Trust
1219 Words
"That's enough!" His voice cut through them.
"Beta Liam..." Elias said, but Liam's glare silenced him.
"This is the cafeteria. You should know better than to make noises." Liam said.
"We're sorry, Beta. We're just solving some issues." Elias smiled.
"Issues? You f*****g bastard!" Celine burst out, looking up at him. She had kept her head low when she heard Beta Liam was close; she didn't want him to see her in that state.
She was so angry, her hands turned red due to her tight fist. She was willing to let it go until she heard the guy running his mouth again. "No one is throwing anyone at you. You think at this age of mine, I'll give a f**k about whatever comes out of your mouth." She scoffed.
"Yes, I don't have my powers, and I've learned to deal with it. Tell your father to also give up and stop running behind someone else's fame." She smiled as she spoke.
"You b***h!" He shouted, but what happened next shocked them both.
Liam’s hand closed gently around hers. His eyes locked onto hers, voice suddenly low and calm. "Are you okay?"
She could only blink. It felt like his voice calmed all her nerves. She looked at his hand wrapped in hers before looking back to him.
"Do you want to handle this yourself?" He asked, to which Celine also knew what he meant. It felt like they were the only ones in the room, their gazes locked on each other. "No. He's not worth it." She replied.
"Sure." He replied before looking back at the security standing at standby behind him. "Throw him out."
They walked closer and held Elias. "Come with us, sir."
"What? Let me go!" He screamed as they escorted him out. "Beta! Do you know who my father is?"
"Come on. You've both caused quite a scene." He left the cafeteria and went back to the elevator without letting go of her hand.
She came back to her senses when she got into the elevator with him. She pulled her hand away from his grip.
He also cleared his throat like it had just dawned on him. "Sorry," he muttered.
"Why did you do that?" She asked, looking at him, but he kept his gaze on the elevator door. "You recognize me now?"
"You'd rather I act like I know you then, so your sister can ask where we met?" He asked back, his gaze locked on the elevator doors.
She glared at him before biting her lip tightly. It was still suspicious. He was in the ward a minute ago, and the next, he's in the cafeteria. "Did you follow me?" She asked softly. "You don't look like you came to get food."
"Yes, I followed you," he said without hesitation, turning to meet her eyes.
She was stunned at his reply. How could he admit it all of a sudden? But she kept her cool. "Why?"
"I don't trust you."
She gave a short, bitter laugh. "Because I don't have my powers? A fake witch in short words."
He paused for a few seconds. "What do you think will happen to a beta without its wolf?" He asked, but Celine didn't say a word. "No sranger except you knows about... my secret."
His voice dropped, rougher now. "Even my mother doesn't know about it."
No one said a word. Just stared at each other for a few seconds until the elevators chimed and the doors began to slide open.
Then. Celine stretched her palm at him. "Hold it."
He glanced at her hand and then back at her.
"Just do it." She said, her voice steadier.
He obeyed.
Immediately, the door slammed shut. The lights of the elevator flickered, and the air grew thick.
Her brown eyes became brighter.
"I can't make you trust me, but I can prove myself with this." She said softly. "Having my powers is so important to me in the world, and I'll do anything to get them back. Even if it takes helping you find your wolf first."
Liam's gaze was still on her. Not a hint of fear passed through him, but rather assurance.
He withdrew his hand, and immediately the flickering light became stable. He dipped his hands into his pockets and brought out a card. "This is my personal card. You can call me anytime."
She collected it, smiling lightly before looking up at him. "Thank you, Beta Liam."
"Just Liam, please." He said and stepped out of the elevator, leaving her staring at the card with a smile.
***
Next day.
They've been hiding for over an hour. He stood with a few men behind the woods, his eyes scanning around for the ones they came for, their rival pack, the Silver Moon Pack.
His brothers, Jason and Aiden, were also hidden on the other side with some men. He shook his head as he heard Jason's whispers. He knew he was whining about being there for a long time.
Shortly, one of the men behind him said, "They're here."
He also saw Aiden and others come out of their hideout, from which they also bounced, blocking their path.
The woods became colder, with two strong packs facing each other, ready to attack. The Silver Moon pack was dressed in black, faces uncovered, except one, who was standing in the front with a covered face.
"What's wrong? Not scared, huh?" Aiden said, knowing the silver moon pack has a history of fearing their packs, despite being rivals.
"You Shadow Moon pack sure know how to run your mouths, don't you?" The one with the covered face said and immediately attacked Aiden, while the others also joined in the battle.
Different wolves were injured and sent flying in the air. Liam and his brothers fought without changing to their wolf form. It has always been like that. No one has seen them in their wolf form or knows why they fought that way.
He fought different wolves coming at him. Punching, pushing them into the trees with his strength, making the wolves groan. He had trained for years to live without his own wolf, but it still wasn't enough.
Sometimes, the strength is not enough, and it feels like a burden to his brothers.
He was caught up in the moment when he heard Jason's voice. "Aiden, are you okay?"
Liam looked back at the wolf growling at him. He couldn't go without finishing it off. "Come on. Are you scared?" He screamed at the wolf.
As if triggered, the wolf dashed at him, but he landed a punch right in its jaw, making it fall to the ground.
He looked back to see Jason fighting the masked man, but the man was so fast. He got away from Jason and signaled to their members to move; even the ones injured and already in their human form had to struggle to leave.
Jason tried to follow them, but Liam stopped him. "Let them go." Before turning to Aiden, who looked suddenly weak as he knelt on one knee, his face looking downwards. "Aiden, are you okay?"
"I'm fine." He replied, then stood up without meeting their gazes. "Clear up this mess."
They all watched him leave quietly, with no one stopping him.
- Writer
