#Chapter 38 An End to the Delusions

Liam’s POV

When Xavier and I were children, I was always afraid to fight him. Back then, I knew that he was stronger than me and was destined to do great things. It was obvious in the way that everyone else in the pack coddled and trained him.

It was no secret that he was supposed to be the one to ascend the throne.

When word got out that the city of Normand had hailed a new lord, I already knew who it was. No matter what he lost, Xavier was meant to take it all back.

Xavier always got what he wanted in life. Even after his father died, it didn’t stop him from achieving whatever it was he put his mind to.

I envied his strength and his perseverance. For a while, after I had lost both my father and mother, I thought there was nothing left in life that was worth fighting for.

But then I found someone who I thought deserved the world.

I looked at Xavier’s bruised face. Yet despite the damage I inflicted, he still looked so perfect. Desirable. It made my blood boil to see that pompous smirk on his face.

As for me, well, I knew I wasn’t coming out of this unscathed. I’m pretty sure one of his punches broke my ribs. My nose was definitely broken, too.

My eyes were completely sore and it was hard for me to keep them open. I’m pretty sure he gave me two black eyes. I know he also knocked out a few of my teeth and I think one of my ankles was sprained.

As soon as I brought myself up to my feet, Xavier immediately charged at me and pushed me over.

“I don’t want to kill you, Liam. Forfeit this match and you’ll have another chance to live.”

I stood up again. “I’m not giving up, Xavier. I finally found something–no, SOMEONE–worth fighting for. I found a reason to live again!”

He pushed me back. “And what you’re fighting for is my damn WIFE, Liam! Contract or not, she belongs to ME.”

I spat out a mouthful of blood that accumulated from him knocking out my teeth. “I won’t give up on Eloise. My feelings for her are true and pure. She deserves someone who will reciprocate her love!”

Xavier ran at me and knocked me down again. He pinned me to the ground with his weight on my stomach and wrapped his hands around my neck. “She’ll never belong to you!”

Despite being on the brink of death, I mustered up the energy I had left and transformed into my wolf form. My brown fur was still tainted with wounds and blood but it didn’t matter to me.

Xavier leaped off of me and shifted into his wolf form, too. His fur was as black as a starless night sky. His golden eyes pierced my soul.

“Don’t make me do this,” Xavier spoke to me through telepathy.

“I don’t need your pity,” I growled. “Eloise is worth dying for. That’s how much I love her.”

Xavier barked and began to rush at me. His claws were extended and I knew that he was trying to go for the killing blow.

He tackled me to the ground and bit down on my arm. I howled in pain and scratched the side of his face.

Because of this, he jumped off of me which gave me an opportunity to lunge for him. I tried to desperately sink my teeth into the side of his neck but because he was much larger than me, it was easier for him to keep me at bay.

I got a few scratches on Xavier’s legs and chest but his regenerative abilities were far too fast for it to have made a difference. He was already healing by the time I made my decision to strike another part of him.

Xavier pushed me off of him and before I could react, he jumped on my back and bit my ear.

I smelled blood. Another howl pierced the sky and I knew that he was close to ending my life. I was beginning to blackout.

Xavier landed another slash across my back and I whimpered out in pain. Energy left my body every time he attacked me.

I rolled over on my back and he pounced on me again. The weight of his paws was on my throat as he extended his claws.

I closed my eyes and thought about Eloise’s beautiful face. If I was going to die, at least I was going to go out in peace and bliss.

After a few moments of nothing happening, I opened my eyes to see Xavier staring down at me.

“I will not kill you,” Xavier stated. “This battle is over and you’ve lost.”

“Xavier…” my telepathic voice was barely above a whisper.

“You are no longer a member of the Leonard family, Liam. As far as it goes, you are dead to this pack. The greatest kindness I can give you is a second chance at life.” Xavier jumped off of me and shifted back into his human form.

“If I see you again, I will not grant you such kindness again. Stay away from the family, from me, and most importantly–stay away from Eloise.” Xavier added before he walked away.

I laid in the center of the arena and allowed the rain to fall onto me. It stung the many bite marks, scratches, and open wounds that decorated my body.

The coldness of the rain was only contrasted by the warmth of my tears that fell from my face. I lost everything…

I thought about the first day that I had met Eloise in the central market. A cart came hurtling towards her and I knew I had to do something so she wouldn’t have gotten hurt.

When I laid eyes on her, I thought I was looking at a goddess who came to the mortal realm. I had never seen someone so flawless in appearance. Her beauty was like nothing I had ever seen before.

Eloise’s eyes reminded me of amethyst crystals. Her gaze was so soft and tender. The way she looked at me, I knew in that instant what it was like to be loved and desired.

Oh and her lips, Gods, I wanted to kiss them right then and there. They looked so soft and were an exquisite shade of soft red. I would’ve given anything to have tasted her sweetness against my lips.

Even her figure was ingrained in my mind. Her petite and slender frame was so delicate, almost like I could break her if I handled her too roughly. But I knew I would treat her as if she were a precious gem.

When she lost her earring that day, I picked it up and kept it on me. I took it as a sign of fate that I would get the chance to meet her once again. I had it all planned out how I was going to court her and win her heart.

When I saw her again at Belinda’s party, it was like I had found a diamond in a sea of fake pearls. It made my heart so happy to see her.

But then I saw Xavier’s hand around her waist. I also saw the matching rings that they wore. It hurt my heart and boiled my blood.

When Xavier and I lived in Noah, we spent most of our time together, whether we were playing or studying. However, I was like the shadow side of the moon in comparison to him embodying the brilliance of the sun.

As we got older, people would always compare me to him.

Isn’t that Xavier’s younger cousin?

Oh, it’s Liam! He came in second at the academics competition, didn’t he?

He’s not as strong as Xavier but he’s strong-ish.

I tried so hard to catch up to him. I wanted to be like him. I wanted to be him.

No matter how hard I tried, everything was in vain, and the gap between us only got bigger and bigger. It was then that I decided to give up on trying. I said to hell with the fighting competitions and trying to prove my worth to the rest of the Leonards.

I lived my life freely. I was a playboy, I gambled, and I took on no responsibilities. After all, what was the point? I had no one in my corner who believed in me and me alone.

But even after I met Eloise and found out that she was Xavier’s wife, I couldn’t control how I felt about her! I thought about her like clockwork, day in and day out. I knew in my heart that she was the one I was destined to be with.

After a while, when I found out that their marriage was nothing more than a political contract, I knew that my chance to whisk her away was here. Xavier hated her because she was a Wisdom but that didn’t matter to me.

I decided to arrive at the Noah Castle a few days in advance just so I could see Eloise again. I wanted to be in her presence and never leave her side. I wanted to prove my worth to her.

So, I worked every day to prepare for the Luna Festival–something I hadn’t taken part in years. After I beat all of the other werewolves and she applauded my performance, I foolishly thought that I had a chance to be with her.

All of that hard work and hope was shattered the instant Xavier pressed his lips against Eloise’s. The passion and bond between them were unmistakable. The way she wrapped her arms around his shoulders…

IT SHOULD’VE BEEN ME!

In my anger, I lied to Xavier about Eloise’s earring being given to me–even though it was a lie that I knew he could disprove so easily. Upon seeing his irrational behavior and anger flashing in his eyes, it still made me happy to know that such a strong person could be affected so easily by anything pertaining to women.

Seeing his anger gave me a last bit of hope, so I decided to challenge Xavier to a life-or-death duel.

And I still lost… I truly lost everything…

I struggled to my feet and staggered out of the arena. I stumbled around the path and slowly made my way out of the city.

I lost my family. I lost the love of my life. And now, I was no longer a part of a pack.

I was now a Reject.