21 supposed date


    ~Josephine~


    Arriving at Grizlo filled me with excitement. While the purpose of our visit wasn''t joyous, the


    prospect of putting our abilities to the test filled me with enthusiasm. I secretly hoped to stay in


    Liam’s wing, but I didn''t want to impose or ask for it. So, when he eventually invited me to stay with


    him, it thrilled me beyond words.


    Naturally, I had to hide my excitement, as Charlotte, with her keen eye, would never let me live it


    down. The fact that Liam chose a room next to his own made me feel incredibly valued and


    significant.


    We had made remarkable progress in such a short time, but the recent turn of events left me


    wondering what could have possibly transpired.


    "Sophia isn''t around," Onyx''s voice echoed in my mind, instantly dampening my spirits. My wolf had


    a way of being a killjoy at times.


    Curious, I probed further, asking Onyx what she meant by that. However, she remained silent,


    leaving me to ponder her words as I stepped into the bathroom to freshen up. The statement


    lingered in my mind, raising questions about Liam''s sudden kindness. Could it be connected to


    Sophia''s absence? Was he missing her and seekingfort in mypany?


    It struck me because Liam had never attempted to bridge the awkward gap between us. He had


    always kept his distance, seemingly unaware of my difort around him and Sophia. It made me


    realise that my father''s instincts were right in picking up on the signs, but I hadn''t fully grasped the


    situation until Onyx brought up Sophia during breakfast.


    I reluctantly got dressed,cking enthusiasm for going out, and decided to forgo my contact lenses


    and eyeliner. Lost in my thoughts, a soft knock on my door interrupted me. I got up, trying to shake


    off the sombre mood, and went to see who it was. To my surprise, it was Liam, dressed in a fresh


    white shirt and jeans, appearing as if he had just showered, emanating a pleasant scent of soap.


    His face lit up with a broad grin when he saw me.


    "You freshened up too," he remarked, and I absentmindedly touched my damp hair, realising I had


    skipped both my contacts and eyeliner. Before I could react further, Liam gently reached out and


    pulled my hand away from my face.


    "Don''t even think about it," he said, his intentions unclear as I furrowed my brow, wondering what he


    meant by that.


    Liam inched closer, but I stood my ground by the door. He stepped so close that I had to tilt my


    head upward to meet his gaze. Being in such proximity sent butterflies swirling in my stomach. Why


    did he have to be so incredibly attractive? It was simpler when I considered him a douchebag, but


    this newfound side of him would be difficult to resist.


    "Liam," I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper. He gently caressed my cheeks with


    both hands, guiding them to keep my eyes locked onto his.


    "Your eyes are the most captivating feature of your face, Joe. They are truly beautiful. Please, don''t


    cover them, at least for now. I''ll see if I can arrange some transparent contacts for you. I simply


    adore gazing into those eyes," Liam said, leaving me utterly astonished.


    "Well, I guess you were wrong, Onyx because Sophia does not have Stepanov eyes," I linked my


    wolf, and she huffed in response.


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    Liam withdrew his hands as if snapping out of a trance and took a gentle step back, creating an


    unseen distance between us.


    "I was hoping you''d join me for a walk. Since you haven''t been to Grizlo often, it would be an honour


    to show you around," he suggested with a warm smile.


    I saw his wolf sh again, but I pretended not to because I noticed he didn''t want me to notice it


    either. All I could figure out now was that his wolf was also fond of me, and now that his wolf had


    shed just like it did when he asked me to stay in his wing and many other times we were together,


    I could easily tell Alex was hopeful I would say yes.


    "I would love to," I replied, noticing the instant excitement in Liam''s eyes. Alex also briefly shed,


    and I was pleased that I could now understand his wolf''s emotions.


    "Keep in mind that we won''t be dining with the others. I''ve got a wonderful restaurant in mind that I''d


    like to take you to," he said, waiting for me to get ready. I slipped on my slippers, grabbed a jacket,


    and decided to forgo the eyeliner today.


    With a smile, I walked out of my room, and Liam and I strolled together out of the beta''s wing. As we


    stepped outside, we spotted Marvin engaged in a phone conversation. I knew exactly who he was


    talking to, and I doubted that Alpha Devin would permit his daughters toe to Grizlo.


    I felt a pang of sympathy for the Corrigan sisters. Hopefully, their father would have a change of


    heart, and they would join us in the second batch.


    As Liam and I stepped out together, he gently held my hand, and the touch instantly eased my


    nerves. But a mix of questions and doubts flooded my mind. Was this gesture merely friendly, or did


    it hold a deeper meaning? Did he hold Sophia''s hand like this? Were they as close as we seemed


    to be now? Did his wolf react in the same way when they were together? And the most haunting


    question: Would he have made a move like this if Sophia hadn''t disappeared?


    Despite my attempts to clear my mind of these thoughts, they persisted, incessantly echoing within


    me. Onyx had undoubtedly stirred up a whirlwind of emotions, and her silence spoke volumes about


    the situation.


    "The pack house is at the heart of Grizlo, and you can practically reach any destination from here.


    However, taking a cab will save us time this time," Liam exined, ncing briefly at me before


    signalling for a cab.


    "Why didn''t we just take one of the cars?" I inquired, and he gently squeezed my hand as a cab


    pulled up in front of us.


    "Because Onyx and Alex will bring us back," he replied, implying that we would shift and run back.


    The memory of ourst exhrating run during the pic party brought a smile to my face, and I


    couldn''t help but let out a small squeal at the thought. My reaction elicited a grin from him, and he


    reached out to open the cab door for me. I hopped in, and he followed suit.


    "Take us to Fellowship Park, private section," Liam instructed the cab driver, who seemed pleasantly


    surprised to have such distinguished passengers.


    "Yes, your highness. Good evening, Lady Stepanov," the driver greeted me, acknowledging my


    status as the true heir of my generation, with Noah falling second due to being a Volkov and an


    Alpha. I smiled back at the cab driver, and Liam did the same.


    Initially, we sat a bit apart, but feeling bold, I decided to take a chance and moved closer to Liam. To


    my delight, he weed the proximity and held me close to him. It felt surreal, and I could hardly


    believe that this was happening. However, I tried not to overthink it and simply enjoyed the moment.


    Reflecting on the past, I wondered if I had acted too hastily in trying to talk to him two years ago.


    Perhaps things would have unfolded differently between us. Regardless, I was grateful that we


    managed to cross that bridge and reach this point. Now, I couldn''t help but wonder if there was a


    possibility for us to be more than just friends.


    Snuggling in closer to him, I breathed in hisforting and pleasant scent. I felt safe in his arms as


    he gently stroked my arm, creating an atmosphere of warmth and affection between us.


    As we arrived at the park, the cab driver refused to ept payment from Liam, much to his


    insistence. The driver was simply overjoyed that we had chosen his cab. It dawned on me that the


    Volkovs didn''t typically use public transportation while they were in Grizlo. I couldn''t resist teasing


    Liam about it, as it seemed evident that this decision was influenced by my presence.


    With amusement in my voice, I said, "Looks like you''re making an exception for me, Liam."


    He chuckled and replied, "Well, I can’t help it." His smile made him so handsome that I got shy.


    We then approached the park gates, and the beauty of the ce was already visible from the


    outside. As the guard noticed Liam and me, he promptly opened the gate and saluted us. Liam


    graciously thanked him, and we stepped inside the park, ready to explore its wonders together.


    The sun was beginning to set, and I couldn''t help but wonder if we were heading to the restaurant


    Liam had boasted about. As we strolled together, our arms intertwined, I allowed him to lead the


    way. Before long, we reached our destination, and to my surprise, it was a food truck. I burst into


    laughter.


    "This is the restaurant?" I asked him, still chuckling, and he nodded with a wide grin. Despite my


    initial expectations, I found myself thoroughly enjoying the unexpected twist. There was a beautifully


    set table outside the food truck, and it had a tasteful ambience that made the experience even more


    delightful.


    I continued tough, finding the situation amusing and endearing. While I had envisioned a fancy


    restaurant, this unique and casual setting brought a whole new level of excitement. I couldn''t wait to


    try the food and savour the moment with Liam.


    A woman emerged from the food truck, offering a warm smile as she greeted us. "Your Highness,


    it''s wonderful to see you again," she said, and I sensed that Liam must have been a frequent visitor


    to this ce, which left me with a knot of unease. Could this have been one of the spots he used to


    bring Sophia to? Was this their special ce?


    "The table is ready," the woman announced, bowing to me.


    "You are most wee, Lady Josephine. It''s an honour to have you here," she added, surprising


    me with her knowledge of my identity. I had always tried to avoid the spotlight, so I wondered how


    she could tell it was me. Perhaps my eyes and hair were dead giveaways, but I suspected there


    was more to it.


    Liam exined, "I mentioned I was bringing someone special this time." With that, he guided me to


    the set table, pulling out a chair for me. I sat down while he took the seat across from me. Though I


    was used to him sitting beside me, I decided to handle the slight distance between us with ease.


    The anticipation of the meal and thepany were enough to keep my spirits high.


    "Usually, Ie here alone to enjoy the view. It''s my quiet ce. No one knows Ie here," Liam


    revealed, and those words eased my heart. I was relieved to know that I wasn''t recing Sophia


    and Onyx had been mistaken. It was evident that our connection was unique and different from


    what he had with her.


    "I''m happy to share this ce with you then," I replied, and he smiled warmly at me.


    The food was served, and I relished every dish the talented woman brought to our table. She was


    an excellent cook, and if circumstances allowed, I would have loved to bring her to Gad with me


    once all of this was over.


    "I love her cooking, Li," Iplimented, and he agreed with a smile.


    "I''m d we share the same opinion. There were times I imagined hiring her to be my personal


    cook when I have my own home," he admitted, seemingly taking the idea right out of my mind.


    "Seriously! I was thinking about how to whisk her away to the Gad," I confessed, and we both


    laughed. Liam graciously paid for our meal, and we left the food truck area to enjoy the sereneke


    nearby. Despite the cool water, the overall temperature felt just right for me as we savoured the


    peaceful moment together.


    "I know we just ate, but I really want to take a dip," Liam confessed with a mischievous grin, and I


    couldn''t help butugh.


    "Honestly, I was thinking the same thing," I admitted, feeling a yful spark between us. Liam


    wasted no time and began to take off his clothes. He stripped down to his shorts, and even in the


    moonlight, his features looked striking. I couldn''t help but admire him.


    However, as I started undressing, a sense of shyness washed over me. It was peculiar because I


    had done this countless times before – shifting, going on hunts and runs with Liam and the others.


    But tonight felt different as if the moonlight held an intimate secret.


    Gathering my courage, I managed to strip down to my bra and panties and approached the edge of


    theke, where Liam stood waiting for me, his presence reassuring and inviting.


    I stood beside him, and he gazed at me with concern.


    "Are you sure you''re up for this?" he asked, and I nodded with a smile. Under the enchanting


    moonlight, I felt ready for any adventure, no matter how wild.


    Throwing caution to the wind, I jumped into theke first, and he followed suit. We swam apart


    initially but gradually closed the distance between us until we were side by side and soon facing


    each other.


    As we swam, Liam began mock-chattering his teeth, and it made meugh because the water


    wasn''t that cold. However, it soon dawned on me that our tolerance for the cold water was different,


    and I grew a bit worried.


    "Goddess, Liam, let''s get out of the water; your body temperature doesn''t stabilise quickly like


    mine," I expressed my concern, noticing him shivering slightly as he tried to ward off the chill.


    But he remained stubborn, insisting he was fine. I wasn''t about to let Liam get sick on my watch, so


    I gently urged him to head back to the shore with me. I wanted to make sure he stayed safe and


    warm.


    As I moved closer to him, prepared to pull him out of the water, he surprised me by pulling me into


    an embrace, holding me close to his chest. He buried his head in my neck, and I could feel his


    warm breath on my skin. It left me momentarily frozen, unsure of what was happening.


    "This is all the warmth I need, Joe," he teased gently, and I found myself perplexed by his actions,


    trying to make sense of the sudden closeness between us. I didn’t want to read him wrongly.


    He eventually pulled away, looking deeply into my eyes, and I searched his gaze for understanding,


    seeking rity in the midst of the unexpected moment.


    "Are you alright, Li?" I asked, my voice almost breathless, and I noticed his eyes briefly flicker from


    my eyes to my lips. He drew closer, and I stood there, waiting to see what he would do. My wolf was


    eager, and so was I. Was he going to kiss me? Was this real, or was I merely dreaming?


    Just as we were on the verge of sharing a potentially magical moment, a siren red nearby,


    indicating something was amiss. The abrupt interruption stole the moment from us, leaving us both


    momentarily disoriented.


    Shaking off the spell, we swam out of the water. I had to remove my wet underwear and change into


    my dry clothes, and I noticed that Liam did the same. As much as I appreciated the situation


    demanding my assistance, I couldn''t help but feel a tinge of frustration that the siren had robbed us


    of that special moment.