chapter eight

Liam's POV

I didn't realize how tightly I was clenching my fists until my nails dug into my palms.

I needed to leave.

Without another glance at Rafe, I turned on my heel and strode out of the cafeteria. I could still feel his eyes on me, watching, waiting. My wolf whined at the distance, but I ignored him.

I couldn't let this continue.

I had to reject him.

I was a Beta, not a Luna. I couldn't be his.

Our packs had been fighting for years even before Axel and I were born. Even when my father was still Beta, the war between Stormcrest and Bloodmoon had raged on. My father had died fighting them.

And now the Moon Goddess expected me to mate with their Alpha?

No. I wouldn't do it.

The second I stepped into the hallway, I inhaled deeply, trying to steady myself. My chest was tight, my thoughts racing.

What would the pack think of me?

Would they still respect me if they knew my mate was him?

No. I couldn't let that happen.

I was still drowning in my thoughts when Ethan stormed toward me, his face twisted in frustration.

"What's wrong?" I asked, frowning.

"It's Rafe's warriors," he growled. "We had a fight in the parking lot. They wouldn't move their damn car so I could leave."

I sighed, rubbing my temple. "And?"

"And?" Ethan scoffed. "I told them to move. They ignored me. Then one of them had the nerve to smirk at me like I was some weak pup. So, yeah, we fought."

Of course he did. Ethan never backed down from a challenge.

"Where are they now?" I asked.

"Still outside," he muttered. "Acting like they own the damn place."

I clenched my jaw.

I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair.

"Come on," I muttered to Ethan, already heading toward the parking lot. I wasn't in the mood for another fight, but I also wasn't going to let Rafe's warriors push my pack around.

Ethan walked beside me, still fuming. "They think they can do whatever the hell they want just because their Alpha is a cocky bastard."

I didn't reply.

Because the truth was I was thinking about that cocky bastard more than I wanted to.

The moment I stepped outside, I spotted them. Three Bloodmoon warriors lounging near a sleek black car, acting like they owned the place. One of them, a guy named Damian, leaned against Ethan's car, smirking as he tossed a set of keys in the air.

I felt my anger rise.

"Move," I said coldly.

Damian raised an eyebrow. "Or what, Beta?"

Ethan growled, stepping forward, but I held out a hand, stopping him.

I met Damian's gaze, letting my dominance flare just enough to make him tense. 

Move.

For a second, he hesitated. Then, with a scoff, he pushed off the car and stepped aside. "Relax, Beta. Just having a little fun."

I didn't respond. I just waited until all three of them got into their car and drove off.

Ethan cursed under his breath. "I hate those bastards."

"I know," I muttered.

I hated them too.

At least, I used to.

But now, one of them was my mate.

And I didn't know how to deal with that.

After leaving Ethan, I decided to stop by a small store near the school. I needed something anything to take my mind off Rafe, the warriors, and the chaos in my head.

But, of course, I wasn't that lucky.

The moment I stepped out of the store, a growl sliced through the night air.

I barely had time to react before something fast slammed into me, sending me crashing against a parked car.

I groaned, shaking off the impact, and looked up—only to curse under my breath.

A vampire.

Its red eyes gleamed with hunger, its lips pulled back to reveal elongated fangs. But something was off. It moved erratically, almost wildly.

A newborn.

Shit.

I barely had time to dodge as it lunged again. I twisted, driving my elbow into its ribs, then followed up with a kick to its chest. It staggered but didn't stay down for long.

Vampires were strong. And newborns? They were pure chaos.

The vampire snarled, lunging for me again, but before it could reach me—

A blur of movement. A growl deeper than mine.

Then, suddenly, the vampire was gone, ripped away from me and slammed onto the ground with brutal force.

I blinked.

Rafe.

He had the vampire pinned beneath him, claws digging into its chest. With one swift motion, he snapped its neck.

The body twitched, then went still.

I pushed myself up, my breathing heavy. "What the hell is a vampire doing this close to pack land?" Rafe muttered, still staring at the corpse. "A newborn, at that?"

I didn't answer. I was too busy hating the way my body reacted to his voice.

After a second, he turned to me. "Are you hurt?"

I scoffed. "No. I'm not a damsel in distress that needs saving."

Rafe smirked slightly. "Didn't say you were."

"Good. Because I need us to reject each other.*" I clenched my jaw. "I'm tired of this. We hate each other. I'm tired of you caring for me, acting like—like—"

I stopped, gritting my teeth.

Rafe arched a brow. "Like what?"

I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair. "Like you actually want me."

His smirk deepened. "I do."

"Well, I don't want you." I snapped. "And I sure as hell don't want this bond. So let's just reject each other and end this."

Rafe took a slow step toward me, and I should have moved back but I didn't.

His voice was low, smooth. "Is that really what you want?"

I opened my mouth to say yes.

But then—

His scent hit me, deep and intoxicating. His voice wrapped around me like a damn spell.

And my body my traitorous body reacted.

My dick twitched.

Fuck.

I stiffened, mortified, but Rafe just chuckled. "That's what I thought."

Rafe's chuckle sent heat curling down my spine, and I hated it.

I hated him.

I hated the way he looked at me, like he already knew exactly what I was feeling. Like he had already won.

"Screw you," I growled, stepping back.

Big mistake.

Because Rafe followed.

"That's the problem, isn't it?" he murmured, voice dangerously smooth. "You want to, but you won't let yourself."

I clenched my jaw, fists tightening. "I don't want you."

He smirked. "Then why do you look like you're about to kiss me?"

I scoffed. "In your dreams."

"More than just my dreams, Liam."

I turned to walk away, but suddenly, he was there, closing the distance before I could stop him. His scent surrounded me, his heat pressing against my skin.

And then his fingers brushed my jaw, tilting my chin up ever so slightly.

I should have shoved him away.

I should have run.

Instead, I froze.

"Tell me to stop," Rafe whispered.

I opened my mouth. The words were right there.

But then—

His lips crashed against mine.

I sucked in a sharp breath, my body betraying me as my hands instinctively grabbed his shirt, pulling him closer instead of pushing him away.

His kiss was rough, possessive, but it was also—perfect.

It set my nerves on fire.

It shattered every wall I had tried to build.

And when his teeth scraped against my lower lip, a low growl rumbled from my chest before I could stop it.

Rafe smirked against my lips. "There he is."

Something inside me snapped.

I shoved him back, breathing hard, my head spinning. "This" I swallowed, my voice hoarse. "This means nothing."

Rafe's gaze burned into me. "Lying to yourself doesn't make it true, Liam."

I turned and stormed off before I did something stupid.

Like kiss him again.