My heart hammered as I waited for him to consider what I'd offered. Would he consider being with me if I could remove it? Or would he prefer to stay bonded to her so he can't be with anyone? Or, even worse, will he want it removed so he can choose someone else?
"Are you saying you can remove the bond?" he asked.
I nodded.
"Will you only do it if I agree to mate with you after?"
I took a step back as if wounded, did he really think that little of me? With a deep breath, I clenched my fists and took a deep breath.
"Yes Liam, that's exactly what I'm saying. I'm so pathetic that I need to force someone to be with me by refusing to help them, " Liam went to interrupt but I was on a roll. "I'm not done talking! I get you don't know me, but didn't I prove that I'm nothing like the witches you knew? You rejected me and I still helped your daughter!!"
Liam stood and moved towards me but I stepped back. He paused and frowned.
"Please leave, Liam," I told him, turning my back.
I had enough. I was too tired to worry about what he thought of me or even to try and convince him I'm different. I'd thought after saving his daughter's life, despite what he had done would have proven my worth … apparently not.
I expected to hear his footsteps moving away, but instead, they drew closer. His hands gently gripped my arms and it felt like they were on fire.
"Seb," he whispered.
I could feel him wanting to turn me but I resisted. A sigh escaped him and then I felt his chest against my back as his arms wrapped around my chest. His heat was soothing and invigorating at the same time
"I'm sorry Seb," he began. "I know I shouldn't assume that you are just like my ex, especially after what you did. I didn't mean to imply anything bad but I had to make sure. I didn't want to get burned again."
My heart ached as I recalled his story. How could his mate be so heartless not only to have her mate killed but to kill their daughter too? With a deep breath, I turned in his arms. His dark eyes looked pained.
Without uttering a word, I brought my hands up and placed one over his heart and the other over his neck, where the mating bite would have been on his mate. I could feel his energy swirling around us.
I drew the energy to me and found the one binding him to his mate. I could feel my eyes glow and my hands heat up.
The energy felt like little threads that I could pull and sew together. Slowly, I pulled the ones from his mate and laced them back with his own energy. He gasped as I connected each piece.
"Try not to move," I ordered quietly.
Liam nodded and smiled as he watched me with a curious expression on his face. His head tilted to the side like an adorable puppy. I smiled in spite of myself and his grew wider.
When I was finished, I felt a little shaky but I managed to step back. Liam touched his neck and breathed deeply. His massive chest rose and my eyes were glued to the spot.
"Is it really gone?" he asked with a hint of wonder in his voice.
"Yes, now you're really free from her. Free to do whatever or whoever you want."
I said the last part with a hint of bile in my throat. He could be with whoever he wanted and I knew it wasn't going to be me. His smile broke into laughter and soon I found myself being swung around.
His strong arms wrapped around my waist and I felt light and giddy. So much so that I started to laugh with him. My hands gripped his wide shoulders as he started to slow down.
His eyes looked light and filled with hope. It was the hope that stopped me. I chastised myself inwardly as he finally put me down. Instantly, I removed myself from his arms and stepped back.
Of course, he would look hopeful, he could go find some other female to mate with. Someone he can be sexually attracted to and who could be a good mother to Aria.
"It's getting late now Liam, I need to go to sleep," I didn't look at him as I spoke.
Instead, I headed for my bathroom intent on showering quickly and going to bed. I knew my dreams would be filled with his arms around me, his body crushed against mine. It was going to be a hard night for many different reasons.
Early the next day, I crept out of the alpha house and went back to Bonnie's. I let myself in, with my spare key. Max was sitting eating breakfast and waved at me with a wink. The look on my face must have shown something because his smile fell.
"You ok?" he asked.
I shook my head and instantly started to cry. Max didn't hesitate, he got up and pulled me into his arms and I let it all go.
All the pain of the past week, all the pent-up emotions when I'm around him and all the dreams of belonging to someone.
Bonnie came out not long after, paused when she saw us but then, without a word, she came to wrap herself around me from behind. These two were the best friends I could ever ask for.