Christmas with my Off-Limits Alpha (Feuding Hearts Christmas)

10. Liam Shadds

Liam Shadds

Chapter Ten

D ays blur together as we fall into a routine. Every morning, Ava shows up with coffee and a new treat from Mrs. Potter. The old woman’s taken a shine to her, and I can’t blame her. There’s something infectious about Ava’s energy.

I watch her progress with a mixture of pride and awe. She’s putting in long hours, practicing well beyond our morning sessions. The effort’s paying off—her control over illusions has become second nature.

This morning, she greets me with a thermos and a paper bag. “Cinnamon rolls today,” she announces, tossing me the bag.

I catch it, inhaling the sweet scent. “You’re going to make us both fat.”

She shrugs, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Gotta keep our strength up somehow.”

We settle into our usual spot, a sunny patch between two large rocks that shelter us from the cold north wind. I watch as she conjures up scenes from the past. It’s impressive how far she’s come, but I see tension in her shoulders when I mention forecasting the future.

“One step at a time,” I remind her gently.

A surprise came through last week when we discovered her aptitude for swift knife work. After Ava complained about the bushes crying every time she cut them, we switched to using sticks. It’s unconventional, counting coup instead of cutting, but it works.

Now, two hours into our current session, we’re tackling teleportation. Sweat beads on Ava’s forehead as she concentrates, trying to move herself from one spot to another.

“Remember,” I say, keeping my voice steady, “it’s not about the distance. It’s about the intent.”

She nods, closing her eyes. For a moment, nothing happens. Then, in a blink, she’s gone. My heart leaps into my throat before I spot her, stumbling slightly, about ten feet away.

A grin spreads across my face. “Well done,” I say, unable to keep the pride from my voice. “Now, let’s see if you can do it again.”

Ava’s legs buckle as she reappears before me, her energy spent from the effort. I lunge forward, catching her before she hits the ground. My arms wrap around her waist, steadying her against my chest.

“I’ve got you,” I murmur, my voice rough.

She looks up, her amber eyes meeting mine. Our faces are inches apart, her breath warm on my skin. I should step back, put distance between us, let her go, but I can’t move. Can’t breathe.

I should stop this.

My body betrays me, holding her closer instead of letting go. The scent of her—pine needles and a floral musk, uniquely Ava—fills my senses.

This can’t happen.

But as I look into her eyes, flecked with gold and wide with surprise, my carefully constructed walls crumble.

I want her. I’ve always wanted her. Who am I kidding, pretending otherwise?

The realization hits me like a punch to the gut. I’ve been fighting this for so long, telling myself it’s too dangerous, that I can’t afford to be distracted. But at this moment, with Ava in my arms, none of those excuses matter.

Her fingers curl into the fabric of my shirt, and I feel the slight tremor in her hands. Is she as affected by this as I am?

“Liam,” she whispers, her voice barely audible.

I swallow hard, fighting the urge to close the distance between us. To finally know what her lips feel like against mine.

“Are you okay?” I manage to ask, my voice hoarse.

She nods, but doesn’t pull away. “Just... drained. That last transport took a lot out of me.”

I should use this as an excuse to step back, to regain a semblance of control. Instead, I tighten my grip on her waist, stroking her with my thumbs..

“You pushed too hard.” Concern wars with desire as I strive to stay on the concern side. “We should call it a day.”

Ava shakes her head, a strand of auburn hair falling across her face. Without thinking, I reach up to tuck it behind her ear. My fingers graze her cheek, and I feel her shiver at the contact.

A few days ago, I had the strength to let her go...

“I can keep going,” she insists, her jaw set in the stubborn line I’ve come to know so well.

I smile, as my inner wolf howls for me to claim her, to make her mine. “Always pushing yourself, aren’t you?”

Her lips quirk up in a challenging grin. “Someone has to keep up with you, Alpha.”

The way she says my title, half-teasing and half-something else, sends a jolt through me. I want to hear her say it again, in a very different context.

Focus, Liam. You’re her mentor, her protector. Nothing more.

But as I look into her eyes, seeing the same hunger I feel reflected back at me, I’m not so sure anymore. The connection between us is impossible to ignore.

I remind myself of the reasons why this is a bad idea. But as I hold her, entranced by Ava’s amber eyes locked onto mine, I don’t have the strength to pull away. The air between us crackles with undeniable energy, a connection simmering beneath the surface, waiting for the right spark to ignite.

“Ava,” her name slips from my lips, a whisper that feels like a confession.

She tilts her head, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips. “You don’t have to say anything, Liam. I feel it too.”

Her words send a jolt through me, and the world fades away. We’re caught in a moment that’s ours alone, a space where desire and longing blur the lines between what’s right and what’s forbidden.

I reach out, my fingertips grazing her cheek, and she leans into my touch. Her skin is soft, warm, and I trace the contours of her face, memorizing every curve. “I don’t want to keep fighting this,” I admit, my voice barely above a murmur.

Ava’s hand covers mine, holding it against her face. “I made myself believe my father’s words, that you were a foolish crush,” she confesses, her gaze never leaving mine. “But he is wrong. He’s always been wrong. This pull, this sizzling connection I feel, it’s not a crush. Liam. I don’t know what it is, but it’s more than that, isn’t it?”

I nod. The truth of her words resonate within me. It’s more than a simple attraction. It’s a pull I can’t resist, a need that goes beyond the physical. “You are a part of me. I miss you every day you are not in my life. There’s a hollowness in my soul that only fills when you are in my day.” My voice is raw with emotion.

She steps into me, her body leaning against mine, and a shiver runs down my spine even as my erection rises. Our breaths mingle, and I’m acutely aware of the rise and fall of her chest, the way her pulse quickens to match my own.

Our lips meet in a kiss, a tentative exploration that quickly deepens. There’s a hunger in the way we cling to each other, a desperation that speaks of the many times we’ve denied ourselves this connection. It’s not our first kiss, and I desperately hope it’s not our last. “Mmmm. Kissing you feels like coming home, Ava. I could kiss you for days.”

As our hands roam, exploring the contours of each other’s bodies, I’m struck by the rightness of it all. Every touch, every sigh, every gasp of pleasure is a testament to the bond we share. It’s as if our bodies were made to fit together, each movement, each touch a dance we’ve known since time immemorial.

“I want this,” Ava murmurs between kisses, her voice a sultry whisper that fans the flames of my desire. “I want you, Liam.”

Her words ignite something primal within me, and I groan, pressing her closer, as if I could erase the space between us entirely. “You have me,” I assure her, my voice thick with need. “You’ve had me from the moment we met.”

We move together, a tangle of limbs and heated whispers, each touch charged with the promise of what’s to come. It’s a dance of discovery, a journey of shared pleasure that binds us closer with every passing second.

And as we lose ourselves in each other, all the reasons why this is a bad idea melt away. In this moment, there’s only Ava and me, and the certainty that no matter what the future holds, she is, and always will be, mine.

The world narrows to a pinpoint as Ava’s lips meet mine. Everything else fades away—the forest, our training, the constant weight of responsibility. For a moment, there’s only us.

Then a scent on the wind, sharp and familiar, hits my senses. My muscles tense, and I pull back from Ava abruptly.

“Liam? What’s wrong?” Her amber eyes search my face, confusion replacing the warmth from seconds ago.

I scan the treeline, every sense on high alert. “We’re not alone.”

The forest suddenly feels too quiet, too still. I catch a flash of movement between the trees - just for an instant, but it’s enough.

Shit. They’re here. I should have known.

“Ava, stay close to me.” I keep my voice low, trying not to betray the surge of fear and adrenaline coursing through me.

She nods, her own body tensing as she picks up on the danger. Her hand slips into mine, and I give it a quick squeeze.

I won’t let them hurt her. Not now, not ever.

“Iron Wolves?” Ava whispers, her eyes darting from tree to tree.

I nod grimly. “Passing by, I hope. Their scent is waning.”

Anger flares hot in my chest. How long have they been there? How much did they see?

Focus, Liam. Keep her safe.

“We need to move. Slowly. Back to the bikes. You lead. Now.” I edge backwards, keeping Ava between me and the scent of danger.