Mated To The Beastly Alpha
Chapter 51

As Liam entered his chambers, his heart swelled with happiness at the thought of being reunited with his mate, Nicole. The memories of their time together brought a smile to his face, filling him with warmth. His wolf was also elated.

But as he entered the room, his elation quickly turned to confusion and hurt. Nicole stood before him, her demeanor withdrawn, and her eyes filled with fear. It was as if a dark cloud had descended upon the room, casting a shadow over their once joyful moments. His wolf growled as he wondered what was happening. "Nicole, what's wrong?" Liam asked, his voice laced with concern. He approached her, wanting nothing more than to hold her and chase away whatever demons plagued her.

Nicole hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper. "I... I need space, Liam. I need to be alone for a while."

Liam's heart sank, a wave of pain coursed within him. He had thought everything was perfect between them, that their bond was unbreakable. The sudden change in her demeanor left him feeling lost and unsure of how to proceed.

"But... why?" Liam managed to utter, his voice laced with confusion and a tinge of pain. "We were happy, Nicole. What happened?"

Nicole avoided his gaze, her voice trembling with vulnerability. "It's not about you, Liam. It's about me. I... I just need some time to sort through my thoughts and feelings."

Liam's heart dropped, a knot forming in his stomach. He had never seen Nicole like that, and it pained him to witness her fear and withdrawal. He reached out, attempting to touch her arm gently, but she flinched and stepped back, staring right into his eyes as fear and repentance flushed over her.

"I... I can't explain it, Liam," Nicole whispered, her voice barely audible. "The memories, the pain... it's all coming back. I need to be alone."

Liam felt a surge of pain and confusion wash over him. He struggled to understand what had triggered Nicole's sudden withdrawal, desperate to replace a way to comfort and reassure her.

"Talk to me, Nicole. Let me understand. Did I take too long?"

"No." She said, shaking her head firmly. "I said it's not you. Everything is happening too fast. I'm just replaceing it hard to process it."

Liam gulped. "Nicole, you're not alone in this. I'm here for you, no matter what," Liam vowed, his voice filled with total assurance. "I'll do everything in my power to help you overcome these fears, to show you that you're safe with me."

Nicole's gaze softened, her eyes reflecting a mix of gratitude and fear. "Liam, I want to believe you. I want to trust that everything will be okay. But the pain is overwhelming, and I need time to process it all."

At that point, Liam wondered for the umpteenth time what she had experienced in her dreams and why it affected her. He ached to get rid of whatever it was that made her so vulnerable.

It seemed like she was blaming herself, or was it him that tortured her in that induced sleep? Was it why she refused to talk about what she saw and was afraid of him? He was connected to her now, more than ever, and needed her to keep himself sane. How he ached to hold her, to inhale her scent. He wanted to bring the world to her feet. He wanted her to see how pristine she was, how strong and powerful.

"Nicole," Liam tried again, his voice filled with desperation. "I want to help you. I want to be here for you. You can talk to me, let me understand."

Nicole sighed, her eyes conveying a mixture of pain and uncertainty. "Liam, I can't explain it. It's... it's not easy for me to trust, to let someone in. I've been hurt before, and the memories of the past still haunt me."

"Nicole, I would never hurt you," Liam whispered with sincerity in his tone. "I'll do everything in my power to make you feel safe and loved. Please don't push me away."

Nicole's gaze softened, tears glistening in her eyes. "I know, Liam. And I don't want to push you away. But I need to confront these fears and heal from the wounds of my past. It's not about you. It's about me replaceing strength within myself."

Liam's wolf howled within him, yearning for the connection they shared. He had never felt such a profound desire to protect and cherish someone, plus the thought of being without Nicole was unbearable.

"Nicole, I understand. I won't force you to be with me, but know that I'll always be here, waiting for you. Whenever you're ready, I'll be here." Liam added keenly.

Nicole's eyes met his, a glimmer of love and gratitude shining through her tears. "Thank you, Liam. Your patience and understanding mean more to me than words can express. I just need some time to replace my strength again."

Liam's wolf roared within him, yearning for his mate's touch and the reassurance of their bond. But he understood how important it was for her to warm up to the idea. He took a step back, giving Nicole the space she needed. Patience, it was patience that he needed. She shuffled past him, hugging herself tightly.

"Wait," he said suddenly.

Nicole froze, avoiding his gaze.

"Stay here." He commanded.

Nicole narrowed her eyes and then opened her mouth to speak. But Liam beat her to it.

"Like it or not, staying here with my scent surrounding you is going to calm you down." He gestured to the room.

Nicole's eyes widened. However, he continued, "We're mates. You seek my company the way I'm dying for yours. Staying here will give you a sense of protection and comfort and will slowly ease off your fears. I promise you'll feel worse the moment you step out of here."

Nicole nodded meekly and headed back to the bed.

Liam smirked, "I'll send in food for you."

The moment Liam walked out of the room, he sighed and collapsed on the door. A realization hit him immediately. Nicole had been okay until Garrett appeared. He pretended not to have noticed the look in Garrett's eyes when he saw Nicole because he was eager and focused on meeting his sister, but now he saw it clearly.

Anger coursed through him. His emotions ran high as Liam's anger flared, fueled by the frustration and hurt he felt over Nicole's sudden withdrawal. The realization that Garrett might have played a role in her emotional turmoil ignited a fire within him, threatening to consume his rationality.

He remembered that instead of following him, Garrett stayed behind, and he was sure that he might have said a few things to her. Fury coursed through his veins, fueling the fire of his rage.

Without a second thought, Liam made his way to Garrett's location. The moment he laid eyes on his Beta, the simmering anger within him erupted into a full-blown inferno.

Confronting Garrett, Liam's voice boomed with a ferocity that echoed through the halls, his words filled with a potent portion of fury, "What did you do, Garrett? What did you say to her?" he bellowed, his eyes blazing with a fury that matched his wolf's. Garrett, his own temper flaring, didn't back down. He squared his shoulders, meeting Liam's gaze with a defiant glare. "I didn't do anything, Liam! I was only looking out for her. I reminded her of her past, of the dangers she faced. I wanted to protect her!" Liam's fists clenched, his voice seething with bitterness. "Protect her? By pushing her away? By making her doubt herself and our connection? You had no right!"

The tension in the room grew palpable as they faced off, their voices rising to a crescendo of anger and frustration. Their words clashed like thunder, echoing through the chambers and all through the pack's environment, drowning out reasoning and understanding. "What the hell is your problem, Garrett?" Liam roared, his voice laced with a raw intensity. "Why are you acting this way? Why are you bent on messing things up? She was okay until you appeared."

Garrett's eyes flashed with defiance as he squared his shoulders, meeting Liam's gaze head-on. "You think you know her, but you don't, Liam. You're blinded by your infatuation. You are letting it cloud your vision."

"You don't know shit, Garrett. You don't know anything about what's happening between Nicole and I!" Liam raged.

Garrett scoffed, "I know enough. I know enough to keep her away from you."

Liam's fists clenched at his sides, his wolf straining against his control. "You have no right to her, Garrett. She's my mate."

The words hung in the air, a bombshell that shattered the tense atmosphere. Gasps echoed through the room, the shock reverberating off the walls. Even James, who had been observing the argument from afar, stood frozen, his eyes wide with astonishment. Stiffly James tried to intervene. He stepped between the two raging werewolves, his voice firm, but tinged with desperation. "Enough! This isn't helping anyone. Liam, Garrett, please calm down!"

But his efforts were met with disdain as the anger within Liam threatened to consume him entirely. His voice laced with a feral edge, Liam snarled at James, his eyes flashing with a wild intensity. "Stay out of this, James! This is between Garrett and me." Lilian's anger flared, her voice dripping with venom. "Your mate? How could you keep this from me, Liam? She's a slave, a nobody. She doesn't belong in our pack."

Garrett, sensing an opportunity to strike back, his voice dripping with sarcasm, taunted Liam further. "Oh, so you finally admit it? Nicole is your mate, isn't she? No wonder you're so protective of her!"

His words hung in the air, a shocking revelation that left everyone frozen in disbelief. Liam's eyes widened, his chest heaving with regret and astonishment. He had let it slip, the truth he had tried so desperately to keep hidden.

Silence enveloped the room, the weight of the revelation sinking in.

Lilian was raving mad. "What are you saying?" she spat, "Nicole is your mate? How dare you believe any of that?"

The air crackled with tension as the truth hung between them, a catalyst for further chaos. Liam's anger swirled within him, his instincts fighting against reason. His wolf longed to break free, to unleash its fury upon those who dared to challenge their mate. Liam's rage surged, his eyes blazing with a feral intensity. "Watch your tongue, Lilian. Nicole is mine. She's f*****g powerful to be mine. She has endured more than anyone should ever have. She's the witch bane. She's a slave; she's my equal, my partner, my everything. Don't make me rip out your tongue."

He turned to Garrett. "Garrett, what's your problem?" His voice was laced with burning anger. "Is it because you're jealous? Because you can't stand to see someone else share a connection with me?"

Garrett's voice grew cold, his words dripping with disdain. "Jealousy has nothing to do with it, Liam. I'm trying to protect her from you and our pack from the unknown. You're a danger to her. You use and discard! She can't afford to let her guard down with you." Lilian, who had been pacing around in anger, scoffed.

"Oh! She got you really bad, brother. Look at you. This is not the Alpha I know."

James, sensing the escalating tension, stepped forward, attempting to intervene. "Enough! Both of you, calm down. This argument won't solve anything."

Liam turned his blazing gaze towards James, his voice filled with power that crackled. "Stay out of this, James. I'm not going to say it again..."

But James refused to back down, his voice firm. "Liam, you're blinded by your anger. You need to think rationally. There must be a way to resolve this without tearing our pack apart."

Liam burst into laughter as his wolf took control.

You're right, Lilian. I've changed. I've let myself become a fool."

Lilian smirked and folded her arms. Liam shut his eyes, allowing his frustration to feed his anger further.

In a second, he snatched Lilian by her neck and slammed her into a wall. She let out a piercing scream and the sounds of broken bones could be heard. Before anyone could react, he grabbed Garrett too.

His eyes opened, revealing black pools. James growled, but it wasn't as strong as it used to be. He was clouded with fear, knowing that Garrett's life was in imminent danger.