cut him off firmly, my voice leaving no room for argument.No one moved. They stood their ground, all of them silently refusing to leave me alone with Lumian.“He will not hurt me,” I said, steady and certain.I had things I needed to say to him. Although I owed Lumian nothing, I wasn’t going to let him keep making a fool of himself in front of everyone.Finn studied me for a moment, then gave a small nod. He turned to Lumian, his voice low and deadly. “If you touch her, I will kill you.”I watched as Carlos reluctantly stepped aside, his anger clear, but finally, one by one, they all left the room.The door clicked shut behind them, and silence filled the space.Lumian stood there, looking at me like he was seeing salvation, before his knees gave out. He fell to the ground, sobbing, his hands clutching at nothing.“Liz,” he begged through his tears. “Please… please love me again. Give me anoth
Lumian’s POVThere she was.Liz.Alive.I stared at her from the doorway, and the world around me seemed to tilt. Everything I had done, every drink, every sleepless night, every insane plan to bring her back, had been leading to this moment. I wasn’t crazy. I hadn’t been wrong.She had come back to me.“Liz…” I said, my voice breaking. My feet felt heavy, unsteady, but I didn’t care. She was here, and I wasn’t letting her go again.She froze where she stood, her eyes locked on me, and I could see the fear in her expression. It hurt, but I pushed past it.“I knew it,” I rasped, my throat raw from too many nights drowning in whiskey and shouting at ghosts. “I knew you weren’t gone. I felt it, Liz.”“Lumian,” Carlos’s voice was angry, but I didn’t look at him. My eyes stayed fixed on her.She was even more beautiful than I remembered.“You came back,” I said, my steps faster now, desperate. “You came back to me. This this is our chance to fix everything. We can start over, Liz. I can m
Liz’s POVThe car slowed as we reached the Blackthorn Pack. My stomach tightened as the familiar gates came into view. It felt strange to be back here, a place that had once been my entire world, but now felt like another lifetime.When the car stopped, I hesitated. My hand was on the door handle, but I couldn’t bring myself to push it open.Finn leaned forward slightly, his voice low. “Do you want me to go in first? I can let them know you’re here.”I shook my head, my eyes still on the packhouse in front of us. “No. It's okay.”He nodded but didn’t push.I drew in a breath, steadying myself. This was the place where I had lived, loved, and built my life… and yet, when I went missing, no one here had truly fought to find me. I didn’t hate them for it, but there was a heaviness in my chest I couldn’t ignore.I opened the door and stepped out. Finn fell into step behind me as I started walking toward the main building.The air shifted as soon as people noticed me. Conversations stoppe
Liz’s POVI was curled against Arthur’s chest, my head tucked beneath his chin, the steady sound of his heartbeat thudding in my ear.I moved, pressing myself closer to him, my fingers trailing over his bare, muscular chest. His arm tightened around my waist as he stirred, and then I felt his lips press a kiss to the top of my head.“Good morning,” his voice husky from sleep.I tilted my head up to look at him. I moved, swinging a leg over his waist until I was straddling him. His hands came to rest on my hips as I leaned down and kissed him.When I pulled back, I stayed there, hovering over him, my eyes fixed on his. I still couldn’t believe last night had been real.Arthur's eyes stayed locked on me as he studied every inch of my face “You’re staring,” he teased.“I can’t help it,” I admitted. “I’m still in awe… of you, of us, of everything we’ve been through to get here.”He smiled softly.I rested my hand over his, holding it against my face. My heart pounded, but I forced myse