Chapter 4

Phoebe

I have no idea what to think or what to make of this situation. At first, I thought I was dreaming, but I’m sitting in the car with Liam now, and I have yet to wake up. If this is a dream, it’s a very long dream. It also feels way too detailed.

Liam glances at me from the driver’s seat. “What are you thinking about right now?”

“I’m thinking about how fucked up this dream is,” I mutter and cross my arms over my chest.

We are driving past streets in the dark since Liam has decided to take me to his place. Normally, I would be nervous about going to a guy’s house, but I don’t have time for that. All of this is too messed up to be thinking about that.

“A dream? I can’t believe you…” He chuckles. “It’s not a dream, Aurora. You’re here. This is happening - this is real.”

“Well, if this isn’t a dream, then I have no idea what is happening right now or why.”

“You’re obviously confused from being in a coma for six months. The doctors said it’s common—”

“No, I’m pretty sure that isn’t the issue!” I argue, not caring that I just interrupted him.

Liam sighs and makes the face of a wounded puppy - a big wounded puppy with muscles for days. “Aurora, I—...”

“I’m not your Aurora!” I exclaim, but I regret it when hurt flashes over Liam’s face. His jaw ticks as he swallows, and his eyes dart to mine at a red light. I hate to admit it, but he is very attractive. And hurt...because of me. I hate that. I feel like a monster for not being his Aurora.

Fuck...what if my life as Phoebe was a dream? That could be it... Oh my god, I’m so damn confused. My heart is hurting from thinking so much.

“You look like her,” Liam finally says. “How about you just give remembering your life some time? I’m sure that’s exactly what you need.”

Guilt gnaws at me. I’m pretty sure I won’t remember anything from Aurora’s life because I’m ninety-nine percent sure I’m not her. I’m just...me. And sooner or later, Liam is going to understand that, and then he is going to get hurt.

I bite my lip and stare at my reflection in the sideview mirror. Liam notices and places his hand over mine. I jump at the contact, and he laughs. “Sorry...old habit,” he gives me a sheepish smile. “You have lenses in all sorts of colors at home, by the way. Your purple eyes aren’t normal for humans, so you’ve been using those.”

“Oh,” I say and look back at my new face. I look gorgeous with high cheekbones and long brown hair that has that perfect Disney princess gloss to it. It’s scarily perfect. “That’s a shame. I like my purple eyes...and my hair.”

Liam parks the car on the side of the road. It makes me nervous. Don’t tell me he is going to drag me out into the forest to kill me. I don’t want to die, and I couldn’t take him. The guy is built like a tank. Pretty sure he lives at the gym. 

“Aurora,” Liam turns to face me, smirking. “Did you just give yourself a compliment?”

I blink. “Uhh...yes?”

Those blue-blue eyes of his travel over my face, and I shiver in my seat. It doesn’t go unnoticed. The smirk on Liam’s face grows more amused.

“There is something different about you...”

I roll my eyes. “Have you been listening to a word I’ve said? I’m different because I’m not Aurora. I’m sorry, but... I’m not your Luna. I’m Phoebe.”

Liam watches me in silence for a long moment before the hurt look returns to his face. “I hear what you’re saying, but it feels...impossible. So, I have a proposal.”

“A proposal?”

“Live with me for a month,” Liam says. “Don’t go looking for your old pack. Not yet.”

“Why wait an entire month?”

“You turn eighteen in a month...or at least Aurora does, and that’s when we believed your...her...powers would awaken - it’s safer to see your old pack when you’re stronger. I mean, Alpha Adrian still thinks we are behind Phoebe’s murder. He might think it’s a trick that you wish to see him and just kill you without letting you speak.”

I snort. “Adrian wouldn’t kill anyone...” Adrian is a tea-drinking perfectionist, but he isn’t a murderer. That guy gets sad whenever he accidentally steps on his dog’s paw. He wouldn’t harm anyone!

Liam’s face darkens. “That’s where you’re wrong. Alpha Adrian is possibly the most ruthless Alpha there is - he has killed many of my pack members for accidentally trespassing on his territory. He didn’t even give them a fair warning.”

“N-no...that can’t be right,” I whisper. “Adrian is a very gentle spirit...he wouldn’t kill anyone. Do you know that he is half angel? He is good.”

Liam reaches out a large hand and places it on my cheek, smiling faintly. “Sometimes our blood doesn’t define who we are, Duchess.”

I glare at him. “Are you calling me Duchess because you don’t know which name to use?”

He chuckles and removes his hand. “You got me.”

I study him for a while. He doesn’t look like a bad person, and my instincts tell me he can be trusted - even if Adrian turning evil doesn’t make sense at all.

I sigh. “Alright, I will live with you for a month.”

Liam gasps in surprise. “You will?”

“Yeah?” I shrug. “Doesn’t sound too hard, but...” I bite my lower lip. “I need to find out what happened to my mother during the time I was gone.”

“She in trouble?”

“She has werewolf cancer.”

“Oh... I’m sorry to hear that.”

Liam’s expression softens. “I will help you find her. It won’t be easy, but I will do my best.”

My heart warms. I’m grateful for his offer. “Thank you.”

“No problem,” he hands me a cheeky grin. “Also, there is something else I would like you to do for me.”

“I knew there was a catch!”

Liam laughs out loud when I point a finger at him. He has the most dazzling white teeth ever… He is such a pretty guy. But I am in love with Adrian - not Liam. So I got to ignore the flutters in my chest. It’s not like Liam is mine anyway. He is Aurora’s boyfriend, after all.

“I think you’re funny since waking up,” Liam says. “And the thing I want you to do for me is act as if you never lost your memories. Live life as if we were still a couple.”

My eyes widen. “W-why?”

“Because it might help you remember me?” Liam cocks his head to the side. “Just in case you’re wrong and just VERY confused after waking up from your coma.”

I continue to stare at him. “So I will...” I wet my lips, suddenly aware of two things: one, he is incredibly sexy, and two, he is smirking at me again. I swallow thickly. “So you want us to share a bed and stuff?”

“Yes,” he leans over the middle console, his face only inches away from mine. “I would like it if we shared a bed and...stuff. Is that okay with you?”

Oh, he is mocking me. There is laughter in his eyes, and I grow shy, finally feeling like myself. I have zero experience with guys, and this is making me nervous. Is he expecting sex from me? I find him attractive, but sex? Really?!

“Y-you do realize that I don’t remember us being a couple, right?” I whisper.

“Uh-huh, but I also realize that you’re attracted to me. So, cuddling wouldn’t be bad, right?” when I don’t give him an answer, he chuckles. “I won’t try anything. But if it’s okay with you, I would like to share a bed with you.”

I take a deep breath, unsure whether or not to agree to this. Liam is very handsome and big and muscular and sexy—he is a lot of things, okay?! But he isn’t Adrian! I shouldn’t cuddle with him, but at the same time...how can I resist him when he is looking at me like that?!

Liam grins. “Well? How’s it going to be, Duchess?”