under the same roof

Chapter Six – Under the Same Roof

Lia didn’t sleep that night.

She couldn’t.

Every sound felt louder. Every shadow felt like him.

And the worst part?

He was no longer a distant threat.

He was inside her home.

The small house felt… smaller.

Too small for someone like Alpha Liam.

He stood near the window, arms crossed, his presence filling the entire space like a storm that refused to pass.

Ethan sat on the couch, watching him closely, eyes sharp and guarded.

Elena leaned against the wall, silent but aware of everything.

And Lia…

Lia stood in the middle of it all, her heart refusing to slow down.

“You can’t stay here,” she said finally, breaking the silence.

Liam didn’t turn.

“I already am.”

Her jaw tightened. “This isn’t your territory.”

A pause.

Then..

“Anywhere my blood is… becomes mine.”

The words sent a chill through her.

“That’s not how this works,” she snapped.

Now he turned.

Slowly.

His eyes locked onto hers.

“Then explain to me,” he said, voice low, controlled, “how you thought you could keep my children from me for five years.”

The question hit hard.

Lia swallowed.

“I did what I had to do.”

“You ran.”

“I survived.”

The tension between them snapped tight like something ready to break.

“Stop.”

Both of them turned.

Ethan stood up, frustration written all over his face.

“You’re not going to stand here and fight like we’re not here,” he said.

Elena stepped beside him. “We’re not leaving her.”

Liam studied them both carefully.

“You think I want to take you away from her?”

“Yes,” Ethan said immediately.

“No,” Elena added calmly. “We know you will.”

Silence filled the room.

Liam’s expression didn’t change but something in his eyes flickered.

“You don’t know me.”

Ethan took a step forward. “You’re right. We don’t. And we don’t trust you either.”

Lia felt her chest tighten.

“Ethan—”

“No,” he said, not taking his eyes off Liam. “He doesn’t just get to show up and act like he belongs here.”

Liam’s gaze hardened slightly.

“I don’t need permission to belong to my own blood.”

Elena’s voice is soft, but sharp.

“And we don’t need you to.”

That one landed.

Hard.

For a moment, it looked like Liam might lose control.

The air thickened again.

Power rising.

Danger building.

Lia stepped forward instantly.

“Enough.”

Her voice shook—but it held.

“They’re children,” she said, standing between them again. “Not soldiers. Not members of your pack. Children.”

Liam’s gaze dropped to her.

“And yet… they carry Alpha blood.”

“I know that!” she snapped, emotion finally spilling over. “I’ve been dealing with it alone for five years!”

That stopped him.

“You think it was easy?” she continued, her voice breaking slightly. “Watching them change… not understanding what they are becoming… being terrified of someone like you finding them?”

“Someone like me?” he repeated quietly.

“Yes,” she said, meeting his gaze. “Powerful. Ruthless. Someone who takes what he wants.”

The accusation hung between them.

Heavy.

Personal.

Something shifted.

Not anger.

Not this time.

Something deeper.

Liam stepped closer.

Slowly.

Lia’s breath caught but she didn’t move.

“You still think that’s all I am?” he asked, his voice lower now.

Too close.

Too familiar.

Too dangerous.

I think…” Lia hesitated, her heart racing, “you don’t know how to be anything else.”

For a moment

Just a moment

The tension between them changed.

Not gone.

But different.

Charged.

Unspoken.

Then

Ethan stepped between them.

“Back up.”

The moment shattered instantly.

Liam straightened, his expression hardening again.

“Protective,” he murmured.

“He’s my mom,” Ethan said firmly.

“And she’s ours,” Elena added quietly.

Liam looked at them really well this time.

Not just as power.

Not just as heirs.

But as his children.

And for the first time

He didn’t argue.

“Fine,” he said after a long silence.

Lia frowned. “Fine… what?”

“We set rules.”

That surprised her.

“What kind of rules?”

His gaze stayed steady.

“I'll stay,” he said. “You don’t run.”

Her heart skipped.

“And the twins?” she asked cautiously.

“They choose,” Liam said.

Ethan blinked. “Choose what?”

Liam’s voice remained calm but firm.

“To know me… or not.”

Silence.

The tension shifted again.

Less explosive.

More dangerous in a different way.

Because now

This wasn’t about force.

It was about time.

Later that night…

Lia stood alone in the kitchen, gripping the edge of the table.

This was worse.

So much worse than running.

Because now

He was here.

Close.

Watching.

Waiting.

And the bond she thought she broke…

It didn’t feel so broken anymore.

Behind her, a voice came quietly.

“You still feel it too.”

She froze.

Didn’t turn.

“Don’t start,” she said softly.

Liam stepped closer but not too close this time.

“Five years,” he said. “And it never disappeared.”

Lia closed her eyes.

Because he was right.

And that was the most dangerous part of all.