Chapter 2

Present Time,

Liam sat there, looking at the wedding photo of Cohen and Mira hung on the office wall. His right hand supported his head as he turned his attention to another photo placed on top of the fireplace in the office. It was a photo of Mira in her seventh month of pregnancy. Now, the redheaded Luna was waiting for the due of her pregnancy which was expected in three weeks.

It was the time Cohen had his happy ending. While everyone was happy for the Alpha’s couple, Liam’s story was no different. Everyone was expecting him to have a mate of his own as well. The same topic that plagued Cohen like an incurable illness now the same thing plaguing Liam. Now, it was Liam’s turn to avoid gatherings because he didn’t want to answer anything whenever someone mentioned a mate.

Now, he understood his Alpha's pressure when everyone questioned the latter when he would find his mate. When Mira walked into Cohen’s life, the pressure was shifted to Liam’s shoulders.

Liam groaned as he stretched on his seat. He didn’t want to think much about it because it distracted him so much. He picked a pen and began to resume his paperwork. As Mira was heading to the due of her pregnancy, Cohen had spent much time with her. Liam had to take over Cohen’s duty to allow his Alpha to prepare to welcome his three babies.

It’d be a lie if Liam said he didn’t envy what his Alpha and Luna were having. He had gotten tired of sleeping around and wished his mate would show up in front of him, but that was a dream. A dream that almost came true about five years ago. If he wasn’t adamant about their age gap and her safety as the main concerns, Liam could have experienced the mating life a lot sooner.

But, he was far more cowardly than he let himself be. In terms of mate, it wasn’t something that should be taken lightly. He had witnessed what it could do to someone first hand both in good and bad terms. Liam realized he didn’t have the courage that his Alpha had.

“Liam...Liam…Oi, Liam Blake!”

Liam snapped out of his thoughts and looked up. Mira was standing before his desk with one hand holding her big tummy. Her brows pulled together before Liam rushed to help her to sit down. He scratched his head as he faced his Luna.

“Sorry, Mira. I didn’t notice you were here,” Liam said awkwardly.

“Zoning in and out isn’t something you often do,” Mira said as she placed several brown files on his desk.

Liam glanced at those files and noticed the files had the seal of the Werewolf’s Council. With what happened to the previous two councilors and several others found guilty for numerous charges, Mira worked alongside Dalton to rebuild the Council’s justice system from scratch with the help of Karmille, the only Councillor who wasn’t charged with anything shady.

“Still going on with the investigation?” Liam asked.

Mira nodded and leaned against the chair. “Just because we defeated the leader doesn’t mean it is over. There are a lot of Knights of Death’s base operations that we still don’t know. The Council thing is killing me.”

The Knights of Death and the previous Council—the two things that kept Mira’s head busy for a while. Liam never really asked how Mira got all the information she needed to bring down the previous Council. But he did ask about her investigation on the Knights of Death. Her ten years' worth of investigation was one of the keys that helped in the war against the Angel of Death. But that was far from uncovering the entire thing. It seemed there were more that still hadn't been unearthed.

“Appointed as one of the Councillors, it makes your duty heavier,” Liam said truthfully.

Despite Mira’s dislike of responsibilities, she was appointed as one of the Councillors of the new Werewolf’s Council. Now, it was no longer known as the Werewolf’s Council. The name was changed to the Council of the Supernatural World. Mira, Cohen, and Dalton worked tirelessly, trying to unite every supernatural species under one council. What seemed impossible to the previous Councillors now became possible.

“Enough about my work,” Mira said. “What’s going on with you?”

Liam looked at her and gave himself a few minutes to think. He knew he couldn’t lie to her because Mira always knew something was up with him lately. There was no way to escape the demon wolf’s sharp eyes.

Liam leaned against his chair and sighed. His hand scratched a spot on the back of his head that wasn’t even itchy. He didn’t know where to begin to tell Mira.

“Would you tell Cohen of the things I’m about to tell you?” He asked Mira.

Mira shrugged. “I’m really good at keeping secrets.”

Liam chuckled at the truth of her words. Yeah, she was good at that. She had no idea how hard life was when they were looking for her. All the secrets she withheld from everyone were causing people to question her trust. Even Liam knew Cohen questioned her trust. In the end, everyone agreed that she kept secrets so that they wouldn’t get pulled deeper into the mess she got involved in.

“It’s about my mate. Her name’s Jazmine Diaz,” he told her at last. Her eyes twinkled with something as he continued, “I found her five years ago at my sister’s party.”

Then, there was confusion on her face. “But, where is she? Did you mate with her?”

“No, I didn’t.” Liam’s heartfelt heavy at his own words. “She was eighteen when I found her. That kind of age—” he paused for a minute. “She’s too young for me.”

“But, you couldn’t stop thinking about her.”

He nodded in agreement. “I couldn’t imagine a day passed by without me thinking about her.”

His hands clenched underneath the desk.

Liam looked down. “I’m a coward, you know. I couldn’t even face her at that time. At that time, all I could think about was the wars that were raging on our doorsteps. I knew if I took her with me, I might send her to her death.”

“Sometimes, being a coward isn’t a bad thing,” Mira replied. “Being afraid is fine. There’s nothing wrong with it. There is absolutely something wrong if you keep continuing that way. I don’t think it’s her age that’s stopping you. It’s not the wars either. It’s something else.”

Liam looked at her and realized how she always could read everyone like the back of her hand. There was no mystery or secret that she couldn’t dig out, which made Liam confide in her.

He shook his head. “Her age and her safety are my main concerns.”

He was adamant about the two reasons. But why did he feel he doubted his own reasons?

Mira smiled. “What makes you think she’s safe without you?”

There, like prey trapped to the corner by a predator. Mira’s question trapped Liam. When he thought about it, the more trapped he felt. He never thought of it before.

Mira was right. What made him think that Jazmine would be safe without him? Only Goddess would know what she was up to. Anita wasn’t much of a helper either. His sister was busy wooing all the boys everywhere she could find. Liam hadn’t video called her as much as before. The only way for Liam to keep up with Jazmine’s life was through Anita’s social media. They always attended parties, went to clubs, and made out with the guys.

He cringed at that. Jazmine used to be shy and quiet. But that was years ago. People changed as time moved on.

“I don’t know,” He answered.

“So, why don’t you go there and find out?” Mira suggested while she was checking the file on his desk. “Pay a visit to her and see whether you feel the pull. See if she’s feeling it too.”

“Mira, I want to but—”

“Liam, listen,” she said as she closed the file to focus on him. “Before I met Cohen, I never knew anything about love or being a mate to someone. And, you know, I pushed him away, and he kept on coming back. Five years ago, you found your mate, but you didn’t take the chance because you were scared of the age gap and safety. I was scared of killing Cohen and becoming a monster. Everyone had their own fears. It’s normal to feel fear for someone we love. Why are you letting it conquer your life? It would be best if you had control of your life. Not your fear.”

“Mira…”

“Think about it. Take a week off or something. Please go and visit her. If you don’t want to see her face to face, watch her from afar. But, I can guarantee you something, Liam. Good things don’t stick around for long if you’re afraid to claim them. Don’t regret it if you lose a diamond.”

“Anita did invite me a few days ago to go on vacation with her. But you know, I have an obligation to this pack. Cohen is too busy to handle everything.”

“Liam, there are over five thousand adult pack members in this pack as of today. That’s five thousand adults who could take over the duty temporarily. This pack won’t crumble overnight just because one person is going for a vacation to pursue his mate,” Mira said. “Everyone’s welfare in this pack rests upon my shoulders. Either you take up my words or watch another man claim your mate.”

Liam’s body tensed at her last statement. No, he could never watch Jazmine claimed by another man. The only pair of arms that would wrap around her beautiful body would be his arms.

“I have to speak to Cohen about the leaves first.” He joined her exiting the office.

The two of them went to the backyard where Cohen was. He had just finished his patrolling schedule and was about to head to the pack mansion when Mira and Liam exited the pack mansion.

“Babe, Liam is taking some time off,” Mira said. “He’s going to see his sister and a beautiful lady.”

Cohen was about to ask something when his expression changed. He chuckled before squeezing Liam’s shoulder.

“About time,” Cohen said. “Take your leave. I’ll let someone take over your duty for as long as you need to be on leave.”

“Cohen, I know it’s a bad time to take some leaves,” Liam said.

“Bad time? I think it’s a perfect time. Get your matter done, Liam.”

Mira ushered Liam to the pack mansion as she said, “Do not return to this pack mansion without her.”

“Is that a threat?” Liam glanced over his shoulder.

“That is a challenge,” She grinned, putting her hands on her hips.

“Challenge accepted,” Liam said.

He had made Jazmine his mission. He didn’t even know what the hell he was thinking five years ago for not taking the chance. But now, he was sure that he would never miss another chance. He would claim Jazmine as his mate. And, he would lay down his life for her if it was needed to.