Zeff
The next morning, I noticed Liliam acting strangely. She seemed to be avoiding me, which was understandable given what happened when the Parr hit me.
The memory of that kiss came flooding back to me—the heat of it, the intensity, the way my body had reacted without my consent. It wasn't just any kiss; it was a kiss charged with the Parr, the raw, overwhelming force that had surged between us. For a moment, I lost control, and it had taken every ounce of willpower to pull back.
It became increasingly clear that she was trying to keep her distance.
When I arrived at the office, she was already at her desk, her eyes glued to her computer screen. I approached her to say good morning, but she immediately stood up, grabbing a stack of papers and heading towards the printer.
"Morning, Liliam," I called out, trying to catch her eye.
She nodded without looking up. "Morning, Zeff," she replied quickly, her tone unusually curt.
I watched as she made her way to the printer, her steps a little too quick, almost like she was fleeing. I chuckled to myself, thinking she must have just been in a hurry. But then I noticed it happening again and again.
Every time I approached her desk, she found a reason to leave—either she needed more coffee, or she had to talk to someone across the room, or she suddenly remembered she needed to make copies. It was becoming almost comical.
I decided to test my theory. I casually walked towards her desk, pretending to need a file. As I got closer, I saw her tense up, glancing at me from the corner of her eye. Just as I reached her, she abruptly stood up again.
"I… I need to check something with the accounts department," she muttered, grabbing a random folder and practically speed-walking away.
I couldn't help but grin. It was like watching a game of cat and mouse. She was clearly avoiding me, and it was almost endearing how hard she was trying. I waited until she returned and then made my move.
When she finally settled back at her desk, I wasted no time. I slipped into the chair beside her before she could escape again. "Liliam," I began, leaning forward, trying to meet her eyes. "Is this because of last night?"
Her reaction was instant. Her eyes widened, and for a moment, she looked like a deer caught in headlights, her cheeks flushing a deep shade of red. She quickly looked away, her hands fidgeting in her lap.
"I'm apolo—" I started, but she interrupted me, her voice trembling.
"Why?" she asked, staring down at her hands. "Why did that happen?"
Her words hit me like a punch. I tried to come up with an answer, something that would make sense to her, but my mind was blank. How could I explain the pull of the bond, the irresistible force that had drawn us together? It was hard enough for me to understand, let alone put into words that would ease her confusion.
Liliam finally looked up at me, her eyes swirling with a mixture of emotions—confusion, guilt, and something else. Something that made my wolf stir, hoping it was desire. "This is all so confusing," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I don't want to hurt you, Zeff… or Owen. I don't know what I'm feeling right now, and I don't want to lead anyone on or make things worse."
Her words struck me hard. The bond was pushing every emotion between us to the surface, and I could feel her turmoil as if it were my own. The guilt, the confusion, it was suffocating. I opened my mouth to say something, but all I could muster was, "It wasn't my intention to make you feel—"
I stopped short when I saw the conflict in her eyes—the same conflict I was feeling. The bond between us, the pull that neither of us fully understood, was hard to ignore. She felt it too, even if she couldn't comprehend it the way I did.
"I care about Owen," she continued, her voice trembling. "I don't want to hurt him. But being with you… it feels different. And I don't know what that means."
*Is the bond starting to affect her too?* The thought sent a surge of hope through me, but it was quickly tempered by uncertainty. This was all new to me, navigating a bond with a human, someone who didn't understand the way wolves did. I reached out, my hand gently brushing hers, and I felt her shiver. Her eyes fluttered closed for a brief moment, and I knew, without a doubt, that she felt it too—the same pull, the same connection.
"Oh Goddess," I whispered to myself, realizing the depth of what was happening. She *does* feel it.
"Liliam," I said softly, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'm not here to pressure you or make things harder. I just… I like being around you. I can't explain it, but it's not something I can ignore."
She pulled her hand away, her movements slow, like she was trying to regain control of the situation. She straightened in her chair, her eyes darting back to the computer screen as if she could use it as a barrier between us. "We have a lot of work to do," she whispered, her voice barely masking the emotions she was trying so hard to suppress.
I sat back slightly, watching her as she refocused on the screen, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. It was clear that she was trying to compose herself, to push away the overwhelming feelings that had taken hold of both of us. But the tension lingered, thick and palpable in the air.
I didn't push her any further, but I couldn't shake the feeling that things were far from over between us. The bond wasn't something either of us could ignore, and sooner or later, we would have to face it.
But for now, I stayed quiet, watching her, knowing that even in her silence, she was as torn as I was.
Owen
I was behind the counter of the retail shop, my eyes scanning the store with practiced ease. The day had been relatively slow, and I welcomed the brief moments of peace to catch up on inventory and paperwork. As I finished organizing a stack of receipts, the bell above the door chimed, signaling the entrance of a new customer.
A well-dressed man in his mid-forties stepped inside, his sharp eyes taking in the store's layout with keen interest. I straightened up, putting on my best customer service smile as the man approached the counter.
"Good afternoon. How can I help you today?" I asked, my tone polite and professional.
The man smiled, a bit too warmly, and extended his hand. "Good afternoon. My name is Mr. Caliban. I'm interested in purchasing some high-end electronics and possibly setting up a corporate account."
I shook his hand, nodding. "Of course, Mr. Caliban. We have a great selection. What specifically are you looking for?"
As we started discussing the various options and features of the electronics, I couldn't help but notice that Mr. Caliban seemed to be studying me intently, as if searching for something beyond the usual customer interactions. Despite my unease, I maintained my composure, guiding the man through the products.
After a few minutes of discussing the specifications of a particular laptop, Mr. Caliban leaned in slightly, his eyes narrowing. "You know, it's important to trust the people we keep close, especially in both business and personal life."
I blinked, taken aback by the sudden shift in conversation. "Uh, yes, I suppose that's true."
Mr. Caliban's smile widened, but there was something unsettling about it. "Tell me, Owen, how is Liliam doing these days?"
My heart skipped a beat, and my professional facade cracked. "Liliam? How do you know her?"
Mr. Caliban chuckled softly, the sound sending a chill down my spine. "Oh, I've heard about her. She's quite the intriguing young woman."
Unease turned into suspicion. "What do you want with Liliam?"
"Its seems you have forgotten your purpose. Let me remind you." Before I could react, Mr. Caliban's expression darkened, and he opened his mouth wide. A thick, black smoke began to pour out, swirling ominously in the air. I stumbled back, my eyes wide with horror as the smoke filled the space around me.
The smoke moved with a life of its own, tendrils reaching out and wrapping around my limbs, invading my senses. I tried to scream, but my voice was swallowed by the darkness. The world around me blurred and faded, my mind overwhelmed by the cold, suffocating presence of the smoke.
As the last of my consciousness slipped away, my final thought was of Liliam, and the realization that something far more sinister was at play.
Zeff
The office was buzzing with its usual hum of activity—phones ringing, fingers tapping on keyboards, conversations blending into a low, constant murmur. Liliam and I were both at our desks, diligently working, trying to keep things professional. Ever since that day in the conference room, we'd both been walking a tightrope, careful not to let our personal feelings bleed into the work environment.
I could feel her presence next to me, could sense every subtle movement she made. It was distracting in the best way, but I did my best to focus on the work at hand. She was the same, her face buried in the documents she was sorting, her fingers moving swiftly across the keys of her keyboard.
Then, without warning, I felt it—a pull, dark and sinister, like a cold hand reaching into my chest. I stopped typing mid-sentence, my entire demeanor shifting. I felt my body go rigid, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.
I stood up abruptly, my chair scraping against the floor. My eyes darkened as I scanned the office, my senses heightened. Something wasn't right. I could feel a disturbance in the air, a presence that didn't belong. It was faint but unmistakable—a dark energy lurking somewhere nearby.
Just then, my phone rang, the sound cutting through the tense silence like a knife. I glanced at the screen and quickly answered it. "Josh?"
I could hear the muffled sound of Josh's voice on the other end, urgent and filled with concern. My grip on the phone tightened, my jaw clenching.
"You felt it too?" I asked, my voice a mixture of worry and anger. I listened for a moment, my eyes narrowing. "Yeah, it's bad. We need to figure out what's going on. Raise a meeting. We need to patrol the borders."
I could feel Liliam's eyes on me, her concern palpable. She noticed my sudden change, her own anxiety rising. "Zeff?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern. "What is it?"
I didn't answer immediately, my focus still on the conversation with Josh. My wolf senses were on high alert, every instinct screaming that there was something wrong. Gaius was stirring within me, restless and agitated. He sensed it too—the presence of something dangerous.
"Yeah, keep me posted," I said to Josh, trying to keep my voice steady. I ended the call and turned to Liliam, my expression still serious. "It's 7 p.m. You should go home."
She looked up, surprised. "But I'm not—"
I stood up, cutting her off, and reached over to take the folders from her desk, closing them with a decisive snap. "I need you back at your house."
She looked at me, taken aback by my sudden assertiveness. "I'll go back when I'm done, Zeff—"
"You are done, Miss," I said firmly, placing my hand over the folders to prevent her from reaching for them. She frowned, her eyes narrowing in a half-glaring expression.
"Zeff, I need to finish these reports—"
"Not tonight," I interrupted, my tone leaving no room for argument. "I'm serious, Liliam. I need you to go home and rest. It's not safe here right now."
Her glare softened slightly, replaced by concern. "What's going on? You're scaring me."
I sighed, trying to find the right words. "There's- Just trust me on this, okay?"
She hesitated, searching my face for answers.
"No buts," I said gently but firmly. "Please, Liliam. Just go home. I'll handle things here."
After a moment of hesitation, she finally nodded, sensing the seriousness in my tone. "Alright… I'll go."
"I don't want you wandering alone tonight. "
She sighed but seemed to understand the urgency. "Okay. I'll see you tomorrow?"
I gave her a reassuring smile. "Yeah, tomorrow." I watched as she gathered her things, still a bit hesitant but ultimately trusting my judgment. As she left the office, I felt a wave of relief, knowing she would be safe with Josh tailing her.
Once she was gone, I turned back to my desk, my mind already shifting gears, planning the next steps. Whatever was out there, I wasn't going to let it come close to Liliam.