Chapter 46
[ 1,321 words ]
I like her
46: 46.
I like her Liam
“I’m gonna pick up our order, and I’ll meet you inside,” Aria says, slipping out of the car before I can protest.
I know she only came with me to make sure I’m fine and I’m not lying to her.
I’m not.
Kiara healed me, and it’s not the first time I’ve been tortured.
No way in hell I’m telling her that, though.
My wolf left out a disgruntled snort.
Right there with you, buddy.
This is exactly what I was trying to keep her far away from.
I guess the point is moot now.
I turn off the engine just as a call comes in.
I dig around my pocket, pulling out my phone.
I hope it’s not one of the guys.
I swear it’s like Aria can’t be out of their sights for two minutes without them—
Unknown number.
My wolf stirs immediately, a low, suspicious growl rolling through my chest.
Don’t answer it, he mutters.
Unknown means trouble.
I tap the screen anyway.
“Yeah?”
There’s a pause—then a female voice, sharp and unimpressed.
“Wow. No hello? No ‘who is this’? Aria really wasn’t blowing hot air up my as when she called you tactless.”
Something’s ng about her voice had my wolf’s suspicion cooling and his intrigue being put to the forefront.
I frown, sitting up a little straighter.
“Who the hell is this?”
“Oh, good, we’re doing this.” A sigh.
“It’s Hazel.”
I blink.
“Is that supposed to mean something to me?”
“Wow. I’m hurt. I thought Aria would have mentioned me somewhere in between your magical reunion.”
Aria…
The friend.
Of course.
My grip tightens on the wheel.
“I remember the name. I just didn’t expect you to be calling me. How did you even get this number?”
There’s a beat of silence—and then she laughs.
“That’s not important. You and I need to have a little chat, Liam.”
My wolf huffs.
Not liking how this female dismissed our question.
“Did you pay a hacker to get it for you?” I say flatly.
She must have.
From what I remember, she works at the design company with Aria which means she probably knows a few of their tech guys.
It wouldn’t be a stretch for her to ask one of them for a favor.
“Please,” she scoffs.
“If I got it hacked, I wouldn’t be calling. I’d be listening.”
I rub a hand over my jaw, already annoyed.
“That’s not reassuring.”
“It’s not supposed to be.”
I shake my head.
“I’m on a tight schedule so you have five minutes to tell me what you want or this conversation is over?”
Her tone shifts—still sharp, but there’s something else underneath now.
Concern.
Tight.
Controlled.
“How’s Aria?”
My wolf goes still.
I glance out the windshield, jaw clenching.
“You should ask her that.”
“I did,” she shoots back immediately.
“And don’t take me for an idiot—I know when she’s lying to me.”
A muscle ticks in my jaw.
“She’s not lying,” I say.
“She’s hiding something.”
My wolf growls softly.
She’s too perceptive.
“Maybe,” I say slowly, “she doesn’t want you to know.”
There’s a pause.
A long one.
Then, quieter, but no less fierce, Hazel says, “Or maybe she thinks she has to protect me.”
I don’t respond.
Because that… sounds exactly like Aria.
Hazel exhales sharply.
“Look, I don’t care about your big family reunion or whatever the hell you have going on. I just care about her. So let me make something very clear to you, Liam.”
My wolf lifts his head, ears pricked.
“If you hurt her again,” she continues, voice dropping into something dangerous, “I will find you. And I will kick your ass.”
Silence.
Then I bark out a laugh.
My wolf joins in, amused now.
She’s got spirit.
“Yeah?” I say.
“Alright.
Whatever, Harper.”
There’s a beat—and then—
“IT’S HAZEL, YOU—”
I hang up.
I stare at the phone for a second before shaking my head, a grin tugging at my mouth.
“That girl is bat shit crazy,” I mutter.
I like her, my wolf says.
“Of course you do.”
I toss the phone onto the passenger seat and pull into the parking lot of the hardware store, gravel popping under the tires.
The building looms ahead—old, worn, but stocked with what we need.
The Nightbane pack tore through part of our border fencing like it was paper.
We’ve been patching it up ever since.
I kill the engine and step out, the cool air biting against my skin.
My wolf stretches beneath the surface, restless.
We should be hunting, he mutters.
Not buying wood.
“We’re rebuilding,” I remind him.
“That matters too.”
He grumbles but settles as I head inside.
The smell of sawdust and metal hits me immediately.
I grab a cart and start moving through the aisles, scanning for the right planks.
I’m halfway through stacking pressure-treated boards when a familiar scent enters the field of my senses along with the saucy galricy taste of Chinese food.
I don’t even have to turn.
“Still not done?” Aria’s voice comes from behind me.
I glance over my shoulder and her crossed arms and faux attitude makes me snort.
Her blue eyes are fixed on me.
Something in my chest tightens.
“Working on it,” I say.
“You know you didn’t have to come.”
She steps closer, holding up the bag slightly.
“I needed to get the food. Lord knows your hopeless with a menu.”
A small smirk tugs at my mouth.
“You’re shit at being discreet.”
My wolf preens.
She just wants to takes care of us.
Not a bad feeling considering she was pissed at me and ignoring my presence not to long ago.
I turn back to the cart, adjusting one of the boards.
“Your friend called me.”
There’s a pause.
Then—“What?”
I look at her again.
“Hazel.”
Her brows shoot up.
“How did she get your number?”
I shrug.
“That was my question.”
Aria exhales, shaking her head.
“She’s… resourceful.”
“Yeah,” I mutter.
“That’s one word for it.”
My wolf huffs.
Crazy fits better.
“She’s worried about you,” Aria says, her voice softer now.
I study her for a moment.
“She thinks you’re hiding something.”
Aria stiffens slightly.
My wolf watches closely.
There it is.
“She’s just loyal,” Aria says after a second.
“Nothing wrong with that.”
I snort.
“Loyal’s fine. Threatening to hunt me down and kick my ass? That’s a bit much.”
A small smile tugs at her lips.
“Sounds like her.”
I shake my head, grabbing the last of the boards.
“You might want to rein her in.”
“She doesn’t do ‘rein in,’” Aria says dryly.
“Yeah, I noticed.”
We head toward the counter, the cart rattling between us.
There’s an easy silence now—but it’s not entirely comfortable.
Not with everything hanging between us.
We pay, load the truck, and start heading back toward the pack.
The road stretches out ahead, trees lining both sides.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
My wolf shifts.
Something’s off.
I tighten my grip on the wheel, scanning the mirrors.
At first, I don’t see anything.
Then—
Headlights.
A car, a few lengths back.
Maybe nothing.
Maybe.
I take a turn I don’t need to.
The car follows.
My wolf’s growl deepens.
Not a coincidence.
I take another turn.
Slower this time.
Still there.
Aria shifts beside me.
“Liam… we’re not going the right way.”
“I know.”
Her voice tightens.
“What’s wrong?”
I keep my eyes on the road.
“Stay calm.”
My wolf is fully alert now, senses flaring.
They’re watching us.
“Call Ronan,” I say.
Aria doesn’t argue.
She pulls out her phone, dialing quickly.
A second later, his voice fills the truck through the speaker.
“Aria?”
“It’s me,” she says.
“Liam says we’re being followed.”
There’s a sharp pause on the other end.
“Who?” Ronan asks.
“Don’t know yet,” I cut in.
“But if I had to guess…”
My wolf bares his teeth.
Hunters.
“Hunters,” I finish.
Ronan curses under his breath.
“Where are you?”
“Heading down the back road toward the highway.”
“Don’t go to the pack,” he snaps.
“You’ll lead them straight to us.”
“Wasn’t planning on it.”
I glance in the mirror again.
Still there.
And closer now.
My wolf paces.
We should shift.
Tear them apart.
“Not yet,” I murmur under my breath.
“What?” Aria asks.
“Nothing.”
Ronan’s voice comes through again.
“I’m sending people to intercept.
Stay on the move.”
“Copy that.”
I hang up just as—
Another car bursts out from a side road ahead, tires screeching as it swings into our path.
My eyes narrow.
“Shit.”
The engine behind us roars louder.
We’re boxed in.
My wolf snarls, feral and ready.
Now we fight.
I slam my foot on the gas.
The truck surges forward.
“Hold on,” I snap.
Aria grabs the handle above the door just as the car ahead swerves, trying to block us completely.
Not happening.
I jerk the wheel, veering just enough to clip past them, tires screaming against the pavement.
The truck fishtails—
Then catches.
Behind us, the second car accelerates hard.
The chase is on.
My wolf howls inside me, adrenaline flooding every vein.
Run them down.
I bare my teeth, a grin spreading despite the danger.
“Alright,” I mutter.
“You want to play?”
I press the gas harder.
And the road ahead opens into chaos.
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