Maya couldn't sleep. The midnight meeting with Liam loomed in her mind, making minutes feel like hours. She paced her small bedroom, glancing at her clock every few minutes. It was only 10:30 PM.
"I need air," she whispered to herself, climbing out her window.
The night was cool and clear, with a bright moon hanging overhead. Maya stuck to the shadows, avoiding the night patrol as she made her way toward the forest. She wasn't heading to the willow tree yet—she just needed time to think away from prying eyes.
The forest welcomed her with familiar sounds: rustling leaves, hooting owls, and the distant creek gurgling over stones. Maya breathed deeply, feeling her wolf stir inside her. The bond sickness had eased slightly since her encounter with Liam, but an ache still lingered in her chest.
As she wandered deeper into the woods, a sudden whimper caught her attention. Maya froze, listening intently. The sound came again—soft, frightened, definitely a wolf cub.
Curious, Maya crept forward, following the pitiful cries until she reached a small clearing. What she saw made her duck behind a tree trunk.
Liam was kneeling in the clearing, his back to her. Before him sat a tiny gray wolf cub, trembling from head to tail.
"It's okay, little one," Liam's voice was gentler than Maya had ever heard it. "I'm not going to hurt you."
The cub whimpered again, trying to back away on unsteady legs.
"I know," Liam continued softly. "Scary big wolf, right? But look—" He shifted partway, his eyes glowing blue in the darkness. "See? I'm like you."
Maya watched in amazement as Liam reached into his jacket and pulled out a small bundle of cloth. He unwrapped it to reveal some food, which he offered to the cub.
"Your mama's probably looking for you," he said as the cub cautiously ate from his palm. "These woods aren't safe for little ones alone."
The cub finished eating and nuzzled Liam's hand. A smile spread across Liam's face—not his usual smirk or mocking grin, but something genuine and warm. Maya's heart skipped.
"There you go," Liam chuckled, gently scratching behind the cub's ears. "Feeling better now? Let's find your pack."
The cub yipped happily, all fear gone. Liam picked it up carefully, cradling it against his chest like something precious.
Maya couldn't believe her eyes. This was Liam—the same Liam who had terrorized younger pack members, who had broken bones in training, who had laughed at others' pain. Yet here he was, tenderly caring for a lost cub.
She must have made a sound because Liam suddenly stiffened. He turned sharply, his eyes flashing as they landed on her hiding spot.
"Who's there?" His voice hardened, protective arms tightening around the cub.
Maya stepped into the clearing, moonlight illuminating her face. "It's me."
Surprise flickered across Liam's features before his expression closed off. "Maya. You're early for our meeting."
"I wasn't—" Maya hesitated. "I couldn't sleep. I was just walking."
An awkward silence fell between them. The cub squirmed in Liam's arms, sensing the tension.
"You're good with him," Maya finally said, nodding toward the cub.
Liam shrugged, but couldn't hide the softness in his eyes when he looked down at the little wolf. "He's lost. Probably wandered away from a neighboring pack."
"I've never seen this side of you before," Maya said quietly.
"What side?"
"The gentle one."
Liam's jaw tightened. "There's a lot you haven't seen."
"Whose fault is that?" Maya challenged. "You never showed anyone this part of you."
"Would it have made a difference?" Liam asked, his voice suddenly vulnerable. "If I had, would you have accepted me as your mate?"
The question hung in the air between them. Maya didn't know how to answer. For years, she'd seen Liam as nothing but a bully—cruel, arrogant, dangerous. But the tenderness he showed this cub contradicted everything she thought she knew about him.
Before she could respond, the cub's ears perked up. A distant howl echoed through the trees—an adult wolf calling for its young.
"That's his mother," Liam said. He hesitated, then held the cub out to Maya. "Want to help me return him?"
Surprised by the offer, Maya nodded. She took the cub, who sniffed her curiously before settling into her arms. The feeling of his warm, tiny body against hers awoke something primal and protective in her wolf.
Together, they walked silently through the forest, following the sounds of the searching wolf. The cub dozed against Maya's chest, completely trusting.
"How did you find him?" Maya finally asked.
"I heard him crying while I was scouting the borders," Liam explained. "Rowan doesn't know I left his territory."
"You're taking a huge risk coming here."
Liam's eyes met hers in the darkness. "Some things are worth the risk."
Maya's heart fluttered traitorously. She looked away, focusing on the sleeping cub. "Why did you really join Rowan's pack?"
Liam was quiet for so long that Maya thought he wouldn't answer. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and urgent.
"Not here. Too many ears in these woods."
As if confirming his words, a twig snapped somewhere in the darkness. Both Maya and Liam froze, their enhanced senses scanning the forest.
"Someone's following us," Liam whispered.
The cub sensed their fear and began to whimper. The mother's howls were closer now, maybe half a mile away.
"Take the cub," Maya urged, passing the little wolf back to Liam. "Get him to his mother. I'll distract whoever's out there."
"No," Liam growled, his free hand grasping her wrist. "It's not safe."
"I can handle myself," Maya insisted, pulling away. "The cub comes first."
Something like admiration flashed in Liam's eyes. He nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But be careful. And Maya—" His fingers brushed hers as he took the cub. "Still meet me. Midnight. The willow."
Maya nodded and turned toward the sound of the intruder. As she moved deeper into the shadows, she heard Liam's footsteps fading in the opposite direction.
Moving silently through the trees, Maya tracked the sounds of their stalker. She caught a familiar scent and frowned. Had Caleb followed her? No—this was different.
A figure darted between trees ahead of her. Maya lunged, tackling the person to the ground. They rolled, fighting for dominance, until Maya pinned her opponent.
"Kira," Maya snarled, recognizing the she-wolf beneath her.
Kira's smile was cruel even as she lay defeated. "Hello, Maya. Nice night for a romantic stroll with a traitor, isn't it?"
"What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same," Kira replied. "Alpha Marcus would be very interested to know you're consorting with his son."
"I'm not consorting with anyone," Maya growled.
Kira laughed. "That's not what it looked like to me. Wait until everyone hears about this."
"You're not telling anyone anything," Maya threatened.
"Oh? And how will you stop me?" Kira's eyes gleamed dangerously. "Unless you want to make a deal."
Maya's stomach dropped. "What kind of deal?"
Kira's smile widened. "Meet me tomorrow at dawn by the river crossing. Come alone. Then we'll talk about my silence."
Before Maya could respond, a howl pierced the night—not the mother wolf's call, but something else. A signal.
Kira's expression shifted from smug to alarmed. "They're here," she whispered.
"Who's here?" Maya demanded.
But Kira was already slipping from her grasp, disappearing into the darkness. "Dawn, Maya. Don't be late. Your future depends on it."
Maya stood alone in the forest, her mind racing. The night had revealed two sides of Liam she never knew existed—the gentle protector and the secretive rebel. Now Kira held the power to destroy everything.
As the moon climbed higher, Maya made her decision. She would meet Liam at midnight, but she wouldn't tell him about Kira's blackmail. Some battles she needed to fight alone.
What Maya didn't see was the figure watching from high in a pine tree, recording everything on a small device. As Maya hurried back toward pack grounds, the figure climbed down and tapped a message into a phone:
"Phase one complete. The she-wolf took the bait."