THE ALPHA'S SECOND CHANCE MATE

WETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT

CHAPTER NINE

ELENA'S POV

I felt my cheeks burn with a deep blush at Liam's flirty words, but I quickly masked it with a frown, determined not to let him see how his comment had affected me. Beatrice, perceptive as ever, cleared her throat.

“I need to grab something from my room,” Beatrice announced, her gaze shifting between Liam and me. Without waiting for a response, she excused herself and walked briskly away.

As soon as Beatrice was out of sight, a wave of anxiety washed over me. Liam’s stare was relentless, his eyes never leaving my face. I could feel his gaze like a tangible weight, pressing on my every nerve. I picked up my fork with trembling hands, trying to focus on the food in front of me.

I shoveled the food into my mouth, chewing quickly to distract myself from the tension that seemed to cling to the air. But the effort to maintain some semblance of normalcy backfired. A piece of food lodged in my throat, and I suddenly found myself choking. The coughing came out loud and ragged, each gasp more desperate than the last.

Liam was at my side in an instant. His hands were gentle but firm as he rubbed my back, guiding me towards the kitchen. I stumbled, clutching at my throat, as he led me to the sink. My vision blurred with tears and panic.

“Hang in there, Elena,” Liam said, his voice steady but filled with concern. “Try to calm down. It’ll pass.”

I leaned over the sink, spitting out the remaining food. Liam quickly flushed it away, the sound of rushing water barely registering in my panicked state. He sprayed some water on my face, his touch cool and soothing against my flushed skin. I gasped for breath, each inhalation sending a shiver through my body.

Liam’s hands were steady as he guided me back to my seat. I sat down with a thud, feeling utterly mortified. My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of embarrassment and residual panic swirling within me. Liam cleared the dishes from the table immediately and he returned to the table afterwards.

I was still trying to settle my nerves from what had just happened, but then, out of nowhere, he said something that made me snap.

“You know, you might wanna slow down when you eat next time,” Liam said, a smirk playing on his lips. “Wouldn’t want you choking on more than just food.”

I glared at him, feeling my temper rise. “Excuse me?” I spat out, unable to control the anger bubbling inside me. “Are you seriously making jokes about that? You’re such an ass.”

Liam raised his hands in mock surrender, the grin on his face widening. “Oh, come on. Don’t be so sensitive. It’s just a bit of fun.”

“Fun?” I stood up, my chair scraping loudly against the floor as I pushed it back. “You know what, Liam? Just get out. I don’t need this.”

He chuckled, leaning back in his chair, completely unfazed. “Get out? You must’ve forgotten where you are, Elena. This is my pack, my territory. If anyone should be getting out, it’s you.”

His words stung like a slap to the face. Tears prickled at the corners of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “Fine,” I whispered, my voice trembling with hurt.

Liam’s grin faltered as his eyes widened, realizing the impact of his words. He stiffened in his seat, his gaze softening in concern. “Elena, wait… that’s not what I meant.”

I shook my head, shoving his hand away as he reached for me. “Don’t touch me,” I whispered, the pain evident in my voice. Without waiting for a response, I turned on my heels and bolted out of the room.

My feet moved on their own, carrying me away from the suffocating atmosphere, away from Liam. The cool night air hit my face as I ran, the ground beneath me a blur. I didn’t care where I was going—anywhere but here.

The woods soon surrounded me, their dark embrace pulling me deeper as I ran, faster and faster. My breaths came out in ragged gasps, my heart pounding furiously in my chest. I could hear Liam behind me, calling out my name, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t stop. I just needed to get away.

I glanced back briefly, and that’s when I saw him gaining on me. Panic surged through me, and I darted behind a large tree, pressing my back against the rough bark as I struggled to catch my breath. My chest heaved, and I clamped a hand over my mouth to keep from making any noise.

But then, just as I thought I was safe, a low growl rumbled from behind me. My blood ran cold. Slowly, I turned around, and there it was—a wolf, larger than any I’d ever seen, its eyes glowing with hunger. Its growl deepened, and I felt the ground tremble beneath my feet.

I stepped back, my hands shaking as I raised them defensively. The wolf’s growl echoed through the trees, and before I could even react, it lunged at me. I squeezed my eyes shut, raising my arms over my face, bracing for the impact.

But it never came.

Instead, I heard a loud snarl from behind me, followed by a flurry of movement. I opened my eyes just in time to see Liam—no, his wolf—leap over me, tackling the other wolf to the ground with brutal force.

I stumbled back, frozen in place as Liam fought the wolf with savage ferocity. His wolf form was magnificent, powerful, and terrifying. He tore into the other wolf with razor-sharp claws, snapping bones and shredding flesh. The sound of breaking bones echoed in the night air, and within moments, Liam had snapped the wolf’s neck, its lifeless body collapsing in a heap.

I stood there, trembling, unable to move or speak. My mind was racing, trying to process what had just happened. Liam turned back to me, shifting back into his human form. He was completely naked, but he moved without hesitation, quickly retrieving his clothes from the ground and pulling them on.

I swallowed hard, my voice barely above a whisper. “Thank you… for saving me.”

Liam didn’t look at me as he finished buttoning his shirt. “You shouldn’t have run off like that, Elena.”

I took a hesitant step forward, still shaken from the encounter. “I didn’t ask for your help.”

Liam’s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing. “Are you serious right now? You could’ve been killed, and you’re still trying to be stubborn?”

I crossed my arms, my anger flaring again. “I didn’t need you to save me, Liam. I can handle myself.”

“Clearly,” he muttered sarcastically, running a hand through his hair. “Because hiding behind a tree and hoping the wolf wouldn’t find you is a real strategy.”

I glared at him, my hands balling into fists. “You’re such an arrogant jerk.”

Liam’s eyes darkened, his jaw tightening. “And you’re so damn stubborn. Do you even realize how reckless you were?”

“Reckless?” I shot back, stepping closer to him. “I’m not the one who thinks he can control everything, Liam. You think just because you’re the Alpha, you can fix everything with brute strength.”

“I’m the Alpha because I *have* to fix things, Elena,” he snapped, his voice rising. “That’s what I do. I protect my pack, and that includes you whether you like it or not.”

I clenched my fists, my voice shaking with frustration. “I don’t need your protection! I didn’t ask for any of this.”

Liam growled, taking a step toward me, his eyes blazing with frustration. “Well, f**k the fact that you want to reject me then.”

I froze, my breath catching in my throat. “What did you just say?”

Liam’s expression twisted with anger and hurt. “You heard me. I feel f*****g stupid trying to get you to accept me when all you want is to reject me. Do it, then. Go ahead. Reject me.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. His voice was harsh, raw, but there was something more behind it. Pain. Confusion.

“I hate being so close to someone,” Liam continued, his voice lower now, almost vulnerable. “But I don’t know what’s wrong with Orion. He wants to be close to you. He’s never wanted to be near anyone before—not like this.”

I swallowed hard, my anger wavering as I saw the conflict in his eyes. But I couldn’t let him off that easily. “So what, Liam? You think that just because your wolf wants something, I’m supposed to fall in line?”

Liam’s eyes flickered with frustration, desperation. “It’s the first time Orion’s wanted to be close to someone in a long time, Elena. And I’m not going to deny him that. I’ll make you accept me. I’ll mark you as my Luna, whether you like it or not.”

I stiffened at his words, my heart racing. “Make me?” I spat, my voice laced with defiance.

Liam growled, his eyes darkening as he took a step toward me. Without warning, he grabbed me, lifting me off the ground and slinging me over his shoulder. “Oh, I’ll make you, alright.”

“Liam! Put me down!” I screamed, pounding my fists against his back.

But he didn’t listen. He moved with incredible speed, carrying me through the woods, the trees a blur around us. Before I knew it, we were back at Beatrice’s house. Beatrice was standing outside, her eyes wide with shock.

Liam gently set me down, brushing my hair behind my ear. His touch was surprisingly soft, almost tender. “Goodnight, Elena,” he muttered before turning to Beatrice. “Goodnight, Beatrice.”

He walked off, leaving me standing there, glaring at his back, my heart pounding.