Chapter 8 - Liam

For the first time in years, I slept soundly and deeply. No longer did I have that sudden pinching, gut-wrenching feeling swirling in my stomach. No longer did I have to know when my mate was with him.

I woke up the next day feeling lighter and happier than ever. Aria beamed at me when I walked into the dining room. My Uncle nodded at me and I smiled back.

It was only when I sat down I realised Sebastian wasn't there, there wasn't even a plate ready for him.

"Where's Sebastian?" I asked.

My Uncle shrugged his shoulders and gave me a pointed stare. My Aunt came to sit down and smiled sadly at me.

"When your Uncle told me he came home last night I went to wake him up this morning but he wasn't there. He must have had an early appointment or something," she guessed and I frowned.

The happy feeling was now sinking in my stomach and turning to lead. Was he avoiding me again?

After breakfast, Uncle John called me into his office. He pointed to one of the chairs and he took the other one.

"What happened last night?"

I sighed and rubbed my face.

"Sebastian removed the mate bond," I told him.

"That's good but that doesn't tell me everything. Start from when you got home," he commanded.

"Uncle, please .."

"No, Liam. I love you, you're my nephew but I have looked after that boy since he was thirteen. His family abandoned him and he was left to fend for himself for several years. He was near death when we found him," he insisted.

"But he was a witch, shouldn't he have been taken in by a coven or at the least used his powers to survive?" I asked ignorantly.

"He lived in isolation with his family before and there were no other covens around. The one witch he met whilst living alone tried to kill him. He didn't know how to use his powers at that time."

I nodded, understanding what he meant. It must have been scary to discover your powers and then get thrown out by your family only to be attacked by another witch.

"I told him about Millie and explained to him why I can't be with a witch. He told me he could remove the mate bond for me. I …" I sighed.

"What did you do?"

"Sebastian asked if I would consider accepting him after he removed the mate bond. I thought about it and then asked if he would only remove the bond if I said yes."

Uncle John sighed and rubbed his eyes. He was probably frustrated with me.

"I hadn't meant to imply anything and he did get angry at me. I apologised and tried to make him understand that I'd been burned before. Then he removed the bond and said he was tired."

"Liam, you need to make it right with Sebastian. He's not come home in a week and he's gone again. Last night showed me you can't leave him alone. So you need to find some way to get over your prejudice or you must let him go fully."

He stood up, patted my shoulder and left. I groaned loudly into the silent room. My mind whirled as I walked to the window and looked out. Could I accept him or could I let him go fully?

Those two questions played in my head all day. Only one made me feel sick to the stomach every time I thought about it. A small knock on the door distracted me.

"Sorry to disturb you Liam, but you have a visitor," I stared at the young warrior before nodding.

The young man who worked at the bar last night came in. I think he was the beta's son.

"Hello?" I greeted.

"I'm Max, one of Bas' best friends," he introduced himself.

"Do you know where he is?" I asked, taking my seat once again.

"He's at my house with my sister Bonnie, his other best friend."

Relief flooded through me that he was at least somewhere safe. I nodded and smiled at him but it faltered when I saw his glare.

"I'm not here to make you feel better," he started. "I'm here to tell you to either stay away from him or to accept him. Last night you weren't being fair. We'd been trying for a week to get him to come out to relax and he was until you came and stared at him … all fucking night!"

A pang of guilt shot across my chest and settled like lead in my stomach.

"I know. I hadn't realised how I would feel seeing him out with someone else. A part of me wants to accept him, I can get over the fact he's a man easy enough I think it's just …"

"The witch part, right?"

I nodded and he sighed.

"I get it man, but take it from someone who lost the chance to know their fated mate, you don't want to miss this."

I looked at him with wide eyes.

"That's a story for another time," he sighed. "Bas is worth it Liam, he won't ever betray you. Not just because he is your fated mate but because it's who he is. He knows how it feels to be betrayed."

He patted my shoulder and stood.

"Trust me," and he left.

Can I?