CHAPTER b53 /b

KILLIAN’S POV

Liana was curled up against me, her bare leg tangled with mine, her cheek pressed to my chest like it belonged there. And

God, maybe it did. Maybe she always had. But right now, with her wrapped around me, her scent all over my skin, and her heartbeat syncing with mine, I couldn’t stop the questions racing through my head.

So I asked the easiest one first.

“So… what are we nowb?/bb” /bI said softly, brushing her hair off her facei. /i

She tilted her head up slightly. “As in?”

“Like, are we a couple now? Or is this still just… I don’t know. Complicated?”

She let out a breath and looked me dead in the eye. “You’re the one still married, Killian. You tell me.”

“Technically.” I kissed her cheek. “I already signed the divorce papers. They’ve been sent to Cynthia. Just waiting on her

signature. Other than that, I’m a free man.”

She raised a brow. b“/bYou’re not free until that paper’s signed.”

“Alright,wyer girl. I hear you.”

It felt too easy. Too peaceful. And peace scared me more than war ever did. But still… I couldn’t help but want it. Want her.

I turned on my side and stared at her. “Can I ask something without byou /bpping me?”

“Depends,” she said, suspicious.

“Have byou /bever… been with anyone else? Since me?b” /b

She blinked, then smirked. b“/bbYou /bfirst.”

I sighed. “Of course I’ve been with women, Liana. It’s been seven years. I’m not a fucking monk.b” /b

Her smirk dropped. “So byou /bwere cheating on byour /bwife?”

“We were cheating on each other. We just didn’t bother giving it abel. Cynthia and I–lookb, /bthat marriage wasn’t about love. bIt /bwas political. She was chosen by the Elders to be Luna, and I agreed because it helped strengthen the pack. But it was never about her. It’s always been byou/b. bJust /bbyou/b.”

She looked down at her fingers for a long moment before nodding.

“bAnd /bbyou/bb?/b” I asked quietly.

“bNo. /bNo bone /belse. Not even closeb./bb” /b

Fuck.

I reached bout /band stroked her back again, pulling her closer, kissing her neck. Her skin tasted like vani.

But I couldn’t shake the memory bof /bbthat /bstrange aura from her earlier. That power.

I frowned

“What?” she asked

“Nothing.” I lied, shaking my head.

53

”

I couldn’t bring it up yet. Not until bI /bwas sure. Not until I spoke to her dad.

One day soon, I’d sit down with him. I’d prove I wasn’t going to hurt her. I’d tell him I’d die before letting anyone touch her

again.

I looked back at her. “When are byou /bing home with me?”

She sighed. “I want to. I really do. But…”

“But what? Your dad?b” /b

She nodded slowly.

“Liana, the house is exactly how you left it. Every damn corner of that ce still sme

you. I want you home again.

And this time, I’m not running off and leaving you behind. You and I–we live together. I’m not spending another second apart from you.”

She frowned a little. “What about Ryan?b” /b

“What about him? He’lle home with us ofcourse.”

She hesitated, “But….he just got enrolled in a school here.”

INF

I tilted my head, watching her closely, “Do you still want to stay here? If you want, I’ll figure something out. Heck, I’ll drive down every damn day if I have to. But bif /byou’re ready to really start something…e home with me. And as for your dad…

She looked up at me as I reached for her hand.

“I’ll handle him,” I said. “I swear to byou/b, I’ll find a way to make him understand. To make him ept us. Just… don’t tell meollibno/b. Please.b” /b/li/ol

She looked at me, a thousand emotions flickering in her eyes. Then she nodded.

b“/bDon’t make him angryb!/b”

“bI /bwon’t. bI /bpromise.”

“Reallyb?/bb” /b

b“/bOf course.”

b“/bOkayb./bb” /b

b“/bYes!” I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face. I felt like I’d justnded the biggest merger of my life. “There’s actually a g happening tonight. Eight o’clock. Some regional thing for the werewolf council. bI /bbwasn’t /bgoing to go, but this

btown /bis closer bto /bthe venue. bIf /byou’re up for it… I was thinking of taking you with me.”

“Sure thing,” she said casually.

b“/bbGreat/b. Now we go shop.”

“Shop? For what?b” /b

“Your g gown. There’s no way in hell I’m letting my woman walk into a royal function in anything less than stunningb./b”

She rolled her eyes, but smiled.

“Okay, but first we pick up Ryan. His school closes in 28 minutes.b” /b

“Perfect timing,” bI /bsaid, grabbing her hand and pulling her up with a grin.

I didn’t say it aloud, but in my head, all I could think was… My girl wasing home with me.