My eyes welled up with tears. "But we just met," I said, fighting back the tears.

"This saddens me as well, dear girl. I wish things were different, and I could stay with you, but I cannot. The gift I give you will be a physical one; it will help you stand strong by your mate's side. But please, never lose sight of your first gift. It is the one you should cherish most. Always."

The soft light around me began to dim. The wolf in front of me dissipated. "Wait, Clemencia, what is happening?"

"Goodbye, dear Azalea. It has been a pleasure," her voice faded, and darkness enveloped me.

Liam paced his bedroom floor while his uncle examined Azalea. As soon as his teeth pierced her skin, she screamed—a heart-wrenching sound, far worse than he expected. Before he could lick the wounds to seal them, her head fell back, and she was gone. Her body lay limp beneath him, and he couldn't wake her. He tried for at least five minutes before calling his uncle, who arrived immediately.

"Well?" Liam asked impatiently.

His uncle looked at him sideways. "I cannot explain why she fainted after you marked her. Her pulse and breathing are normal; I find no signs of significant danger," he said.

"So how long will she be out? How do we wake her up?" Liam nearly yelled.

"Calm down. This seems beyond medical explanation, nephew. I don't know when she'll wake up. We must let her wake on her own."

"No! I just got her back!" Liam's breathing grew heavy. He was anxious that he'd hurt her.

His uncle stood and approached him, and Liam felt Gavin nearing the surface. His uncle placed a hand on his shoulder and looked into his eyes. "You didn't do this to her. This isn't your fault," he said calmly. "You're saving this girl, piece by piece. Just be here for her, love her as she needs. One day, she'll be whole, and I think you're the only one who can help her get there."

Liam stared blankly. His uncle gave him a tight smile before dropping his arm and leaving the room.

"Gavin, what do I do?"

No answer came. What was going on? He felt Gavin, but he wasn't responding. He sighed. It was hard to accept his uncle's words after their conflict. It felt as if every ounce of Azalea's pain was his fault. How could he piece her back together if he kept tearing her apart?

Two agonizing days passed since he'd marked her. She hadn't moved, and neither had he. Gavin remained silent, leaving Liam to wallow in his thoughts. He dozed off a few times, never sleeping more than an hour. He always woke with a strange feeling, frantically realizing what had happened.

Damien visited a few times, trying to draw him away from Azalea, but Liam couldn't leave her side. Alpha Isaac repeatedly requested an audience, but Damien thankfully dissuaded him.

Liam's chest ached; he hadn't breathed properly in two days. He'd gotten her back, she'd accepted him, and just like that, he'd lost her again. He rubbed his hands over his face, trying to scrub away the anxiety, fear, and exhaustion. He just needed her to open her eyes. He needed to know she was okay.

"Liam," a soft, angelic voice floated to his ears. His head snapped up; his eyes locked onto hers. A smile played on her lips.

"Baby, you're awake," he said in disbelief. He reached forward, brushing her hair from her face. She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. Panic seized him. "No!" he said quickly. Her eyes snapped open, her face registering confusion. "You can't close your eyes again. You can't leave me," he said weakly.

"Liam, what's wrong?" she asked quietly.

He took a deep breath. Every word from her was a breath of fresh air. "Azalea, you've been out for two days…" he told her.

"No, what?" she asked, sitting up slowly, trying to make sense of it all.

"I marked you, and… and…" He struggled to form the words.

She reached out and placed her hand on his arm. "I'm okay, Liam. I promise," she said, trying to soothe him. It worked. He couldn't bear it any longer. He pulled her into his arms, holding her close. He sat on the bed, pulling her onto his lap. He buried his nose in her neck and inhaled deeply. "I'm okay," she whispered repeatedly.

After a few minutes, he loosened his grip. She pulled away slightly and looked into his eyes. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her soft lips. She kissed him back tenderly. He savored the feel of her mouth on his, not wanting to let her go.

When they finally pulled apart, her gorgeous green eyes looked at him with concern. "Are you okay?" she asked quietly.

"I am now that you're back," he told her honestly. He needed to know, so he asked, "What happened? Where did you go?"

"I'm not sure. But I met someone," she said slowly.

"Met someone?"

"Yes. I met my wolf."

"Azalea, what do you mean?"

She took a deep breath. "She's gone now, but we spoke. She explained some things, and there are things I need to tell both you and Gavin."

"Baby, you've lost me. What are you talking about?" he asked desperately, searching her eyes.

"Do you remember how Alpha Isaac said my bloodline carries certain gifts?" He nodded. "My wolf came to me. She told me of the first gift she gave me and the second she was giving me before she left."

"She left?"

Sadness clouded her eyes. She looked down, a tear escaping. He wiped it away with his thumb, waiting for her to continue. She took a deep breath. "My wolf's first gift was forgiveness and mercy. She said it would help me in my fate as Luna. Somehow, she knew I would need it to forgive you. She gave me that gift when she first came to me. But because I wasn't physically strong enough, she couldn't stay with me forever. She held on long enough to give me a second gift. But she needed me to be marked to be strong enough to receive it."

She looked into his eyes, waiting for him to understand. He blinked, trying to grasp what she was saying. "I don't understand…"

"Gavin didn't know it, but she was pushing you to mate and mark me. She said she was responsible for what happened…" She paused. More tears fell. "It wasn't his fault, Liam. It wasn't your fault either. He was being driven to insanity to mate and mark me. My wolf needed it to happen so she didn't have to hold on any longer."

"So, you're saying…"

"Yes," she said softly. "It wasn't your fault. It wasn't his fault."

Azalea

"It wasn't your fault. It wasn't his fault," she told him. She looked into his eyes. So many emotions crossed his face; she couldn't begin to guess what he was thinking. "Liam, say something…"

He nodded. "I… I don't… It wasn't…"

She gave him a small smile. "Liam, I forgive you. I forgive you both." Almost immediately, he smashed his lips to hers, kissing her as if his life depended on it. His arms tightened around her, holding her close as if she might disappear. One hand moved up her back and into her hair, cradling the back of her head. The other wrapped around her waist, holding her tight. She held his face in her hands. He kissed like he needed her to live, and she kissed him back just as hard.

He finally released her lips. They were both breathing hard. "It's okay," she told him breathlessly. Warm tears poured from his eyes. "I love you, Liam."

"I love you so much, Azalea," he said. After a few more minutes, their breathing calmed. He repositioned them so he was sitting against the headboard. She laid her head against his chest and listened to the rhythmic beat of his heart. He buried his nose in her hair. They sat there for a while; she thought he might have fallen asleep. She knew he just needed her near him. By the looks of him, he hadn't slept since he'd marked her. There was one more thing she needed him to know before she talked to Gavin.

"Liam?" she said softly, not wanting to wake him if he'd fallen asleep.

"Mmmm," he hummed. She knew he was fighting it. He didn't want to sleep now that she was awake.

"There's one more thing," she said hesitantly.

"What is it, baby?"

"I still need time. I forgive you, but I still need time…" she said, hoping he understood.

"You can have all our lives if it means you'll stay with me forever," he said softly. She could hear the raw emotion in his voice. She smiled, snuggled closer, and closed her eyes. After a few minutes, she could hear his breath even out. He was finally falling asleep. She let herself fall asleep in his arms.

She felt hands stroking her hair when she woke. Liam's nose was buried in her hair again, his other hand mindlessly drawing circles on her back. She lifted her head to look at him.

"Good morning, beautiful," he said with a smile. He looked so much better.

"Morning," she said, smiling back.

"Did you sleep okay?" he asked.

"Yes. Did you?" He had color back in his face, and his dark circles were almost gone.

He nodded. "Much better with you in my arms," he said with a handsome smile. She laid her head back against his chest and listened to his breathing. They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes. "As much as I want to just sit here with you forever, there are things we need to do," he said, a little disappointed. She nodded. "First, shower," he said. She giggled.

"Yes, you very much need a shower. It smells like you haven't showered since you rescued me," she said jokingly.

"Well…" he said guiltily.

"Liam!" she exclaimed, sitting up and smacking his chest.

"I couldn't leave your side! What if you woke up and I wasn't there?" he said. His eyes were wide. He was so serious. It was so sweet it melted her heart.

"Okay, but next time, just leave me with Lily and take a shower!" she said.

"No next time," he said, burying his face in her neck. She could feel his worry. He never wanted her to be hurt or away from him again.

"You're right, no next time," she said softly.

They took turns showering. She went first. When she exited, Liam had clothes in a basket on his bed for her. They weren't her own things, but they were her size and style. She wondered if this was Lily's doing or his own.

She dressed in a black blouse with gold and white flowers and black jeans. When the bathroom door opened again, Liam stood in the doorway, a towel precariously low on his hips. She involuntarily licked her lips and felt warmth pooling low in her stomach. He chuckled.

"Like what you see, kitten?" he said seductively. She swallowed. He continued to chuckle. "It's the mate bond, baby. Now that you're marked, you'll feel a stronger attraction to me." She nodded. He was clearly amused as he went to his closet. She went to the bathroom to fix her hair. Realizing she had only a hair tie, she tried to finger-comb her red curls.

Liam entered the bathroom, now dressed. She looked at him in the mirror, her mouth watering. He wore a gray polo and dark jeans. His arms bulged slightly from the sleeves, and his muscular chest was visible beneath the shirt.

"We can get your things soon, I promise. I should have thought about that sooner, I'm sorry, baby," he said, coming behind her and placing his hands on her waist. She shook her head.

"It's okay. I have clothes, at least. Thank you," she told him with a smile. He leaned forward, brushing her hair away from her neck and kissing his mark on her skin. Tingles ran through her neck. She could feel his smirk.

"Beautiful," he whispered. She blushed. He stood up, moving next to her to get ready. She began pulling the top half of her hair into a twisted bun.

"So, uh, what do we need to do?" she asked.

"Well, unfortunately, we need to speak with your uncle," he said.