Chapter Five

CHAPTER FIVE: The Line He Drew 

Kaira’s Pov 

The next morning,I couldn’t help but feel a change in the pack house.It looked like the air itself had turned against me. 

Every time I walked down a corridor, conversations died instantly.Wolves turned their heads too fast or stared a little too long.I could feel their eyes staring at me with curiosity mixed with something colder.  Something like suspicion or maybe even pity. 

I kept my eyes on the floor and tried to move faster without looking like I was running. 

“Kaira” I heard Liam called my name . His voice echoed through the hallway and I slowly turned .My heart was beating fast as I stared at him.My wolf was already feeling excited.  

Liam stood at the far end, dressed in black from head to toe, I stood there shamelessly checking him out his broad shoulders complimented his tall figure perfectly and his facial expression was moody.I couldn’t help but notice the scar he has on his left check.  

Two guards stood a step behind him like shadows.He didn’t look angry.That scared me more than if he had. 

“Come here,” he said. 

I walked toward him.Each step felt like dragging my feet through mud.When I stopped in front of him,I kept my head bowed, fingers twisted together so tightly my knuckles turned white. 

“You were seen in the east wing last night“ he said. 

My heart slammed against my ribs.“I..  I was just returning the linens, Liam. ”

“That wing is restricted. ”

“I didn’t know”My voice came out smaller than I wanted. His eyes narrowed.“Ignorance isn’t an excuse. ”

“I won’t do it again“ I said quickly.Too quickly. 

He studied me for what felt like forever.The bond twisted in my chest, sharp and hot, making it hard to breathe.I forced myself to stay still. 

“You will be punished“he said,voice flat. 

A low ripple of whispers spread through the wolves nearby. My stomach sank.“Yes, Liam. ”

“You will scrub the lower halls. No help and no breaks for you ”

I nodded.“Yes,Alpha Liam.”

He leaned in just enough that only I could hear him. “And you will remember your place. ”

Something that looked almost like regret in his eyes.Then it was gone, locked away behind that stone wall he always wore. 

He straightened. Turned to the guards.“See that she finishes. ”

“Yes, Liam.”

Then he walked away.He didn't look back once.  I kept my eyes on the ground.I couldn’t meet the guards' eyes due to the humiliation I just faced.  

By noon my knees hurt badly,my hands were red  and stinging, and the cold stone floor had turned my fingers numb.I kept scrubbing, head down, pretending I didn’t hear the wolves passing by. 

“She smells different. ”

“The Alpha ’s been off since she arrived. ”

“Maybe she’s bad luck. ”

I scrubbed harder.Tears mixed with the dirty water, but I didn’t let them fall. 

I didn’t see him again until the sun was almost gone. I was rinsing my hands in a bucket when his presence slammed into me like a storm.  My wolf whimpered, uneasy. 

“Leave“ he yelled to the two guards standing nearby. 

They hesitated.“Now. ”this time around his voice was louder. They scattered immediately. The corridor  was now empty. Just me and him. 

I straightened slowly, wiping my wet hands on my skirt.  “You went  too far today“ I said before I could stop myself. 

His eyes snapped to mine.  “Excuse me?”

“I followed every rule“ I said, voice shaking.  “I stayed out of sight.  I kept quiet.  And still ”

“You were noticed“ he cut in.“That’s on you. ”

“I can’t make myself disappear“ I whispered. 

He stepped closer.  Too close. I could feel the heat coming off him. 

“You must“ he said low.  “Or this ends badly. ”

“For who?” I asked, lifting my chin. 

. 

“For you“ he said.  “Always for you. ”

The bond intensified g.It pulled so hard I almost lost my balance. 

For a while, I was able to see his weakness. He looked exhausted, vulnerable  and haunted.Like a man carrying something too heavy for too long. 

“You have no idea what they’ll do if they find out“ he said,more  quiet now.“You think I’m cruel? You haven’t seen cruelty yet. ”

“Then tell me“ I said, softer.“Stop treating me like the enemy. ”

y. His hand lifted slowly, like he was fighting himself, stopping inches from my arm. 

I can feel the change in his  breathing.It is now  rougher  and faster. 

The bond increased again,becoming hot and intense, demanding a touch or more.  

For one terrifying, beautiful second, I thought he might touch me. 

His fingers brushed my wrist just the lightest touch. Which is to make fire shot through me.  My breathing increased while hie eyes darkened,filled with desire. 

“Kaira…” he breathed,voice raw, almost broken. I moved closer.His hand slid up my arm, gripping just hard enough to bruise.  Then he pulled me against him, hard and sudden, like he’d been starving for this. 

His mouth crashed down on mine. It wasn’t gentle. It was hungry and needy.Like he’d been holding back for years. 

Liam  didn’t give me a choice, not that I wanted one.When his mouth met  mine, it wasn't a question, it was a demand.I tasted the dark, bitter edge of him, something like cacao and damp earth, and I stopped caring about the rules.  

My fingers tangled in the rough fabric of his shirt, pulling him in until there wasn't a breath of air left between us

A low growl exploded in his chest.His hands slid to my waist, lifting me until my back hit the cold stone wall.I wrapped my legs around him without thinking, needing him closer, needing more. 

kissing down my throat he whispered“This is dangerous“ he muttered against my skin. 

“I know“ I said. 

Liam groaned, low and tortured, and kissed me again faster, slower this time.Like he was worshipping me.Then, just as suddenly, he distance  himself away. 

After a while he set me down on unsteady legs, breathing hard, eyes wild.“This cannot happen again“ he said, voice hoarse. 

My chest ached.“I didn’t ask for it. ”

“And yet here we are“ he snapped.“It will destroy us both if we let it. ”

“If we let it“ I said quietly. 

His eyes widen.“Don’t speak like we’re equals in this. ”

The words cut faster than I expected. “You will not speak to me unless spoken to“ he continued, colder now.  “You will not look at me in public.You will not chase the bond. ”

“I can’t control it“ I said. 

“You will learn“ he replied.“Or I will teach you the hard way. ”

Liam turned to leave. 

“Liam“ I said softly. 

I thought he wasn’t going to listen but he stopped briefly. 

“Why protect me at all?” I asked. “If you hate this so much. ”

His voice came back , almost broken.“I don’t zhate you. ”

Hope filled my heart. It is small enough. 

“I hate what fate did to us“ he said.The words were said in a low tone. Almost impossible for me to listen to  but I heard them anyway  “And I hate that you’re the one who has to pay the price. ” Before I could even give  out a reply, he was gone, his heavy boots echoing down 

the hall. Leaving me in my thoughts wondering what the hell I just did.I just kissed my stepfather and he is my mate.This made me feel guilty for my actions.The mere thoughts of my mothers face was enough to increase it.

Later that  night, in the great hall, the whole pack gathered. 

Liam stood at the front, “There’s been talk“ he said.  “Whispers and smiles rumors. ”

His eyes  swept the room past me without stopping. 

“I will not tolerate disorder“ he continued.  “Anyone spreading rumors will answer to me personally. ”

A beat of silence. 

“The girl is under my authority“ he added.  “Nothing more. ”

The words landed like a door slamming shut. Something inside me broke. 

Later, alone in my tiny room, I pressed my palm to my chest. The bond pulsed steady, hurting and alive. 

It shows that Liam was awake somewhere in the pack house. He was close. And I finally understood. 

Liam would shield me from the pack. But he would  push me away until one of us broke. 

The line had been drawn.I stared at the ceiling of my tiny room, the taste of dark chocolate still faint on my tongue, feeling like a traitor to my own mother.