02.

I opened my mouth to protest, to tell him that I couldn’t stop now, but then I heard it. The distant sound of voices, too faint to make out clearly but definitely there. Luna was near the waterfall. She was with Jake, just like I thought. I felt a knot tighten in my stomach, but there was something else—something I couldn’t shake.

Liam seemed to sense it too. His eyes sharpened, and for a brief moment, we both stood there, listening to the distant chatter and laughter from the teens. A rush of anxiety surged through me. I could see Luna’s reckless face in my mind, hear her teasing Jake, hear the wildness in her laugh as if nothing could go wrong. But I knew it could. I knew it would if we didn’t do something.

“Ava,” Liam spoke again, but this time his voice wasn’t as harsh. It was gentler, almost like he was trying to reason with me. “It’s not about stopping Luna anymore. It’s about getting you both back safely. You’re not alone in this, okay?”

I shook my head, my thoughts still a jumbled mess. I was scared. I was angry. But deep down, I knew he was right. I couldn’t just run off into the unknown, hoping I could fix it all on my own. I wasn’t ready for this. And maybe... maybe I had to let someone else help me. Even if it was Liam.

“Please,” Liam repeated softly. “Let me help.”

For a moment, I stood there, my heart pounding in my chest, my mind racing. Then, slowly, reluctantly, I nodded. “Okay,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “But we have to hurry.”

Liam didn’t waste any time. Without saying another word, he grabbed my hand, pulling me forward. I didn’t protest this time. We ran together, following the sound of the voices, the tension in the air growing with every step.

Luna was going to regret this. And I... I was going to make sure we all made it out okay.

We ran in silence, my heart thudding against my chest as I tried to keep up with Liam’s long strides. He didn’t say a word, and I didn’t dare break the silence. I could feel the adrenaline pumping through me, but the fear was still there, gnawing at the edges of my mind. What if we were too late? What if Luna did something that could change everything?

We reached the clearing near the waterfall just as the voices grew louder. There they were—Luna and Jake, standing near the rocks, laughing, talking, and completely oblivious to everything happening around them.

I froze. My eyes locked on Luna, and I felt a wave of anger and frustration wash over me. I’d been right all along. She was so carefree, so reckless, and I couldn’t stand it. I stepped forward, but before I could move any closer, I felt Liam’s hand on my shoulder, holding me back.

“Ava,” he said, his voice firm. “We need to be smart about this. We’re not here to start a fight.”

But I couldn’t stop myself. Luna was too close, and I was already too angry. “I need to talk to her,” I muttered, more to myself than to him.

“Not yet.” Liam’s voice was low, almost urgent. But as I pulled away from him, I felt a sudden sharp pain on my arm. I had brushed against one of the jagged rocks near the waterfall while trying to get closer, and I could feel blood dripping down my skin. But I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want to show weakness, not when everything felt so out of control.

Liam’s hand tightened on my shoulder, his grip a silent warning to stay put, but I shrugged him off. My anger was stronger than my caution now, driving me forward. “Luna!” I called, my voice cutting through the laughter echoing by the waterfall.

Both heads turned sharply, their expressions going from relaxed to guilty in an instant. Jake stepped in front of Luna, shielding her like some sort of knight in shining armor. That only made me angrier.

“What are you doing here, Ava?” Luna snapped, her cheeks flushing. “Go home!”

“No, you go home!” I fired back, storming toward her despite the dull throb in my arm. “Do you have any idea how much trouble you’ll be in if Mom and Dad find out?”

Jake smirked, crossing his arms like he found the whole thing amusing. “Relax, kid. We’re just hanging out.”

“You’re not even supposed to be here!” I said, glaring up at him. He was taller and older, but I wasn’t about to let him intimidate me. “This place is off-limits for a reason!”

Luna stepped out from behind Jake, her face set in a stubborn expression I knew all too well. “You’re such a tattletale, Ava. Why can’t you just leave me alone?”

“Because I’m not the one sneaking around like a complete idiot!” I shot back, my voice shaking with anger.

“Alright, that’s enough,” Liam interrupted, stepping between us. His voice was calm but firm, and for a moment, it silenced us both. He turned to Jake, his expression hard. “You’re supposed to set an example, not drag her into trouble.”

Jake’s smirk faltered, but only for a second. “Oh, come on. It’s not a big deal.”

“It is a big deal,” Liam said, his tone icy now. “You know the rules, Jake. If someone catches you here, it’s your head on the line—and hers too.”

Luna’s defiance wavered as she glanced between us, clearly realizing that Liam wasn’t joking. I could see the guilt creeping into her eyes, but she didn’t say anything.

“Let’s go,” Liam said, his voice leaving no room for argument.

“No way,” Jake said, stepping forward. “You don’t get to boss me around, Liam.”

“I do when you’re acting like a reckless idiot,” Liam shot back, his voice low but dangerous.

The tension crackled in the air like a live wire, and I held my breath, half-expecting them to start throwing punches. But then Luna grabbed Jake’s arm, pulling him back. “It’s fine,” she muttered. “Let’s just go.”

Jake hesitated, his jaw tight, but eventually, he sighed and relented. “Fine. Whatever.”

Liam nodded sharply, then turned to me. “Come on, Ava.”

I bit my lip, my anger still simmering beneath the surface, but I followed as Liam led the way back toward the pack’s territory. Luna and Jake trailed behind us, their footsteps heavy with frustration.

As we walked, the pain in my arm became harder to ignore. I could feel the blood drying on my skin, the wound stinging every time I moved. But I kept my mouth shut, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. I didn’t want anyone to notice.

By the time we reached the pack’s borders, the tension had settled into an uneasy silence. Liam stopped and turned to Jake, his expression cold. “You’re taking her straight home. No detours.”

Jake glared at him but didn’t argue. He grabbed Luna’s arm and pulled her along, muttering something under his breath.

Luna glanced back at me once, her expression a mix of guilt and defiance. I looked away, too tired and too annoyed to say anything.

Once they were out of sight, Liam turned to me, his gaze sharp. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” I said quickly, hoping he wouldn’t notice the way I was cradling my arm.

He frowned, clearly not convinced, but he didn’t push it. “Good. Let’s get you home.”

I nodded, falling into step beside him. My arm throbbed with every movement, but I gritted my teeth and kept going. I could handle it. I had to.

When we reached the house, the lights were dim, and everything was quiet. Liam glanced at me one last time before heading off to his own place, leaving me alone in the kitchen. I leaned against the counter, finally letting out a shaky breath.

But just as I was about to relax, a hand grabbed my wrist, pulling me into the shadows. I gasped, my heart leaping into my throat, but then I saw who it was.

Liam.

“What are you—”

“Show me your arm,” he interrupted, his voice low and steady.

“I’m fine,” I insisted, trying to pull away, but he held firm.

“Ava,” he said, his tone softer now. “Let me see.”

Reluctantly, I let him push up my sleeve, revealing the gash on my arm. His expression darkened as he looked at the dried blood and torn skin.

“You should’ve said something,” he muttered, grabbing a first-aid kit from the counter.

“It’s not a big deal,” I said, trying to sound tough, but my voice wavered.

“It is a big deal,” he said firmly, his hands surprisingly gentle as he cleaned the wound. I winced but didn’t pull away, watching as he worked in silence.

His touch was careful, almost tender, and I felt my cheeks heat up despite myself. The butterflies in my stomach fluttered wildly with every brush of his fingers against my skin.

When he was done, he looked up at me, his gaze steady. “Next time, don’t hide it. Okay?”

I nodded, unable to find my voice.

He didn’t say anything else, just gave me a small, almost imperceptible smile before turning and walking away, leaving me alone in the kitchen with my thoughts—and the strange, dizzying feeling he’d left behind.