~Liam~
I was yet to wrap my head around what I had just heard. I sat on the couch, trying to make sense of everything. Beta Mike had gone on a mission with Alpha Thompson. That was what Sophia insinuated, so why the murder? I remembered how he looked when he came from the back of his house. He had just showered, and he seemed a bit uneasy. What could have come over Mike to make him do this?
I now understood why Sophia's mother said I couldn't help them. I sat on the chair, clueless and confused. I should be celebrating by now, and Sophia should be with me; instead, there was a shadow of gloom over me.
"You'll be alright, Li," I heard Harper's voice in my head. I turned towards her, and her eyes were misty where she stood next to Lilly. Eleanor , my younger cousin, was in tears, too, and Gemma was consoling her.
How could my life take a turn in one night?
"It gets better, Liam," My Grandmother said, and I looked at her and shook my head.
"I never got to say goodbye or tell her how I feel. I never got the chance," I said, and she nodded and came to sit beside me on the couch.
"As cruel as this may sound, you should be grateful. We cannot be associated with that family. A serious crime has been committed, and Head Alpha Christian would hunt for them. Right now, their lives are forfeit," My Grandmother said and sniffled.
"Poor Sophia, such a gentle soul. How unfortunate she is to have such a father. Whatever the issue might have been, Mike should have thought of the well-being of his family and not acted foolishly, and now, he has destroyed their lives. His wife and child will remain in hiding for the rest of their lives. They have to live in perpetual fear for the rest of their lives. They will always be fugitives," My Grandmother said.
"How are you sure he did it? Did they ask the Gamma and Delta?" I asked, hoping that somehow they were mistaken and Mike was innocent.
"No, son," Grandpa Jake said. There was heavy sorrow in his voice.
"The Delta and Gamma are out searching for him right now. They will have to report to the head alpha later this evening. We are lucky Mike said you did not come by his house. It means you won't need to answer questions, and the royal family's name won't be near this mess." My grandfather said, and I figured that was the reason Mike lied. But someone that lied to protect my name would not do something as heinous as murder the alpha and his family. Something was wrong.
"I do not think he did it," I said with a low whisper, and Grandpa Jake sat beside me and rubbed my back gently.
"I wished things went differently between you and Sophia, Liam. She is great. I can understand your desire to believe his innocence, but he isn't. His fur was in the murder scene, his nails, fur, and claw marks in their wounds. They are still investigating. But all the evidence point to him. There was no one else there with them. He killed them and fled the scene, then instructed his wife to run away with their daughter while he tied up loose ends. He followed maybe shortly after he encountered you. You have to let it go, Liam, and move on. Your father was your age when his father made his girlfriend leave and seize communication. He was heartbroken for a while. No one knew he would ever settle down, but now, it is as if that never happened. I know you will get over this," He said, and I shook my head.
"Sophia is my friend..." I said, and Harper's phone began to ring. I knew it was her phone because we had the same ringtone as me, and my phone was out of business.
I looked at her, and the look on her face gave away who it was. It was either our father or mother. Most likely our mother. It made me nervous, and my stomach churned. Soon Harper walked to me and handed me the phone.
"It's Mom," She said, and I took it reluctantly, knowing that my Grandmother must have told her what had happened.
"Hello," I said, and I heard a sigh at the other end.
"Liam, where did you go last night? Everyone was worried about you," she asked, and I was speechless. How could I tell her my whereabouts without bringing up Sophia's father?
"I am fine. I just got excited and decided to go hunting all night," I lied and looked at my Grandmother, who had a look of disappointment on her face.
"I heard you went to Beta Mike's house. You did not know how scared I was when I learned what he had done. I was afraid that he might have hurt you, Liam. You shouldn't go off like that. Never go anywhere without Marvin, Oliver, and Miles. They aren't just your cousins but your team and future officers," she said, and I was silent. It was clear there was no point lying anyway.
"How are you feeling?" she finally asked, and I did not know how to answer the question. Everyone was there. It was as if my problem had become everyone's business.
"Do you mind if I call you back, Mom?" I asked her, and she sighed.
"I know you need a moment. Call me soon. Love you," she said, and we hung up.
My mother was cool like that. She knew when to give us space, and I appreciate her for it. I handed the phone to Harper and got off the couch.
"Where are you going?" My Grandmother asked.
"Out, I needed some air," I said, looking at everyone around.
"I am coming with you," Miles said, and I nodded. It was okay to have him come along.
"Me too," Marvin said, and I did not need to guess whether Oliver would be coming.
We left the house, and Miles suggested we go hunting to take my mind off what had happened. But how could I forget it when yesterday would have been an excellent day for me? The thought of never seeing Sophie again was harsh, and I could not accept it. I did not want my grandparents to know my plans because they would freak out.
We got to the woods, and I did not feel like shifting. Alex had not said a word to me, so I knew he needed his minute. We were attached to Sophia, and she was always there. I could not believe that ripping her away from my life could be as easy as this. I had never felt so powerless in my life. Growing up, I believed I could have anything and do anything I wanted. What had happened had shown me my limitation, and they were painful.
I had heard the story about Susan and my father several times, but that wasn't Sophia and me. I couldn't let that happen to us. My grandfather caused my father's limitations, but I knew my father would not hinder me.
The dirt on the Maguires was too much to wash off.
I wondered if it were possible to find a way to have them pardon Sophia and her mother while they hunted for Mike to explain himself.
I also knew it was wishful thinking because my family would not get involved unless it became a general problem involving all regions.
I leaned against a tree and ran my fingers through my hair out of frustration.
Sophia's voice over the phone played in my mind. She was afraid. I couldn't just sit back and let this happen to her. I needed to do something, and I needed to do it quickly.
As much as I hated to admit it. There were just two people I knew that could get involved with the matter regardless of the consequence, and they weren't in Grizlo.
~Liam~I remained with my back against the tree, thinking about how best to handle the matter with Sophia. Letting go wasn't going to be an option. How could I lead one day if I could not save the girl I wanted to spend the rest of my life with? Only I knew how I felt."What's up?" Miles asked me, taking off his shirt. I shook my head."I am not hunting; Alex isn't in the mood," I said, and he stopped what he was doing."There is nothing we can do about it, Li. Mike fucked up. You aren't King yet and won't be for a long time. I think you should just let her go," he said, and Marvin and Oliver approached."Yeah, I think you should let her go, Li. She is great and all that, but this is beyond us. You heard our grandma Stephanie; we can't get involved. Even our parents can't get involved. I doubt we would still be in Grizlo if they had told either of our fathers. They know how close we are to the Maguires because of your relationship with Sophia. There is no way they would have let us re
~Tamia~ (Liam's Mother and The Queen)The news of the incident in Grizlo had profoundly unsettled us. My anxiety grew when Stephanie called, informing me that Liam hadn't returned home. I repeatedly dialled Harper's number, each time hearing that they were still searching for him, which only heightened my fear.The situation worsened when I discovered that Liam had visited Mike's house, and the man had claimed not to have seen him, as relayed by Jake. Even though our world had been relatively peaceful, I knew all too well that trouble could arise at any moment. Nothing felt within our control. So I anxiously waited, contemplating whether or not to inform Sylvester.My worry escalated upon learning about Mike's criminal activities. I feared that Liam might have witnessed something and been harmed as a result. It took great courage to keep this information from Sylvester. Finally, hearing his voice brought immense relief. I was grateful that Liam was unharmed and safe from Mike's grasp
~Tamia~We remained in the garden, engrossed in conversation about various topics until evening when we received word that our children had returned from Grizlo. I quickly rose from my seat, followed by Claudia, Linda, and the rest. Nicole, whose children were grown and residing in Lucland City, didn't share the same sense of anticipation as we did.With haste, I made my way towards the driveway in front of the mansion. The vans had arrived, and our children were disembarking. Keith and Joseph immediately embraced Harper as she emerged from the vehicle, and she reciprocated their affection with a radiant smile.One by one, the others showered our returning children with hugs and warm greetings. Charlotte playfully tousled their hair, patiently waiting for her younger siblings to join. It was a joyful but crowded scene, the culmination of the news they had shared and the realisation that their graduation meant they wouldn't need to return to Grizlo.I approached Harper, and her face li
~Liam~The words I uttered left my parents in a state of shock, evident from the look in their eyes. My father stood before me, rendered speechless, and I couldn't bring myself to meet my mother's gaze.Though my actions were impulsive, I stood by them wholeheartedly. I had carefully considered everything, engaging in discussions with my sister and cousins during our journey home. When I heard Sophia's distressed voice on the phone, I realised I couldn't remain passive, waiting for someone else to come to her rescue. I had to take action. While everyone else sought retribution, I was the only one determined to uncover the truth. I yearned to understand why Mike had committed such acts, and I was resolute in my mission to save Sophia."No, absolutely not," my mother's voice cut through the air, and I turned to face her."Liam, are you out of your mind? You've just returned home. You graduated yesterday, and now you want to throw your life away in haste. We know nothing about Alpha Thom
~Sylvester~(Liam's father and the King)I didn't know how much Liam had grown until he made that dangerous request. Despite my instincts telling me to shut it down, I could see the determination in his eyes. The permission he sought was merely a formality; he had already made up his mind.Liam was just like me, driven by an unwavering determination and a sense of responsibility. Every fibre of my being screamed that he would continue with his investigation, even if I tried to dissuade him. Tamia, too, recognised this, which explained her tears. We both knew that nothing we said would make him hold back. He was resolute in his mission to save Sophia, and nothing would deter him.This was no trivial matter. Liam cared deeply for the girl, and while we suspected there were romantic sparks between them, we never anticipated the magnitude of his devotion. Unbeknownst to him, he was willing to walk through fire for her. I couldn't allow him to traverse this path alone. My father had caused
~Liam~Restlessly, I waited in my room, eagerly anticipating my father's summons to his office. He had given me his word that I could be present when he contacted Alpha Christain, and I anxiously awaited that crucial call.Harper had retreated to her room to freshen up, while I remained in mine, contemplating ways to assist. The details of the situation still eluded me, but I hoped that clarity would soon prevail. Anxious thoughts filled my mind, but I hesitated to confront the problem directly. If Sophia hadn't confided in me about her and her mother's distress, perhaps I could have found some solace in the notion that time was on our side. I knew her father would never harm her, which was precisely why he had sent them away initially. However, I couldn't extend the same assurance to the unidentified men who held her and her mother captive on their vessel.Marvin's voice echoed in my mind, asking, "How did it go with your folks?"It was frustrating that we weren't living in the mansi
~Liam~Sleep eluded me the entire night. My mind was consumed by nightmares, haunted by the terrifying possibilities of what might have befallen Sophia. Restlessness permeated the air, not just within me, but also evident in Alex. Eventually, I sat up in bed and gazed out at the moon through my window. Its radiant glow captivated me, and in my desperation, I found myself wondering if it held some wisdom. Could the moon speak to me? Could it somehow reveal the whereabouts of Sophia? Perhaps its luminous beams had touched her in some way tonight. I entertained these thoughts, hoping for a sign or inspiration on where to search and whom to reach out to. But deep down, I knew it was mere wishful thinking.The reality was that as each day passed, the chances of finding Sophia diminished. We were now entering the third day, and the weight of that grim possibility pressed heavily upon me. Dread filled my thoughts, refusing to be averted, as I confronted the unsettling notion that time was sl
~Liam~The weekend arrived, and as my father had promised, we set off for Lucland. Everyone else went to the city, except for our grandparents who chose to stay at the estate. We didn't go to our mansion because it wouldn't accommodate all of us. Instead, we went to the Stepanov estate, where Lord Newton and his wife were present, making it a suitable alternative.I found it difficult to concentrate. My desperate desire was to go East and implore Uncle Leo for his assistance. Since I hadn't received any further communication from Sophia, I could only hope that she was safe.In order not to dampen the mood, I made it my duty to conceal my feelings and fears throughout the weekend.Harper could see through my pretence, but she allowed me to keep up the charade. Meanwhile, Charlotte, Gemma, and Jewels were preoccupied with plotting ways to sneak off and explore the Islands when we reached Mountain. The triplets were daring and persistent, and I was grateful that they were taking on those