Beneath the Alpha's Moon Chapter 198: A Suprise Visit

Mai’s P.O.V.

Everything was smooth now—at least as smooth as life could get for .

For the first ti, I didn’t feel like I was constantly at war. I had co to understand my parents better, even if their brand of love was a little suffocating. My relationship with my brother, Ollie, had improved too. We weren’t bickering as much, and I no longer wanted to rip his head off every ti he opened his mouth.

The pack still hated . But honestly? I didn’t care. I had Liam.

Liam, with his quiet strength and that kindness that irritated at tis because he was too good for this world. Liam, who actually listened when I talked, who never brushed off when I ranted about things that made no sense. Liam, who made laugh—whether because he was genuinely funny or because my feelings for him were growing stronger every day, I wasn’t sure.

Liam had beco my anchor, the one thing that kept from drowning in the chaos of my own mind.

And if his parents still didn’t like ? Well, that was fine. They were at least used to barging into their ho every day. What they didn’t know, however, was that I snuck into Liam’s room every night.

Just to cuddle.

That had been going on for over a month now.

*********

One Friday evening, I flopped onto Liam’s bed with a dramatic sigh, folding my arms behind my head like I owned the place. Across the room, Liam sat at his desk, sketchbook open, lazily dragging his pencil across the page.

"You should’ve seen this kid today," I started, smirking. "Little brat actually tried talking back to ."

Liam glanced up, amusent flickering in his eyes. "And what did you do?"

"I handled it."

He shot a knowing look. "Mai..."

I shrugged, feigning innocence. "I might have gently reminded him of his place."

Liam snorted. "You an you scared him half to death?"

"Semantics."

Before he could retort, a knock ca at his door.

"Liam, honey," his mother called. "Can you run to the store and grab so spices for the soup?"

Liam let out a long-suffering sigh, snapping his sketchbook shut. "Yeah, Mom, I’ll go." He stood, grabbing his jacket.

"I’m coming with you."

He turned, exasperation all over his face. "Of course, you are."

I grinned. "You need to protect you."

Liam chuckled, shaking his head. "You really do follow everywhere. You know that, right?"

I tilted my head as if contemplating. "Yeah. And?"

He laughed, waving toward the door. "Fine. Let’s go."

The supermarket was its usual fluorescent-lit battlefield, filled with tired parents, grumpy cashiers, and kids with questionable decision-making skills. Liam and I wove through the aisles like an old married couple, bickering over spices and debating whether or not we needed snacks.

"You already finished the last pack of chips," Liam pointed out, raising an eyebrow.

"Correction: we finished it."

"I had like two."

I waved him off. "Irrelevant."

We moved on, but I felt the stares before I saw them. People whispering behind their hands, eyes darting toward before quickly looking away. I was used to it. But then—

A group of older won stood near the spice aisle, their voices just loud enough for to catch every syllable.

"I don’t know what’s worse," one sneered, "that she’s still in this pack or that he’s stupid enough to let her near him again."

"Maybe they’re both sick in the head," another snorted.

The world narrowed. Heat flared under my skin, my vision darkening at the edges. I turned sharply, my steps quick and deliberate. Liam barely managed to grab my wrist.

"Mai," he warned.

I yanked free, stalking toward them with a smile as sharp as a knife.

"Excuse ?" My voice was smooth—silk laced with steel. "Do you ladies have sothing to say to my face?"

Their smug expressions faltered, their spines stiffening like prey caught in the open.

I took another step, voice low and sweet. "I suggest you keep those tongues of yours in check before I rip them out and tie them around your wrinkled necks."

Their eyes widened in sheer horror.

Liam sighed behind . "Mai..."

The won stumbled over apologies, practically tripping over themselves to get away.

I turned back to Liam, who was biting his lip, shoulders shaking.

"You are such a bad influence on ," he wheezed, barely holding in his laughter.

I grinned. "Oh, you love it."

He just shook his head, still laughing as we continued shopping.

By the ti we got back to Liam’s house, the sky had deepened into shades of orange and indigo. I stopped at the foot of his porch, stretching my arms over my head.

"I have to go," I said, glancing up at him. "Evening training with Elizabeth."

Liam rolled his eyes, leaning against the railing with a smirk. "Of course. Go get stronger, you little nace."

I grinned, pulling him into a quick hug before kissing his cheek. "You love ," I sing-songed as I stepped back.

He snorted. "Yeah, yeah. Now go before Elizabeth hunts you down."

Laughing, I turned and jogged ho—only to freeze the mont I stepped inside.

The living room was full. Too full.

Papa Adrian. Aunt Juliette.

And—

My stomach flipped. Eldur.

They sat comfortably with my parents, Ollie, and Elizabeth, all talking like this was the most normal thing in the world.

"Papa!"

I barely gave him a second before running straight into his arms. He caught effortlessly, just like when I was little, lifting off the ground as if I weighed nothing.

"My little star," he murmured, squeezing tight. "I missed you."

I bead. "I missed you so much." I turned, throwing a quick smile at Juliette. "You too, Auntie Juliette."

Juliette reached over to ruffle my hair, her expression warm. "Look at you. You’ve grown more beautiful."

A throat cleared behind .

I turned. Eldur stood there, arms crossed, watching with that unreadable expression of his.

"You didn’t miss ?" he asked, arching an eyebrow.

I snorted, walking up to him before punching his arm—hard.

He winced, rubbing the spot. "Ow."

"That’s for not contacting ," I huffed.

Eldur sighed. "Yeah... I deserved that."

Ollie grinned from the couch. "Oh, you more than deserved it."

Later that night, Eldur, Ollie, and I sprawled across my bed, catching up like old tis. It felt good—easy. The way it always used to be.

Eldur smirked, propping himself up on his elbow. "So," he drawled. "Did you finally settle that little feelings conflict with Liam?"

Ollie cackled. "Settle? Please. Liam is the grand jewel to her. She’s attached. Obsessively."

Eldur’s smirk faded. He glanced at . "Is that true?"

I rolled my eyes. "Ollie is being dramatic. Liam and I just... understand each other."

Eldur’s silver eyes darkened for half a second before his smirk returned. "I’d like to et him again."

I nodded. "Tomorrow."

Teleporting into Liam’s room had beco second nature. He didn’t even flinch anymore.

He was already waiting—arms open.

Like always, I ran into them.

His warmth, his heartbeat, the steady rise and fall of his chest—it was comforting. Familiar. I lted into it, letting exhaustion slip from my bones.

"Eldur wants to et you," I murmured against his shirt.

Liam tensed slightly.

I placed a hand on his chest, tapping my fingers lightly. "Don’t be scared. I’ll protect you."

He chuckled softly, his breath warm against my hair. "Oh, so I’m a damsel now?"

I smirked. "Obviously."

He rolled his eyes, squeezing tighter. "Go to sleep, Mai."

The next day, I got dressed and, just like I had promised, I took Eldur with to et Liam at the lake.

The walk there was filled with Eldur’s usual teasing, but my mind was elsewhere. I wasn’t sure if this was a good idea. Liam and Eldur had t before and things didn’t turn out fine, but things were different now. I just hoped it wouldn’t be too awkward.

When we arrived, Liam was already sitting on a rock near the water, sketchbook in hand, looking up as we approached.

I grinned. "Liam, you rember Eldur."

Liam stood, hesitating for a fraction of a second before shaking Eldur’s hand. He was stiff. Too stiff. Even as Eldur smiled warmly, Liam’s shoulders remained tense, his grip fleeting.

A bad feeling twisted in my gut. Maybe this was too soon.

And then, the questioning began.

"So, Liam," Eldur said, his tone smooth, almost lazy. "How exactly did you ta Mai?"

Liam’s eyes flicked toward , shifting uncomfortably. "I didn’t—"

Eldur cut in with a smirk. "Do you have a death wish or sothing?"

Liam’s expression darkened slightly, his body going rigid.

I stepped in imdiately. "Eldur," I warned, shooting him a look.

Eldur laughed, holding up his hands. "Relax. Just making conversation."

Before I could respond, he turned to . "Wanna swim?"

I hesitated, glancing at Liam. He was still standing stiffly, fingers gripping the edges of his sketchbook. I wasn’t sure he was okay.

Still, swimming sounded fun, and maybe it would lighten the mood.

I grinned. "Hell yeah."

Turning to Liam, I tilted my head. "You coming?"

Liam smiled—small, almost forced. "I’ll sit here and draw."

Eldur rolled his eyes. "Let him be, Mai. Co on."

Sothing about Liam’s mood didn’t sit right with . But before I could protest, Eldur grabbed my hand, pulling toward the water.

The mont we hit the lake, all tension lted away. The water was cool against my skin, the sun warm above us. We splashed each other, laughing like kids.

Everything was fine.

Until I turned back toward the shore.

Liam was gone.

At first, I thought maybe he had moved to another spot, but then I noticed—

His books were still there. His bag was still there.

But he wasn’t.

Panic surged through my chest.

I scrambled out of the water, heart slamming against my ribs. "Liam?"

He didn’t answer.

I called louder.

Nothing.

And then, a chilling realization settled over .

Liam had vanished.