Jane

Jane's POV 

I thought the dream had ended until something gripped my leg.

It was hard and desperate. Tight enough to take me from the dream world to the real world. I jolted upright, screaming as my heart was still racing from the dream and the grip.

As I opened my eyes, it was no longer smoke or fire that surrounded me. It was darkness. Real and heavy darkness. The type that blind your eyes and heart at once. 

Quickly, I turned on the lamp beside my bed. And there, at the edge of my bed, was a figure. 

My breath stopped as I saw Alpha Liam. He was on his knees, clutching my leg like an anchor, his face masked with pain. His whole body trembled slightly, and his muscles became tense. 

One of his arms was wrapped tightly around his chest, the other grasping my thigh as if I was the only thing keeping him grounded.

“Jane,” he said, groaning. 

The low, ragged sounds pulled from his throat scared the hell out of me. 

The way his head hung down, the way he clutched his chest reminded me of the dream. 

He was in pain just like he was in the dream. Just like the younger version of him in that burning forest.

“Alpha…” I breathed, throwing the covers off and sliding to the floor beside him. “Liam!”

He didn’t speak, he couldn't speak. The only strength he had was the one he was using to hold my leg. 

“Hold me, Jane. Please, hold me,” he begged. 

Seeing him so vulnerable broke something inside of me. I no longer saw him as the obnoxious alpha. I saw him as the kid in the burning forest. The helpless kid with the heart curse. 

I placed both hands on his chest, his burning, heaving chest. “I’m here, I’m here,” I whispered, even though I didn’t know what to do. Even though panic was blooming fast in my chest.

“Alpha Liam,” I whispered again, softer this time, "I'm here with you.”

I guess my panic was more than the help I could offer because his condition didn't improve. Instead, it worsened. His groaning became louder and louder. 

“Look at me, Alpha Liam. I'm here with you. Just look at me.”

His eyes opened slightly. His gaze was unfocused. After some seconds, his gaze finally found mine and held onto it. 

“It is really you,” he said with something similar to relieve. 

“Yes, it is me. It is Jane, your pain relief,” I said with a sense of duty. I can't believe I would ever call myself his pain relief but at this point, I would do anything to relieve him of his pains. 

He moved closer and fell into my arms. Slowly, I wrapped my hands around him, holding him tight as his head leaned against my shoulder. His breathing slowly became normal, his chest rising and falling against mine. 

“Is it the curse again?” I asked, patting his back. 

He didn't answer but his breathing was becoming steady. I could feel the ease coming from him. 

“Tell me what to do. Please. Tell me how to help you get better,” I said.

He said nothing. His silence affected me as much as his choice to ignore my question. I just want to be there for him. I want to help him even if I don't have the right to worry about it. 

“If you don't talk, I won't know how to be of help to you,” I said in the most gentle way. 

Slowly, he moved away from me. He looked at me. Like he really looked at me. A flicker of something passed through his eyes. I don't know what it was but I was certain he was not angry. 

“You really want to help me?” he said faintly. 

I nodded, feeling a little shy under his gaze. 

Before I could speak again, his hand slid up to my waist, and he pulled me to him. His pull wasn't violent or power in a bad way. He pulled me like a man on the edge, clinging to something that could save him.

Maybe I could save him. Maybe I was his pain relief after all. Without warning, he leaned in and captured my lips with his. I froze as his lips connected with mine. 

He kissed me slowly but passionately. It was intense from Alpha Liam. He kissed me with so much effort that I forgot his pain and my fears. My worries faded away as soon as our lips connected. 

This is not proper, I told myself. I shouldn't be doing this but I didn't stop either. Instead, I kissed him back. I gave him access to my tongue and he took advantage of it. We kissed as if it was the last one we'd do. 

Suddenly, he stopped and pulled away. But his eyes remained fixed on me. He didn't say anything and I didn't either. We stayed like that, tangled on the floor, lost in something far deeper than words.

“What are you doing to me, Jane?” he finally broke the silence. 

What was I doing to him? I should be the one asking him what he was doing to me. I don't know how to think straight when I'm close to him. I knew he was trouble. I knew I should stay away. I knew we were from different classes. 

But I didn't know what to do exactly. Should I stay and get burnt by the fire burning between us? I really don't know.

Despite the chaos and my jumbled thoughts, one thing was clear. The dream wasn’t just a dream. It was something more. And Liam’s curse wasn’t just magic. One way or another, it was connected to me.

I don't know if it is safe to say alpha Liam and I had always been bound. The book, the spark, the pain and my dreams are linked and I have to find out why. 

But first, Alpha Liam has to go to his room. He needs to get some rest. “You should get some rest,” I said. 

“Yes, I will,” he said without moving an inch. 

I tried to move but he held me. “What are you doing?” I asked him. 

“Getting some rest.” He said before leaning on me again. Like that, he closed his eyes and his chest rose and fell at the normal pace. 

My body tensed up but I tried to remain calm, not to wake him up. Who is this alpha Liam and what happened to the grumpy one?