Chapter 19: A Warning About the Moon
344words
"The full moon is in three days," he said, staring straight ahead. "You should know that it affects all of us, not just Jackson. Even those with perfect control become more... instinctual."
"Are you warning me to stay away?" I asked.
He nodded. "It's not safe for you to be around us during that time."
"But that's when Jackson will need the treatment most," I argued. "I need to be there to administer it, to monitor the effects."
"No." His tone was final. "I'll administer the treatment. You'll prepare everything in advance and stay away until the day after."
I wanted to argue but recognized the immovable resolve in his voice. This wasn't negotiable—at least not yet.
"Alright," I conceded. "But I want detailed notes on how it works. Everything you observe, every reaction."
He seemed surprised by my easy agreement. "You'll have them."
As I gathered my bag to leave, I hesitated. "Liam... thank you. For letting me help."
He met my eyes briefly, and for a moment, I thought I saw something soften in his expression. "Jackson is what matters. If you can ease his suffering, that's... good."
It wasn't much, but coming from Liam, it felt significant. A tiny crack in the wall between us.
"I'll see you tomorrow," I said, opening the door.
He nodded once. "Tomorrow."
As I drove home that evening, I found myself thinking not just about the scientific challenge of treating Jackson's condition, but about the enigmatic Alpha who guarded his pack so fiercely. There were layers to Liam that I was only beginning to glimpse—pain and protectiveness, strength and vulnerability.
And despite his cold demeanor and distrust, I found myself increasingly drawn to uncover those layers, to understand the man beneath the Alpha. It was a dangerous curiosity, perhaps, but one I couldn't seem to suppress.
The werewolves might be the scientific discovery of a lifetime, but Liam was becoming a mystery I was equally determined to solve.
