Page 96 of Unclaimed Bonds

Misunderstanding

LIAM

EIGHT YEARS AGO:

November 15, 2016: 3:39 a.m.

Emerald Pack Territory

Lightning streaks the sky, but I don’t reach her in time. She’s walking back to the house when I find her. Her shirt has been ripped open. Bruises discolor her jawline. Bite marks dot her neck and her chest

I want to kill whoever did this to her. I study her face. Her faraway gaze is devoid of emotion. No tears. No anger. No fear. She refuses to make eye contact with me, staring at the ground. She smells like Queenie, which masks the scent of her attacker.

I pull off my hoodie to cover her. She doesn’t speak. She won’t tell me what happened. I want to shake her. I want to… just hold her in my arms . Even then, she doesn’t respond to my touch or murmurs of her safety, of my protection. She won’t answer my questions.

She whispers that she wants to get inside. Reluctantly, I let her go.

She enters the house through the back entrance, and I race around to the back to wait for her to flip the light switch three times, our signal she settles for the night. It’s also my signal to her—I love you—even though she doesn’t know what it means.

I watch her drapes close, but I can’t bring myself to leave just yet. Sending a quick text to the group that I found her, I keep an eye on the road to make sure the Powers twins don’t return to the property.

Sixes replies quickly after they find Wills and Elaine. Fuck. Did they attack Jessica? It had to be them. I will fucking kill them.

Where the hell is Luke? He hasn’t responded to any of my messages.

I check the vicinity twice, ensuring no one else lingers. I approach the kitchen entrance of the mansion when Jessica bolts out of the door, chest heaving, sobbing.

She crashes into me, clinging to me like I’m her lifeline.

What the fuck?!

Clutching my shirt, she shakes her head. “It’s fine. It’s fine. Just a misunderstanding.”

I frown. A misunderstanding wouldn’t leave her shaking like this. I smell the fear radiating from her. I also smell Luke on her. I urge her to the side so I can enter the house.

Did he attack her again? He confessed to me about the incident the day she met him for the first time—how they fought, how he took it too far because of his own misconceptions. I didn’t respond at the time because the twins already reamed his ass. He seemed remorseful, and after talking to him, I thought he was clear of her intentions for a family, for a place to belong and nothing more.

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Jessica, let me go in there.”

“No, please, Liam. The twins are with him. It’s fine.” She’s covering for him, the same way she covered for him the first time.

I raise an eyebrow at her. “Then tell me what happened.” Her face ashen, the bruises on her face and neck darkening. At least she’s responding to something, but I hate the wild look of fear in her eyes.

“He thinks I gave Charlie my V-card and then met you after.”

What? Luke is usually a pretty level-headed guy. Why must he fly off the handle with Jessica? After what she just endured, this shit won’t sit well with me. This whole time, he has been home, ignoring our calls and texts. Was he with Elaine? None of this makes sense. I glance at the door. I should go slap some sense into him.

Jessica tugs on my shirt, vehemently shaking her head. I need to get her out of here. I need her to talk to me.

I take Jessica’s hand and lead her away from the house to the cliff that overlooks the seventh territory. The sun should rise soon, a beautiful sight as it touches the territory.

When we arrive, I help her climb onto a large rock where I like to sit and think. I situate behind her, to hold her. She doesn’t protest.

I won’t see her after this, unless I come back to visit. The thought of not seeing my family, my friends, Jessica, finally sinks in.

What if I return home to visit my family and see Jessica on those occasions. What if she has a boyfriend? I draw her closer to me. My chest aches. I don’t want her with anyone else but me. But she isn’t mine.

Hell, I tried to keep my distance from her. I just couldn’tnottouch her. I wanted to hold her hand, kiss the top of her head, keep her in my arms. But I had to constantly remind myself notto get attached. Marcus, Dustin, and Boris were watching her, watching me.