Leah's POV
Liam's jaw clenched, but he didn't answer. He turned to me instead, softening just enough. "You okay?"
I nodded, shaky, pulling my clothes straight. "I'm fine," I lied, voice thin.
But Darren lunged, grabbing Liam's collar. "Did you fuck her?" he growled, teeth bared.
Liam shoved him off, hard. "That's not your business," he shot back. "But touch her again, and I'll rip your throat out."
The air crackled, thick with threat. Darren's fists balled, ready to strike, but I stepped between them, trembling but firm. "Stop," I said, louder than I felt. "Both of you."
Darren's eyes met mine, hurt bleeding through the rage. "Leah…"
I shook my head, tears streaming now. "You need to leave, Liam."
He blinked, stunned. "What?"
"You're fired," I said, forcing the words out, cold and sharp. "Get out. For real this time."
Liam's face crumpled, pain flashing raw in his eyes. "Boss, you can't mean that. After everything..."
"I do," I cut in, meeting his gaze, steeling myself against the ache. "You know what you did. The footage in my bedroom - it's all there. Leave now, or I call the police and charge you."
His breath hitched, and for a moment, I saw it - the bleeding hurt, the crazy glint of a man who'd give up everything if I asked. But then his jaw tightened, and he stepped back. "Fine," he said, voice ice. "If that's what you want."
I couldn't answer, couldn't trust my voice. He looked at Darren, then me, sorrow carving lines into his face. "Goodbye, Leah."
The air was thick with the scent of old wood and regret, and I felt the weight of every choice I'd ever made pressing into head. I was Leah, the Lycan Princess, but in that moment, I was just a woman unraveling, saying goodbye to a man I'd let down again. Darren's warmth lingered on my skin from our embrace, his kiss still burning on my lips, but the ache in my chest was for the wreckage I left behind me.
I'd watched Liam storm out, his broad shoulders rigid with fury, shoving Seth aside like he could push away the betrayal. The door slammed, a gunshot in the quiet, and I stood frozen, my breath catching as Seth's voice cracked through the haze. "Boss, what has Liam done to deserve this?!"His eyes were wild, his hands clenched into fists, and I felt the accusation like a blade.
I didn't answer, couldn't, my tongue heavy with truths I'd never speak.
Seth's voice rose, sharp and desperate. "He's been my only friend for years! You can't just hard-delete him like some corrupted file! First, you're all 'go touch grass, talk to people', and when I finally do? When I actually connect with someone? You pull the plug! What's next, huh? Sharbo? Gonna dump her into the ocean like bad code? She's a tank-raised shark, Leah. You know her survival rate in the wild is zero - the second she hits saltwater, it's game over. And Liam? Without you, he'll end up being torn into pieces, just like what Sharbo will be like!"
I remained silent.
His voice cracked, "I don't...I don't get you. Why does everyone who gets close to you end up in the trash bin? Like loving you's some kinda virus that needs quarantining?!"
His words carved into me, each one a lash, and I turned away, my arms wrapping around Darren as if his warmth could shield me. Darren's heartbeat was steady against my cheek, but it didn't dull the sting. Seth's glare burned into my back. "You two deserve each other,"he spat, and then he was gone, chasing after Liam, leaving me with the echo of his anger.
Leo slunk in then, his presence like a shadow creeping over a grave. His smirk was all teeth, his eyes glinting with that cruel amusement he wore like armor. He pointed at Darren, his voice dripping with venom. "You should just keep him as a dog forever, Leah. Then you can fuck whoever you want without feeling guilty about it."
Darren growled, lunging forward, but I caught him, my arms tightening around his waist.
"No, Darren," I whispered, my voice barely holding.
He roared, "I'll kill him! I'll fucking kill him!"
But Leo just laughed, unfazed. "What's wrong? Being Lycan's dog sting a bit? You're the son of a traitor, Darren. You're lucky to be alive. Sleeping with my sister, a noble Lycan Princess, is like bedding the Moon Goddess herself. But you're so fucking ungrateful. You got her pregnant and almost hit her. You think Lucian will let that slide?"
I roared, my Lycan voice ripping through the room, "Leo, shut up!"
He didn't flinch, his eyes narrowing. "You know what I hate most about you? You've had everything since we were kids, and you never cherished it. Always chasing what you can't have."
My control snapped.
"Get out!" I shouted, and he turned, but not before his voice slithered through the Mindlink - I know you want to die, Leah, but before you do, figure out what you're living for. You need a lunatic like me to teach you about life. Quote Lycidas, that's pathetic.
The room was too quiet after Leo left, just me and Darren, the air heavy with unspoken truths. I forced myself to speak, my voice low, raw. "I was with Liam because I had to give him a reason to leave. I don't expect you to understand or forgvie me, but that's the truth. I've told Lycidas I'd return to the Kingdom and be at His Majesty's disposal after our child's born. This house, everything I own - it's yours and the baby's. And Darren… I can't say if I've ever loved you, because someone who doesn't love themselves has no right to love anyone else. But this - this intimacy, this mess between us, this child - it's the closest I can get to love."
Darren's eyes held mine, steady and searing. "My biggest mistake was thinking I could save you every time. You always saved yourself, but you played this game, pulling me in, making me fall for you until I couldn't walk away."
I swallowed hard, my voice barely a whisper. "I'm your sickness, Darren. When I'm gone, you'll heal."
He stepped closer, his breath warm against my face. "If you're a sickness, I'd rather want it to be terminal. I want to be sick for my entire life. My brother told me to kill you before he died, but I fell in love with you instead. Is this crazy or stupid, I don't know, but I just can't help myself."
I pressed my hand to his lips, stopping him. "It's love, Darren. Loving someone is the purest thing there is."
He sank to his knees, kissing my belly where our child grew, his voice breaking. "I'm sorry, Leah."
I bent down, my forehead against his, tears burning my eyes. "Never apologize for love," I said, and we kissed, a desperate, fleeting thing that tasted of goodbye.
Then, Darren said, his voice hesitant. "Leah, I don't know if this matters, but when I was in Leo's lab, I heard him muttering about a game of gods."
My breath caught. A game of gods. The second time I'd heard it. Last time it was Finn who mentioned it.
"What else?" I asked, my voice sharp.
"He said he needed to crack it, that the answer was right in front of him. And then... he went into the library and spent hours there."
The library at Redwood Mansion. Greatgrandfather's library. My pulse quickened. In three days, I'd send Leo back. Maybe I could have a chance to search every shelf by myself.
But before that, I needed to talk to Leo.
He definitely knew somthing that I didn't.
And I had a feeling that my coo-coo head brother might need some kind of encouragement to spill it out.