Page 46

Scarlett

“ H ey, this is not on you,” Angela says as she sits beside me. Monica is on my other side as we stare out at the river that runs down by the trees. It’s quiet here.

“He died protecting me. It kinda is,” I murmur with a heavy sigh. I’m going to visit Liam’s parents soon. But no matter how strong I’m trying to be, I’m unable to squash the guilt that is simmering inside of me.

They lost their son. Because of me.

“Angela’s right. Liam died protecting his Luna. That is an honour that any warrior of this pack would be happy to lay down their life for. He was the best warrior we had, and he loved this pack and you,” Monica says, taking my hand. “Remember his sacrifice and that is all that he’d ever have wanted.”

My eyes meet her warm ones, unshed tears in them, but she doesn’t let them fall. She knew Liam more personally than I did.

“How is Aaron coping?” I ask quietly.

She looks away, this time unable to keep strong, and shakes her head. “Hurting. He lost someone he considered a brother. The three of them were inseparable.” Her voice breaks, and I wrap my arms around her.

“Yeah, they were.” I take a shaky breath as Angela gets up and kneels behind us, wrapping her arms around the both of us and I rest my head against her chest and stare up at the sky.

Life, our bodies, are so… fragile. We can all die, and it’s terrifying to know that we could lose anyone at any moment.

“That’s why we should live every day like it’s our last…” Angela trails off, her heart thudding. And although I don’t look at her, I know something has hit her, and I hope it’s to do with Cassandra because life is fucking short.

“Yeah, we should,” I simply say, giving both girls’ arms a gentle squeeze. “I better go…”

My stomach churns, not knowing how I’m going to face his parents, but I can’t delay it. I need to do this. For Liam, for them, and for me.

Fifteen minutes later, I’m sitting nervously in the living room of Liam’s parents’ house. His mother, Samantha, looks to have aged several years since the last time I saw her and his father, Luke, is sitting quietly. My heart aches as I gaze at the man who is an uncanny, older version of Liam himself. Is this how Liam would have looked if he got to live to that age? My eyes sting at the very thought, my heart clenching with the familiar sadness that grips me.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, breaking the tense silence that has settled in the room. Samantha shakes her head sadly, fighting her tears. “Liam… Liam fought bravely.”

“How exactly did he die?” she asks, clearly trying to remain strong as Luke places his head in his hands, his body heaving with silent sobs. Samantha places a hand on his back as she looks at me. Our eyes meet until my tears blur my vision and there is nothing I can do to stop them from falling.

I am the reason their son is no longer here.

“He died because he shielded me,” I say, my gaze dropping as the tears slip down my cheek, my heart squeezing. My hair curtains my face, but it does nothing to hide me from the parents who lost their beloved son. “He-he protected me. He died because he protected me. He died for me.” My voice breaks and I cry softly, trying to control myself but failing, and placing my face in my hands.

“Then don’t cry. There is no other way he would have liked to go. He’s loved you ever since you came to this pack. He died for the one he loved the most,” Samantha whispers, her voice heavy with pain, but there’s a strength I wish I had.

No mother should have her child die, but she did.

“You know, I remember when he came running home that day and told me a tough little girl had joined the pack. He’d always hoped you would be his mate, but fate had other plans. Don’t cry, Scarlett, you are the future Luna. Remember, Liam died protecting the woman he loved. Remember that. He is- was…” Samantha’s voice breaks, her strong resolve trembling. “He was a boy with a heart of gold. The greatest honour you can do for him and us is to never forget him.”

I look up, my eyes meeting hers, and I nod. “I’ll never forget Liam. Ever.”

“I know,” she whispers, nodding as tears trickle down her cheeks too.

Luke looks up, brushing his tears away. “She’s right, no matter how hard it is for a father to say this, we don’t hold you accountable for what happened, Scarlett. He made his choice, and we are so proud of him. He fulfilled his duty to his Alpha and Luna and he made sure you got home. That is the highest honour,” he says quietly.

“Thank you…” I say, not knowing how I feel. How are they so strong? I look at my hands as a fresh wave of tears threatens to fall. “Can I… see his room once?” I ask.

Samantha nods, motioning to the hall.

“Upstairs, the door at the end of the hall.”

I stand up and walk into the hallway. It’s a small area with a door leading to the kitchen and another room. I slowly take the stairs, my heart racing, knowing I’ll catch his scent in his room.

I close my eyes, taking a shuddering breath as I walk down the hall until I stop outside the door to his room. They didn’t need to tell me. I would have still known this was his room.

It smells like him.

Taking a shuddering breath, I open it and step inside, gasping when his scent increases tenfold and I close my eyes for a moment, wishing it was all a nightmare. And he’s right here.

Almost…

His laugh, his smile, his voice. I slowly close the door behind me and slide down it as I cover my mouth, stifling the loud sob that escapes me.

I never want anyone to die for me again. Ever.

I am supposed to protect them. That’s my duty as an alpha. Why did he have to die for me? I have the ability to heal. Even though I know I wouldn’t have survived, I should have been the one to take that hit.

My eyes sweep the room, taking in the double bed, the beige curtains, and the chair with some clothes draped over them. The boxing bag… the weights…

He wouldn’t have known that he’d never come back to this room when he left that day. I can’t stop the tears, and I pull my legs up to my chest, wrapping my arms around them as I let it out. The pain, the sadness, the guilt.

His parents may not hold me accountable, which may lighten my guilt, but it will never truly go away.

I will miss you, Liam. We all will, but we will always remember you. We will honour your memory. You will live on, in my heart and in the hearts of all those who love you. Until we meet again.