Alone • Liam Dunbar

Fifteen

The sun hadn't set completely yet as the start of the scrimmage neared. Hints of pale blue toward the horizon darkened with the rest of the sky as each minute passed. People had started to pack the bleachers, a few painted signs here and there but nothing too extravagant.

I didn't really want to be here, in fact, I'd rather be anywhere else. With a possible assassin on the team though, I couldn't leave the others unguarded. 

I spotted Liam and Mason talking near the benches and I couldn't pull my eyes away from him. He was smiling with Mason, his shoulders shaking as his friend joked around with him. He was so at peace with Mason and I could feel deep down that he would never feel that with me.

None of them would.

No matter how much they lied and said they trusted me there would always be a part of everyone in the pack that still thought of me the same. Maybe not Malia, but that's because her coyote self she was forced to grow up in didn't see a problem with killing. That wasn't her fault, it wasn't something she could control. 

I could have run from Kate all those years ago, not trusted Gerard when I saw what he was turning me into, never taken part in the killing of so many innocent people, but I didn't do anything.

"You looked like an abandoned puppy."

Brett obstructed my view of Liam as he came to stand next to me. He had his gear in one hand, and his jersey and undershirt in the other, his bare chest on full display. I forced myself not to glance down, fiercely returning Brett's eye contact which made it a little too obvious that I wouldn't have minded looking.

"Did I not make it clear earlier that I don't like you?" I ignored his previous comment and put up my guard. He couldn't have come to me at a worse time, my mood leaving no room for banter.

Brett shrugged smugly. "Maybe I like a challenge."

I couldn't help but laugh at the prospect of Brett trying to flirt with me. He probably assumed it would bother Liam, but he had the wrong idea for that. Liam wouldn't blink twice at it.

Brett's smirk grew to a smile after my laughter, one that was admittedly nice. He looked like a douchebag when he smirked but when he smiled the dimples on his cheeks allowed his face to be more appealing and less punchable.

"If you hurt Liam," I took a step to the side of Brett, not wanting to be a part of whatever game he was playing anymore. "I'll come for you."

The threat wasn't specific, but it was there. Whether or not Brett would take it seriously was up to him, but for his sake, I hoped he did.

Brett leaned down, his lips hovering next to my ear. "Good to know."

A grin reluctantly overtook my face as I watched Brett saunter away, finding his suggestive actions more amusing than anything. He winked when he got to his team and put his things down on the grass when he noticed I was still looking his way, only making me shake my head.

A familiar chill ran down my spine, my instinct kicking in to look around as I felt someone's eyes on me. My gaze connected with Liam's instantly. 

He was still with Mason, but he was completely ignoring whatever his best friend was saying as he stared at me from across the field. 

I averted my eyes for a second and expected him to be looking elsewhere but he was still watching me. His expression was blank and it was unnerving that it didn't reveal anything to me of how he felt. Was he looking at me with pity? Repulsion?

He only took his eyes off me when Mason patted his arm and pointed to Brett. I followed his gesture and saw Brett getting dressed, smirking at Liam as he did so. Liam's shoulders tensed and his face shifted into a glower.