The Predator's Invincible Heir

Chapter 4: The Rooftop Promise

I pulled my eyes away from Liam's warm silver-gold gaze. My heart beat hard and fast, like a scared bird trapped in my chest. I dropped to my knees on the cold hallway floor and quickly picked up Tiffany's scattered papers. My hands shook so much that some sheets slipped through my fingers.

Behind me, Tanya's shaky voice broke the heavy silence.

"I—I didn't mean any harm, Liam," she stammered. The proud bully from before had disappeared. Now she sounded small and afraid. "I was just having some fun. I wasn't really going to hurt anyone."

"If your idea of fun is hurting people you think are weaker," Liam said, his voice sharp like thunder, "then maybe I should do the same to you. So you can feel exactly what they feel."

A scared gasp went through the crowd of students.

"Be very careful," Liam warned. His voice dropped low and dangerous. The tiny hairs on my arms stood up. "I will not say this again."

I stood up and held Tiffany's project tight against my chest. When I lifted my head, my eyes met Liam's again. The air between us felt thick and warm. We stared at each other for a few long seconds. My skin tingled like tiny sparks danced across it. I panicked, grabbed Tiffany's wrist, and pulled her through the crowd. I could feel every pair of eyes watching us until we turned the corner.

We ran until we pushed open the heavy doors to the academy rooftop. This was our safe place. Strong wind blew here, carrying the fresh smell of pine trees from the forest. Best of all, no one else came up here to bother us.

Tiffany leaned against the brick wall, breathing hard. But my mind kept replaying the hallway scene again and again. What just happened? And what was that strange warm pull I felt when Liam looked at me? A scary thought came into my head and made my knees feel weak. Could that be the fated mate bond?

I shook my head fast. My dark hair flew around my face. No. That was impossible. I had no wolf inside me. You needed a wolf to feel a mate bond. Right? I swallowed the bitter feeling in my throat. I was probably just dizzy because he was so handsome and kind.

The hardest part was having no one to talk to. I could not tell Tiffany. She might think I was crazy. I could not tell my parents either. They already carried too much worry about money and the pack's judgment. Saying the future Alpha might be my mate would only scare them more.

"Aria… Aria…"

A hand waved in front of my face. Tiffany looked at me with worried copper eyes.

"Yes! Sorry," I said quickly, clearing my throat. "What were you saying?"

Tiffany smiled a little. "You were far away in your thoughts. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, really," I lied. I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

"We only have one more class today," Tiffany said, looking out over the pack lands. "I just want to go home and sleep."

I waited a moment, then the question slipped out. "Tiffany… who is Liam, really?"

Her eyes went wide. "I didn't tell you yet? He is the only son of Alpha Michael. He will become the next ruler of the Blackwood Pack when his father steps down."

She leaned closer and whispered like she was telling a big secret. "People say he has ancient Lycan blood. He is very strong, Aria. He has never lost a fight since he was fourteen. Some old warriors even say he might be stronger than his father already. But he stays humble. He respects his father too much to show off."

I nodded slowly and looked toward the far mountains. Future Alpha. Lycan blood. A king in waiting.

When school ended that day, I walked home to our small cabin with my head full of thoughts about him. I tried hard to push the daydreams away. A future Alpha would never choose a wolf-less girl like me as his Luna. The pack would never accept it. The sooner I stopped thinking about him, the safer I would be.

The next morning, real life hit me hard. Tiffany sent a message saying she was sick and could not come to school. Walking through the academy gates alone felt like stepping into a dangerous arena.

I moved like a ghost all morning. I timed my steps carefully to avoid Tanya and her friends. I took the long way around the lockers so I would not meet Max and Alex. I kept my face in my books and tried my best to stay invisible.

When the lunch bell rang, the cafeteria felt too loud and full of strong wolf smells. I grabbed my small paper bag and went up to the quiet rooftop. With Tiffany gone, I sat alone on our usual concrete ledge. I slowly unwrapped my sandwich.

"Do you mind if I join you?"

The deep, smooth voice sent a shock through my whole body. I froze with the sandwich halfway to my mouth. I did not need to turn around. My body already knew it was him.

I turned my head slowly. Liam stood there. His tall, strong body cast a long shadow over me. He held a lunch tray. His silver-gold eyes sparkled with quiet amusement as he waited for my answer.

I could not speak.

Liam gave a soft, low chuckle. "Do I have something on my face, Aria?"

My cheeks burned hot. I looked down at my shoes. "No… sorry. Yes, you can sit."

He walked over. His heavy boots made solid sounds on the concrete. He sat down right beside me. Even though the ledge was wide, he sat close enough that I could feel the warm heat from his shoulder.

"My full name is William," he said gently while opening a carton of milk, "but everyone calls me Liam. You can too."

I glanced at him from the side. The scary Alpha from the hallway was gone. Now he was just a boy trying to have a normal talk with me. I nodded, still not sure what to say.

Liam tilted his head and studied my face. "You don't want to tell me about yourself, Aria?"

I looked up fast, surprised. "How do you know my name?" My voice came out steady, which surprised me.

Liam smiled. It was a beautiful smile that made my stomach flip. "Who doesn't know the new, most beautiful girl in the academy?"

"…The wolf-less girl," I added quickly. I needed him to remember the truth about me. I needed to remember it too.

His smile faded. He looked serious now. "I don't believe you are wolf-less. You are too strong and brave to be ordinary."

A warm flutter moved in my stomach. His words felt sweet. For one short moment, I wished they were true.

"I am wolf-less, Alpha Liam," I said softly, looking at my lap. "I have never felt any wolf inside me. There is nothing there."

"I still don't believe it," he said, his voice firm but kind. He leaned a little closer. "I want to take you somewhere. There is a healer who lives deep in the old woods. She might know why your wolf has not woken up. She can also help explain the strong heart you show when you protect others."

I looked at him with my mouth open in shock. He smiled gently.

"I saw you that day in the woods, Aria," he said quietly. His eyes held mine. "And yesterday in the hallway, you stood up for Tiffany with no fear. You have the heart of a protector."

My face grew hot. "Maybe I was just being stupid and reckless."

"No," Liam murmured. "I don't think so." He watched my careful expression for a moment, then sighed softly. "But we can forget the healer if you don't want to go."

Panic rose in my chest at the thought of losing this chance. I looked up quickly. "No! I am interested."

Liam's eyes flashed with a playful glint. "Okay, I will take you… but only if you ask me nicely." He nudged my shoulder gently with his.

I stared at him. He was trying so hard to make a lonely, low-ranking girl feel comfortable. A real, bright smile spread across my face.

Liam's breath caught a little as he saw my smile. "I will take that smile as a yes."

"When do we go?" I asked. Real excitement grew inside me.

"Soon," he promised. His eyes warmed and made my skin tingle. "But first, you need to learn to relax around me. Second, we need to become real friends. Third…"

"There is no such place, is there?" I interrupted. My smile slipped away. "You are just making it up."

"Of course there is a real place!" Liam laughed. The rich sound filled the rooftop. "But we should eat our lunch first. It is getting cold." He grinned. "I am not giving up on the first two conditions though. You have to get comfortable with me and be my friend before we go into the woods."

A helpless smile came back to my lips. I looked at my food, then back at his handsome, happy face. I gave him a firm nod.

Liam laughed softly, happy with his small victory. We both turned to our lunches while the cool mountain wind danced around us on the rooftop.