Twelve

Zachary’s POV

“Don’t touch me!” Livia’s voice cracked, sharp as shattered glass, the moment I wanted to hold her from leaving.

“I wasn’t asking,” I muttered, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her against me even as she protested. “Stop pretending you don’t feel this.”

“Feel what?” she spat, irritation showing on her face as she struggled against my hold.“Your arrogance or obsession?” she added.

“My pull over you,” I growled, lowering my face closer to hers, and our faces were like inches apart. “You have always reacted to me, Livia. Your body never lies.” I said confidently.

“Get your hands off me!” she yelled.

Her palms slammed hard against my chest. I expected resistance, I expected fire, but I did not expect to be thrown off balance.

In one swift movement, she shoved me as I hit the floor.

For a split second, I just stared up at the atmosphere, stunned.

She stood above me, breathing hard, eyes blazing. “Have you completely lost your mind?” she asked angrily.

“You pushed me?” I let out a disbelieving laugh as I rose to my feet. “You actually pushed me.” I giggled to myself.

“There are cameras everywhere!” she hissed, glancing around. “Are you trying to ruin me?” she asked bitterly.

I smirked. “Relax, I disabled them before coming here,” I said with a smirk.

Her expression shifted, not fear, not relief, but disgust.

“You are insane,” she whispered, looking at me disgustfully.

“I’m careful,” I corrected. “There’s a difference,” I said with a weak smile appearing on my face.

“You tampered with security just to corner me?” Her voice trembled, not with weakness, but with fury. 

“Do you hear yourself?” I was surprised by her statement.

“I came because you were in danger and I needed to save you,” I said calmly.

I knew within me that I wasn't telling the truth. I searched and followed her down here just to see her.

I just couldn't hide anymore when she was being harassed by the drunkard, and I had to come out to help her.

“You came because you can’t stand that I’m not yours anymore,” she replied.

I stepped closer again, lowering my voice. “You were always mine,” I replied.

Her laugh was hollow. “You lost that right the day you chose power over me.”

“I never stopped wanting you,” I said slowly.

“Wanting me?” She looked at me like I was something rotten. “You don’t want me. You want control, and I'm never available for that anymore.” 

“That’s not true.” I objected.

“Then what is this?” She gestured between us. “Grabbing me? Forcing me? Disabling cameras?” she asked, anger visible in her eyes.

“I knew you would run,” I said.

“Yes, Zachary. I would.” Her eyes glistened. “Because I’m done being chased by a cage disguised as a man.”

The words hit harder than her shove as they pierced deeply into my heart.

“I could make you remember,” I said quietly. “One touch, one kiss, and you will melt.”

She recoiled as I would strike her.

“I would rather be seen with my father a thousand times,” she said, her voice shaking with raw emotion, “than be seen with you.”

There was silence among us for a while.

Her father? I thought to myself.

She hated that man more than anyone, and she just chose him over me.

“You don’t mean that,” I said, breaking the silence as my jaw tightened.

“I do.” Her eyes locked on mine. “At least with him, I know he’s a monster. With you, you pretend to be a savior, but worse.” 

My chest burned immediately when those words came from her lips.

“You compare me to him?” I growled as I looked at her, hoping for her to change her mind.

“If the shoe fits,” she replied unbothered.

I felt something dark twist inside me. “Careful,” I said, almost like a whisper.

“No,” she shot back. “You be careful.”

“You think I’m like him?” I asked, still unsure if she meant what she said.

“I think you hide your cruelty better,” she smirked.

“That’s unfair,” I replied calmly, trying to defend myself.

“No,” she whispered. “What’s unfair is that I once loved you.”

The confession froze me.

“You still do,” I said, my heart felt elevated by those words.

“Don’t flatter yourself,” she said, looking sideways.

“Your pulse says otherwise,” I said, trying to prove a point to her.

“My pulse reacts to trauma too,” she counters.

Each word was a blade.

“Why are you fighting this?” I demanded. “You feel it. That connection didn’t die.” I remember as I stare at her, trying to read her mind.

“It died the night you let them humiliate me,” she said sadly.

“I didn’t…” I replied, trying to deny it.

“You did.” Her voice broke. “You stood there, watching while everything happened,” she lamented bitterly.

“I was protecting the pack!” I defended.

“And who protected me?” she yelled, looking at me.

I had no answer as I was silent, looking at her.

I could see the hurt in her eyes.

She shook her head slowly. “Exactly.”

She turned and began walking away.

Each step felt like she was tearing something out of my chest. Something I could not hold.

“Go then!” I barked, anger flaring to mask the ache. “Run back to your father!”

She stopped immediately when she heard my words, and she turned slowly to look at me.

A smile curved her lips. It wasn’t warm, and it wasn’t kind.

“I don’t need to,” she said softly. “I have a fiancé.”

The word slammed into me.

“A what?” I asked, trying to hide the pain in my heart.

“A fiancé,” she repeated calmly as I could see the excitement in her voice, knowing her words were getting into me. “And a daughter who loves me.”

My heart skipped. “A daughter?” My voice dropped dangerously low.

“Yes.” Pride flickered in her eyes. “A beautiful little girl who will never grow up thinking love looks like control.”

I swallowed hard. “You’re lying, right?”

“I’m not,” she replied calmly.

“Who is he?” I demanded, pretending not to know about it.