chapter 3

Liora's POV

It had been two weeks since I caught my boyfriend and my step-sister in bed together. My life was yet to get back on track. I hadn't gone back to my pack yet. I doubt I would return anytime soon. The agony of seeing Calyx and Veyra together would be too much to bear.

I had stayed in this dingy motel room since I ran away from home. Every second that I spent here reminded me of that night with the stranger. I couldn't forget those storm-gray eyes and the way his hands had set my body on fire. Every night, I strolled into the bar and sat, hoping he would return.

He never did.

I opened my bag and looked through my clothes I packed for something clean. Today, I needed to talk a long walk to clear my head. All these days, I had done nothing but stare at the walls in this room and then go out for a drink. . .

My phone buzzed on the nightstand. I looked at the screen and saw it was my mom calling. I stared at the screen and sighed. She had probably learned that I had stayed away from the pack for weeks and was bothered.

I grabbed the phone and answered. “Hey mom."

"Liora, darling! Where are you?” Mom drawled. "Your room is locked."

"Umm. . . I wanted to. . ."

"I can't hear you clearly. Where are you?“

"I'm somewhere safe," I blurted.

"Is it like a romantic getaway with Calyx?" Mom asked.

Hearing my ex's name drove a dagger into my chest. I grimaced and gripped my phone tighter.

"No, I'm not with Calyx."

"Okay, wherever you are, you need to get back. I’m getting married!"

"What?"

"Yes, my darling. It's been ten years since your father died. I don't want to die lonely."

I shut my eyes and imagined mom in a sparkling white, holding a bouquet and standing next to another man.

"Well, you deserve to be happy. So who is the lucky man?"

"Alpha Garran Thornwell."

My eyes widened as I heard the name. Garran Thornwell. He was a powerful business mogul from an influential pack.

"Oh, wow. That's huge. Congratulations."

"Thank you. So get your ass back here, we need to plan the wedding dinner."

My stomach twisted. How do I tell Mom that I wasn't ready to face the world? That I got betrayed by the people I loved and I was hiding away?

She hung up and I stared at my phone's screen. Mom would forgive me if I missed her wedding.

---

The wedding dinner was held in the grand hall inside Thornwell Estate. My eyes swept around the room as I arrived. Alphas and betas filled the whole space. Their faces glinted under bright lights. My skin crawled. I didn’t belong here, not with my cursed bloodline buried deep.

"Liora, come here," Mom's voice boomed from one end of the hall.

She sat at the head table, dressed in pure white. Beside her was a tall and broad-shouldered. I hadn't seen him before but I could tell that was Alpha Garran Thornwell. His face looked vaguely familiar. . .

Mom rarely ever called me by name. She usually called me her darling, unless she was pissed.

I stepped toward the table, hands clammy. I didn't join Mom in planning the wedding as she expected. It took time to gather enough willpower to leave that motel.

"Look who's showing up after the priest has joined us together?" Mom told Alpha Garran.

"Your daughter?" He asked, staring at me.

"Yes. I was afraid she wouldn't come after all." Mom turned to face me as I arrived at the table. "What happened?"

"I'll explain later." I pulled a tiny wrapped box from my purse and handed it to her. "That's my token to celebrate your marriage."

Mom's smile widened. "Thank you, my darling."

She beckoned a Thornwell servant to add my gift to the pile they already received.

"Sit," Garran pointed to a chair next to Mom's.

"Thank you, Alpha."

"It's not ideal that we're getting to know each other as a family today. But it's fine. I'm Garran and this is my son, Liam. . ." He gestured to the young man sitting next to him.

I hadn't noticed that person earlier. Honestly, my eyes were on Mom and her dazzling dress the moment I got into the hall. But now, I peered at him and took in the storm-gray eyes, the sharp jaws. He was the stranger from the bar. My breath caught. . .

"He's your son?" I blurted.

"Yes, have you met before?" Alpha Garran asked.

"No," I replied hastily.

"I thought as much." Garran raised his glass, voice booming. “To our new family!”

The crowd cheered, but the word family felt like a slap to my face. Liam and I were family. I FUCKED my stepbrother. Oh goodness!

Liam’s gaze locked onto mine. He didn't even say anything. I had no idea what was on his mind. I hid my hands under the table to hide their shaking. I couldn't believe this had happened to me.

"Mom, I'll be back," I whispered.

Before she could respond, I got up and hurried toward the exit. Without turning, I felt Liam’s stare burning into my back. My legs were unsteady as I pushed through the crowd. I had no idea where I was headed, but I wanted to step outside and reorient myself. I hadn't been hoping to see the stranger from the bar again. But not now. Not like this.

---

My heels clicked as I hurried down the hallway. Footsteps followed me, but I didn't look back. My heart slammed against my ribs. How could I live with this? That I had sex with my stepbrother. I couldn't even tell Mom.

I turned a corner and then I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around and saw Liam. I suspected he was the one following me, but I was too scared to look back. Now, we were here alone, away from the noise and clinking glasses.

Liam's frame filled the space and his scent flooded my nostrils. It dragged me me back to that night in the bar.

“You,” he growled. “What are you doing here?”

"What do you mean?"

"How the hell are you my stepsister?"

"What do you want me to say? I'm as surprised as you are."

"Surprised, huh? Doesn't look like it to me. You came on to me and then your mom is with my dad. That's fishy."

My pulse spiked. “What are you insinuating? And as far as I remember, I didn't come on you. What we had was consensual."

Liam scoffed. "I know this game very well. Many women have tried to play it with my family."

My blood was boiling now. I couldn't believe the shit he was spilling. "Can you just go away? Leave me alone. I came out here to clear my head, not have someone clog my mind with dumb shit."

"Yeah, withdrawal tactics. You know I have figured out your game and you're trying to run away."

"What game are you talking about exactly?"

Liam leaned in until his face was inches away from mine. "Quit pretending. I can see right through you. You're a seductress, a prostitute and a manipulator. You lured me to bed to rip my family of our wealth. And your mother is doing the same to my dad."

"What?"

"You targeted my family. You're a gold-digging whore, just like the other. . ."

Maybe it was because his face was so close, I couldn't resist it. I swung my hand and landed a hot slap on his face.

CRACK!

"You slapped me?"

"Yes, you called me a whore."

“What’s going on here, Liora.” I heard Mom’s voice.

I’m doomed!