Betrayed By Two Alphas:Bound By One Fate

Chapter 22

Liam’s pov

“Wow, Liam, this place looks amazing.” Ashley spun around in a slow circle, her gaze sweeping across the expansive master bedroom. A bright, wide grin lit up her face. “You really know how to impress me.”

“Of course,” I said, letting a smooth smile tug at my lips. I leaned back against the heavy mahogany dresser, crossing my arms. “It’s you, Ashley. I’d do anything for you.”

“After three years, I finally get to step foot in this house.” She walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking out over the territory before turning back to me, her eyes glittering. “And not just that—I’m finally going to be the pack’s Luna.”

“That’s the plan.”

I closed the distance between us, catching her by the waist and pulling her body flush against mine. Our breath mingled in the tight space between us. Ashley tilted her head up, leaning into me until her lips pressed against mine.

It started out slow. I tightened my grip on her waist, deepening the kiss, trying to force myself into the moment. I kept kissing her, but a cold, heavy knot began to form in my gut. Something was f*****g wrong. The rush, the sudden jolt of excitement I expected—it wasn't there. I had been with plenty of women over the years, but Ashley was always the only one who could actually make me feel something. Now? Flat. Nothing.

She broke the kiss, breathless, and looked up at me with a soft smile. “You are still an incredible kisser. I missed this so much.”

She stepped out of my arms, her heels clicking against the hardwood as she walked over to the king-sized bed and sat on the very edge. She smoothed down her skirt, her expression shifting into something curious. “So, how did the divorce go? I was so far away that I couldn't even see you finally leave your so-called wife.”

I shrugged a shoulder, keeping my face completely blank. “The divorce doesn't matter. She meant nothing.”

Ashley leaned forward slightly, her eyes tracking my face. “Did you ever have s*x with her?”

“No,” I shot back instantly.

A satisfied smirk played on her lips. “Impressive. You didn’t touch her... that means you're still completely loyal to me.”

I just offered her a quiet smile, keeping my mouth shut. I hadn't touched Aurora, sure, but that didn't mean my bed had been empty for three years. She didn't need to know about the other women, though.

“I want us to go out tonight,” she said, bouncing slightly on the mattress. “Have dinner, explore a little. I’ve been gone for so long, I miss the place.”

“I already took care of it. I have a dinner reservation set up for us.”

“That’s perfect.” Ashley nodded, then paused, her fingers tracing the edge of the comforter. “Hmm... Lucian. Is he still, you know, around?”

I frowned slightly, the sudden change in topic catching me off guard. “Of course he is. Why do you ask?”

“Oh, no reason.” She waved her hand dismissively, offering another quick smile. “I just haven't seen him in forever, so I got curious. That's all.”

I let the brief tension leave my shoulders and smiled back at her. “Well, you’re going to be seeing a lot more of him. He’s my Beta and my best friend, so he's always around.”

Ashley smiled, though her eyes darted away for a fraction of a second.

“I’m going to send up the best stylists in the pack to get you ready for dinner tonight, okay?” I added.

She stood up from the bed, walked over, and pressed a brief, sweet kiss against my cheek.

“You are the best,” she praised, her eyes beaming.

“I’ll leave you to it so you can settle in,” I said, offering one last reassuring nod before stepping back and closing the heavy bedroom door behind me.

The second the latch clicked, the smile dropped from my face like lead. The mask was exhausting. I walked down the corridor to my own quarters, my chest tightening with every step. Once inside, I couldn't sit still. I began pacing the length of the floor, my boots digging into the heavy rug.

You don’t love her anymore.

My wolf’s voice echoed in the back of my mind, sharp and unbothered.

I stopped dead in my tracks, clenching my jaw. “Quiet,” I snapped back internally. “She is my childhood love. I’ve loved her ever since I knew the meaning of the word. Why would you even say that?”

You feel nothing for her, Liam. She’s been gone for years, she finally returns to your bed, and you didn't even try to touch her. You don’t love her.

“Shut up!” I growled out loud, a low, dangerous rumble vibrating in my throat that sent my wolf retreating into the dark corners of my mind.

My heart hammered against my ribs. I loved Ashley. I had to. It was just the distance—we hadn't seen each other in three years. Of course things were going to feel a little awkward at first. Once she settled into the pack and we got back into our old routine, the spark would come back. It had to.

The restaurant was exactly Ashley’s style. Soft, low lighting gleamed off polished mahogany tables, and classical music hummed quietly in the background. A hostess immediately bowed her head and ushered us toward a private table near the center of the room.

“This place is absolutely beautiful,” Ashley murmured, her eyes darting over the crystal chandeliers.

“Only the best for you,” I replied, pulling out her chair.

She sat down, her gaze drifting across the room toward the other couples dining nearby. “You know, I’ve wished for days like this for so long. Just being with the one I love, surrounded by other couples... instead of sitting alone, feeling jealous of everyone else.”

I forced another smile, stepping around to take my own seat. “Ashley, I—”

The words caught in my throat. My eyes narrowed, fixing on the glass entryway.

Aurora.

She walked in, her laugh echoing softly through the foyer. And right beside her, like a shadow, was her fiancé—along with that other bastard who never seemed to leave their side. My grip tightened on the edge of the table until the wood groaned. Why the f**k were they always glued together? And what were the odds of them showing up here?

“Liam? Are you okay? What are you staring at?” Ashley asked, her brow furrowing as she started to twist in her seat to look behind her.

“It’s nothing,” I said quickly, reaching across the table to catch her hand, halting her movement. “Eyes on me.”

The distraction worked. A blush crept up her cheeks, and she smiled, leaning back into her chair. Ashley didn't know what Aurora looked like. When I had married her, Ashley had explicitly told me she never wanted to see a photo or hear her name—she said it made the pain of me being with another woman easier to bear.

“Liam?”

A familiar voice broke through my glaring match with the entryway. I looked up to see Lucian standing by our table. There was a beautiful woman clinging to his arm.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you here tonight,” Lucian said, his eyes scanning my face before shifting to my date. “Ashley. Welcome back.”

“It feels so good to be back, Lucian. It’s great to see you,” she said, her smile widening. She glanced at the woman beside him, her eyes tracking the grip on his arm. “And who is this? Your girlfriend?”

Lucian kept his expression smooth, completely unbothered. “She’s my date tonight.”

“Oh,” Ashley chuckled, a small, patronizing edge to her tone. “For a second, I thought Mr. No-Girlfriend finally decided to settle down.”

I glanced at Ashley, a brief flicker of irritation crossing my mind. Why the hell would she say something like that right in front of the woman? Not that it was my business, but it was a cheap shot.

“We’ll see how the night goes,” Lucian replied smoothly, a polite smile on his face as he clearly tried to save his date from any more awkwardness. “If you both will excuse us.”

He gave a tight nod and led his date toward the booths at the far side of the restaurant. Ashley’s eyes followed them across the room, her gaze lingering on the woman's back until they sat down.

She leaned in across the table, lowering her voice. “You know... she really doesn’t look like his type at all.”

“Hmm, why do you care?” I asked, swirling the drink in my glass.

“It’s nothing.” She swirled her own glass, a small, amused smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. “I’m just curious to know who he’ll eventually end up with for the long run. Let’s forget about that. Tell me about you. It feels like I missed three years of your life. How was it being married? I want to know everything.”

My fingers tightened around my glass. “There really isn’t anything to know about my marriage. It sucked. I’m just glad it’s over and we can put everything behind us.”

We spent the next few minutes talking about her—her work in the States and everything she had been up to. But my eyes kept drifting past her shoulder. Across the room, Aurora sat with her dates. A bright, genuine smile lit up her face, and a sharp prickle of irritation flared in my chest. The guy couldn’t possibly be that funny. Besides, wasn't it disrespectful to have another guy sitting right there? She must really love all this attention.

Then, Aurora stood up. My gaze locked onto her, tracing her steps as she moved through the crowd. Where the f**k was she going?

“Are you distracted?”

Ashley’s voice snapped me back. I blinked, looking back at her. “No. I just zoned out for a second, thinking about our upcoming wedding,” I said, forcing a warmth into my voice.

The tension in her shoulders vanished, and a wide smile broke across her face.

“It will be the best,” I added, tapping the table gently.

“Is he leaving?” Ashley asked, her nod directing my attention toward Lucian. He was weaving through the tables toward the exit.

“Maybe he’s taking a step out for some air,” I said, watching his retreating back. “He always does that when he feels a little suffocated.”

“I guess his date is suffocating him,” she joked.

A tight, half-smile pulled at my lips, but my mind was spinning. Aurora still hadn’t returned to her table. Over there, her two dates didn't even look bothered by her absence; they were laughing, completely locked in their own conversation. It was weird. Then again, Aurora was weird, so of course she was surrounded by weirdos. But why hadn’t Lucian come back yet? I glanced at his table; his date was resting her chin on her hand, staring blankly into space like she was bored out of her mind.

A restless energy scraped beneath my skin. I pushed my chair back. “Ashley, I’m going to step out for a moment. I need to make an important call.”

“Alright, don’t stay out too long,” she said, offering a sweet smile.

I nodded and began weaving through the tables. As I walked, my gaze collided with Damon and the other guy. The stranger glared straight at me, his eyes narrowing into a hard, venomous stare. What the hell is his problem?

Ignoring him, I pushed through the doors into the cooler outside air. I scanned the immediate walkway, but there was no sign of Aurora or Lucian. My feet kept moving, carrying me down the darker path around the corner.

Suddenly, my boots skidded against the pavement.

Under the dim shadows, Lucian and Aurora were pressed against each other, their lips locked.

Blood rushed to my ears. My jaw clamped shut so hard it ached, and my hands curled into tight, white-knuckled fists at my sides.

“What the hell is going on here?” The words tore from my throat, raw and heavy, snapping them apart instantly.