Page 22 of Awakened
"Crap," Liam muttered.
"You can say that again," Jack mumbled.
"Liam, what can you offer her? Nothing. Your life, our lives, are nothing but death, and blood. She deserves better than that. The only thing you're going to do is hurt her, you, and maybe even us."
"I know that Mike, but I can't let her go. I don't know why, I just can't. Not now anyway."
"It will only get more difficult."
Liam ran a hand through his hair. He was still completely staggered by the realization he had just come to. Love, he had never expected to love anyone, especially not now. The only people he had cared about as a human were these three, David, and his family. How was it possible that now, when he was a monster, when he was no longer human, that he could fall in love?
"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 that he had 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 that he heard the plaster in his wall crack. 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 guy's hand shot out, grasping her arm to stop her. He saw the tremor that rocked 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?"
"I have a boyfriend."
"So?"
Sera was unsure of how to respond to that. "So that means back off." Liam seemed to come out of nowhere to grasp the guy's arm.
The guy's mouth was compressed as he turned toward Liam. "No one asked you pal," he said coldly.
"Let her go!" Liam commanded.
