Irritated, Garrick left the room, the tension too thick to endure. He didn't say another word—just turned and strode out, his shoulders stiff with frustration. The last thing he wanted was to keep watching Leo linger in their pack like he belonged there, especially with Alpha Dominic still away on extended business. Every day Leo remained felt like a challenge to Garrick's control—and a threat to something he couldn't quite name.
He clenched his jaw as he walked away, the image of Leo standing so close to her gnawing at something deep inside him.
---
The door shut behind him, and silence settled like dust.
Aliyah stood slowly, her heart thudding in her chest. Leo was still there, staring at her like the storm hadn't passed—only shifted.
She opened her mouth to speak, but he moved first. His steps were slow, deliberate, until he stood just a few feet away.
"I need to ask you something," he said, voice low. "Did you forget me so easily, Dara? Is that why you're with him?"
She blinked, stunned. "What?"
"Garrick," Leo said tightly. "You let him get close. You let him stay by your side, while I—"
Aliyah's voice trembled with rising anger. "It's not what you think," she cut in. "I don't have feelings for Garrick. He's just… he's been kind."
Leo's eyes darkened, his tone sharpening. "That's not ordinary kindness—and you know it."
Aliyah's frustration boiled over. "And what if it isn't?" Her voice cracked. "What does it matter to you now?"
Leo blinked, caught off guard by the fury in her tone.
"I see no reason to explain myself," she snapped, turning her back on him, arms folded tightly.
"I'm the one who's hurt here. The night you asked me to your chamber… you let me walk in on you with those girls in the pool internationally, wrapped around you like that."
Her voice cracked. "You didn't even flinch. You just looked at me—and made me watch. Like I was nothing."
Leo opened his mouth, but nothing came.
"I kept quiet," she said, her voice dropping, raw and bitter. "Tried to understand. Maybe you were angry that I left. But after I explained myself… you said nothing. Just silence."
She turned back to face him, eyes glistening. "I thought you'd moved on… like our childhood meant nothing. We were inseparable once—nothing could pull us apart. Not until your mother did. And after everything, I thought I didn't matter anymore."
Leo's voice dropped, rough with emotion but laced with authority. "You think I stopped caring?" He stepped closer, his presence commanding yet torn. "You have no idea how much I searched for you. I didn't just lose you, Aliyah—I lost a part of myself. When you left, everything inside me crumbled."
Aliyah's breath caught.
He took another step, voice low but intense. "I didn't know how to face you, not after everything. But don't ever doubt that I still care—more than I ever showed. You're not just someone from my past, Aliyah. You're the one who matters."
He reached for her arm, gently this time. "You weren't just my best friend. You were the only one who ever truly saw me. And I—" His voice caught. "I loved you. I still do."
Aliyah's eyes widened, heart pounding. She couldn't speak—not before Leo leaned in and kissed her.
It was slow, hesitant at first, then deepening. A kiss filled with every word they hadn't said, every ache and memory buried in silence.
She didn't push him away. It was her very first kiss—given by the one she had longed for, for years.
But before the moment could stretch any further, the door creaked open—Laura stepped in, eyes going wide with surprise. She froze, then tried to back out quietly… only to knock over a small stool behind her with a loud thud.
They pulled apart, breathless.
Laura winced. "I'm so sorry," she blurted, eyes darting between them. "You can—uh—continue."
He nodded slightly, then bowed to Leo, still backing toward the door.
Leo's jaw clenched. He stepped away from Aliyah, his expression unreadable—caught somewhere between longing and regret.
"I should go," he said, his voice low. Then, with more resolve, "But this conversation isn't over."
With that, Leo turned and left, the door clicking softly behind him. The air in the room seemed to hold its breath, leaving Aliyah standing still, heart pounding, the weight of everything pressing on her chest. Silence enveloped her, but the storm inside her only intensified.
It wasn't until she heard Laura's voice, low and tinged with disappointment, that the stillness broke.
"I see you're really good at hiding things, Aliyah," Laura said, her arms crossed and her gaze soft yet hurt. Since Aliyah had come into their pack, they'd been like sisters—no secrets between them. Until now.
Aliyah's heart dropped. "Let me explain," she said quickly, stepping toward her.
Laura turned away and moved to sit on the edge of the bed. "I guess I'm not that important after all."
That stung. Aliyah hated seeing her like this. Without thinking, she dropped beside her and reached out, tickling her sides with a mischievous grin. "Oh, come on, you're not allowed to stay mad at me."
Laura tried to resist, but the corners of her mouth twitched, and after a moment, she burst into laughter. "Okay, okay! Stop!" she gasped, shoving Aliyah playfully.
They collapsed onto the bed, both giggling, the tension finally melting away.
Once the laughter faded, Aliyah sat up. "I should've told you sooner. About Alpha Leo."
Laura's brows lifted. "I knew something was off. But I didn't expect… that."
Aliyah nodded slowly. "We were best friends. Since childhood. Things got complicated… and I was scared. Scared it would change how you see me."
Laura softened. "I just wish you trusted me enough to share it."
"I do," Aliyah said earnestly. "And I'm sorry."
She went on to explain everything—how they met, how things fell apart, and how seeing him again was like being torn between two worlds.
Then she hesitated, glancing at Laura. "There's something else… about Beta Garrick, I think he likes me."
Laura raised an eyebrow. "That, I'm not surprised about."
Aliyah blinked. "You're not?"
Laura arched a brow. "You're seriously surprised? Half the pack thinks you and Beta Garrick are already mating."
"What?" Aliyah's eyes widened. "No! I've never seen him that way. He's always felt like an older brother."
"Well, maybe not to him," Laura said gently. "It's obvious he cares. Deeply."
Aliyah sighed, rubbing her forehead. "I feel awful. Now that I know he has feelings… I don't know what to do."
Laura tilted her head. "And with Alpha Leo back in the picture…"
Aliyah's expression darkened. "The tension between them—it's getting worse. And I'm stuck in the middle."
Laura reached over, taking her hand. "Then it's time to stop running from it, Aliyah. Whatever's coming—you'll face it."
She paused, her tone more serious now. "But for now, I think you need to clarify things with Beta Garrick. It'll help avoid conflict—especially with how strong his feelings are for you. You know he's not the type to back down when he wants something."
Aliyah nodded slowly. She knew Garrick's temper well, and his pride. Letting this drag on without honesty could lead to chaos.
There was a brief silence between them before Laura grinned and nudged her shoulder. "Now that your lost love has finally reappeared," she teased lightly, "does that mean you'll be going back with Alpha Leo?"
The question hit hard.
Aliyah's smile faded. Her heart clenched as the memories rushed back—how deeply Leo's mother despised her, how every day in that pack had felt like walking on thorns. And the night her life was nearly taken—if not for the intervention of her Lycan form, she wouldn't have made it out.
She swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know. It's not that simple."
Laura studied her quietly, sensing the weight behind the words.