Liyah's POV
It had been two weeks since I was declared free. I was fully recovered now, rarely caught a glimpse of the alpha, and I had been accompanying Margaret to wherever she was needed when there was an emergency. Everything was going... good, surprisingly. But I still couldn't help but feel like it was all too good to be true. I kept expecting something bad to occur like it always did when things were going too well in my life. Maybe it was because I was used to having bad things happen to me so I never expected my happiness to last. But so far nothing had transpired yet.
Being a free woman felt... weird. I could go out whenever and wherever I wanted to, I didn't have to do any chores, and I didn't have to ask permission for anything from anymore. Sometimes I felt like I would get punished for it but when time passed and nothing happened, it began to dawn on me that it was real. I was no longer a prisoner. Everyone treated me like a person now, which was su
Liyah's POVI saw Eve get up from her bed as fast as a firecracker when she saw me walk into her bedroom. She ran toward me, her lips parted as though she wanted to say something but them she clapped them shut. When she got to where I was standing, she jumped up as far as he tiny legs could carry her and gave me a tight embraced. I squealed in surprise, holding on to her waist to keep her from falling."I was going to call out your name before the hug and then I realized I had no idea what it was," She said, pulling back for a few seconds to regard me strangely. "I am deeply sorry that I forgot to ask all this time," She frowned. "But if you aren't so mad at me for it then may I know now?"I decided that no one could deny just how adorable this little girl was."It's Liyah," I informed her, glad that I no longer had to keep it a secret.Her eyes widened. "My, what a beautiful name! She it suits you so well. Liyah," She repeated. "In my next l
Nikolai's POVI stopped dead in my tracks when I saw Liyah also sitting in the backseat of the truck. Before I could react, Eve had jumped forward to drag me by the arm and pull me towards the car."Yay!" She squealed. "You're thirty minutes late but I forgive you. We can get going now.""Wasn't it supposed to be just the two of us?" I asked, but she pretended like she didn't hear me and dragged mecri the other side of the truck. Sneaky little girl.The driver at the wheel greeted, then bowed when he saw me, attracting Liyah's attention. I saw the surprise on her face when she looked up to see me. I followed awkwardly as Eve unlocked the car door and clambered in, plopping herself comfortably between Liyah and I.I suddenly began to feel hot and I tried to ignore it but it only got worse. This was my car, my house. Why did I feel so uncomfortable and out of place? "Turn on the air conditioning," I commanded. When he did I began to
Liyah's POVIt was hard to keep a straight face when you were with Drew. Add Margaret and Annalise into the puzzle and you've got yourself a perfect day. I don't remember the last time I had laughed this much. I don't think I had ever laughed this much in my entire life. And it felt really good. My ribs were literally hurting. I was actually starting to feel like part of something... part of a family. With people who cared me, who supported me. Sometimes I would wake up thinking it was all a dream, and then to reassure myself that it wasn't, I would race to the nearest person's room, which happened to be Annalise. When she recognized me and was her usual nice self I would sigh in relief and go about my day like normal."I'm serious though," Drew said still laughing. "The last time I stayed up so late. My parents had no idea I had hid in a corner. When I saw them start to pile up the presents under the trees and in the stockings, I nearly had a heart attack."
Nikolai's POVI stood horrified at the entrance of the kitchen, my palm permanently glued to my forehead. I couldn't understand why I cared so much that I began to feel embarrassed. As if to make my point clearer, my face heated as Drew began to describe in detail how I used to chase him and Anna all over the garden with my booger fingers whenever they provoked me.When I heard Liyah gasp in disbelief and then start to giggle, I wanted to rush into the kitchen and clap a hand over Drew's mouth. Why did he have to tell all these embarrassing stories in front of her? Just why?"And it's so cool how you're all still very good friends," I heard her say.Brief seconds of awkward silence took over, and I could imagine them thinking of what to say."Well, we all grow up don't we?" I heard Drew laugh awkwardly, then silence ensued.My heart clenched as I turned away and started to walk back to my room, lest they walk out to me standing suspiciously at the door.
Liyah's POVIf I wasn't so scared of being bit by an insect, I would have sat in the grass and enjoyed the scenery. So I decided to walk instead although it was getting a little late. Margaret and I had made a little trip to the other side of town earlier today to treat some members of another pack who had gotten badly injured. I still wasn't used to the freedom, and so I told Margaret to go ahead. I wanted to take a little stroll, enjoy the scenery and such, before going back home. Now I was here, I didn't regret it one bit. I had never seen anything so beautiful, so refreshing. The lake, the small river, the meadow, the birds, the clean space. Everything about it was perfect.I started to worry when it began to get really dark. I had gone so deep into the woods that now I couldn't find my way out. Every path I took only led to a dead end, and I started to suspect that I was only moving around in circles."Oh no," I facepalmed as I came to another d
Liyah's POVTo say that I was shocked would be an understatement. Frankly, I was dumbfounded, and no matter how many times I gaped at Nikolai breaking the silver chains off the werewolves, I couldn't seem to get over it. When he was done, he made way for the two middle-aged women who were in charge of the hideout to clean and feed them, then make sure they were well rested.I saw him look away when our eyes met and I couldn't help but do the same. As I watched him walk out of the room and down the stairs, I began to think of possible reasons why he could be doing this. If there was anything I knew about him, it was how selfish and cold-hearted he was. So what was his motive? I wasn't going to argue the fact that it was a good deed. He was saving lives, restoring hope and happiness in these people when they thought they'd never again find it. He
Liyah's POVI was still trying to make sure my seatbelt was secured when he zoomed off. I turned to face him when he continued to increase his speed rather than do the opposite, and I could see the anger in his eyes as he stepped harder on the gas. My stomach churned and I held on for dear life.I was scared to death when he suddenly hit the brakes, bringing the car to a stop with a deafening screeching sound. I turned to him in shock wondering what had come over him, but when I saw him stoic and his face expressionless, I kept my mouth shut.He sat hunched over, and I could see the veins on the back of his hand bulge as he clutched the steering wheel. Minutes passed and not a word was spoken. The silence was almost deafening and all I could hear was the rapid pounding of my heart.
Liyah's POVI wasn't completely sure why my head was aching so much. I knew I had been tired and overwhelmed more times than I could count, but it felt different this time. It felt... worse. After everything that had happened in the car, I had begun to see things differently, understand things I didn't before. It all made sense now. Why Drew was still so protective of him although they had become distant, why Nikolai was always so bitter. It didn't change the fact that I was still hurt, but it did make me see things from a different perspective.I hated the fact that I understood now. I didn't want to, I wanted to blame someone for everything that happened to me. I wanted to feel that pure hatred when I looked at him, and revel in it. But now... I couldn't even identify what exactly I was feeling. Sadness, anger, pity, confusion, all jumbled up in my heart. It was so overwhelming I th