Between Two Worlds

Chapter Thirteen

Logan

I didn't wish her death.

To be honest with myself, the thought of causing harm to her while trying to get the truth out wasn't appealing to me. Even though I really wanted to know the secrets she was hiding. Now more than ever.

If they truly had anything to do with me, I have the right to know, don't I?

I was joking when I asked her if I had anything to do with all her mysteries, but it shocked me to my core to see how she reacted to my words. Was I truly in the middle of this? But why? What would I have to do with her disappearance 7 years ago? Or anything at all involving her.

Is it true I've known Liora for years, but our lives were connected by an accident that happened many years ago. Surprisingly, a mishap she gracefully and unexpectedly avoided the worse outcome. By a lucky strike of fate. For this reason, she has a much stronger connection with Dominic than me since it was his life that Liora saved.

Our connection was a result of her relationship with my beta. If what we have can be called "a connection" whatsoever. What we were for each other... I think had no right words to describe it. Not friends and also not quite real enemies.

My silence at that moment was more out of shock, but I could see in her eyes that she misunderstood the situation and my lack of reply. Does Liora truly think I wish her harm? I mean, if I could have my way, I would force the truth out of her sooner rather than later on, but even though we don't have the best relationship, I am not that type of leader. I don't feel pleasure in other people's pain.

And I wanted to tell her that. But the stubborn part of me, the jerk side who likes to see her squirm and get on her nerves, enjoyed seeing that face of hers. It's funny to think she can hide her emotions well from everyone else, but it seems she can't hide them from me. It's like I can see through the I-don't-care-what-you-say facade. The serious and nonchalant expression she is showing now can't hide all of it.

Goddess, why do I feel a little bit of pleasure in all of this? Why is it that every time something happens that involves that woman — and me —, everything seems more complicated? Seems out of the ordinary?

After a few minutes of awkward silence, I clean my throat and stated "Dominic will be here in a couple of hours. He will have the surprise of his life seeing you back here. I mean, since after his mate, and maybe me, you are the only other person he deeply cares about".

My words struck Liora again, her expression changing slightly and almost unnoticed, but the reason is unknown to me this time. When I look at her, she looks deep in thought, squinting her eyebrows like she has too many things in her mind, which I guess is just right.

I know I have.

After a few seconds, she replies, her voice full of longing. "Is he happy with his mate? Do they have any pups? Where is she? Do you think I can meet her?"

She floods me with questions, without giving me much space to answer anything until she is done with all the inquiries.

"Yes, he is very happy. More than I ever saw him happy before. She is his other half, after all". Even without wanting, my voice sounded harsh, a little bit of longing laced my words. The "mate" subject was the trigger for me. "But you will have to wait to meet her, because where Dominic is, Brianna is always gonna be found by his side. They traveled together".

Her answer was silent, her mouth forming an "o" shape. It was quite cute.

Wait, why the hell am I thinking anything about Liora as being cute?

There is something really wrong with my head. And it looks like the weird situations and thoughts are increasing with all the time I am spending around her. How do I make it stop, Goddess?

This was not supposed to be happening. Ever.

I breathed slowly and deeply before getting up from the space I was sitting close to her cot and without giving space to argumentation, I say:

"Since it seems you are doing just fine now, I will leave to finish my stuff. I will send someone to fetch you here when Dominic arrives. By then I would like you to stay here. You can sleep, rest or simply do nothing. As long as you don't go out to cause more trouble, I will be satisfied"

I didn't wait for her answer—which I knew would not be cheerful, since nobody would like to be stuck in an infirmary cot for hours without being truly necessary—, I just turned my back to her and Garren and left.

When I finally got outside and breathed clear air without the taunting scent that belonged to her and without her strong claiming presence, I was relieved. But I kept asking myself how I was supposed to survive with her being a guest in this pack since her simple presence messed me up that much...

But the most important questions were...

Why?

When?

And how?

Why am I feeling this way?

When did my feelings for her change that strongly?

How can I make all of this just go away?

*

*

*

As I promised, a couple of hours later, I sent Lafayette to call her out. I don't know if I should be surprised or not. She actually listened to me and stayed put for almost three hours.

Well, doing what exactly? Only the Goddess would know.

Dominic had just reached the pack borders, sending me a mind link to let me know he was finally back. I left my office and went outside to wait for him at the entrance of the pack-house, stopping at the top of the stairs.

I crossed my arms and leaned back, resting my back on the cold wall, on the right side of the giant double doors.

Liora was by my side less than five minutes after I sent Lafayette to get her. I gave her a once over and noticed she was breathing heavily, which told me she had run the whole way from the pack infirmary to here.

Guess she truly misses Dominic if she is that desperate to see him again.

She doesn't even acknowledge my presence, her eyes glued to the tree line where we knew he would be coming from. Her eyes sparkle in a way I don't think I ever saw before and, once again, her hands are holding tightly to the necklace hanging on her neck. This time I can see it very clearly. I guess since I already know about its existence, she has no motive to hide it from me anymore.

After a few minutes of staring blatantly at her every move and expression, I can see her whole face changing, and I swear I can hear her heartbeat changing, her heart racing uncontrollably. I have my werewolf senses to thank for that.

I don't need to look to know Dominic had just entered her field of sight.

Why does she look so nervous about seeing him? That's the first time in my whole life of being Dominic's best friend that I have the weird thought of something else beyond just friendship going on between them. At this moment, where I can see her reactions so closely and openly. But at the same time that this thought crosses my mind, I toss it aside. No, there is no way Dominic and Liora are more than best friends... is there?

And why am I so bothered by it anyway?

I finally take my eyes off of her and look in the direction where I can sense his presence. He is engrossed in a conversation with his mate, a wide smile plastered on their faces while they talk without paying attention to anything else around them.

Only because I am watching him like a hawk (similar to the way Liora is watching him too), I can see his body getting tense and he suddenly stops in his tracks. Dominic smells the air once and then twice and his head whips in our direction. The exact moment I see Liora and him locking eyes, her heartbeat seems to stop for a few milliseconds before starting to slow down as suddenly as it was beating like a mad drummer.

The long-lost friends just stay like that, staring at each other like they are seeing ghosts. Dominic's face looks pale and for a moment I have the impression he honestly thinks he is seeing a ghost. A ghost of a friend he thought he lost a long time ago.

"Little Li..." he murmurs without blinking, I only know what he said because I can see his lips moving.

He opens his mouth as if he was going to say something else and then closes it.

From the corner of my eyes, I can see Liora taking in a long breath as if she was holding it all this time. And then she finally moves as if his words had the ability to unfreeze her limbs. And then she starts to run in Dominic's direction like a mad girl. My eyes follow her every move and I see Dominic's lips pull up with a big smile as he opens his arms and seconds later, she crashes into him, hugging him like never before.

I don't know what to think of it. My eyes darted to Brianna, who was a bystander just like me. I can't frankly figure out how she feels right now with all this spectacle happening in front of us.

Since it looks like, right now, there's only Liora and Dominic in this world.

And their last long reunion.

"You are alive! You are truly alive!" I hear him mutter, his voice raising as if everything was hard to believe.

Well, I guess seeing your best friend coming back from whatever hole she was in, (or should I say, probably from death) after so many years can have this effect.

"I am back, Dom!" she replies, still holding on to him as if her life depends on it. — I am so so sorry for leaving, I promise I will never do that again! Ever!

Sweet, sweet words. These words weren't directed at me, but why is it that I don't believe her one bit? My mind is filled with bitter thoughts right now. I growl at myself, getting even more upset because I don't understand where all these negative emotions are coming from. Am I like this just because I witness Liora's and Dominic's reencounter? There is really something very wrong with me.

I leave my spot on the stairs and start walking in their direction, studying my expressions and putting on a mask of indifference, which is harder to do at this moment than I thought.

When I am close enough to them I clear my throat, calling their attention to me once more. It's only then that Dominic leans away from Liora's bear hug and with the awkward silence in the air, he finally introduces his mate to Liora.

"Little Li, I want you to meet Brianna, my other half". He then looks at his mate, an apologetic smile on his face. "Bibs, this is my long-lost best friend, Liora. The one I told you about so many times".

For a few moments, Brianna just stood there without moving, as if sizing Liora. Maybe she wants to know how much of a threat to her and her mate the Siren really is.

As a bystander, I am only watching the whole charade unfold in front of me. And for someone who normally doesn't like gossip, I am quite engrossed in the whole situation. To my surprise, Liora slightly bows her head to Brianna as a sign of respect and this seems to please the female wolf, who finally take a few steps ahead, closing the gap between them and grabbing Liora for an unexpected hug.

Seeing Brianna hugging her so easily like this, one would think the two are long-lost friends too.

"Welcome back, Liora. I've heard many things about you and I am excited to finally put a face to a name I've heard so many times. Another female's name, a famous one that I heard coming out of my mate's mouth almost as many times as mine" Brianna said, smiling warmingly.

But everyone could feel the caution and a bit of jealousy in her words.

The funny thing is, most of the time, Brianna is the sweetest person one could ever know. But when Dominic is involved, she transforms into something else entirely.

"Let's go inside. You have many things to explain, Liora" says Dominic trying to dispense the tension in the air.

Liora's answer to his statement is to show Dominic a wry smile and avoid his burning gaze. If only she noticed that Dominic was not the only one trying to burn holes in her head.

He puts one hand into the small of his mate's back, propelling her forward in the direction of the pack-house giant double doors.

I wait until Liora starts to walk behind them, a sinister smile forming on my face when I look at the ghostly pale face of the Siren. Maybe she is starting to regret ever coming back.

The one thing I know for sure is, if Liora breaks Dominic's heart again, Brianna will rain hell down on her.

It doesn't matter who you are, nobody messes with one's mate and goes unpunished.

More so someone that has already done it once before.