Chapter Seventeen - The Comfort

AN: I made a mistake in the last chapter when Jin speaks for the first time. Can't believe I missed it! Anyway, it's fixed now, but that means I lost all the embedded comments. *sad face*

The Comfort

Abigail's POV

My outburst is ignored.

Jin doesn't move, staring Liam down. Meanwhile Liam is as still as a statue. Too still. Like a predator ready to strike.

The hair on the back of my neck stands on end. The air is thick with tension. A fights about to break out and I don't want this over me. Jin and Liam are brothers and I'm not worth breaking up a family.

Sucking in a deep breath I step between them. "Stop."

Bad idea.

Jin frowns down at me.

Liam's lips curl around his fangs. "Do not come between us, Abigail."

"I don't want the two of you to fight," I argue. How can Liam so easily threaten his own brother? My anger towards this man returns full force. "And how dare you!? Jin is your brother and he was just protecting me. Something you won't do."

Liam tenses, a strange emotion flickering over his glowing eyes. "Don't presume to know what I would and would not do for you, Abigail."

"It's pretty damn clear, Alpha!" I shout.

"Stop." The word is tight and clipped. It's a simple command. One Liam expects me to obey. And I almost do, until I see Amelia's smug smile behind his back...

"Go to hell, Liam!"

Abigail, no!

Around the room are soft gasps of surprise.

You go too far.

Liam takes a step towards me, his lips pressing into a firm line. I balk, feeling a tinge of fear. I can see the rage in his glowing eyes. Never has he looked at me with that level of fury. But I don't back down. I'm done being pushed around by him.

I expect him to punish me. Hit me. Maybe even kill me. Instead, he grows disturbingly still once more. "Get out of my sight. Both of you," he bites out through clenched teeth.

He's dismissing me? What the hell!

"Excuse me?" I snap.

Do as he says.

Ignoring my wolfs warning I open my mouth to yell at him some more but Jin grabs my arm. He shakes his head at me, tugging me towards the door. I let him, glaring at Liam the entire time. "I hate you, Alpha. And I fucking mean it."

To my surprise Liam's gaze drops to the ground. "I know you do," he replies quietly.

Tears spill over my cheeks. I shake my head, leaving the dining room with Jin. He guides me back to my room while I sniffle and cry like a little baby. Then he sits me on my bed, wraps a blanket around my shoulders, and pats me on the top of my head as if I really am some child.

"You didn't have to do that," I hiccup, wiping at my eyes.

Jin shrugs, slipping his hands into his pockets.

I roll my eyes. "So what, now you're back to not talking again?"

He sighs. "Stay," he orders. Then he leaves. I watch him go, unsure what he's doing. I still can't believe he actually spoke at all.

Jin returns a few minutes later with a tray of food. Sitting on the bed with legs crossed he sets the tray between us. Crossing my legs, I turn to face him and we eat together on my bed in silence. It's not uncomfortable and really I don't need him to talk, I just need him to be there. And I hope he realizes how much I appreciate what he did for me.

He knows.

My lips twitch. The rejected half-breed and the mute werewolf. What a pair.

When we're done eating Jin takes the tray, and with one last pat on my head he leaves me alone. Lying back on the bed I stare up at the canopy, my mind a whirlwind. I half expect Liam to come bursting into my room at any moment to put me in my place but he never does.

We are lucky.

I nearly snort at that.

This is not a joke. Alpha's wolf is dangerous and he demands respect.

That's not my problem.

It is! He will make you submit.

She sounds almost scared.

He does scare me. And he excites me too.

"That's messed up," I mutter.

It excites you too!

"Shut up!" My cheeks flush. I can't really deny it. Memories of what happened in Liam's office make my body heat uncomfortably. I must be seriously demented.

And how does my wolf even know all of this about Liam's wolf? She always seems to know so much more than me.

Sometimes...his wolf and I...talk to each other...

Wait. What!?

My wolf talks to Liam's wolf?

It is a connection. Through the pack.

"Why didn't you tell me!" I cry.

Alpha did not want you to know just yet.

Why the fuck not!?

I do not know.

Damn Liam! Damn him straight to hell. Is that how he always knows what I'm doing and feeling? Because my wolf is a snitch?

Never! I never said anything. He just knows.

I think on that for a long time. There are so many things going on with the pack that I don't understand and it drives me crazy. Why would Liam keep that from me? I would have found out eventually...

"Do you talk to other wolves too?"

The beta's mostly. Samuel's wolf is a riot.

I smile as I hear my wolf chuckle in my head. "What about Roland?"

His wolf is very different. Kind of stern. No sense of humor really.

That's surprising. What about Jin?

His wolf does not speak. He just...growls a lot.

Interesting.

Amelia's wolf is a bitch, just like her.

No surprise there...

We should kill her.

"Oh my god!" I exclaim, rolling over in bed.

I mean it. She will challenge us again.

My wolf is awful. But I know she's right. Amelia is going to be a real problem but I don't know how it works among packs. Can she challenge me? Would I have no choice but to take her on? How am I supposed to stand a chance? I can't turn or fight. I don't even know what a turned werewolf looks like.

They are big. Monstrous.

Crap! Then I really wouldn't stand a chance.

The hour's tick by but my brain doesn't stop replaying the events of the day. My anger, that stupid whore Amelia, that fact that my wolf can talk to other wolves, the look at on Liam's face whenever I tell him I hate him.

The time flies by. It's nearly one in the morning before I realize how long I've been agonizing over all of this. I need to sleep but I don't want too. I don't want another nightmare.

I know what I need - who I need - to keep away the nightmares. Even before his mark Liam's scent alone brought me peace. Why was he the only one to make it all go away?

He comforts you. As a mate should.

It's not fair. I shouldn't need to rely on him or want him the way I do. But tonight I just can't stand the thought of sleeping in this room. There has to be someplace else. Someplace that will bring me comfort, if only for tonight.

His office?

It was worth a shot.

Picking up a blanket and pillow I open the door to my room and I peek outside. It's quiet and dark. I don't hear any pack members walking around but I also have no idea how many of them are staying in the mansion.

Creeping down the hall I make my way quickly down the stairs to the second floor. The hallways are dark and eerie but thankfully I don't run into anyone along the way. Once outside Liam's office I shut my eyes briefly and pray he isn't there. Then I gently push the door open, wincing when it creaks slightly. Poking my head inside I breathe a sigh of relief. His office is empty.

Slipping inside I shut the door. His scent envelopes me like a warm hug and my eyes flutter shut. I stand there for long moments, just breathing it in. My heart aches painfully but at the same time I feel a sense of relief.

Lying down on the leather sofa I arrange my pillow and snuggle under my blanket. Liam's scent is so strong it's as if he's in the room with me. As if he's lying right next to me.

I can't believe it's come to this and I remind myself that it's only for tonight. I just want one night without nightmares. One night imagining that Liam really is here with me, watching over me, caring for me. That I'm not just some half-breed pet dog.

Amelia's right...

I am pathetic.