Chapter 3: Meet Liam

The jeep turned onto the main road. After months of tearing through mountains and training routes, Amelia’s city driving still felt like she was on the battlefield—lights on, quick lane changes, pushing the edge of the speed limit like it owed her money.

As the trees gave way to tall buildings and traffic thickened, she spoke again. “My family’s easy to get along with. Just stay a few days. If it gets awkward, wait until the rest of them come back and sneak off with them.”

“That’s not what I meant…”

Before Maverick could finish, Amelia floored the gas, overtaking a bright red sports car that had been creeping up in the side mirror.

She snorted. “They were the same way their first time coming to my place.”

“They?”

Maverick’s tone was filled with surprise.

“You mean… the whole team’s been to your house?”

“So shocked?” Amelia grinned.

“I just thought—” He realized how that sounded, face heating. “Sorry, Captain.”

Amelia was about to reply when her eyes flicked to the rearview mirror. The red car had caught up again, matching her speed.

She recognized the plate. Her smile sharpened.

“Hold on.”

“Huh—?”

The engine roared. The Jeep surged forward before Maverick’s confused “huh” could finish.

He looked back and immediately spotted the red sports car glued to their bumper.

His hand reached instinctively toward his waistband for his sidearm.

“He won’t catch up,” Amelia said coolly. “Don’t be so twitchy.”

The two cars tore through traffic. When they finally hit a quieter stretch of road, the Jeep veered onto a side route with barely any vehicles in sight.

Still, the McLaren stayed on their tail.

In the McLaren, the alpha behind the wheel shook his head with a grin. “Told you. Even in uniform, she’s a full-blown ruffian. You didn’t believe me.”

The passenger pushed his glasses up his nose and smiled lazily. “Ruffian or not… give it time. She’ll turn into a good little kitten soon enough.”

“You sure she’s not a tiger?”

“Cats are cats. Same difference.”

“You’re probably the only one who thinks that.” The alpha chuckled, spinning the wheel at the next turn. The McLaren purred toward the Langley estate.

Inside the jeep, Maverick kept an eye on the side mirror for a while, then finally let out a quiet breath and eased his hand away from the weapon at his waist.

“Captain… do you know them?” he asked cautiously.

They were on a mountain road now, the traffic gone, the world narrowing to asphalt and trees.

Amelia slowed down, letting the vehicle cruise. She hadn’t been back in a while, and what once felt dull and familiar now had an unexpected beauty to it.

Watching the blur of green pass by, she said, “Yeah..”

“Enemies?”

She paused, then nodded slightly. “You could say that.”

Maverick instantly tensed again, posture tightening like he was ready to jump out and fight.

Amelia chuckled. “Relax. They’re not a threat. Weak, really. Don’t get so worked up.”

A few minutes later, the black jeep pulled up in front of the Langley estate gates.

The guard in the booth immediately recognized the license plate, saluted smartly, and hit the button to open the heavy gates.

Amelia rolled down her window and returned the salute. The jeep eased forward, tires crunching on the pristine driveway.

By the time they entered the estate, word had already spread inside that Amelia was home.

.......

In the Langley family’s back courtyard, beside a still pond, August gave a light wave to a nearby aide who had just relayed the message. A warm smile crept onto the old man’s face.

As the aide departed, August turned and approached a young man in a wheelchair who was quietly watching koi dart through the water.

The pond rippled with movement, small fish creating concentric circles as they jostled for food.

“Liam,” August said with an easy grin, “Do you have time later today?”

Liam looked up from the water. For a brief moment, there was a softness in his cold features—something fleeting and almost tender.

But it was gone in the blink of an eye.

His usual expression returned: poised, indifferent, reserved. A wall behind glassy, pale eyes. Even his smile never reached them, always just enough to keep people at a distance.

“Yes, Grandpa August. I have time.” His voice was low, smooth—and colder than his eyes.

“Good.” August nodded approvingly. “Amelia’s back. You two should get to know each other over lunch.”

Liam’s fingers curled around the edge of the blanket draped over his knees, gripping it tight. After a pause, he said, “Alright.”

“We’ll be family soon, after all,” August added, beaming.

Then he turned and called out to a servant waiting across the courtyard. “Come on, let’s head inside.”

August walked off, steps light with satisfaction. Liam followed, his wheelchair humming quietly behind.

Inside the Langley estate’s living room, August glanced around and frowned slightly.

“She’s not here yet?”

He turned toward the man who had pushed Liam in. “Jacob, didn’t they say Amelia already arrived?”

“Don’t worry, General. Miss Amelia’s just parking the car,” Jacob replied. “She’ll be inside any second.”

“Alright then,” August said, turning back to Liam. “Wait here a bit, okay? I’ll go make sure the kitchen prepares a few of her favorites.”

Then, with a smile, he added, “Anything you’d like to eat, Liam?”

“I don’t mind. Anything’s fine. Thank you, Grandpa.”

August chuckled. “Such a polite kid. Alright, sit tight. I’ll be back soon.”

With that, he left the room.

Now the massive living room was empty, save for Liam, who remained quietly by himself. His eyes kept drifting to the entrance.

......

Moments later, the front door creaked open.

“Grandpa, I’m home!” Amelia’s voice rang out casually from the entryway as she sat on the bench, unlacing her boots.

When no response came, she slipped on house slippers and shrugged off her coat as she looked around the quiet home.

“Grandpa?”

She had just gotten one arm out of her coat when her eyes landed on someone sitting in the corner of the living room.

The alpha from her dream.

Her brain short-circuited for half a second—and then, almost instinctively, she let out a low whistle.

Both of them froze.

Shit. Amelia immediately turned her head away, muttered something under her breath, and forced her expression back to calm.

But her pulse was anything but calm.

Same pale skin. Same cold, elegant features. That sharp jawline. Those hands resting lightly on his legs—exactly like in her dream.

She felt a subtle warmth flare up at the nape of her neck, glands prickling with a low thrum.

“Hello.”

That voice. Amelia cursed internally. Fuck me. Even the voice is the same.

Amelia cleared her throat softly and walked into the living room, her coat casually draped over one arm. As she passed the edge of the couch, she tossed the coat onto it without looking.

Her gaze shifted to the blanket covering Liam’s legs.

“So… are your legs really useless?” she asked bluntly.

Liam’s cold expression wavered slightly. There was a flash of hurt in his eyes, soft and strangely out of place.

He nodded. “Do you want to see?” he asked, voice quiet.

Amelia waved him off. She dragged a chair over with her foot, flipped it around, and straddled it backwards, resting her chin on the backrest with a lazy posture.

“I don’t mind your legs.”

Liam’s gaze flickered. His shoulders shifted almost imperceptibly. “You know me?”

“I do.” Amelia switched the hand she was using to prop up her chin. Sitting like this, the two of them were eye level. “Liam, my…”

She didn’t finish the sentence.

At the mention of his name, Liam’s gaze dropped. The sadness in his expression deepened. “I know what they’ve said about me… You really don’t mind?”

His hands clenched the edge of the blanket tighter. The knuckles on his slender fingers went stark white from the force, the veins visible beneath the skin.

Amelia’s eyes flicked down to his hands, but she didn’t respond.

Silence stretched between them. When Liam looked up again, she was still staring at him. Then she whistled at him again.

“You—”

“You—”

They both spoke at the same time.

“You go first,” Liam said.

Amelia didn’t hesitate. She got to her feet, turned the chair around properly, and dropped back into it with her legs swinging casually. “Have you seen me before?”

Liam shook his head.

“You sure?” she pressed.

His grip on the blanket relaxed as he met her eyes again. “Yeah. I’m sure I haven’t.”

They stared at each other for a long moment.

Amelia gave a lopsided smile. “Alright, last question. You willing to get engaged to me?”

Liam didn’t answer right away.

She didn’t push him. Her legs slowed their swinging, and she started drumming her fingertips against her thigh.

“I am,” he finally said.

“Great.” Her fingers stopped. “Then we’re engaged.”

Liam tilted his head slightly. “And you? Are you willing to get engaged to me?”

Amelia thought for a second, then sank back into the chair. “Do you really think Grandpa and the rest would’ve agreed if I said no?”

“But I heard—”

“Your legs are like this, and you’ve still got time to listen to gossip?”

The second the words left her mouth, she knew she’d stepped in it. Her lips parted for an apology. “I’m sorr—”

But Liam was faster. He looked at her with an exaggeratedly hurt expression. “You do mind me, don’t you?”

Amelia had seen plenty of terrifying alphas on the battlefield—guys who could take out three men with a single punch. But this was the first time she’d come across an alpha who acted this… soft.

She got up, walked over to his wheelchair, and hesitated. She wanted to pat his shoulder—but what if she hit him too hard and injured him for real?

She reached out to ruffle his hair—but then her eyes fell on the exposed gland at the back of his neck. Her own gland immediately started to prickle with heat.

She froze.

Up or down, comfort or distance, nothing felt right. Amelia stood there awkwardly, not knowing what the hell to do.

Meanwhile, from the angle she couldn’t see, Liam’s lips were curled into a quiet, victorious smile.