7. Liam

"Why doyou have so much stuff?" Shane complained, grunting as he lifted another box from the pile.

Watching the muscles in his well-toned arms work made me momentarily lose my train of thought.

Clearing my throat, I snapped back to reality and grabbed a second box myself.

"Hey, a guy needs his essentials," I argued back, trying to mask my sudden distraction with a light tone.

But by "essentials," I really meant books. I appreciated Shane inviting me over to stay, but I hadn"t expected him to have so many complaints about it.

"I didn't know your car could fit so many boxes," Shane grumbled, shooting me a playful glare.

I couldn"t help but chuckle at his comment. "And you"re the one who let me crash here. Are you rethinking that now?"

"Not at all. I'm your bodyguard, remember? Wherever you go, I go," Shane reminded me, his tone teasing but reassuring.

His words brought a smile to my face. Bantering with Shane kept my hands and mind occupied, providing a much-needed distraction from the weight of recent events.

But no matter how lighthearted our conversation, I couldn"t shake off the lingering unease from the alleyway.

My magic had failed me when I needed it most, leaving me vulnerable and frustrated. Yet, Shane had stepped in without hesitation. I really owed him one.

As the last of my boxes found their place in the living room, I took a moment to survey the space.

It was surprisingly neat and minimalist, a stark contrast to the clutter of my own belongings.

"Did you just move in here? Where"s the rest of the furniture?" I asked, curious about the sparseness of the room.

"Yeah, something like that," Shane replied, his tone a touch hollow.

When I glanced at him, I noticed a fleeting shift in his expression.

Gesturing to the half-furnished living room, he explained, "Bought this place for me and then my boyfriend... thought we were taking the next step, but it was just all in my head."

There was a bitterness in his voice that I couldn"t ignore, a hint of pain hidden behind his smile.

Shane seemed like an expert at masking his emotions, putting on a brave front even when faced with disappointment. I hadn't expected that.

Shane then gave me a tour of the house, and as we walked through the small but cozy space, I couldn"t help but imagine the possibilities.

The porch, with its peaceful ambiance and ample natural light, seemed like the perfect spot for a reading nook.

I could already envision myself curled up with a book, enjoying the gentle breeze and the sounds of nature.

But as quickly as the thought came, I pushed it aside. This was Shane"s house, not mine.

I couldn"t impose my ideas onto his space, no matter how appealing they seemed.

As we continued the tour, Shane pointed out the kitchen, a space in the house he seldom used. For some reason, I pictured us making breakfasts together.

The thought of spending mornings cooking with him brought a warmth to my chest, but I quickly quashed the feeling. We were just friends, no, mere acquaintances after all.

Shane then led me to the half-finished backyard.

"Would've been nice to grow some herbs and vegetables here," he said, before moving on.

We continued our tour, passing by the master bedroom. I glanced inside and noted the simplicity of the space - just a king-sized mattress and a single cabinet.

The space looked a little sad and lonely. It was clear that Shane hadn"t had the time or perhaps the inclination to decorate this area of the house.

Or maybe, just maybe, this space held a deeper significance for him —a reminder of his past relationship, his ex-boyfriend.

Then again, I knew better than to pry into his personal life. If Shane wanted to share, he would do so in his own time.

Eventually, Shane led me to a spare room, which contained only the essentials: a spare mattress, a chair, and a chest of drawers.

"This is where you'll be staying," Shane was saying. "Also, I need your phone."

I furrowed my brow, puzzled by his request, but handed it over nonetheless.

"My phone, for what?" I inquired.

Shane glanced up from the screen briefly, his expression serious.

"I need to know where you are at all times," he responded firmly. "The incident at the alleyway just now... that can"t happen again."

I scoffed inwardly. So much for thinking he was just asking for my number because he was interested in getting to know me.

Of course, as my bodyguard, he just needed a way to track me.

The realization left a bitter taste in my mouth, and I felt foolish for even entertaining the thought that he was interested in me romantically.

Shane handed my phone back to me, and I took it with a swipe, tucking it into my pocket.

I wasn"t sure what expression he saw on my face—disappointment? Anger?

All those lessons of hiding my emotions seemed to go out the window whenever I was with Shane. Strange.

"Well, I"ll let you settle in," Shane finally said, his voice breaking the brief silence.

I stared at his muscled back and artfully styled "messy" hair irritably for a few seconds, wondering how he could be so infuriating.

"Say, Liam," he said, looking over his shoulder as he headed towards the door. "What really happened at that alley?"

"What do you mean?" I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral.

I knew exactly what he wanted to know, but I was just too proud to admit that right now, I was as helpless as any human.

"You McGowans specialize in defensive magic, right? Why didn"t you protect yourself?" Shane"s question hit me like a punch to the gut.

"Because I don"t have it anymore. It"s gone," I whispered, unsure why I was confessing to him.

Shane had made it clear that everything he did—including saving my life and offering me a place in his home - was simply because he was following orders from his alpha. Nothing more.

And yet, part of me suspected there was something more to it. Or maybe I just hoped there was.

"What do you mean, it"s gone?" Shane asked, genuine concern evident in his voice.

"Do I really have to spell it out for you?" I retorted, my voice harsh. "My magic. I"m even worse off than Ollie, because at least he has his talismans and charms."

I slumped on the floor, drawing my knees to my chest, not caring if I seemed overly dramatic. Regret washed over me for sharing my weakness with Shane.

What if he decided this job was too much hassle? A mage without the power to protect himself could be seen as too much responsibility.

To my surprise, Shane sat beside me, his broad shoulder brushing against mine.

"Sorry to hear that," he said, genuine concern in his voice. "Magic is part of you, isn"t it? I can"t imagine no longer being able to shift."

"It"s awful," I whispered. "It feels like I"m dead and empty inside."

"Is it gone completely, or is there a chance it could return?" Shane asked, his tone soft.

"I don"t know," I admitted. "I"ve read up on cases of other mages who"ve gone through the same thing. For the lucky ones, the dry spell usually ends, and their magic comes back. But in most cases, it doesn"t..."

It only truly hit me then that I might have to contend with living the rest of my life like this, like a normal and powerless human.

"Is that the real reason why your family kicked you out of the house?" Shane"s question pulled me out of my thoughts.

His inquiry hinted at a gap in the information my family had shared with Sheriff Owen.

It wasn"t surprising; my family excelled at keeping secrets and manipulating the truth to their advantage.

"Yeah," I murmured, my voice barely audible.

"Harsh," Shane muttered sympathetically. "Well, I"m sure we"ll figure something out."

He said we not me, I noticed, like we were some kind of team. He patted my shoulder in reassurance.

My heart raced and hope kindled inside of me. Shane didn't care I no longer had any magic. That meant something to me.

Then, without warning, an impulse took hold of me. Leaning over, I pressed my lips against his, seeking solace in the warmth of his touch.

He hesitated for a moment, his fingers gently brushing over my cheek, before reciprocating the kiss.

I waited with bated breath to see what Shane, or perhaps this new bold version of myself, would do next, but our moment was abruptly interrupted by the sound of the doorbell.

Both Shane and I groaned in unison at the unwelcome interruption, but then we exchanged grins, almost like two conspirators caught in the act.

"I"ll be right back," Shane announced, rising from his seat and leaving the room.

I stood up, albeit a bit shakily, my legs feeling like jelly. Leaning against the door for support, I took a moment to collect myself.

My heart continued to race, its rhythm echoing in my ears. That kiss with Shane had been more than just a spontaneous gesture; it had confirmed that there was something genuine between us, something tangible.

I couldn"t shake off the feeling that I wasn"t just another assignment for Shane.

Suddenly, I felt a rush of exhilaration, as if I were intoxicated by some unseen force.

Then, the sound of voices outside my door caught my attention. Shane was engaged in conversation with another guy, perhaps another pack mate.

"I heard Owen assigned you to babysit some spoiled mage," Shane"s visitor remarked casually. "I guess you"re no longer looking for a roommate."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut.

"Some spoiled mage?" I whispered.

The rush I felt earlier from our kiss dissipated rapidly.

"Levi, it"s complicated. Let"s talk in the yard," Shane replied, his tone betraying a hint of annoyance.

I heard them move away. Fine by me.

Crushed and disheartened, I kicked off my shoes and sank onto the mattress on the floor.

Disappointment settled heavily on me, and I couldn"t shake the feeling of foolishness for ever thinking there could be something between Shane and me.

I lay there for what felt like an eternity, lost in my thoughts, until the persistent ringing of my phone finally broke through the haze.

With a heavy heart, I glanced at the screen to see Luca returning my call.

"Sorry for taking so long to return your call, cousin," Luca"s voice came through the phone, devoid of any real apology.

Typical Luca, always so centered. But in that moment, I didn"t care. At least he was still family.

"So how are you really doing?" he asked, his tone shifting to a more serious note.

"Luca, I can"t be here," I whispered, my frustration boiling over. He probably knew about my situation already.

"My mom won"t listen, but can you help me convince her I don"t need a fox shifter bodyguard?"

My request sounded reckless, even to my own ears, considering what had happened in that alleyway. But in that moment, I didn"t care.

I was just angry at Shane. Did he complain to all his pack mates that he was stuck babysitting one spoiled mage?

Spoiled mage. That was all I was to him. An unwanted obligation.

Luca sighed on the other end of the line. "I"ll do what I can."

We ended the phone call, and I was content to curl up there until evening, until Shane went to sleep so I could pack up and leave.

But then, the smell of something delicious wafted into the room, teasing my nostrils, and my stomach grumbled in response.

The knock on my door jolted me from my thoughts.

"Liam, I"m grilling some pork chops for dinner. Come join me," came Shane"s voice.

I stayed silent, hoping he"d interpret it as me being asleep, and that he"d eventually leave me alone.

Thankfully, after a few moments, the knock ceased, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

Well, he wouldn"t have to see this spoiled mage again after tonight.