Chapter 2

LIANA

 

My breath freezes in my throat when I hear his voice. It's so rough and low as it vibrates through my body.

 

I spin around so fast, I crash into a stone statue of some ancient wolf by my side. It wobbles for half a second, and before I could regain my balance enough to steady it, it shatters on the marble floor with a loud crash that echoes through the ground.

 

I stare at the pieces of the shattered statue on the floor with my heart in my mouth. It probably cost more than my whole life. This…this is bad. This is so bad. I crouch and begin to reach for the pieces. Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do about it.

 

“Who the hell are you?” I look up just in time to see the stranger step out of the shadow. My breath caught for the second time in my throat.

 

The stranger before me is tall. Maybe six foot one or two. His broad shoulders stretch the worn hoodie he has half-zipped up over a tight black shirt. His facial features are very sharp and sculpted, with hands that look like they could rip me in half—scary. And his eyes. God. His eyes are so green and wild…and cold. Is everyone here just a walking Greek god?

 

“Are you dumb?” He snarls, and his tone brings me back to reality. “Excuse me?” I snapped back.

“Oh, she speaks.” He replied sarcastically and took a step closer in my direction.

 

“Is that supposed to be funny? Do you just love to creep up on people minding their business?”

 

“You really have some nerve for a thief?” His voice dropped dangerously low, and all of a sudden, I could feel goosebumps all over my body. I took a step back with my palms open as he took another step forward.

 

“Thief?” I sputter, “What? I'm not a thief.”

“I'll give it to you, though. No one has ever snuck into our estate long enough with their heads still on. But you managed to even make it inside the villa; I'm impressed.” He started to clap.

 

“Okay,” I replied, confused. “Listen, I'm sure this is just a misunderstanding, and if you'll excuse me, I have somewhere to be.”

 

He bends over, clutching his stomach and laughing to himself like he just heard the funniest joke. Then he straightens up and makes a way for me to pass.

 

I can't tell if he's insane or just playing with me, and between the loud crash and the commotion the stranger was making, I just wanted to be out of the villa and on my way, so I put on my poker face and headed for the door.

 

I was almost out of the door when he reached for my bag and yanked it off my shoulders. I instinctively held on to it, and then we got engaged in a mini tug of war.

 

“What the hell are you doing?” He lets go of the bag as I'm pulling it, but he reaches out and grabs my wrist before I fall.

 

The skin around my wrist tingles, and for a second, it feels like I've been jolted by electricity. My wolf, Kaia, rears up in my head so fast that I almost stagger. The heat surging from his whole body is so blinding and warm and hot and cold.

 

It's a strange sensation that I've never felt before, and before I could process it, he's recoiling from me. I watch as his eyes widen just a fraction, and I know that he felt it too.

 

Oh no.

 

No, no, no.

 

His nostril flares as he looks at me like I'm something filthy. Then he snatched my bag from my hands.

 

“Hey!” I protest.

“This is a joke. A thief for a mate?”

My mouth drops open. “A what for a what?”

 

He shoves my hands away as I reach for my bag, and I get the same burning, tingling sensation where our skin briefly touches.

“Stay back! I don't know what cruel joke you're pulling off, but there's no way in hell that you're my mate.”

 

“What?”

 

“You heard me. There's no way my mate is a thief.” My cheeks burn so hot, I swear the ocean could steam off them. “I didn't ask for this either, you arrogant jerk. I didn't steal anything, okay? I just wanted to leave peacefully, and you've been the one holding me against my will.”

 

“You're not going anywhere. Not until I've taught you a lesson, you thief.” He ripped my bag open, and I lunged at him.

 

Before we could make any more moves, Celeste came running down the stairs barefoot in a silk robe that I had never seen before, courtesy of our host. Behind her strides came Damon Blackwell like a storm cloud in crisp pajamas.

 

“Liana?” My mother gasps, pressing a hand to her chest when she takes in the scene right in front of her eyes.  The broken statue, my ripped bag, me holding on to the beautiful stranger's hoodie, and my clothes sprawled between us.

 

While my mother goes through different emotions, Damon's eyes flick to the stranger beside me and then to my bag. His expression is cold and unnerving.

“Jace,” Damon says. His voice is low but dangerously sharp. “Is this what I think it is?”

 

Jace shrugs, “Found her creeping around with a bag, and thought she was a burglar.”

 

Celeste clutches her robe tighter and turns her watery eyes on me. “Liana, please. Why did you have to do that? What did you hope to gain?”

“I hoped to be far away from here, and I wanted to do it before you were aware that I was gone,” I replied harshly.

“You're not a child, Li. Damon opened his home to us. He's giving us a fresh start. You're embarrassing yourself… You're embarrassing me.”

 

I clench my fists so tight, my nails dig into my palms. “It's always about you! It's always about you, Mom. Well, what about me? You ripped me away from my life. You don't get to stand there and judge me and act like I'm the problem, Mom.”

 

Her lips tremble, and she looks like she might cry for real, and that makes me feel more guilty, even though I'm still furious. Damon stands behind her like a wall. His eyes are locked on me with quiet disapproval that makes me want to scream.

 

Jace lets go of my torn bag and crosses his arms. His eyes flick to my mouth for a second before sneering at me again, “You should put your pet on a leash next time.”

 

I whip around to face him. “Go to hell.”

 

Celeste gasps, while Damon pinches the bridge of his nose. “Enough!” His words are firm and final. It feels like everyone is holding in their breath for a second, even Jace.

“I apologize, Liana, for the misunderstanding on my son's part. I intended to introduce you over dinner to the rest of my household, but I did not anticipate you sneaking around in the dark.” He looks at me with his cold eyes, and I hold his gaze, even though everything within me is screaming to look away. “Jace, meet Liana, your stepsister. Liana, go back to your room. Martha would take care of this mess.”

 

Celeste runs towards me and grabs my arm. I feel the warmth coming from her fingers as she whispers softly, “Please, baby, please don't do this to me tonight. We're home now, and I need you here with me.”

 

I yank my arms free and storm past all of them. My wolf, Kaia, on the other hand, was humming softly in the back of my head. She seems to be the only one having fun this night.

 

I slam my room's door shut and throw myself on the bed. I feel my anger slowly dissolve into the softness of the bed, and then it starts to get replaced by shame.

 

Amidst the shame, I see Jace’s face. What have I gotten myself into? I remember the spark I felt, and I pull a pillow over my face and groan.

 

As if that wasn't enough, my phone lights up on the dresser, and when I reach for it, I see multiple texts and missed calls from May.

 

“Where are you, Liana? You PROMISED me tonight. Did your mom drag you off somewhere again?? Answer your damn phone. I swear, I'll hunt you down if you even think of ghosting me.”

 

My heartbeat got faster; I was scared and nervous at the same time. “What have you done, Li?” I asked myself, still bothered about who sent the text.