CHAPTER 7

LILA'S POV

"What?" Liam's eyes widen. "Wade's your boss? That's... wow. Small world."

"Yeah. Tiny world," I agree, my throat tight. "Microscopic, really."

Liam's looking at me weirdly now, and I can see the wheels turning in his head. "Is that why you came over last night? Did you know he was staying here?"

"No! I had no idea." The lie comes easily, probably because it's mostly true.

"Really?" Liam questions, his eyes narrowing. "You seemed pretty flustered when I got home? Everything okay? Wade didn't say anything inappropriate, did he? Because I'll kick his ass if he made you uncomfortable."

"No! No, nothing like that." I wave my hand dismissively, hoping he can't see how fast my heart is beating now. "I was just surprised to see someone here when I arrived. I thought I'd be alone. And then finding out he was your best friend... it was a lot to process."

Liam studies me for a moment. But then he seems to let it go, walking over to the fridge to grab a beer. "Well, Wade's a good guy. Intense as hell, but good. You'll like working for him once you get used to his... style."

If only he knew exactly what Wade's "style" entailed.

"Speaking of last night," I say, desperate to change the subject, "I actually need to ask you something."

"Shoot."

"Can I stay here for a while?" The words come out in a rush. "Like, more than just a night or two. Maybe a few weeks, or a month, or..."

"Whoa, slow down." Liam sets his beer down, his expression changing to concern. "What's going on? Did something happen with Connor?"

Just hearing Connor's name makes my chest tighten. "We broke up."

"You broke up?" Liam's voice goes flat. "Or he broke up with you?"

"Does it matter?"

"Yeah, it fucking matters." He crosses his arms. "What did he do?"

I don't want to tell him. Don't want to admit how stupid I was, how blind. But Liam's looking at me with those protective big-brother eyes, and I know he won't let this go.

"I caught him cheating," I say quietly. "With Amber from high school. In our bed."

For a second, Liam doesn't say anything. He just stands there, his jaw clenched so tight I can see the muscle ticking. Then he grabs his keys from the counter.

"Where does he live?"

"Liam, no."

"I'm going to kill him." He heads for the door, and I have to physically block his path. "Move, Lila. I'm serious. I'm going to rip his fucking throat out."

"And then what? You'll go to jail for murder, and I'll be homeless and jobless because I'll have to use all my money to bail you out." I put my hands on his chest, pushing him back. "Connor's not worth it. He's a cheating asshole, and I'm better off without him."

"He hurt you."

"Yeah, he did." My voice cracks despite my best efforts to keep it steady. "But beating him up won't change that. It'll just make things worse."

Liam looks like he wants to argue, but finally he lets out a long breath and sets his keys back down, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. But if I see him, all bets are off."

"Deal." I manage a small smile. "So... can I stay?"

"Are you kidding? Of course you can stay." He pulls me into another hug, this one tighter as he ruffles my hair. "Stay as long as you need. This is your home too, Lila. Always has been."

The tears I've been holding back finally spill over, and I cry into his shirt while he rubs my back and makes soothing noises. 

"For the record," he says after a minute, "I never liked Connor. Always thought he was a dick."

I laugh through my tears. "You could have told me that before I wasted two years on him."

"Would you have listened?"

"Probably not."

"Exactly." He pulls back, wiping the tears from my cheeks like he used to when we were kids. "But you're done with him now, and that's what matters. You deserve someone who treats you right, Lila. Someone who sees how amazing you are."

‘Someone like Wade,’ my traitorous wolf supplies, and I immediately wish I could punch her.

Wade, who has a fiancée. Wade, who fucked me in an elevator and then acted like nothing happened. Wade, who I can't stop thinking about even though I should hate him.

"I'm gonna go lie down," I say, pulling away from Liam. "It's been a really long day."

"Yeah, of course. Your room's all set up. I kept it ready just in case." He replies, then hesitates. "Hey, Lila?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm proud of you. For leaving Connor and getting that job, for handling all this shit with grace. You're stronger than you think."

The words make my throat tight all over again. "Thanks, Liam. That... that means a lot."

"Now, get some rest. I'll order pizza later. Your favorite."

“Alright.”

I manage a smile, grab my purse, and escape to my old bedroom before he can ask any more questions.

The moment the door closes behind me, I collapse onto the bed and let out a shaky breath.

What the fuck is my life right now?

Twenty-four hours ago, I caught my boyfriend cheating. 

Today, I found out my new boss, who I've fucked twice now, is engaged. And my wolf won't shut up about him being our mate, which is just the cherry on top of this disaster sundae.

I roll onto my back and stare at the ceiling, and all I can think about is Wade.

The way he looked at me in that elevator. His cock inside me. The way he commanded me, his voice in my ear, calling me his good girl and making me come so hard I saw stars.

Fuck.

And then Sabrina appeared. Perfect, beautiful Sabrina with her designer clothes and her brilliant smile and her claim on the man my wolf is screaming belongs to us.

How could he do that? How could he fuck me, not once but twice, knowing he has a fiancée waiting at home? Does he do this all the time? Does he just fuck random girls in elevators and think nothing of it?

My phone vibrates with a text, and my heart leaps stupidly, hoping it might be Wade with some explanation.

But it's just Brooke.

'Brooke:' You okay?

'Me:' No. But I will be.

'Brooke:' Want me to come over?

'Me:' Not tonight. Rain check?

'Brooke:' Okay. But I'm here if you need me. Love you.

'Me:' Love you too.

I set my phone aside and close my eyes, trying to shut out the image of Sabrina's arms around Wade's neck. Trying to forget the way he introduced me like I was nothing. Like I meant nothing.

But my wolf won't let me forget. She's howling inside, furious and heartbroken and absolutely convinced that Wade is ours.

"He's not ours," I whisper to her. "He belongs to someone else."

She doesn't believe me. And honestly? I'm not sure I believe me either.

Because even now, even knowing he's engaged, even knowing he's a lying piece of shit who fucked me in an elevator while his fiancée was probably picking out wedding invitations, I still want him.

I still crave his touch. Still remember the way he made me feel. Still ache for him in a way that terrifies me.

I slowly dip my hands into my pants, my clit already dripping at the thought of him.

Oh fuck.

Goddess help me, I think I'm in serious trouble.

And how the hell I'm I supposed to go back to work tomorrow and face the Alpha who might be my mate but belongs to someone else?!