Chapter 97

Liam

I shouldn’t have followed her.

Deep down I knew that it was the wrong thing to do.

I knew that from the second I saw her shoulders tense when she sensed me behind her. Alaria didn’t want to be around me, hell, she probably didn’t even want to see me right now, but I couldn’t stay away.

I needed to try.

And that was why I still followed her, and I was still going to keep following her.

She didn’t look back. Her steps were purposeful, clipped, and fast across the garden path behind the house, like she was hoping I’d get the hint and stop.

But I didn’t.

I wasn't going to.

“Alaria,” I called, my voice quiet but carrying. “Please stop.”

She kept walking.

“Can we just talk?”

Still no response.

I caught up to her pace, walking beside her in silence for a moment. Her face was stone, calm, composed, but I saw the cracks if I looked close enough. The way her jaw was clenched. The way she blin