The packhouse was quiet in the early morning, save for the soft creak of floorboards as Liam tiptoed down the hall. He hadn’t slept much, tossing and turning as his thoughts kept circling back to the boy they’d found yesterday—the boy who was now asleep in the spare room next to his.
Liam paused outside the door, staring at it as if it might swing open on its own. He hadn’t understood why he’d felt so strongly about bringing the boy back. He didn’t even know his name until the last moment—Theo. Even now, the name tugged at something in him that didn’t make sense.
Taking a breath, Liam pushed the door open gently. The room smelled faintly of the herbs the healer had used to clean Theo’s wounds, mixed with the sharp metallic tang of blood that lingered faintly in the air. Theo was curled up on the bed, his black hair sticking to his forehead as he slept. His face was pale but peaceful, and Liam felt a strange surge of relief at the sight of him breathing steadily.
“Why are you creeping around in here?” a voice asked behind him, startling him so much he nearly jumped.
Liam spun around to see his mother standing in the hallway, her arms crossed and one eyebrow raised. The Luna was small but carried a sharpness that could make even the warriors snap to attention. Liam tried to school his expression into something neutral.
“I wasn’t creeping,” he said, straightening. “I was just… checking on him.”
His mother stepped past him into the room, her gaze softening as she looked at Theo. “He’ll be fine,” she said, though her tone was clipped. “The healer said his wounds are already starting to close. He’s young. He’ll recover quickly.”
Liam nodded, but his mother’s next words caught him off guard.
“You can’t spend all your time worrying about him, Liam,” she said, her voice low. “You’re the Alpha’s son. You have responsibilities.”
“I know that,” Liam said defensively, though the words felt hollow.
His mother’s gaze lingered on him for a moment before she turned back to the door. “Let him rest. The Alpha wants to speak to you after breakfast.”
Liam waited until she was gone before stepping back into the hallway. He glanced at Theo one more time before closing the door gently behind him.
The dining room was bustling with activity when Liam arrived. Warriors and hunters sat around the long wooden tables, eating hearty breakfasts and laughing about something Liam couldn’t hear over the din. The Alpha’s seat at the head of the table was empty, though Liam wasn’t surprised—his father always ate quickly and left early to begin the day’s work.
Liam grabbed a plate and sat near the middle of the table, the familiar chatter washing over him. He barely managed two bites of eggs before he felt a presence behind him. Turning, he saw Theo standing in the doorway, looking out of place and hesitant.
For a moment, the room went quiet. All eyes turned to Theo, who shifted uncomfortably under the weight of their stares. His clothes were clean but oversized, borrowed from one of the pack’s storage trunks. The fabric hung loosely on his frame, making him look even smaller than he was.
Liam stood quickly, motioning Theo over. “Hey, over here.”
Theo’s hesitation melted slightly as he made his way to the table, sitting across from Liam. His gaze darted around the room like he was waiting for someone to tell him to leave.
“Are you okay?” Liam asked, leaning forward.
Theo nodded but didn’t meet his eyes. “Yeah. I just… it’s loud.”
Liam frowned. He was used to the noise, but then again, Theo wasn’t used to anything about pack life. “It’ll calm down in a bit. Here, you need to eat something.” He pushed his plate toward Theo, who hesitated before picking up a piece of bread.
“You don’t have to—” Theo started, but Liam cut him off.
“Eat. I’m not hungry.”
Theo gave him a faint smile, taking a cautious bite. Liam noticed his hands were shaking slightly, though Theo tried to hide it.
The room began to stir again as the pack returned to their conversations, but Liam caught snippets of the murmurs.
“Why’s he here?” someone whispered.
“Another stray? He’s not even packmarked.”
“He’ll be gone soon. Just wait.”
Liam clenched his fists under the table. Theo didn’t seem to hear, or maybe he was pretending not to, but the comments made Liam’s wolf stir uneasily. He wanted to say something—to tell them to shut up—but he knew his father wouldn’t approve of him making a scene.
Instead, he focused on Theo, who was nibbling at the bread like he hadn’t eaten in days. “You want to go outside?” Liam asked. “It’s quieter.”
Theo’s eyes flicked up to meet his, gratitude flashing across his face. “Yeah. Okay.”
---
The clearing behind the packhouse was empty, save for a few birds flitting through the trees. Theo relaxed almost immediately, his shoulders dropping as he tilted his face up toward the sunlight.
“This is better,” Theo said softly.
Liam sat down on the grass, leaning back on his hands. “You’ll get used to it, you know. The noise. The people.”
Theo’s lips twitched into a small smile. “Maybe. I don’t think they like me, though.”
Liam frowned. “Why would you think that?”
Theo shrugged, sitting down beside him. “I hear the way they talk. I’m not stupid.”
“They’re just… cautious,” Liam said, though the excuse felt weak even to him. “You’ll prove yourself. They’ll see.”
Theo’s smile turned a little sad. “You think?”
“I know,” Liam said firmly. “And if they don’t, it doesn’t matter. You belong here. I’ll make sure of it.”
Theo looked at him, his hazel-green eyes searching Liam’s face for something. Finally, he nodded. “Okay.”
For the first time that morning, Liam felt his wolf settle.
YOU ARE READING
The Alpha's Bond
Werewolf(This book is already complete. I will publish 5 episodes a day until it's finished, this is a long book.) Liam has always known his destiny: to become the King of Werewolves, unite the packs, and secure peace for the kingdoms. But when a strange pr...
