After Refusing to be Luna, I Marked the Alpha's Shadow Chapter 15

I hadn't thought Liam wouldn't find me.

With the Blackwood family's power, he should have found me four years ago.

So I had prepared myself since then.

Now, facing Liam's suffocating Alpha aura, I was even calmer than I imagined.

I said to the worried Ethan on the phone, "I have something to do. I'll call you later."

Then, ignoring Ethan's answer, I hung up, looked straight into Liam's cold eyes, and smiled.

"Pretty good. What about Liam? Are you happy being engaged to your sweetheart?"

Liam's gaze fell lightly on my face, greedily sniffing my scent. He approached with a cold aura and reached out to me.

I instinctively became alert, hand on the silver dagger at my waist. Liam paused, smiling as he picked up the bracelet on the table.

I was stunned, watching him wrap the bracelet around his wrist with practiced ease.

Liam actually kept that defective piece until now...

Liam asked casually, "Who was that on the phone just now?"

His tone was flat, like an old friend not seen in years, but the air was filled with sour, jealous pheromones.

"My boyfriend."

Liam glanced at me, pupils constricting. "Oh? Real, or fake just to spite me?"

"He confessed to me two years ago, and I agreed," I smiled. "If Liam wanted to check, you could have found out in less than a minute, right?"

Just like checking me five years ago. Finding out what I liked, so everything he did made me feel comfortable and safe.

So he could trick me like a fool.

"Are you blaming me?" Liam raised an eyebrow. "Four years ago, didn't you lie to me too? You said you were going to Europe, but ran off to Texas."

I said, "Yeah, so we're even. If Liam sees me in the future, just pretend you don't know me."

"Even?" Liam muttered the word, his eyes suddenly becoming dark, the air around us vibrating.

"Can treating me as a substitute be called even? Harper, when you looked at me, who were you looking at through me?"

I froze. Liam reached out and pinched my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes.

"Hm? Harper, you're brave. Daring to use the future Alpha King as a substitute."

The humiliation he felt the moment he learned the truth had fermented into poison during those four years of training in Europe.

The moment he saw Harper, the poison took effect.

Why? Why did he remember Harper like a monk in penance for four years in Europe, while Harper could fly off with that damn exile?

Leaving him to suffer alone? How could there be such a good thing in the world?

I struggled but couldn't break free, so I gave up and looked at Liam coldly.

"So? What do you want? Attack an Enforcer? Do you want to start a clan war?"

I grabbed Liam's wrist, making him see the Enforcer badge on my chest clearly.

Liam's gaze darkened, and he stopped moving.

I thought he calmed down. "Both sides were at fault back then, but four years have passed. We should move on. Can we just act like nothing happened between us?"

"No," Liam said. "I want compensation."

I took a deep breath, looking at the crowd gathering around. I didn't want to make a scene. "What compensation do you want?"

I was thinking about how to pay money to make him leave.

Liam grabbed my wrist backhanded, his strength shocking.

"Return to the Evans family and fulfill the blood oath."

I paused. "What?"

Liam stared deep into my eyes, his voice low, carrying an unquestionable command.

"Become my mate."

I was stunned for a long time before finally recovering. I used mental force to resist his command and shook off Liam's hand.

"Liam, I made it very clear. I have a boyfriend."

Liam looked at me coldly. "You haven't completed the marking yet."

"Does not being marked mean you have a chance?" I sneered. "Or do you think after what happened four years ago, I would still like you?"

"Like?" Liam slowly narrowed his eyes. "You don't think I like you, do you?"

He looked at my face and smiled. "I just hate you."

"Psycho." I gritted my teeth. "I don't have time to play games with you. I have a job. Find someone else!"

I turned to leave. Liam blocked my way, taking out a black-gold check.

"Write whatever amount you want. Or whatever resources you need, ask away. As long as you agree to my request."

Looking at that check, a sense of humiliation surged. Before I could speak, a deep, penetrating voice came from outside the door.

"She won't agree."

Ethan walked in. He wore a black leather jacket, tall and imposing. That aura of a top predator instantly suppressed Liam.

He took my hand firmly in his palm, looked at Liam with a slight smile, his eyes full of undisguised provocation.

"Because she's mine."

Liam's gaze swept over our clasped hands, finally landing on Ethan's face—highly similar to his, but with an extra scar.

Two brothers, one light, one dark, finally confronting each other.

Liam said coldly, "Say that again?"

Ethan smiled and looked up. His golden pupils instantly turned into vertical wolf slits. That was a signal for battle.

"I said, she is my woman."

"And only a mad dog like me is worthy of her."