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

12. Liam Shadds

Liam Shadds

Chapter Twelve

I stand at the head of the table, my gaze sweeping over the faces of my pack. It doesn’t take wolf senses to feel the tension in the room. Frank’s jaw is clenched, his eyes boring into mine with barely concealed concern. Luca shifts uncomfortably, his fingers drumming an erratic rhythm on the tabletop.

“Alright, let’s hear it.” I brace myself for what’s coming.

Frank doesn’t waste a second. “It’s Ava, Liam. Her involvement with the pack... it’s becoming a liability.”

I feel my muscles tighten at the mention of her name. “Explain.”

“The Iron Wolves are in town,” Luca chimes in, his voice low and urgent. “We can’t afford any weaknesses right now. And Ava... she’s a wild card.”

I run a hand through my hair, frustration bubbling up inside me. They’re not wrong, but the thought of pushing Ava away makes my chest constrict.

“Your judgment might be clouded,” Frank adds, his eyes searching my face. “We’ve seen how you look at her.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I want to growl, to assert my dominance, but I force myself to take a deep breath instead. “I understand your concerns.”

I keep my voice level and force my wolf to back down. He does not understand they have the right to question my actions. Shifters do not settle conflict by tearing out our most trusted captains’ throats.

“Ava isn’t a liability. She’s strong, capable.”

“She’s also the sheriff’s daughter,” Luca interrupts. “And a weird, untrained shifter. That’s two wildcards in one package.”

I grip the edge of the table, my knuckles turning white. “I know what I’m doing,” I insist, but even as the words leave my mouth, doubt gnaws at me. Am I letting my feelings for Ava compromise the safety of my pack?

Frank leans forward, his expression softening slightly. “We’re not questioning your leadership, Alpha. We’re worried. The Iron Wolves won’t hesitate to exploit any weakness they find.”

I nod, acknowledging the truth in his words. “I hear you. Both of you. But cutting Ava out isn’t an option.” The very thought of it sends a jolt of pain through me. “We need to find a way to work with her, not against her.”

Luca sighs, exchanging a glance with Frank. “And if that puts the pack at risk?”

The question hangs in the air, heavy and uncomfortable. I straighten up, squaring my shoulders. “It won’t. I won’t let it.”

But even as I say the words, the weight of my dual responsibilities presses. Alpha and protector. Leader and... whatever I am to Ava. I’m going to walk a fine line today, balancing the needs of my pack with the pull of my heart.

“We trust you, Liam,” Frank says finally, though I still see the doubt lingering in his eyes. “Just... be careful.”

I nod, grateful for their loyalty, even in the face of their concerns. “I will be. Now, let’s focus on the race. We’ve got a lot to prepare for.”

We dive into the logistics of the day ahead. Today’s challenges will extend far beyond the racetrack. But we’re ready. I’m ready. I have to be. For my pack, for Ava, and for myself.

I step into the bustling race area, barely recognizing the empty lot it is eleven months out of the year. The air buzzes with excitement and anticipation. My pack flanks me, their presence a reassuring constant. But my eyes seek only one person.

There she is. Ava crouches beside her motorcycle, her auburn hair catching the sunlight. Her fingers dance over the bike’s chassis, checking, double-checking. The vitality etched on her face makes my chest tighten.

I should’ve found a way to stop her from racing. It’s too dangerous this year.

My gaze sweeps through the crowd, landing on a group that sets my teeth on edge. The Iron Wolves. Diggs Fireclaw stands at their center, his eyes dark and hungry. They’re restless, aggressive. More so than usual. My skin prickles. Something’s off. Diggs is up to something.

I turn to Frank, keeping my voice low. “Keep an eye on the Iron Wolves. They’re wound too tight.”

Frank nods, his expression grim. “On it, boss. We’ve got one of ours assigned to every IW MC member racing. They’ll stay glued to them the whole race.”

I make my way to Ava, each step a battle between my need to protect her and my desire to let her prove herself. She looks up as I approach, her amber eyes flashing.

“You ready for this?” I ask, trying to keep my tone neutral.

Ava straightens, squaring her shoulders. “Born ready. You worried about me, Shadds?”

I want to say yes. I want to tell her to back out, to stay safe. Instead, I force a smirk. “Nah. Try not to make the rest of us look bad out there.”

She laughs, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. She knows I’m holding back.

“Liam,” she says, her voice softer now. “I need to do this. You understand that, right?”

I do. God help me, I do. But understanding doesn’t make it any easier to watch her put herself in danger. I nod, not trusting myself to speak.

A commotion near the starting line draws my attention. Diggs and his crew are getting into position, their bikes rumbling like angry beasts. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

“Be careful out there,” I tell Ava, my eyes still on the Iron Wolves. “It’s not just the course you need to watch out for.”

She follows my gaze, her expression hardening. “I can handle myself, Liam. You should know that by now.”

“Yeah, I guess I know that better than anyone.”

As she swings her leg over her bike, my chest constricts. I want to protect the fierce, independent woman revving her engine in front of me and know she won’t let me.

I head to the starting line and my ride. Time to focus. Diggs is the rider I’m shadowing, and he’s damn good. I’m better, but not if my head is in my butt worrying about shit I can’t change or fix.

The starting gun fires, and the first flight is off. Ava shoots forward, quickly disappearing into the pack of riders. My heart races along with them, torn between pride and fear.

When the starting gun fires again, I’m off like a shot. The roar of engines drowns out everything else as I surge forward, my bike eating up the ground beneath me. Diggs matches me wheel for wheel, his red hair in a ponytail overflowing his helmet, whipping in the wind as we tear down the track.

My wolf instincts kick in, sharpening my senses. The riders spread out as we leave the smooth start on concrete and head into the dirt. Every bump, every turn of the treacherous terrain comes into crystal-clear focus. The mountains loom ahead, their jagged peaks a stark reminder of the challenge to come.

Diggs swerves towards me, his bike uncomfortably close. I grit my teeth, countering his move with a sharp turn of my own. “Not today, Fireclaw,” I mutter under my breath.

The trail twists and turns, each bend more treacherous than the last. Rocky inclines force me to lean forward, muscles straining as I push my bike to its limits. Sudden drops send my stomach lurching, but I hold steady.

I need to keep my head in the race, but I there’s a twinge nudging the back of my neck that won’t go away. Something’s going to happen. My eyes dart to the rearview mirror, searching for a glimpse of Ava. Is she safe? What are the Iron Wolves planning?

Diggs’ bike edges closer, the growl of his engine mixing with my own. His eyes, cold and determined, meet mine for a split second. There’s a dangerous edge there, beyond the usual rivalry.

“Watch yourself, Shadds,” he snarls, voice barely audible over the roar of our engines. “This race is just the beginning.”

My jaw clenches, but I don’t let him bait me into answering. We hit a nasty stretch of terrain. Rocks fly up, pinging off my helmet. I duck low, streamlining my body against the onslaught. Diggs isn’t so lucky—I hear him curse as a larger stone catches him in the shoulder.

I seize the opportunity, gunning my engine and pulling ahead. The lead is mine, but for how long? And at what cost?

The mountains grow closer, their looming presence a reminder of the challenges yet to come. My muscles ache, the strain of maintaining control over the brutal course taking its toll.

I risk another glance back. Diggs is still hot on my tail. His face is a mask of fury and persistence. Behind him, the rest of the pack is a blur of color and motion. Somewhere in that chaos is Ava. Keep her safe. I silently plead to whatever forces might be listening. Let me win this race and keep her out of harm’s way.

The next turn comes up fast—too fast. I lean into it, feeling my bike skid dangerously close to the edge. For a heart-stopping moment, I’m sure I’m going over. But then my tires find purchase, and I’m shooting forward once more.

Diggs surges past me, taking an offshoot trail. His laughter carries on the wind. “Getting sloppy, Shadds? Enjoy eating my dust!”

I don’t waste breath on a reply. Instead, I focus on the road ahead, on the race, on keeping this race between me and Diggs and nobody else. That’s my brilliant strategy. Keep every Iron Wolf racer tied to one of ours, so they won’t have the chance to pull any dirty tricks. So far, it’s working.

I pull up even with Diggs as the trail widens, heading up a hill. The bike beneath me lurches. Diggs’ snarl fills my ears as his machine slams into mine. As we near the hilltop. Metal screeches against metal. I’m fighting for control, muscles straining as I wrestle with the handlebars.

“What the hell, Diggs?” I shout over the roar of our motors.

He doesn’t answer. His eyes, wild with hatred, lock onto mine for a split second. Then—

Crack.

The world drops out from under us. My stomach flies into my throat as we plummet into darkness. Wind whips past my face. I can’t see. Can’t breathe.

No, no, no!

The fall seems to last forever and no time at all. My mind races, grasping for a plan, a way out. But there’s nothing to grab onto, nothing but the pitch black swallowing us whole.

Ava. The thought of her hits me like a punch to the gut. She’s still out there. She doesn’t know. I have to—

Impact. Pain explodes through my body as I slam into solid ground. The breath is knocked from my lungs. My bike crashes down beside me, a cacophony of crunching metal and shattering plastic.

For a moment, I can’t move. Can’t think. The world spins around me, a dizzying vortex of pain and disorientation. But the alpha in me, the protector, screams to get up. To fight. To survive.

I force air into my burning lungs. “Diggs?” I call out, my voice rough. No answer.

Stay calm. Find a way out. The mantra repeats in my head as I struggle to my feet. Every muscle protests. I taste blood in my mouth.

My eyes strain against the darkness, desperately seeking any hint of light, any way out of this underground prison. But there’s nothing. Only the sound of settling debris and my own ragged breathing.

“Diggs, you better not be dead,” I growl, more to hear a voice—any voice—than out of actual concern. “I’m not done kicking your ass.”

I take a tentative step forward, hands outstretched. My fingers brush against the rough stone. A wall? I follow it, hoping it will lead to an exit, a tunnel, anything.

But with each step, each moment trapped in this lightless void, panic claws at my chest. Ava’s face flashes in my mind. Is she safe? Does she know what’s happened? And my pack—what will become of them if I don’t make it out?

No. I shake my head, forcing those thoughts away. I will get out. I keep moving, one hand on the wall, the other stretched out into the unknown. Somewhere in this darkness is my enemy Diggs and a way out. And I’m going to find both.