I gasped as I watched both wolves seeking the victory of the fight. I could distinguish Mathews wolf ready to take Liam down and ready to protect me and his pack, but at what cost?

How would I be able to explain Liam's dead? Did I want Liam dead, just for finding out the truth?

I had to stop this. I walked closer to the wolves, but at the same time was clueless of what to do. I knew my human form was nothing against them. "Liam stop this!" I shouted and stepped closer to them with caution, but both continued fighting, ignoring my plea. "Please." I said when I noticed Mathew over Liam, his teeth so close to his jugular.

My breathing stopped and I was about to tell Matt to stop when Liam sneaked out of his grasp and pushed him back, sending him against a couple of trees.

"Mathew!"

Agh! How could I stop this??

Mathew quickly recovered and went for Liam without holding back.

"Liam, stop this! Please, Stop it now!!" I shouted once more and didn't realize how close I was to the them, because I felt a painful push at the right side of my body that send me flying a few meters away.

I moaned in pain, "Ahhhh!"

It hurt, shit. I had been hit by Liam. I sat on the floor trying to catch my breath when I heard a particular growl that made me tremble in fear. I looked up to find Mathew's wolf under Liam's.

He was going to kill him and Mathew wasn't doing anything to stop him. His worried gaze was fixed on me and he was slowly shifting back to his human form.

Oh no! Liam would finish him so easy. I sobbed and tried standing up, forgetting the pain.

"Serena." I heard his whisper, before he whimpered in pain as Liam crushed his body. His wolf coming down on him strong.

Save him! He can't die!... Stay strong, we are almost there. Mathew is waiting...

My own wolf encouraged me.

"Mathew," I whispered back. I wiped the tears rolling down my cheeks and finally managed to stand up. I walked as fast as I could towards him.

"Liam." I said firmly, "Listen to me. You are going to stop this right now! Leave Mathew alone..."

Liam tensed up and stopped his torturing on Mathew. "Stop it." His wolf slowly turned around and bowed with a growl.

That's when I noticed something was different. That singular growl was especial. I had seen all the pack bowing in respect for the Alpha family all the time and that particular growl showed respect.

"Shift back, please." I ordered and when I saw Liam's human body, I couldn't believe I had stop this. I made sure Liam had shifted completely and couldn't hold back any longer. I ran to my mate.

In seconds I was by Mathews side. I cradled his face in my hands as I heard him moan. "Matt, are you okay?" I asked with concern. "Please, answer me."

His eyes slowly open. "Are you?" I almost smiled at his response.

"Oh I'm so sorry Mathew, I really am." I sobbed and hugged him. "I can't believe you just shifted back and.. Liam was about to...and.. Mathew, I'm really sorry."

His fingers nuzzled my cheek. "Hey, I'll be alright. I was just worried, I don't want you repeating how sorry you are. You know I would give my life for you." He studied me with curiosity. "But Serena, are you sure you are okay?"

I nodded. "Yes, why you keep asking that? You were the one crushed by a damn wolf!"

"Your eyes." He interrupted.

"My eyes?"

"Yes?"

I didn't understand, what was wrong with my eyes. I shook my head and he clearly noticed my confusion. "They are different, they are.. shinning.."

Shinning?

I turned around to find Liam, watching us. He looked up and his mouth opened. Immediately, he placed his right hand over his heart and bowed again and that was all the confirmation I needed to know what Mathew really meant.

That's why Liam had followed my instructions, without arguing, with no hesitation.

It was starting. The Alpha in me, was slowly rising.

⌘ ⌘ ⌘

Liam, Mathew and I were sitting in the living room as if nothing had happened. Both of them had covered up their nakedness and now we were in the middle of an uncomfortable silence. Each one of us deep in thoughts.

I had seen myself in the mirror the moment we entered the cottage and I knew I had been right. My eyes in fact, looked different. They weren't that bright but they had a certain glow.

I couldn't believe my time had run out so fast. If my wolf was ready to be an Alpha, the Luna ceremony would take place in a matter of days.

"Spill it."

Mathew turned to me, anxious for answers.

I gave Liam a brief glance before turning back to Matt. "What do you want to know?"

"The truth." He answered, leaving me no choice of evading my lies or my secrets.

"Liam, is my.. will be my Beta and I'm certain nobody knows about you. I haven't told anyone yet because I want you to be safe. I can't do anything until I become the Luna, then I'll know for sure your pack won't be in any danger."

"Okay, I know that. But then.." he stopped, turned to Liam and narrowed his gaze. "Why were you mad? Why did you fight me off?" He asked directly to him.

Liam was as surprised as I was and I held my breath, waiting for him to answer.

"For her."

"I dont understand." Mathew looked at me and I knew he was trying to control his possessiveness over me. He wanted answers.

"I'll fight to dead for her."

"I know that, you are his Beta." Matt said and Liam laughed.

Matt didn't get what Liam meant, because he literally meant his words. He wasn't only my second in command.

"What?" Liam looked up at an angry Mathew and shook his head. "You don't know? ... Serena is promised. Her father, our Alpha, decided she will mate with the winner of the fight."

"What fucking fight?" Mathew asked angry and I knew this was about to get a hundred times worse, cause I'd never heard him swear.

"Between me and one of the soldiers."

Matt turned to me and he looked defeated. "Is that true?"

I sobbed. "Yes."

He walked away, growled and punched the nearest wall in anger. "Why didn't you tell me?! Why?"

"Because I was afraid!" I stepped to him and he backed away. Tears flooded my eyes at his rejection. "I was afraid of loosing you."

"I would've protected yo, would've done anything to keep you by my side."

"You don't know my father. When I saw your family and the pack, I knew I couldn't risk them for any kind of crazy feelings I had."

"This is more than 'crazy feelings', and you know that. I would have fought against them too, so I could have you."

"No! I wouldn't have let you!" I shouted scared. "My father.."

"Why not Serena? You can allow this boys to die and fight for you but you don't want me to?" He murmured sadly, and I cried.

"Mathew, you... I can't lose you. "

I didn't know for how long he stared at me, until he stormed out of the room. He was hurt and angry and for once, I didn't know how to fix it.

⌘ ⌘ ⌘

I looked at the clock one more time. It was already past midnight and Mathew hadn't returned, but I couldn't wait for him any longer. I had already been out of the territory for too long for the Pack not to notice. The only thing that helped was that Liam was with me. He was my only excuse, I only hoped it helped to cover up the puffiness in my eyes and my sadness.

"Ready?" Liam asked.

I nodded and we both started our way to the pack. We were careful, trying to look as if we had been out on a date or something even though the idea hadn't appealed to me at all. But that was all we had come up with.

"Thank you." I said to Liam while he accompanied me to my room. I wasn't sure why I thank him, but I knew he deserved it. He hadn't said one word to me since the discussion I had with Mathew and I was grateful, because I was sure in any minute I wold crumple down in tears.

We stopped at the door. "Liam, I..."

I felt his arms surrounding me and the tears flooded. "It's gonna be okay." He murmured against my hair.

"I don't know what to do." I confessed. He was the only one that knew everything and for some reason I trusted him.

"What do you want?"

I looked up to him, clueless. "I just, I don't wanna put his pack in danger. I can't allow it."

"Are you sure about that?"

On my mind, his dad, his brother, his pack and Mathew appeared. And I instantly knew what the answer was. "Yes." I wouldn't let anything happen to them, not even if that meant defying my father.

"Then you know what to do."

I hugged him tighter knowing I had to be strong, knowing I had to put my feelings aside and take responsibility of my actions. Knowing I had to leave Mathew behind...