FINN

When I got in the car with Liam, I had no idea how things would turn out. The day had already started off strangely.

I'd met up with my ex, Winter, in the park. We hadn't been together for three years, but we had this odd relationship people like to call ‘friends with benefits'. For the past few months, though, Winter had been avoiding our meetups, always with excuses—work, not feeling well—and I sensed something was up. I was right. When we met, Winter told me someone else had caught his attention. He seemed embarrassed, which made sense for a few reasons. First of all, Winter wasn't fond of alphas; he was usually the first to take a jab at them. He'd never been in a relationship with one, and always said he never would. But now, avoiding eye contact, he admitted he was interested in an alpha. And that was just the tip of the iceberg—the guy was way younger than him, just a 22-year-old kid.

I'll admit, the news surprised me, but I didn't hold it against him. What we had was super casual anyway, and honestly, I'd already been thinking it was time to find a real partner—a boyfriend, not just someone I hooked up with once a week. My career had finally stabilized—I was working in two places, as a genetic researcher at Malden Pharmaceuticals and as a college professor and lecturer. Maybe it was time to look for something more serious?

That's why Winter's news didn't bother me. To be honest, I felt free, like I could finally focus on finding someone to fill the emptiness in my life.

But the rest of that walk in the park took a strange turn. The whole time, I felt uneasy, and my gaze kept drifting toward one of the cliffs. Eventually, I suggested we hike to the top. Winter wasn't thrilled about it but agreed.

When we got there, I noticed a small figure crouched by the edge, dangerously close to the cliffside. To make it even stranger, Winter actually knew the guy—Liam. He worked in an adjacent department and occasionally did projects for Winter. To complicate things, Winter's brother, Skye, had… stolen Liam's boyfriend.

After a dramatic conversation and an even more dramatic moment where I managed to grab Liam just before he jumped, we decided that I'd take him home. We agreed he shouldn't be left alone, especially since Liam refused to go to the hospital or get professional psychological help.

Holding him in my arms after pulling him back from the cliff, I felt something I hadn't felt in a long time—if ever. His body was small and frail, almost skeletal. His face was thin, with sunken cheeks and dark circles under his eyes. He might have only been 22, but he looked like someone on the edge of collapse; his condition really shook me.

I wasn't sure why his story affected me so much. He'd been in love with the same guy, Soren, for ten years—a fellow beta—but that beta was never interested in him. They were friends, nothing more. Eventually, Soren gave Liam a chance for a few weeks, but it didn't go anywhere because he didn't love Liam or feel attracted to him. In the end, Soren left him for Skye.

It was hard to imagine loving someone for ten years only to be betrayed and abandoned like that. I really felt for Liam. That's why, even though it seemed crazy, I impulsively suggested he move in with me. We barely knew each other, and aside from a few mutual friends, we had little connection. The most we'd ever done was cross paths at the college—while he was visiting his friend. He'd studied computer science, and I was a molecular geneticist working as a lecturer there.

As the car doors shut behind us, it hit me that I was bringing a complete stranger into my home, someone who might need serious help. And yet, I felt drawn to this fragile guy.

Liam's lightly freckled face was unassuming, with pale brown, almost cappuccino-colored eyes hidden behind his glasses and strawberry blond hair that fell almost to his shoulders, which he nervously tucked behind his ears.

He looked like a stereotypical computer nerd, but something about him was unexpectedly cute—maybe even adorable.

That moment, holding his trembling body, sent shivers through me, and the feeling hasn't left. It was hard to let go of him as we walked down the hill. There was something about him that drew me in, something that I could not easily explain.

In the car, I decided I wouldn't let things get awkward. I wanted to stay positive and natural, to make him feel welcome and comfortable.

Liam sat with his arms wrapped around himself, staring out the windshield, while I pulled into traffic, trying to find a safe topic to start with.

"You know, I live in what's basically a tiny house. Ever heard of the term?"

Liam's cappuccino-colored eyes glanced at me briefly before returning to the road.

"Yeah, those are like mobile homes, right? You can put them on small lots, and some are pretty energy-efficient."

"Exactly. Mine's built into the ground, though. It's a bit bigger than a typical tiny house because it has two loft rooms. They're pretty nice, with skylights so you can watch the stars at night. I thought you might like staying in one of them."

Liam let out a quick breath. "I feel so stupid, crashing at your place when we don't even know each other…"

"It feels like we do. We have mutual friends, and besides, why not do something spontaneous? I just had a gut feeling it was the right thing to offer. Call me superstitious, but I've learned to trust my intuition."

Liam shot me another curious look.

"Did you and Winter ever date?"

The sudden inquiry startled me a bit. Such an intense question, considering we barely knew each other! But oh well, we'd have to talk about it sooner or later anyway.

Clearing my throat, I replied, "Yes. Winter and I dated over ten years ago, while in college. Then we broke up. About three years ago, we reconnected and decided on a casual arrangement. We'd see each other sometimes—weekly, sometimes once a month—just as ‘friends with benefits'. My career was fast-paced then, and Winter had just become a department head at DevApp, so it worked for us as a stress reliever. But for the last three months, we didn't see each other at all. Today was an exception because Winter wanted to explain why he wanted to end things. He thought it'd be fairer to do it in person. He feels ready for a new relationship, and honestly, I think I'm ready too. My career's finally stable, I'm earning the money I wanted, so the pressure's lifted a bit."

Liam was weirdly quiet as we pulled up to my house.

The small building was modern and stylish, and I was proud of it. Over the years, I'd refined it to perfection. I'd bought a narrow plot of land for next to nothing, but now it was exactly how I wanted. In the back, there was a cozy terrace with a built-in hot tub. All the plants were precisely placed, surrounded by white gravel, with clusters of ornamental grasses like Pony Tails, Red Baron, Chinese Miscanthus, and striking white and pink Pampas grass. A tall wooden fence surrounded the yard, perfect for relaxing on the rattan loungers under the covered patio.

I opened the gate remotely and pulled into the driveway.

"Well, here we are. Welcome home."

Liam got out, looking around shyly.

"Come on, let's take a quick tour." I gestured for him to follow.

He glanced up at the house. The lot was about 30 feet wide and close to 80 feet long, with the house itself measuring 13 feet wide by 32 feet long. Inside, a cozy living room opened into a kitchen along one wall, while a bathroom sat across the passage, near my bedroom at the far end of the building, which was overlooking the garden. A staircase along the wall led up to the loft, and beneath it, a built-in wardrobe with pull-out drawers kept things tidy. The loft had two sections: one above my bedroom with a beautiful skylight, and another small room on the other side of the house with a side window. A metal walkway connected the two, with the stairs leading down to the main floor. Between the loft sections was an open area, which created a sense of space in the living room below, making the high ceilings and open layout feel even more expansive.

So, even though it was still relatively small, my ‘tiny house' had three separate rooms and a decent-sized living area connected to the kitchen.

Everything was thoughtfully arranged, and as Liam and I walked inside, I could see the surprise in his eyes. "I didn't know you could make such a small space feel so well-organized."

"Well, I've been alone for years, so I've had plenty of time to focus on designing and fine-tuning the place," I replied.

Liam nodded slowly.

"Shall we check out the terrace? The yard isn't big, but I've made the most of it," I suggested.

We stepped outside, and again, I saw surprise in Liam's eyes when he noticed the jacuzzi built partially into the deck, framed by wooden panels.

"Do you use it often?"

"It depends—mostly on weekends, when it's sunny."

Liam looked around, his gaze drifting over the ornamental grass clusters and the tall panel fence. "It's really well put together—very meticulously executed."

"Thanks. With a lot of free time, you can build yourself a little dream house."

We headed back inside, and Liam glanced up toward the loft. He seemed unsure, biting his lip. Meanwhile, I went to the fridge and took out the pumpkin soup I'd made for lunch.

"Care to join me for some soup?"

He nodded slowly and sat down at the long table in the living room. I was glad he agreed. The way he looked was worrisome; he was emaciated, very pale, with sunken cheeks. He definitely needed some sustenance.

"No microwave?" he asked.

"I'm not a fan of how food tastes when heated in the microwave. Maybe it's just me, but I prefer the induction hob."

Liam stared at his hands for a moment while I reheated the soup. He looked broody.

"Is something on your mind? If you have questions, feel free to ask. I want you to feel fully comfortable here."

Liam shrugged and glanced out toward the terrace, sighing deeply. "It doesn't really matter. I don't even know why I came here. We're strangers. You don't know me. After two days, you might decide you don't want me around. I'd rather not get too comfortable with this."

This was something that needed to be addressed. "Liam, I know this is an unusual situation. I invited you on impulse, but I still think it was the right call. However, I completely understand if you have doubts, if you don't feel safe here, or if you're afraid—"

"No!" he cut me off, his voice unexpectedly sharp. He looked at me with a strange bitterness. "That's not it. I'm not afraid of you. I wanted to die, remember?"

How could I forget? The image of him standing on that cliff was burned into my mind. It shook me and made me rethink my own decisions, even my plans for the future, and appreciate the life I had even more.

Liam sighed in resignation. "The truth is, I don't care what happens to me. That's probably why I came here. You could kill me, rape me, torture me—I wouldn't care. I hate my life anyway."

Unnerved, I took a deep breath. His face, as he said those awful words, was painfully indifferent, as if the idea of me doing something so horrible didn't scare him at all. But it was shocking to me.

"Liam! I would never do anything like that! You're absolutely safe here. I just thought you might feel better being with someone—maybe even someone who's a stranger, someone who can look at your situation with fresh eyes and not judge you or your choices. Instead of being stuck at home alone with your thoughts, going in circles. But as I said, you're not a prisoner here. If you want to leave, I won't stop you. However, I really encourage you to seek help from a therapist. Problems like this don't just disappear overnight; they can lead to long-term depression, dangerous behaviors like substance abuse, or even risky sexual behavior." I almost recited this, recalling the list of high-risk concerns for those at risk of suicidal ideation I once read.

Liam laughed bitterly, his face twisting with irony. "I almost did that, you know? I thought about going to a club, letting a few alphas have their way with me, beat me, rape me, and then calling Soren from the hospital. Maybe then he'd show me a little compassion—maybe guilt would make him give me another chance. Yeah, I know how crazy that sounds, but that's where my head's been. I didn't care about anything… I lost the will to live."

A feeling of sadness overwhelmed me, and I took a step toward him, though I didn't want to touch him. On that cliff, it had seemed appropriate, but here, in the confined space of my home, it felt too intimate. So I sat down next to him, leaving only a narrow space between the two chairs. "Liam, hearing your words shocks me. You must've been in such a dark place to have those thoughts. It hurts me to think anyone could feel so broken that he'd want to harm himself—"

His lips twisted in pain. "I loved him with everything I had, and he pushed it away. It was still not enough…" He choked on these words, his eyes growing glassy and vacant.

A shiver went through my spine, and I said, "He didn't deserve your devotion, Liam. There are people in this world who would die just to have someone who cares that deeply—someone for whom they are the whole world. He received a gift people rarely get. It's his loss that he rejected it."

For a moment, our eyes met, and something flickered in his gaze.

"You don't know what you're saying. My obsession was… it was probably too much. You should have seen Soren today when I came to their house covered in made-up hickeys, wanting to mess up his relationship with Skye. I probably said some vile shit, wishing them unspeakable things…"

His eyes bored into me, an intensity flashing as he narrowed his gaze. "It may be the other way around. Maybe I'm not the one in danger here—you are, by inviting me to live with you. Perhaps I'm just some crazy psycho who does horrible things when I'm feeling unstable and angry…"

I took a moment to choose my words carefully, leaning slightly toward him, closer to his ear.

"I stand my ground here. You were a gift that was underappreciated. But I believe you'll find someone who will cherish your intensity and fierceness. Your devotion. Don't hide it—it could be a rare gem for people who've only had lukewarm relationships before…"

Smiling warmly, I straightened up. Liam stared at me, his pupils slightly dilated, his breathing quickened.

"Now, there's a time and place for everything. You've been through a lot and need a break. So, I'm asking you to stay with me for at least these two weeks you've taken off work. Use this time to relax, be around different people. I might even invite my brother Jim and his kids, if you'd like. You'll meet new people, and it'll be good for your mind."

Liam blinked and let out a short, sharp breath. Then he swallowed, but didn't respond right away.

So I got up, poured him some soup, which had finished heating, and placed the bowl in front of him, handing him a spoon.

He stared at the yellowish surface of the soup for a moment before saying, "I appreciate it. It's nice that you care about what happens to me, my mental health, but don't expect quick results. I was in love with Soren for ten years. Two weeks might not be enough to change that."

"Liam, I don't expect magic. I just hope the thoughts that led you to the cliff don't ever come back. That's all I want. Seeing you there… it really got to me. You're young; you have so much potential. From what Winter said, you're a great worker, and Skye mentioned you've also been a caring, selfless partner. Not scary at all, but a loving one." I sent him a rueful smile. "Someone like that shouldn't be wasted. It tears me apart even to think about it. So please stay here for these two weeks. Give me this chance to help you."

Cappuccino-colored eyes stared at me for a few seconds before Liam lowered his gaze to the soup.

"I'm not… I'm not that valuable. I'm just trash, unwanted by everyone. Do you know that throughout our relationship, Soren would never touch me, not even kiss me? He pulled away, grimaced, repulsed by me. So, I must be disgusting," he groaned, his voice so pained that I couldn't hold back anymore. I went closer and hugged him, again noticing how thin and fragile he was.

"Soren pushed you away because he found his True Mate! Did you know they feel instinctive repulsion for anyone else? They can't cheat; their bond is unbreakable. Do you understand?" I whispered in his ear. His head leaned slightly against my shoulder, and I could almost physically feel his swirling, chaotic emotions. My own emotions were building up as well.

"He didn't even want to hug me…"

My hand gently stroked his back as I responded, "Soren wasn't more disgusted by you than by anyone else. He just found everyone else repulsive except Skye. That's how it works. True Mates bond for life, and they can't break that off. It's a powerful, healing connection that only ends in death. One dies, the other dies too." I tilted my head back and peered into his watery eyes. "There's nothing wrong with you, Liam. You're not disgusting. It's actually the other way around. I promise, if you had any other boyfriend, there would be a lot of touching. I'm sure of that."

Liam remained still in my arms. I had the strange feeling that he wanted to stay there longer, but I couldn't prolong invading his personal space like that. I was his host, and it would quickly become awkward, so I let him go and smiled warmly. "Well, dig in. The soup is warm."

He seemed a little flushed as he picked up the spoon and tasted the soup. "It's really good. Thank you."

I noticed he was eating with a healthy appetite, so I brought the pot over and gave him a second helping without asking. He accepted it with a slight smile and finished the second as well.

"Good, you've still got an appetite. We'll get you back to normal in no time," I said, trying to keep the tone light.

"Thanks… thank you for everything," he whispered, blushing as he nervously tucked a strand of hair behind his ear.

"Okay, how about we go check out the loft now?"

Liam nodded, though I could see his body stiffen just a little. We walked up the stairs to the room on the left, which had a skylight. The room wasn't big—about 13 feet wide and 9 feet long—just enough space for a bed, a narrow wardrobe along the wall, and a tiny desk in the corner. But the large skylight let in plenty of light, making the room feel bright. There was also a smaller side window with a view of the yard, where you could see the terrace with the jacuzzi and my ornamental grasses that covered the rest of the garden.

Liam walked over to the window and looked out, then turned and glanced at the bed. It was a little over 5 feet wide, which didn't leave much space to walk around. I had put that bed there because my brother Jim often visited with his husband, and they slept in this room while their kids stayed in the other. It was way more comfortable than the narrow bed in the second room, so I figured it was a good choice for Liam.

"It's a bit tight in here, I admit, but I hope you'll still sleep well."

"It's perfect; the room's just perfect," Liam murmured shyly.

"Where were you living before? Were you renting alone or with Soren?"

"I used to rent with Soren, but after he moved out, I didn't want to keep a two-bedroom apartment on my own, so I got a much smaller studio."

"Maybe we can swing by tomorrow and pick up your stuff?"

Liam nodded slowly, still looking around the room, his fingers absentmindedly brushing the bedspread, his lower lip slightly drawn into his mouth, almost as if he were biting it in a rueful grimace.

The words just came out as I gazed at him, seeing that sadness on his face that still lingered, no matter what.

"I'm deeply sorry you've been through such a tough time, Liam. I really hope things start looking brighter for you…"

Liam shrugged lightly, his gaze drifting off, avoiding mine.

I could tell he didn't want to talk about it anymore, so I said, "I'll go grab you some clothes to change into. Most of my shirts will be too big for you, but they might work as nightshirts."

Quietly closing the door, I left the room and went downstairs to dig through my closet for something Liam could wear.

When I came back, he was still standing by the window, looking out at the yard.

"Here's a T-shirt, and I've even got some brand-new boxers, still in the packaging. And here's a towel."

Liam glanced at the items I handed him and mumbled a quiet, "Thanks."

I hesitated. "Would you maybe like to go out to the yard for a bit? I noticed it caught your eye. It's 8 pm now, so there's not much light, but if you want, we can sit out there for a while."

He hesitated, but I could feel he was drawn to the yard for some reason.

When we got downstairs and headed out to the terrace, Liam's eyes immediately went back to the colorful clumps of ornamental grasses.

"I really like these grasses. Your garden is small, but it's perfect. It feels so… serene here."

"Thank you. I like it here too, the whole Zen Garden vibe. It does take some work, but ever since I laid agrotextile around the plants and covered the ground with white gravel, the upkeep has gotten a lot easier, and it still looks nice."

"What made you put up such a tall fence? Nosy neighbors?"

I laughed.

"This plot used to be part of a much larger one, owned by an older omega who needed money for some home renovations. He divided the land with a surveyor and sold it off to raise funds. But the thing is, his garden runs along the whole left side, and the other sides border access to bigger plots owned by other people. So, while the distance from the other houses isn't too bad, the old omega used to spend a lot of time in his garden, and I'll admit it got on my nerves when he kept staring at me before the fence was up. So, I built it for privacy, and I'm happy with it."

"A very relaxing scene indeed, and I can appreciate that. My life wasn't very… peaceful before," he whispered.

"Maybe it will change now? You are welcome to spend as much time in the garden as you want."

"How did you come up with the idea for such an arrangement? Did you hire a landscape designer?"

"No! I did it on my own—" I said, and I told him more about how I learned everything about gardening from the internet and how the garden was gradually created.

Liam listened quietly without interrupting. It was refreshing. Most people these days couldn't listen without jumping in, always waiting for their turn to talk, but Liam just listened. It was nice, and it made me want to open up more in return.

"Tell me more about you. What do you do for work?"

Liam shrugged. "Nothing much to tell. I'm a programmer at DevApp, working in the database support department. But I've already decided I'm going to leave. I don't want to stay where I'll keep seeing Soren."

I nodded slowly. "If that's how you feel, then it's probably the right move. I don't know if you're aware, but there's another big software company just 20 minutes from here called D-Project. Winter has a few friends there; I'll talk to him and see if he can help you. I'm sure they'll find a spot for you."

Liam looked at me uncertainly. "I don't want to be a bother. I'll just apply on my own…"

"Don't worry about it. Winter knows a few guys from college who work there in management, so I don't think it'll be a problem. And honestly, I also think it'll be healthier for you to start fresh in a new workplace with new people. I wouldn't want to see my ex every day, either. It'd mess with the healing process."

Liam nodded slowly, his eyes drifting back to the clumps of grass.

"And you? You're a professor, right?"

"Yeah, but not just that. I teach on Mondays, half of Wednesdays, and Fridays, but the rest of the time I work at a research institute that's part of Malden Pharmaceuticals."

"The owners of Malden Pharmaceuticals and DevApp are brothers. They're a powerful family."

"Yeah, you're right. I always wanted to work for Blue Lowen. He's considered a genius in his field—" I hesitated, unsure if I should tell him more, but for some reason, I didn't feel like talking much about my career. Around Liam, I felt no pressure to talk about my achievements. It was different with Winter—we always had this unspoken competition between us, and it could be exhausting, like we had to prove we were the best at what we did. But with Liam I had the opposite feeling. Everything seemed more… spacious, however strange that sounded.

"Would you like something to drink? I'll go get it…"

"No, thanks. To be honest, I'm tired. I think I'll just go to bed…" Liam whispered, still gazing at the garden.

"Of course, after a day like this, you deserve a good rest. The bathroom's yours; get some sleep," I said with a soft smile. "And sweet dreams, Liam. I believe tomorrow will be a better day."

"I know it will," he murmured before turning around and walking away, his head low.