Azalea

I looked at Robert in horror. No, he couldn't do this; he couldn't let himself die like this. If I left him, he wouldn't survive. If I stayed, I might be able to heal him. But I saw it in his wolf's expression: he didn't know if he could kill this vampire. He was giving me all the time he could.

Robert was keeping the vampire away from the front doors. I dashed from the desk, my hand still bleeding, and hurried to the front doors. There were three sets; I threw my weight against the nearest, trying to push them open. They were locked.

I moved to the next set, pushing frantically. I heard a thud behind me and saw the vampire—Robert's wolf was falling to his knees. If Robert couldn't stop him, the vampire would be after me soon.

I moved to the last set, catching a glimpse of our car pulling up to the curb. I pushed, only to find it locked. Looking through the glass panes, I saw a bar securing the handles on the outside. They'd locked us in with the vampires. We weren't supposed to leave alive, at least not through the front.

I pounded on the door as Azeron stepped from the car. He heard the noise and was at the doors instantly. He ripped away the bar, and the doors flew open. He caught me as I fell.

"Vampires!" I said quickly. Before I knew it, Azeron scooped me up and shoved me into the backseat. He slammed the door before I could tell him to help Robert.

I turned to the front as Azeron slid into the driver's seat. The car lurched forward before his door even closed. "You have to help Robert!" I shouted.

"No, Luna, I need to get you to safety," he said calmly.

"Azeron, he's going to die if you don't get him!" I argued, my eyes prickling with tears. Robert and I had a strained relationship, but I never wished him dead. "I can heal him!"

"No, we need to get out of here now!" Azeron said more aggressively.

"What about Lyssa and Liam? I can help him; just go back," I begged. Azeron was silent as he sped away from the bank. I sat back, trying to hold back tears. Liam. I needed to tell Liam.

I pulled out my phone and dialed his number with shaky hands. "L-Liam," I said.

"Azalea, what's wrong?" he asked urgently.

"Your d-dad…" I choked out.

"Azalea, what happened?"

"There were two. I couldn't do anything," I gasped.

"Did something happen to my dad? Where are you?"

"Liam, I'm so sorry…" Holding back tears was impossible. Azeron reached back and took the phone. I heard him murmuring to my mate, but my mind was stuck on what had just happened.

Liam

"Sir," Azeron's voice came over the phone. Azalea wasn't being clear, but I was worried. Junior's call had come only a minute ago. My mother's pain wasn't a good sign.

"Azeron, what the f**k is happening?" I demanded.

"Robert and Azalea were attacked in the bank," he said quietly. "I arrived as she was trying to escape. Your father seemed badly injured."

"Where are you now?"

"Leaving the city," he said.

"No," I said. "Find a safe place and stay there. Drive around in case they're watching. Don't lead them back to the pack."

"Understood," he answered.

"I'm leaving now; I'll be there in a couple of hours," I said. "I'll call about the bank. I have friends in the police department, but I need information."

My mind was reeling. My father was dead. Azalea was alive, and my father had died letting her escape. So many questions, but all I could think about was getting to Azalea and telling my mother. She may have been his chosen mate, but she still loved him.

"Sir?" Azeron said. "I'm sorry."

"Thanks," I said. "Keep this quiet until I get there. I should tell my mother."

"Understood," he said. The line went dead. My phone buzzed with a message:

Lily

| D and I are on our way to your parents. | Is something happening?

I couldn't respond. She would help Mom and make sure the kids were okay. I needed to get to Azalea and contain this.

It took too long to reach Azalea. I ran as far as I could in wolf form but had to meet Felix outside the city to shift and finish the drive. A large wolf in the city would be suspicious.

Felix took me straight to the hotel where Azeron and Azalea were waiting. I stormed to the room, my patience gone. The door opened as I approached, and I found Azalea sitting on the bed's edge. She looked up, and I caught her as she threw herself at me.

"Liam, I'm so sorry!" she cried into my neck. I held her tight, relieved she was okay.

"Shhh," I said. "Are you okay?"

She pulled back, her face wet with tears. "I'm okay, thanks to Robert. Liam, are you okay?"

I blinked. "I don't know," I said softly. Her hands cupped my face.

"I wanted to help him," she said. "We never would have gone if we'd known we'd be ambushed." I nodded.

"The important thing is you're safe. I need to meet my police contact, then we need to go home," I said. Since her call, I'd felt a hole in my chest, so I acted as an Alpha should; I handled the situation.

Azalea laid her head against my chest, wrapping her arms around my waist. I hugged her close and looked at Azeron. He watched with a blank expression. Felix stood by the closed door. "Where were you?" I asked coldly.

"On an errand, sir," he answered evenly.

"Why?" I growled, my anger rising. It filled the hole in me, and I directed it at Azeron.

"Liam," Azalea said, pulling away.

I looked at her. "No," I said sharply.

"I asked Luna if it was alright when we arrived at the bank. Alpha Robert—"

"Don't say his name!" I cut him off loudly.

"Liam, he did ask. I agreed, and your father had no objection," Azalea tried to reason.

"You were tasked with ensuring her safety. Whether my father was present or not, that was your job!" I yelled.

"Liam, no—"

"Now my father is dead, there's a mess to clean up, and she got hurt!" I shouted, ignoring Azalea.

"My apologies," Azeron said.

"Get out!" I demanded. Azeron left as Felix stepped aside. Azalea looked at me, scared.

"Felix," she said softly. "Will you give us a minute?" Felix nodded and left. A tense silence settled between us.

Azalea didn't speak. She grabbed my hand and pulled me to the bed. Her hand caressed my cheek. "Everyone's gone," she whispered. "It's just us."

Her eyes saw right through me. "It's okay," she whispered. Her thumb gently moved across my cheek.

My eyes stung, and I cried. Warm wetness fell onto her fingers. "He's gone," I whispered. She nodded.

"I know," she reassured me.

"We never resolved things…" We never reconciled after the summit. We fell into awkward toleration.

"Liam, your father knew you cared," she said.

I shook my head. "He apologized, but… I never… I should have…" I had no idea what I should have done. But it didn't matter; my father was gone, and there would be no reconciliation.

"It's okay," Azalea said. She pulled me close. Her fingers ran through my hair as I leaned into her embrace.

Shortly after I composed myself, Felix knocked. "Come in," I called. He entered with his usual stoic expression.

"Detective Miller is here," he said.

"Bring him in," I said. I stood with Azalea, who draped her arm around my waist. I appreciated her presence.

"Good evening, Liam," the detective said.

"Ted," I greeted him.

"Wish this was under better circumstances," he said. "I have good news, though. I covered this up almost entirely."

"I appreciate that," I said.

"You'll need to make a donation to the DA's reelection campaign," he said with a frown.

I sighed. "Whatever it takes," I said.

"I also retrieved your father's body. Your uncle will receive it tomorrow," he explained.

"Thank you for handling this," I said, shaking his hand.

"Of course," he said. "I'm sorry for your loss." He left.

"Should we go home?" Azalea asked.

I watched the empty doorway, knowing Felix was outside. I hesitated; going home meant facing my mother's loss after a lifetime with my father.

"If you want, I can tell Lyssa," Azalea whispered, reading my mind.

"No," I said, steeling myself. "It should come from me."

We entered my parents' house. Lily sat on the couch next to Mom, and Damien stood by the kitchen. "Liam," Mom said, looking up.

"Hi, Mom," I said.

"Liam, where's your father? What's going on?" she asked urgently.

Azalea looked at me with concern. "Something happened today," I began. "Why don't Lily, Damien, and Azalea take the kids home, and we can talk?" Mom's face grew worried, her lip quivered.

"Go hold her hand," Azalea prompted, linking her arm in mine. She nodded before heading down the hall to the kids' rooms. I sat next to Mom, taking her hand. A few minutes later, Azalea came down the hallway carrying Azly and holding Leo's hand. Junior followed, his face showing he knew something was wrong.

Damien took Leo, who hugged him and laid his head on his shoulder. Azalea gave me a tight smile as Lily followed her and Damien out. As the door closed, Mom turned to me.

"He's gone, isn't he?" she asked in a broken voice.

"I'm sorry, Mom," I said. She squeezed my hand.

"That was the pain, wasn't it?" she asked. I nodded. "What happened?" Tears leaked from her eyes. Suddenly, she looked much older.

"Azalea and Dad were attacked at the bank. Vampires attacked, trying to get Azalea," I told her. "Dad defended her, keeping them busy so she could escape. It was two against one. Azalea said he struggled with one of them."

"So he saved her?" she asked breathlessly.

I nodded. "Yes, he kept the vampires busy so she could get away. She wanted to heal him, but he told her to run, and she listened."

Mom pursed her lips and nodded. A sob escaped her lips. "Of all the ways that dumb wolf could show you he accepted your mate," she said through a tear-filled laugh. "He had to get himself killed. The words were just too much."

"Mom," I whispered.

"I know he struggled to show it, Liam, but your father loved you. He was finally coming around to Azalea. I think he was actually starting to respect her," she said.

"I know, Mom. I never told him, but I knew after our argument at the summit. He came to tell me. I should have told him I forgave him," I said.

She shook her head. "That wasn't your job." She hugged me tightly, and I let her cry on my shoulder.