Between Two Worlds

Chapter Sixteen

Logan

Surreal. That's the only word I have in my head right now to describe what I've just heard. Or maybe bullshit would be a better word...

On the outside, I may seem calm and composed. But inside I am seething. How dare she come here and tell these blatant lies?!

Did Liora truly think we would believe her? She, on top of everyone else, was blessed by the Goddess of Nature itself to get her hands on the most coveted thing by all supernaturals? Something everyone knows is only a myth?

I badly wanted to believe her. I know how much Dominic wants to form a family with Brianna and have many pups. I know he always dreamed about it. But I would never give him false hope as a lame excuse for a lack of judgment on my part. Not like Liora is doing right now.

Did she concoct this whole story after she arrived here or was this her plan all along? I guess she believes that by giving them something as incredible as the healing water, to achieve something they've been craving for so long, Dominic will forgive and forget what she had done.

"So you expect us to believe in this farfetched fairy tale bullshit you just told us?" I state with disdain lacing my every word. I am holding my rage at bay as best as I can right now. I want nothing more than curse at this laying deceitful creature that Liora became.

Ever so slowly she turns her face back to me, and I guess she expected much since she doesn't seem surprised by my outburst. Although I can swear she looks somewhat hurt by my words.

"What I could possibly accomplish by lying to you?" it's her retort.

"Oh! I don't know, maybe keeping Dominic's mind dreaming with the prospect of a future he thought was gone, he won't think about the fact you vanished for seven long years without a word, explanation, or anything!" I spat venomously. But I wasn't done, without giving her a break, I kept going, throwing at her all the truths I have been holding to myself. "Or maybe you plan to keep hiding a far bigger agenda. Since you never really explained why you are back. Because I know for a fact you didn't come by just to say hi and tell us how much you've missed this place and people!"

Dominic and Brianna stepped back. He knows better than to get in the middle of this argument. Not when I am on a rampant.

Blowing air with her mouth, Liora takes a few steps closer to me. Big mistake. Or maybe not, because as soon as her alluring scent hits my nose, more strongly than ever, I instantly calm down a little.

"You are wrong, Alpha Logan, that I can promise you. I have no big personal agenda. I do have a reason for coming back now, as I had a reason for leaving in the first place!" she tried to reason with me, her semblance as calm as usual. But I know it's a bogus calmness, I know by the way her eyes look up at me full of hurt.

I open my arms wide, like I was ready to receive a hug from her, a fake smile on my face. "Enlighten us with this reason then! I think we waited long enough. I sure did very patiently. I gave you space and time. Now spill!" I all but screamed at her face.

Openly ignoring me, she turns back to the couple, and looking at the flask that Briannas seems to hold for dear life, she says:

"Honestly, I have no idea if this will truly work. I won't lie and say I know for sure. But the least you guys could do is try. Maybe everything will sadly remain the same, but by the slight chance it works, you have only things to gain from it" Liora declares, her words sounding strong like she believes in every word that comes out of her mouth. And then she glares at me, speaking with a tone much colder than the one she just used with them. "I get that you don't trust me, Alpha. But give me the benefit of the doubt and with time you will understand everything".

"Haven't I given you enough?" I ask her, the rage inside of me threatening to surface.

"You want me to tell you the whole truth? To explain everything? Fine, I will do it. But I will need you to do something for me first!" Liora spat naturally like she had the right of trying to bargain with me.

"What more could you possibly want or need this time?"

"I will answer every single question you have, and disclose to you all I know, but I will do so with the council of elders attending!".

And again I thought she could not be more unreasonable or surprise me. But Liora has the power to do just that.

Laughing without real humor, with my eyebrow arched, I repeat her words, my tone with a tinge of incredulity. "You want me to gather the elders so you can tell us your fairytale lies? Do you have any idea of what are you asking me?"

She nodded her head. "I know exactly what I am asking of you". Liora affirmed, without blinking. "I know what it means to ask for a meeting of the elders. I do it so not lightly. What I have to tell you is bigger than the two of us. The truths I've been holding back will change everything."

"You are asking too much of me and I don't know what to make of it".

"I am asking exactly what is needed of both of us. Once you know, you will understand. I promise you that much."

To make her point, she raises her chin, crosses her arms, and glares at me with an intensity that I am sure she wishes could hurt.

Rolling my eyes at her weak attempt of getting me to yield, I state nonchalantly:

"You already made too many promises. But answer me this...Why now? Why ask for this meeting now and not as soon as you got here if it is so important?"

With a sheepish look, she glances at Dominic and then back at me. "Because I thought that maybe with Dom here, it would be easier to reason with you!"

Arching my eyebrow I glare daggers at her. Did she really just tell me she planned this whole time to use my Beta to get what she wanted from me?

"You've got to be kidding me!" I am seething. I don't think I was ever this mad at Liora before in my life. Not even when she broke Dominic's heart by leaving.

Sensing my rage, Dominic steps in, trying to calm down the situation. "Alpha—"

"Not now, Dom! Don't you dare to choose her side!"

"There isn't my side and your side, Logan! Can't you see we are on the same team?"

"The hell we are!" I roar. My voice becoming deeper by the second.

From the corner of my eyes, I see Liora fumbling with the little pouch hanging from her waist, something she retrieved when we went to her cabin. She takes a small object from inside of it and eliminating the distance between us, she places the small object into my hands.

When our hands touch, I swear I can feel light sparkles traveling throughout my hands and arms, but I ignore the sensation, knowing it's just my rage getting the best of me.

I rolled the item in my palm, examining attentively the pendant she placed there. I have no doubts not only by the intrinsic details of the material it seems to be made of but also by the symbol carved on it, that this pendant was made by Elves. Again with the secrets and elf stuff.

Before I can ask her why she is giving me it, she explains:

"I don't expect you to convince a bunch of old wolves to give another random supernatural a bit of their time, a Siren at that, they would promptly deny the proposal. But tell them about my request and show them this—" she points at the pendant "and I assure you they will gladly comply without even blinking!"

"You think a piece of trinket will magically convince our elders?"

"This is no trinket and there won't be any magic involved here. That pendant right there has the Royal Seal of the Elven King. And I can bet you they will want to know what I have to say after seeing that!".

I wanted so badly to ask her how she got her hands on an Elven pendant, more so a Royal Artifact that bears so much power. And why is it so important to have this meeting with the elders? Why can't she just tell us everything without no strings attached? No requests. Is it so hard for her to do it? Are the secrets she keeps that crucial to require the presence of our most important supernaturals? The Elders' Wolves are like our own version of Royalty and not even I can request a meeting with them without a damn good reason.

Even though I wish I could voice out my doubts, and open my heart to her, at the same time, my pride didn’t let me say these questions out loud. I was also afraid of the answers.

"No!" is my only reply.

"Logan, please—" Liora starts pleading, but I am done with this whole charade.

"My word is final. There's nothing else you wish to say that I would like to hear. As a sign of the reminiscence of respect I could ever feel for you now, I won't throw you out of my lands when the sun is so close to the ground, but I expect you to be gone by tomorrow at dawn."

"What?" Dominic yells, his voice full of incredulity. "Are you for real, man? She just got back!"

I don't answer. They know I am being serious.

Like I didn't just banish her from my lands, Liora takes a deep breath and looks deep into my eyes. Searching for something only she can see.

"When we were kids, after I saved his life, I never asked for anything in return. For all these years I never held this against any of you or use it to favor me. Now, even though I hate doing it, I will ask you for old times' sake, please don't do that to me. Don't send me away without giving me the chance to come clean with the truth. My words may seem unreasonable now, but they really aren't, Alpha Logan. You just need to see beyond your aversion of me." she pleaded with a small voice.

Why can't I be stronger? Tougher? Not only is she using something big against me, but even if she hasn't, I would still let her stay. It's like I can feel a pull between us. An invisible field that messes with my head and makes me want to do her bidding. Damn her!

"You can stay" I finally express. "But don't expect me to welcome you any more than I already did. Our business is done". With that being said, I turn back to leave the room, halting only when Brianna's voice sounds over my crazily beating heart.

"Please Alpha, stay. Let's make amends and enjoy the company of each other tonight" Noticing my doubts, she adds "Just this once. For us." she eyes Dominic for a few seconds and stares back at me with pleading eyes.

"Fine!" I blurt out.

Well, I guess I have a weak spot for pleasing women.

Making a sign of victory, Brianna turns to Liora and with one of the most beautiful smiles I've ever seen on her face, she says:

"I can't put into words how grateful I am for the gift you gave us. Even if it does not work, you still gifted us a chance. You could have chosen to save it for yourself in a time of need, but instead, you chose to part ways with such an important thing. Thank you, Liora."

Shaking her head, the Siren replies with a smile as captivating as Brianna's. I swear my heart skips a beat just looking at it. And it's not even directed at me.

Dear Goddess, what is happening to me?

"It was never mine to keep, Brianna. I know for sure I was destined to give this to you!"

Nodding once, Brianna opens the flask, and as if it was just ordinary water, she chugged all of it in one go!

In a flash of movement, Dominic is by his mate's side, holding her hands with an expression full of hope and longing.

"Do you feel any different?" he inquires.

"Not really. There's just this funny tingling sensation in the pit of my stomach. It's a pleasant sensation though" Brianna explains, a small smile doting her features.

"Goddess, too many things happened in the past few hours. It's unbelievable!" comments Dominic, guiding Brianna to sit by his side on the couch.

I really wish I could be as serene as both of them are after listening to everything Liora told us. How can they be so calm and collected? Am I truly the only one freaking out here? It seems by the way they seem not to really care about anything at all, that I had a way too big of a reaction. Am I the only one with a mind full of swarming questions that urgently need answers?

"Yes, it's true! So how about we get ourselves comfortable on the couch and catch up about all the time Liora was gone? Maybe you can finally tell me details about the day you guys met. Tell me all about how she ended up saving this pretty ass of yours"

Liora seemly pleased with the idea, finally sits down on the armchair once more, smiling openly, showing an almost unnatural perfect white smile.

"I like that idea a lot!" comment Liora, winking at Brianna like partners in crime. "I have a thing or two to tell you about this big guy!"

Dominic's eyes go wide open, understanding both women are siding to share secrets about him. That almost takes a laugh out of me. These two together will bring trouble to this big guy.

But I won't smile. Looks like I am the minority here and nobody is really caring about what I have to say... at least for now. Huffing, displeased with the conclusion of the whole situation, I begrudgingly sit on the other couch, facing Liora. Glaring daggers at her to show my discontentment.

"Maybe after we finish catching up, closer to bedtime we can finally put to the test the true effects of these so-called healing waters" Brianna whispers to Dominic, but having a werewolf hearing, I am sure they know I heard everything, they just don't care.

Why would they? It's not like werewolves are known to be prudes.

I would say quite the contrary.