"You have to let her go," Doug said.
It would be the most challenging thing he'd ever have to do, but the most decent thing he’d ever done, human or not. "I know," he reluctantly admitted.
"Then—"
"All right!" he snapped. "I will. I'll end it tonight."
The thought tore through his heart and sent a fiery rage coursing through his veins. "It's for the best," Mike murmured.
"Shut up, Mike!" he spat.
They stared at him as if they had no idea who he was anymore; he wasn't entirely sure he knew who he was either. "The girl is across the hall," Doug informed him.
A muscle twitched in Liam's cheek. "Get rid of her."
"But—"
"I said get rid of her!"
"You need to feed, Liam," Jack said.
"I'll kill her if I do."
He spun away from them and flung the door open so forcefully the plaster cracked. He didn't care as he stormed down the hall and back toward the party. His breath was coming in rapid pants by the time he made it to the ground floor. He paused to gather his control before he walked back into the party. The last thing he wanted was for Sera to see him like this. He would scare the hell out of her.
Harnessing his willpower, he slowly regained control of his rapidly swaying emotions. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to move out of the stairwell and back down the hall. There seemed to be even more people than before, and the smell of alcohol and sweat permeated the air. People bounced into him as he shoved his way forward, heedless of their cries of protest. He had left Sera by the dance floor, but she was no longer there.
He turned around and started shoving his way back through the crowd. He found Kathleen and Danielle at the doorway of the kitchen. "Where's Sera?" he yelled above the noise.
"She went to get another drink!" Danielle shouted.
Liam glanced at the keg by the front door, but she wasn't there. He turned and headed toward the back rooms. There were at least three kegs there. He stepped through the double doors and spotted her talking to a tall guy with brown hair. She was smiling, but she looked more than a little uncomfortable as she said something, and then turned to leave. The man's hand shot out, grasping her arm to stop her. He saw the tremor rocking her as she turned back to him.
For a moment, Liam saw nothing but red. Then, he was rapidly moving across the floor.
"I have to go," Sera told him.
"Can I get your number?" the man inquired.
"I have a boyfriend."
"So?"
Sera was unsure how to respond.
"So that means back off." Liam seemed to come out of nowhere to grasp the guy's arm.
The guy's mouth compressed as he turned toward Liam. "No one asked you, pal," he said coldly.
"Let her go!" Liam commanded.
Sera gaped in astonishment, unable to believe what was going on. The guy's hand fell from her arm, but resentment radiated from every inch of him. However, it was nothing compared to the wrath blazing from Liam. She was truly frightened as she gazed at his impassive face and fiery eyes. He looked like he was about ready to kill the guy.
"Hey, what's going on?"
Sera let out a breath of relief as Mike appeared at Liam's side with Doug and Jack behind him. "Nothing," Liam grated.
"I was just talking to the girl," the guy said coldly. "If you have a problem with that, then we can solve it."
"Yes, we can," Liam growled.
"I don't think so," Mike interjected, shooting a pointed look at Liam before stepping between them. "There will be no fighting, right, Liam?"
Liam's gaze remained locked on the guy in front of him. His whole body was stiff, and he knew he was close to breaking, close to a place he’d never been before. But seeing the guy touch Sera, and hearing what he'd said unleashed something inside him he hadn't known existed.
"Liam." Sera's voice and her small hand on his arm helped pull him from the fiery haze blurring his vision. He glanced at her. She stared at him with pleading, troubled eyes. Her lower lip trembled as she looked over at the guy, then back at Liam. "Please don't."
He stared at her, his jaw clenched as he released the guy's arm. "I think you'd better go," Mike told the man.
The guy looked at Mike and then at Liam. "Assholes," he muttered as he walked away.
Liam's jaw clenched, but he managed to refrain from going after him and beating him to a bloody pulp. His shoulders slumped, and he turned to look at Sera. "You okay?" he asked.
Her eyes rapidly scanned his face. His eyes were still filled with fury, but it was easing as the familiar warmth started to seep into them. She hadn't seen anyone look as wild, not since Jacob, and he had terrified her. It was a new side of him, a side she didn't like.
"I'm fine. He was just talking," she murmured.
He reached out to touch her cheek, but she flinched involuntarily away. "Sera..."
She shook her head as tears welled in her eyes.
"Will you come upstairs with me?" he asked.
She wrapped her arms around herself in a desperate attempt to stop the shaking rocking her body.
He stepped closer to her, and she tilted her head to look at him. "I'm not going to hurt you, Sera. I won't ever hurt you. I promise. Now, will you please come upstairs with me so we can talk?"
She stared warily at him before nodding. No matter what she just saw, Liam had never harmed her, and she believed he never would.
She didn't flinch from him, something he was extremely grateful for
