Liam’s P.O.V.
Mai Blackwood. The na itself was a curse. A specter looming over my life since I was four years old. She was the reason for my scars—the reason the left side of my face was a permanent reminder of my humiliation. I thought I hated her. No, I knew I hated her. So, why was I standing in the middle of my room, staring out the window, still replaying the strange look she had when she left my house yesterday?
********
When Mai left my house after our lesson, I should have felt relief. I should have exhaled, glad to be free of her presence. But I didn’t.
Instead, I sat at my desk, tapping my pencil against my notebook, recalling the way she had looked before she walked out. It wasn’t like her—not even close. Mai Blackwood was always sharp-tongued, full of mischief, and practically vibrating with smugness. But today? She had been quiet. Too quiet.
And when she looked at before leaving, sothing flickered in her silver eyes. Sothing fragile.
It had to be my imagination. Maybe she was just playing so elaborate ga again. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that my mother had said sothing to her—sothing that had wiped that usual smirk off her face.
But why did I care?
I groaned, running a hand through my hair. This was Mai we were talking about—the devil in human form. The girl who had ruined my life, who made my existence hell every chance she got. The sa girl who, for so reason, wouldn’t stop following around.
I shook my head. Not my problem.
The next day at school, I couldn’t shake the mory of her face.
I didn’t even notice her at first. Not until third period when I glanced back, and there she was. Sitting alone at the back of the classroom.
Mai Blackwood, the queen of mischief and mayhem, was slumped in her chair like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. Her usually bright, piercing silver eyes were dull, her gaze fixed on the desk in front of her.
It was... unsettling.
She wasn’t supposed to look like this. Mai was supposed to be smirking, her sharp eyes glinting with mischief as she plotted her next act of terror. Instead, she was just... quiet.
I didn’t know why I cared. Maybe I was a masochist. Maybe I just wanted my torntor back at full strength so I could justify my own anger. Whatever it was, I found myself sneaking glances at her throughout the day, trying to figure out what was wrong.
Lunch was my usual ti of peace—or as close to peace as I could get in a school cafeteria. I was sitting alone at my usual table in the corner, eating a sandwich, sketchbook open, pretending to be absorbed in my latest drawing when the entire room seed to freeze. It took ti to realize what was happening.
Ollie Blackwood, the Alpha’s son, Mai’s twin brother, was walking toward .
Whispers spread through the cafeteria like wildfire. People turned to stare, so even nudging each other as if they couldn’t believe what they were seeing. Ollie and I weren’t exactly friends. Hell, we had barely spoken to each other over the years. So why was he heading straight for ?
I set my sandwich down, already bracing myself.
Then, to my absolute horror, Ollie pulled out the chair across from and sat down.
Just like that.
I nearly choked.
"What... are you doing?" I asked slowly, eyeing him like he had just grown a second head.
Ollie flashed an easygoing grin. "Relax, Rivers. I’m not here to kill you."
"That doesn’t answer my question."
Ollie leaned back, folding his arms. "I just wanted to check in on you."
I raised an eyebrow. "Check in on ?"
Ollie nodded with a smile on his perfect face. "So... how’s life?"
My mouth hung open. "Are you seriously making small talk right now?"
He smirked. "What, I can’t ask how you’re doing?"
"No," I said bluntly. "Not unless there’s a hidden agenda."
"Fair enough." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Look, I’m just going to get straight to the point. I know my sister’s been... following you around. Making you uncomfortable."
My stomach dropped. "I—uh—"
"Relax," Ollie said, holding up a hand. "I’m not here to start anything. I just wanted to apologize on her behalf."
I stared at him, unsure of how to respond. Apologize? For Mai? This was new.
"She’s... complicated," Ollie continued, his tone softer now. "But she actually cares about you, Liam. She’s not like this with anyone else. I know she’s done so awful things, and you have every right to hate her, but... maybe you could give her a chance?"
A chance? Was he serious?
Ollie sighed, running a hand through his ssy hair. "If you can’t, I get it. I promise I’ll talk to her and make sure she stops following you around. But... I’ve never seen her cry over soone before, and that’s saying sothing."
My breath caught. "Wait. Cry?"
He nodded, his expression grim. "Yeah. Over you. Don’t ask why; I don’t even think she understands it herself."
I should’ve been happy—relieved, even. Ollie was offering a way out, a guarantee that Mai would leave alone. That should have been the perfect solution.
The mont I should have eagerly said yes, please, do that.
But the words never left my mouth.
But instead, all I felt was... annoyed.
"Why is she doing all of this?" I asked, my voice sharper than I intended. "What’s her motive?"
Ollie hesitated, then shook his head. "I wish I knew. She’s not exactly an open book. But for what it’s worth... I think she’s trying to make things right."
I scoffed. "She has a funny way of showing it."
Ollie leaned forward, his green eyes locking onto mine. "Liam, I’m not going to sugarcoat it. My sister is a troubled girl. She’s been through things that... well, let’s just say they’ve left her with so rough edges. I’ve been hoping for years that she’d change, and now... you’re giving hope."
"?" I asked incredulously.
"Yeah, you." Ollie’s voice was earnest now. "I know it’s unfair and downright shaless to ask this of you, but... if there’s any chance you could help her—pull her out of whatever darkness she’s trapped in—I’d owe you. Big ti. I’d have your back, no matter what. Even if it’s against her."
I opened my mouth to protest, but he held up a hand.
"I know it’s a lot to ask," he said quickly. "And if you can’t do it, I get it. But... think about it. Please."
After lunch, I couldn’t focus on anything. Ollie’s words replayed in my head like a broken record.
I should’ve said no. I should’ve walked away and gone back to my life. But every ti I glanced toward the back of the classroom and caught Mai watching , sothing stopped .
The mont our eyes t, she quickly looked away, pretending to be absorbed in her notebook. It was almost... cute.
Cute? What the hell was wrong with ?
After school, I decided to test a theory.
I took the long route to the lake. Sure enough, I caught sight of her trailing behind , keeping her distance but clearly following.
In so weird, twisted way, it made smile.
When I reached the lake, I set up my sketchpad and pencils, pretending I hadn’t noticed her. But the rustling in the bushes gave her away.
"You know," I called out, not looking up, "you’re really bad at hiding."
There was a pause, then Mai stepped out from behind a tree, her arms crossed.
"I wasn’t hiding," she said, her voice defensive. "I wanted you to know I was here."
"Sure you did," I said dryly. "Just sit down, already."
She froze, staring at like I’d just grown a second head.
"What?" she asked, her silver eyes narrowing. "Why are you being... nice?"
I shrugged. "You never listen when I tell you to leave, anyway. Besides, your brother asked to help turn you into a decent person, even though that’s an impossibility. "
Her jaw dropped. "He what? That son of a..."
I smirked, enjoying her reaction. "You heard ."
She mumbled sothing under her breath, then crossed her arms. "I don’t need help becoming a good person. I’m not a bad person to begin with."
"Then leave," I said simply, turning back to my drawing.
There was a long pause, then the sound of her sitting down beside .
"I didn’t say I didn’t want your help," she muttered, her tone begrudging.
I bit back a smile, keeping my eyes on my sketchpad.
"Fine," I said. "But if you want my help, you have to do everything I say."
She nodded, a flicker of determination in her eyes. It was extrely funny. Goddess, I was really a masochist.
I couldn’t help but wonder what the hell I’d just gotten myself into. Could soone like Mai Blackwood really change? Or was I just setting myself up for disaster?
Either way, I was in too deep now.
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