usatvline Chapter 208: The Secret
Chapter 208: The Secret
Scarlett’s POV
Liam took a slow step forward. The possessive aura radiating off him was overwhelming, yet he kept his hands firmly at his sides, respecting the invisible line I had just drawn in the sand.
"So, Scarlett," Liam murmured, his voice dropping into a low, smooth baritone that vibrated right through the soles of my feet. "Since today is my day... I would like us to go out on a date tonight. Just you and me. No pack business, no brothers, no distractions."
My heart did a sudden, violent flip inside my chest. A date? With Liam? Out of the three of them, Liam was always the most calculated, the most controlled. Going out into the world with him felt intense, but I couldn’t let him see how much his invitation rattled me.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced my face to remain completely expressionless.
"Okay," I said, keeping my voice as cool and indifferent as possible. "We can go out."
A small, rare smile touched the corner of his lips, softening the hard, sharp angles of his face. He moved closer, his dark woodsy scent washing over me like a wave, until he was standing right over the bed. He leaned down slowly, giving me plenty of time to pull away if I wanted to. I didn’t move.
His lips brushed against my cheek. It wasn’t a demanding kiss, just a soft, lingering pressure that left a trail of fire in its wake.
Fuck.
Deep inside my mind, my wolf purred loudly, stretching out and soaking in the affection like a starved animal. It was humiliating how quickly she submitted to his tiny gesture. I want him, she whispered, scratching at the walls of my consciousness. We want him.
I squeezed my eyes shut for a brief second, trying to fight down the sudden ache blooming in my core. As I looked up at Liam, a realization hit me like a slap to the face. Among the three brothers, he was the only one who hadn’t touched me yet. He was the only one I hadn’t been intimate with.
And then, just as quickly as the desire hit, a cold bucket of reality poured over my head.
Shit.
There were still so many secrets between us. Huge, explosive secrets that could tear this fragile agreement to pieces before the week even ended. The brothers had absolutely no idea what had happened during the five years I was gone. They didn’t know that Leo had already broken his celibacy and had sex with me. And Leonard... Leonard still had no idea that I was the mysterious masked dancer he had completely ruined himself for that one wild night. He hadn’t clocked it yet, but he was smart. Eventually, he would connect the dots.
If Liam found out—if Liam found out what the others had already done with me—the training yard fight from five minutes ago would look like a playground dispute. He would tear the pack apart.
A heavy frown settled on my face, and my shoulders stiffened as the anxiety took over.
Liam’s sharp eyes caught the shift in my mood instantly. As an Alpha, he was finely tuned to my every emotion. His brow furrowed, and a flicker of genuine concern crossed his features as he tilted his head.
"What is it, Scarlett?" he asked softly, his voice rich with a deep, protective instinct as he sensed my sudden worry. "What’s wrong?"
I forced a tight, breathless smile, desperately trying to mask the panic in my chest. I couldn’t tell him the truth. Not yet.
"Nothing," I lied, looking down at my hands before meeting his dark, intense gaze again. "I’m just... I’m just worried about the prophecy. Ma’am Olivia’s visions are heavy, Liam. I’m worried about what’s coming for us."
Liam looked at me for a long moment, his dark eyes searching my face as if trying to read every hidden thought behind my panicked expression. Slowly, deliberately, he moved closer and knelt down on the floor right in front of me, bringing himself down to my eye level. The sight of a powerful Alpha lowering himself like this just to reassure me made my breath hitch.
He reached out, gently capturing my trembling hands in his large, warm palms. "We will work this out, Scarlett," he promised, his voice rich and steady, anchoring me against the storm of my own anxiety. "I know the prophecy is terrifying, but we are stronger together. You can control my brothers, and you can control me. See? You are doing great already. I am giving you space, and I am following your rules."
I swallowed hard and nodded, desperately hoping the guilt eating at my stomach didn’t show on my face.
Liam squeezed my hands gently before leaning in to press a soft, lingering kiss right against my forehead. "I’ll ask a maid to bring a dress up for you," he whispered against my skin, his warm breath sending a shiver down my spine. "I’ll pick you up by 6:00 p.m."
"Okay," I murmured, nodding my head again.
He gave me one last reassuring look, stood up, and quietly walked out of the room. The door clicked shut, leaving me completely alone with my racing thoughts. Even though Liam had just been incredibly sweet, I was still fucking worried. The weight of the secrets I was keeping from him and Leonard felt like a ticking time bomb. How long could I really keep them from finding out the truth?
All throughout the day, I stayed locked inside my room, too anxious to face the rest of the pack house. True to his word, a maid knocked on my door later that afternoon and brought in a large, elegant box.
Once she left, I took off the lid and pulled out the dress Liam had chosen. It was a stunning navy bodycon gown that stopped right under my knees. The fabric was luxurious and heavy, hugging every single curve of my body like a second skin. I put it on, turning in front of the mirror, and couldn’t help but gasp softly. It fit me so perfectly, accentuating my waist and hips in a way that was both classy and incredibly alluring.
I did a light, simple makeup look to enhance my features and let my chocolate-brown hair fall loose around my shoulders in soft, natural waves. By the time I put the finishing touches on, the clock on the wall chimed.
It was exactly 6:00 p.m. Right on time, a firm, familiar knock echoed through the quiet room.