Yes, just feeling a bit stressed.He admits.Is it okay to hold you like this? I thought I might take the chance with only your siblings and your friend around.
Of course, it’s all right.I lean my head against him.Why are you stressed?
Too many people I don’t know. And all of them important to you. I didn’t want to scare them off by being me.
You are fine the way you are!I argue. His words surprise me. I was always so preoccupied by my own insecurities that I never considered that Liam might have his own too.
I tried a bit harder than usual,he admits.Not to come off too cold or distant.
You were perfect.I take his hand into mine, playing with his fingers.Mom told me you are a good one. Steve can’t wait to spar with you, which is all he can think of recently. So, it’s good. And I think Dad wants to adopt you.
Liam chuckles at my words.
Next to us, Harmony clears her throat. “Why are the two of you here?” she asks.
I’m a bit surprised. “We thought we could join you and escape the masses of people. Everyone wanted to talk to us.”
“No, no, that I know.” She blinks. “Just right now.”
“Are you two mind-linking?” Celine asks in surprise.
Steve’s gaze instantly shifts to my neck. I have not shown it too much tonight, wearing my hair down and a choker necklace. “You can mind-link?”
“Oh,” my eyes widen. “Right, I never told you. It’s so normal for me now that I didn’t even realize it might be something unusual.”
Liam smiles. I don’t know what made him so happy right now, but something I said apparently struck something in him. “As a royal Lycan, I can mind link my mate even when she is not in my pack yet. We just have to accept each other as mates.”
“Wow, now that comes in handy,” Harmony says.
“That’s why you were so fast when Annie was attacked,” Celine muses. “I always wondered when she had the time to phone you.”
I giggle. “Did you think I developed a new superpower? Speed-dialing?”
Celine chuckles. It’s rare to see her laugh.
“Do Brian and Rosalee know what happened?” Liam asks.
“To an extent,” Harmony answers.
Celine nods. “Father and I told them what was necessary and how we dealt with it.”
“We spared them the details, though.” Harmony adds. “Steve and I reacted badly enough, I think.”
Steve’s eyes darkened. “Annie is my sister. Any decent brother would be furious if one of his sisters got harassed.”
“It’s over now, though,” Celine says.
“Honestly, Celine, I was a bit impressed that you dropped Lauren and asked my sister to be your Beta,” Steve says.
Celine shrugs. “I didn’t drop her just like that. There were a lot of red flags. This was just the last straw.”
“You had to be disappointed,” Liam states quietly. “Betrayal cuts the deepest when it’s someone close to us. I know I wouldn’t take it well if it were one of my closest allies or siblings who backstabbed me.”
She nods grimly, her eyes darkening. “Yes. I wish I could kick her out. But I need proof. The moment I know exactly what went down, she can go to hell. No one hurts my pack.”
“You haven’t told Mom and Dad about Lauren?” I ask.
“Dad is such a close friend of her father,” Harmony mutters.