Chapter 0448

Seraphina

"You want me to walk Liam to school?"

"Don't speak with food in your mouth." Zoe scolds me. "But yes."

"The school is literally down the street. You could watch him from the window."

"I could, but the entrance is around the corner."

"I'm not permitted to leave the house without supervision."

"Hannah has agreed to watch you from a distance. Just walk him there, ensure he enters the building, and return immediately. I would do it myself but Braelyn was up most of the night. I need to get her to sleep."

I glance at my baby sister, whimpering softly as she clings to Zoe. Last night was one of the few times I actually wished I could leave this house.

"Fine." I agree, mainly so I can figure out what's going on with the little terror.

"Thank you."

Liam glares at me as he slings his backpack over his shoulder. Even without my Lycan senses, I can see he despises this idea.

"I'm not a baby." He snarls.

"Then maybe tell Zoe that, because she asked me to walk you."

"Only because my stupid sister kept everyone awake."

"HEY!" I snap, and he actually flinches. "Braelyn is an infant. She can't tell anyone what's wrong or what she needs. Maybe you'll understand someday that everyone has bad days, regardless of age."

"Whatever."

We step outside and he immediately kicks over one of Zoe's potted plants, grinding it into the dirt.

"You claim you're not a baby, but you're certainly acting like one."

"Fuck off!" He glares, and even I'm stunned. He turns eight tomorrow, not eighteen... "Are you serious right now?" I cross my arms, and he mimics me.

"I'm not scared of you. Maybe you should be scared of me. Now that you don't have your Lycan."

I grab his shirt collar and yank him back toward the house. He swings at me, tries to kick, but I'm smart enough to keep him at arm's length.

I shove the front door open. Caleb stares at us with wide eyes.

"Where's Zoe?"

"Her room." His blue eyes dart to Liam, then past us. "Caleb is going to be furious." I glance over my shoulder to see Caleb storming toward us, his face dark, hands clenched into fists. Caleb vanishes while Liam struggles against my grip.

"Care to explain what's happening?" Caleb demands.

"She hit me!" Liam wrenches himself free—or maybe I let go from sheer shock. I wasn't sure.

Caleb's eyes narrow to slits as he stares at me. "Basement."

"You don't have to..."

"Basement." He repeats, his voice low and dangerous. I nod and turn away, just hearing him order Liam to go to his room.

"But dad..."

"I said now."

I don't hear anything else as I slip through the door leading down to my room.

I sit on my bed, eyes fixed on the door at the top of the stairs. Waiting for Caleb's inevitable arrival. Liam was going to be the reason everything blows up for me. Unless I can prove otherwise.

My leg bounces uncontrollably, like it has a mind of its own. It jitters faster than my heartbeat as a bead of sweat trickles down my spine.

A knock sounds at the door.

"Come in." I whisper.

Caleb appears, the floorboards groaning under his weight. He trudges down the stairs slowly, releasing a heavy sigh when he reaches the bottom.

"What happened Seraphina?"

I tell him everything. Repeating Liam's words verbatim. No way was I letting a seven-year-old be the reason I get killed.

"I have to ask."

"I didn't hit him. Like I said, I grabbed his collar and brought him back inside. Ask Hannah."

I'd seen her watching us, though I hadn't mentioned it to Liam.

"Hannah?"

"Like I said, Zoe asked me to walk him. I reminded her I couldn't leave unsupervised. She said Hannah would watch me, and I saw her."

He sits beside me on the bed. "Sadly, I believe you."

"You do?"

"I'm as surprised as you are. But I believe you because you didn't see me watching you."

"It was a test?" I scoff.

"You like Hannah. I needed to ensure she wouldn't cover for you. I saw what he did with my own eyes. I heard every word he said to you."

"Then why didn't you step in?"

"I wanted to see how you'd handle it. If you'd hit him, this would be a very different conversation."

"I'm trying not to get killed." I mutter. "But if you don't do something, that kid is going to end up killing someone."

"Speaking from experience?"

I don't answer, but we both know I am.

"What are you going to do?" I ask quietly.

"I need to get to the root of this. I can't fix anything without knowing what's causing it."

I nod in agreement. Though Liam's attitude suggests this has been festering for a long time.

I spend the rest of the day in the basement, only slipping out for the bathroom or food. I figured staying out of Liam's way might help a little.

After everyone's gone to bed, I head to the kitchen for water. I sit at the counter, flipping through one of Zoe's many books.

"Why are you awake?" Liam's voice makes me jump. I was still adjusting to the lack of enhanced hearing being worse than losing the ability to scent someone.

"Liam, you should be asleep." I whisper.

"I asked you a question."

I gesture to my glass. "I was thirsty."

He walks around the counter and stares at me. "Are you here to hurt us?"

"No. Why would you ask that?"

"You left before. You left Zoe, me and Noah."

"That was a long time ago, and it was a mistake." I couldn't see his hands, and it made me nervous. "Sometimes we make mistakes. Sometimes they're so bad they ruin our lives."

"Why?"

"I lost my Lycan because of my choices."

"Because you were stupid. That's what he said. You were stupid and needed punishment. Everyone is stupid."

"Who said that?"

He just keeps staring. Right now, more than anything, I wish I could mind-link Zoe or Caleb.

"What's in your hand?"

He smiles and lifts his empty hands. "I'm going to bed." He turns and runs off.

My heart hammers in my chest. "Zoe?" I mutter, sprinting for the stairs just as Liam slams his bedroom door. I burst into her room to find her fast asleep with Braelyn beside her. Noah is tucked in his bed too. Caleb. Where is Caleb? I find him asleep in Braelyn's room, probably seeking some peace. I close my eyes and exhale. At least he hadn't hurt them. But who was he talking about?