The Dark Side Of Fate

~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 seeking comfort in my company?

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 discomfort 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, lacking 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.

Liam withdrew his hands as if snapping out of a trance and took a gentle step back, creating an unseen distance between us.

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

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 flashed just like it did when he asked me to stay in his wing and many other

to,” I replied, noticing the instant excitement in Liam’s eyes. Alex also briefly flashed, and I was pleased that I could now understand his wolf’s

I’ve got a wonderful restaurant in mind that I’d like to take you to,” he said, waiting

As we stepped outside, we spotted Marvin engaged in a phone conversation. I

their father would have a change

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

thoughts, they persisted, incessantly echoing within me. Onyx

However, taking a cab will save us time this time,” Liam explained, glancing briefly at me before signalling for

take one of the cars?” I inquired, and he gently squeezed my hand as

would shift and run back. The memory of our last exhilarating run during the picnic 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

Liam instructed the cab driver, who seemed pleasantly surprised to have

with Noah falling second due to being

apart, but feeling bold, I decided to take a chance and moved closer to Liam. To my delight, he welcomed the proximity and held me close to him. It felt surreal, and I could hardly believe that this was happening.

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

in closer to him, I breathed in his comforting and pleasant scent. I felt safe in his

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

in my voice, I said, “Looks like you’re making

help it.” His smile made him so handsome that I

and me, he promptly opened the gate and saluted us. Liam graciously thanked him, and we stepped inside the park, ready to

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

myself thoroughly enjoying the

fancy restaurant, this unique and casual setting brought a whole new level of excitement. I

see you again,” she said, and I sensed that Liam must have been a frequent visitor to this place, which left me with a knot of unease. Could this have been one of

is ready,” the woman announced,

are most welcome, 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

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.

revealed, and those words eased my heart. I was relieved to know that I wasn’t replacing Sophia and Onyx had been mistaken. It was evident that our connection was unique and different

share this place with you then,” I