LIANA’S POV

“Liana.”

I was already halfway down the hallwayb, /btrying to breathe and failing miserably, my hands shaking as they attempted to wipe away the tears that just wouldn’t stop falling from my eyes, when I heard someone call out my name, and I froze, not out of recognition, but because I honestly didn’t expect anyone to even notice me in that moment, let alone speak to me.

I turned, slowly, reluctantly, and when I saw the man standing there, a stranger with dark eyes and a firm jaw, dressed like someone who knew money and wore power like a second skin, I had to blink twice to be sure he was talking to me.

He took a careful step closer, his tone calm but unmistakably concerned. “Hey. Are

byou /bokayb?/bb” /b

I shook my head without thinking, biting my lip hard to stop the next wave of tears from bursting out.

He sighed. “Didn’t think so. Don’t say you are.”

“I’m fine,” I lied, voice low and cracked. “It’s just… I needed some air.”

He didn’t look convinced. “You’re drenched. And shaking. That’s not just air.”

I looked away. “I’m fine.”

There was a pause before he offered his name. “Darion. Alpha Darion of the GrayMoon Pack.”

That made me nce back at him.

He gave a half–smile. “You’re Liana. The one Killian Wolfe marked. I saw you walk in with him.”

My heart squeezed, hearing that name again.

bDarion /bfollowed my gazeb, /band when he saw Cynthia watching us from across the ballroom like a hawk, his jaw tightened little. b“/bCome bon/bb. /bLet’s get you out of here.”

I hesitatedb. /bI bdidn’t /bbknow /bhim. But I didn’t want to stay here either.

b“/bbThank /bbyou/b,” I mumbled.

Without another word, he walked me out, keeping a respectful distance but close enough that I felt oddly safe.

He brought his car baround/b, a sleek, pitch–ck beast, and opened the door for me. I got in.

bThe /bsilence in the car wasn’t awkward. It felt… necessary. Like he understood that sometimesb, /btalking was too much.

After a while, he pulled into a boutique. Very bexpensive/b–looking.

“Why are we here?” I asked, confused.

a

He nced at me “bYour /bdress is soaked. You look like byou /bneed something dry. And something that’ll make you feel human

againb” /b

“I don’t want anything bexpensive/bb,/b” I said quickly.

“You’re not buying it,” he replied calmly. “Come on.”

Inside, a woman approached immediately. b“/bAlpha Darion, weeb./bb” /b

“Give her whatever she bwants/b,” he said simply.

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I followed the woman but stopped her before she could lead me to anything too sparkly.

“Something simple. Just… jeans or something. I’m not in the mood for mour.”

She nodded and brought me to a section that felt more like me,fortable, in, real.

I changed into jeans and a soft ck top. When I stepped out, Darion looked up.

b“/bbYou /blook more like yourself now.”

I smiled faintlyb. /b“Thanks.”

He paid, and we were back in the car in minutes.

“Where to?b” /bhe asked.

bI /bpaused. “Anywhere that isn’t back there. I can’t face Killian right now. Or Cynthia.”

He nodded. “I know just the ce.”

It was a quiet barb, /bnot loud, but still lively.

He ordered a round of shots and handed me the first.

“Drink. Trust me, you’ll feel better.”

I raised a brow. b“/bIs that professional Alpha advice?b” /b

He chuckled. “Something like that.”

I took the shot.

Then another. And anotherb. /b

bBy /bthe fifth one, I wasn’t holding anything back.

“So,” he said gently. b“/bbYou /bwanna talk about it?b” /b

I let out a humorlessugh. “Where do I start? That the woman who tormented me my entire life poured water on me at a g? That she still thinks she owns the man who swore I was his future? That everyone there looked at me like I was filth bfor /bdaring to stand next to himb?/bb” /b

He leaned forward slowly, his expression thoughtful. “bI /bmean… it’s notpletely surprisingb, /bis it? You know Cynthia’s been with Killian for years. They were even married. It’s not easy to erase that history just because he marked someone new.”

bI /bblinkedb. /b“What are you saying?b” /b

bDarion /bshrugged, lifting another shot bto /bhis lips. b“/bbI’m /bjust saying… men like Killian don’t change overnight. And people talk. bYou /bknow he’s running for Alpha King, right? That rolees with responsibilities… image… stability.b” /b

bMy /bthroat tightened. “He said bI /bwas his choice. His bLuna/b.”

Darion tilted his head. “Did he bsay /bthat before or after he showed up at that g still married to Cynthiab?/bb” /b

I stared at him, quite confused

“Look Liana,” he replied calmlyb, /bsetting the ss down. b“/bbI’ve /bknown Killian a long time. We’re… Uhmm… Sometimes friends… But that doesn’t mean I agree with how he handles things. Seeb, /bI’m not trying to bupset /byou, but Cynthia’s not just some jealous wife She’s smart Strategic And very much still involved in his life. The things she said tonight… maybe they bweren’t /b

all bbes /b

I shook my head “He’s divorcing her.”

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“Is he?b” /bDarion asked, gently. “Or is that what he told you to keep you quiet while he runs his campaign? It wouldn’t be the first time Killian’s yed both sides to get what he wants.”

I looked down, my hands tightening around the shot ss.

“I’m just saying,” he continued softly, b“/byou deserve to know what you’re getting into. You deserve someone who chooses you publicly. Not someone who hides behind promises and leaves you crying in restrooms while his wife attacks you.”

He reached across the table then, his fingers brushing lightly against mine before taking my hand fully in his. He held it like

he meant it, firm, intimate, warm.

b“/bYou don’t deserve this kind of pain,” he said. “You deserve better, Liana. Let me take care of you. Just for tonight. Let me be

the one who doesn’t make you cry.”

I didn’t answer right away. The alcohol was starting to cloud my head, and his words… they were gentle and soft and sounded too good, too easy.

He stood up slowly, still holding my hand. “Come dance with me.”

I followed.

On the dance floor, the lights blurred everything, the music was loud enough to drown out thought, and Darion, no Killian was close, his hands on my waist, his breath warm against my ear, his voice low and smooth as he leaned in.

“You’re beautiful,” he murmured. “You’re strong. But you’ve been carrying too much. Let me help. Let me hold you. Let me be

the one who stays.”

I closed my eyes, swaying slowly, his voice washing over me like a drug.

“I believe you, Killian,” I whispered, the words tumbling from my lips without thought.

Killian stilled, just bfor /ba heartbeat, then leaned in closer, brushing my cheek with the back of his fingers before cradling my face, his gaze locked on mine with something dark and heated swimming in his eyes.

His lips lowered to mine, slowly, deliberately, and I didn’t stop him. I couldn’t. My eyes fluttered closed, my hands gripped his arms tightly, and I leaned up into him because I needed someone, anyone, to make me forget everything for just a

moment.

bBut /bjust before his lips touched mine, a feral growl ripped through the air, so loud and so primal it stopped the music in my headb, /band the next thing I knew, Killian was yanked baway /bfrom me so fast I stumbled back in shock.

And standing there, chest heaving, eyes glowing with rage, was another Killian.