Running Free [COMPLETE]

9. The Question

Liam looked down into her honey brown eyes. He had heard the words come out of her mouth but didn’t react.

“I can’t, Liam,” she said again. “I just don’t feel right about it.” Was that a knot releasing itself at the pit of his stomach? He let out a long, drawn-out sigh.

“If I accept to be your Mate, I most likely would be accepted into the pack, but that’s not a guarantee. Your dad can still choose to say my questionable background isn’t good enough for his ONLY son.” She smiled at him on the word only, trying to lighten the mood. It seemed to work because he gave her a half-smile.

“You’re right,” he admitted. He hadn’t even thought about his father refusing to accept her. Being the Alpha, he would have to ask his father if he supported the union and his decision would be law. “I’m actually relieved that you said no, to be honest.”

She laughed at his confession and sat down in the grass, patting the ground next to her. Liam understood her request and sat down. They gazed up at the small sliver in the sky and Liam continued, “I was only trying to find a solution to the pack’s problem and yours, too. You don’t talk too much about it, but I know you would jump at the chance to be in the pack.”

“Yeah, you’re right about that, but I don’t want to sacrifice your happiness for the sake of me joining the pack.” She turned to look at him. He had stretched his legs out in front of him and leaned back on his arms. That was Liam, she thought, always calm and relaxed.

“Who knows if I’ll ever find that happiness with a Mate,” He said looking back at her. “Probably why I’m so willing to ‘sacrifice’ it away.”

“Oh, Liam. Come on. You’re an Alpha. Name me an Alpha you know without a Mate.”

“OK, sure. They all have Mates, but Mates are rarely found outside the pack and if you haven’t noticed, I haven’t clicked like that with anyone here.” Eliza had heard about Mates being in the same pack and thought it was either made up by some bat-s**t crazy person or some lazy wolf that didn’t want to work too hard.

“You don’t really believe that, do you?”

“Why wouldn’t I? My parents were in the same pack. Every Alpha before him had a Mate in the same pack. Our own Beta, Dane, and his wife. I have never met a Mated pair that have not been from the same pack.”

“Well, I call bullshit. I’m sure that we could find a whole lot more Mates for everyone if wolves were willing to mix,” she made a hand motion like she was mixing dominoes on a table. It made Liam wonder when she had ever played dominoes.

“Maybe,” he shrugged. “So… if you are suggesting that I have to get off my butt and go find my Luna, how are we gonna get you in the pack? I can’t be your free ticket in anymore, you know.”

Eliza’s laugh sang through the air. “Oh, whatever shall I do without my meal ticket,” She feigned distress by placing the back of her hand on her forehead. Liam chuckled.

“But, seriously, Eliza. Maybe you should ask my dad. At least you can find out if there is anything you can do that would let you in.” She nodded. She had thought many times to bring it up with Elijah, but it never seemed like the right time to ask. He could read her thoughts by the expressions flashing on her face. “What if we went right now,” he asked.

“Right now? Like right, right now?” She was surprised by his suggestion. She was thinking more like later on in the week.

“Yup,” Liam said standing up, “that settles it. We’re going now.”

“Now?!” She stood up next to him.

“Yup. We sure are. You’re best friends with the Alpha’s ONLY son, remember? What use is that if it didn’t come with some perks?” He started walking back in the direction of the car and the dirt road. She walked behind him as he walked away, a bit uncertain. "Like meeting with the Alpha whenever you need to."

“I thought you said you couldn’t be my meal ticket anymore,” she called out to him as she ran. Liam smirked at her. She didn’t miss a beat, like ever.

The drive to the pack house was a lot quieter than the drive to the clearing. There was a comfortable silence between the two. Liam also knew her very well. She needed some quiet to calm her nerves before walking in there with his dad and selling him the idea of her joining the pack.

When Liam pulled into the pack house driveway and parked, Eliza was out the car and up the front steps, waiting for Liam. She was ready for this but knew the protocol, so she waited for him at the front door. “Come on, slowpoke,” she called out to him.

“I’m coming. I’m coming,” he called back as he made his way to her.

Together, they walked in. Eliza’s head held high, ready to be an official member. The few members hanging around the house looked up at them and waved or called out a greeting. Their cheery voices in stark contrast to Eliza’s determined face, but Liam happily returned their greeting and continued to walk to his father’s office with Eliza.

Once at his door, Liam softly knocked and waited to hear his father’s voice. When it came, he walked in, leading Eliza.

“Hi, Dad. Do you have a minute for Eliza and me,” he asked, seeing the man alone and seated in front of his desk.

“Of course,” he said motioning to the seats on the other side of him.

Eliza let out a slow sigh and sat down. This was it, she thought.

“How can I help you two,” Elijah asked, looking between Liam and Eliza.

“Alpha, I wanted to formally ask to join the Clearwater Pack,” Eliza was all confidence and strength at that moment as she spoke, but Elijah didn’t say anything. He sat quietly for a few moments before answering.

“Eliza, you have grown into one of the strongest wolves…” he seemed surprised to admit, “ I have probably ever seen. You seem to master every challenge put in front of you with ease and you would make a pack that much stronger by name alone… but… with that said. I’m going to have to formally decline your request.”