Out of control

Liam's pov

Rage was clawing his way to the surface, and I was losing control with every breath I took.

She was right there—our mate—laughing softly beside my brother, her head tilted in that sweet way, eyes glowing with warmth. Every cell in my body screamed to rip her from his side, to mark her, to make sure no one ever mistook who she belonged to.

But I didn’t move. Couldn’t.

In my twenty-nine years, I’d never felt so helpless, so torn apart. She was close enough to touch, and yet she may as well have been a thousand miles away.

The mate bond pulsed like a living thing, raw and electric under my skin, demanding I claim her. It took every shred of discipline I had not to let Rage take full control and do exactly that.

Last night, I dreamed of her in our home—our pups racing through the halls of the pack house, laughter echoing off the walls. She looked so damn happy. We both did.

It was everything I’d ever wanted, everything I’d waited for.

So why would the Moon Goddess be so cruel?

Why would she give me my mate… only to let her fall in love with someone else?

Someone who wasn’t me. Someone who happened to be my brother.

The pain lodged deep in my chest like a thorn. Derick wasn’t just anyone. He was my blood. My other half. And yet, watching them together felt like a dagger twisting through my spine.

I knew he cared about her. Hell, I’d seen it. Felt it.

I remembered what he told me once, over the phone, when I was away on my pilgrim journey. “I think I found my heart, man,” he said. “She’s not my mate, but I don’t care if I ever find her. Macy is it for me.”

I laughed at him then, told him he was crazy.

Who wouldn’t want their mate?

Now I understood.

Because the way he looks at her… he’s never looked at anyone like that. Derick—who rarely lets anyone in—he loves her.

But she’s mine.

The bond between us doesn’t lie.

And no matter how much I love my brother, I won’t let him keep her. I won’t let the Goddess’s gift slip through my fingers. Not without a fight.

A knock at my office door broke through the storm in my head.

“Alpha,” Greg’s voice came from the other side. “You’ve got a message from the council.”

“Come in,” I called, trying to bury the chaos in my chest.

Greg stepped inside, always steady. Loyal. Dependable. “They’re asking for an emergency meeting.”

“Of course they are,” I muttered, my voice edged with irritation. “I just got back, and they’re already acting like they can’t breathe without me.”

“Should I tell them you’ll handle it later?”

“Yes. Tonight. They can wait.”

“Understood, Alpha.”

Greg nodded and turned to leave, but I paused him with a look.

“Thanks, Greg.”

He gave me a knowing glance. “Anytime, brother.”

Greg wasn’t just my Beta. He was family. The kind you chose. We’d grown up together, fought together, and bled together. He was the only one who knew how hard this was for me—how torn I felt inside. He’d walked beside me through my journey to find spiritual clarity, and now… now he saw how close I was to losing it.

An hour later, after drowning myself in paperwork just to stay sane, I finally left the office and headed to the kitchen.

And that’s when it hit me.

Her scent.

Sweet citrus wrapped in pine and honey—my undoing.

I froze.

Then Rage surged forward, claws digging deep into my control. And for the briefest moment, he took over.

She was sitting there, casual and beautiful, coffee in hand, smiling at something Mom said. Dad chuckled beside her. Derick was near her, close—too close.

Rage moved without thought. My vision tunneled. The only thing I could see was her. Claim her. Now. Ours.

But my father was fast. He stood from the table with sharp awareness and stepped between us before I could take another step.

“Liam,” he said lowly, meeting my eyes. “Son. You need to push Rage back.”

I snarled, the sound guttural and inhuman. My hands shook. I couldn’t stop this. She was right there. She was mine.

“Dad?” Derick stepped closer, his brow furrowed. “What’s going on?”

“Rage is in control,” Dad said, calm but urgent. “We need to get him out of here before he shifts.”

Mom must have picked up the warning in his tone, because she stood quickly, placing a hand on Macy’s back. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s get some fresh air.”

Macy looked confused, worried. “Is he okay? What’s happening?”

“Just a little shift of energy,” Mom said with a gentle smile. “Nothing to worry about.”

But I saw her eyes—the way they flicked nervously to me as she led Macy out the back door.

Rage thrashed inside me, desperate, hungry, territorial.

“Calm him, Liam,” Dad said, stepping close, gripping my shoulders. “You can do it. Don’t lose yourself.”

“I can’t—” I choked, my voice barely human.

“He’s going to shift!” Derick shouted. “We need to move now!”

Dad and Derick shoved me toward the door, and I barely managed to stumble out before the change ripped through me.

Bones cracked. Fur tore through skin. My body twisted and contorted—and then I was gone.

Rage took full control and bolted into the woods with a furious howl.

---

Derick’s POV

Something’s been off with Liam since last night.

I’ve tried talking to him, but he’s shut me out completely. No jokes. No brotherly teasing. Just silence and tension thick enough to cut with a blade.

And now this?

Rage taking full control? That never happens. Liam’s always been the one with a leash on his wolf—disciplined, focused, impossible to rattle.

But this morning… I’ve never seen him like that.

I headed upstairs, needing a moment to clear my thoughts. When I opened the door to the guest room, I found Macy standing by the window, her arms wrapped around herself.

She looked small. Lost in thought.

“Hey,” I said gently. “You okay?”

She turned, startled. “Hmm? Yeah. I’m fine. Just… wondering if your brother’s okay. He didn’t look good earlier.”

I walked toward her and wrapped my arms around her waist, kissing the top of her head. “He’s fine. Just dealing with some pack stress.”

Her voice softened. “Are you sure it’s not because of me? I don’t think he likes me very much…”

I frowned. “No, baby. Don’t think that. Liam doesn’t hate you. He’s just under pressure. Trust me—it’s not about you.”

She gave a quiet sigh. “I hope that’s true.”

I tilted her chin so she’d meet my eyes. “You don’t need to worry about Liam. Whatever’s going on with him, it’s not your fault. I promise.”

She nodded slowly, but I could tell the doubt lingered.

“Anyway,” she said after a moment, “I’m ready. I packed my things.”

“All right. I’ll go get the car.”

As I left the room, I glanced down the hallway in the direction of Liam’s room.

Whatever this is, it’s more than stress. Something’s wrong. And I needed to find out what—before it tore my family apart.