Liam stood there, the weight of the syringe heavy in his hand, his mind swirling with conflicting emotions.

He should do it, he told himself.

He should take his revenge, make her pay for all the pain she had caused him.

But as he looked into Anastasia’s eyes, so full of resignation and surrender, he found himself hesitating.

Slowly, almost hesitantly, he stepped closer to her, his heart pounding in his chest.

She didn’t flinch as he reached out, the syringe poised to strike.

Instead, she bared her neck to him, her expression one of quiet acceptance.

"It will take a while to do something," she said, her voice calm and steady. "Maybe a few minutes."

Liam’s hand shook as he held the syringe to her neck, his fingers trembling with the weight of his decision.

He could feel the tension in the air, thick and suffocating, as he struggled to come to terms with what he was about to do.

Liam stood there, the syringe poised at Anastasia’s neck, the weight of his decision heavy upon him.

She had taken his child, had betrayed him in the most unforgivable way, and yet, as he looked into her eyes, he found himself unable to go through with it.

With a trembling hand, he lowered the syringe, his fingers releasing their grip until it fell to the ground with a clatter.

Anastasia watched him, her eyes wide with surprise and disbelief as he pushed all the silver onto the floor with his shoe.

"You saved my life in that pack. You are right. They could have used me as a breeding machine or even used me to blackmail my brother and take over our pack." Liam said, his voice low and strained. "So consider me not killing you with the silver as saving you. We are equal now."

He turned to go, to leave her behind and put this Chapter of his life behind him, but he stopped when he heard her speak.

"That’s a big mistake you just made," she said, her voice cold and ominous. "Because I won’t leave you alone until I have you back."

Liam’s jaw tightened at her words, his heart pounding in his chest.

He knew she was dangerous, knew that she could never be trusted again, but there was something in her tone, in the steely determination of her gaze, that sent a shiver down his spine.

"You never had me, Anastasia," he replied, his voice firm and resolute.

"But I will," she shot back, her voice filled with confidence that sent a chill down Liam’s spine.

He couldn’t help but admire her audacity, her refusal to back down in the face of his rejection.

But he knew that he could never go back to her, could never trust her again after what she had done.

"I like your confidence," Liam said, his voice tinged with bitterness. "But no. See you later."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Anastasia behind him as he stepped out into the night, his heart heavy with the weight of his decision.

He knew that this was far from over, that Anastasia would stop at nothing to get him back, but he was determined to stay true to himself, to never let her back into his life again.

________

As Anastasia stepped out of the shower, a sense of relief washed over her.

The threat was gone, at least for now, and she could finally breathe easy again.

She quickly dried off and dressed, her mind still reeling from the events of the past few days.

When she stepped outside, she found Alex playing with Willow, the two of them laughing and chasing each other around the yard.

A smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she watched them, grateful for this moment of peace and normalcy.

But even as she tried to push the thoughts of Cobra from her mind, they lingered, like a shadow haunting her thoughts.

She couldn’t help but wonder if he was okay, if he was scared if he was even still alive.

And yet, at the same time, she knew that he deserved whatever fate had befallen him, after everything he had done.

A part of her, a small, twisted part, wanted to believe that Cobra just needed her, that he needed her love, her protection, her embrace and affection, and that he would somehow be sane again if only she could give him those things.

But she quickly pushed that thought aside, knowing deep down that it was wrong, that it was dangerous to entertain such notions.

With a shake of her head, Anastasia banished the thoughts from her mind, focusing instead on the here and now, on the peace and happiness that surrounded her.

She had Alex, she had her parents, she had her pack, and for now, that was enough.

As the sun began to set, casting a warm golden glow over the horizon, the pack gathered in the clearing for Luna’s victory party.

Colorful banners fluttered in the breeze, strung up between the trees, while fairy lights twinkled overhead, casting a soft, ethereal glow over the scene.

A large bonfire crackled and roared at the center of the clearing, sending sparks dancing into the night sky.

Anastasia stood in her room, getting ready for the festivities.

She slipped into a sleek black dress that hugged her curves in all the right places, the fabric shimmering in the firelight.

Her hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, and she applied a swipe of red lipstick, a bold statement against her pale skin.

As she made her way to the party, she couldn’t help but notice the way Liam’s eyes lingered on her, his gaze following her every move.

She felt a flutter of nerves in her stomach, a rush of excitement at the thought of being the object of his attention even when he hated her.

But it wasn’t just Liam who couldn’t tear his eyes away from her.

Omegas, betas even alphas strained at her, her pheromones heightened by the lingering effects of the silver.

But as the effects of silver wore off, Anastasia’s pheromones spread through the air, a heady mixture of power and allure that made everyone in the vicinity look at her with a newfound attraction.

Xavier greeted her with a warm smile, handing her a glass of wine as she joined the festivities.

The air was filled with laughter and music, the pack celebrating their victory and reveling in the sense of safety and unity that surrounded them.

Anastasia took a sip of her wine, her eyes scanning the crowd, a sense of contentment washing over her.

For the first time in a long time, she felt truly at peace, surrounded by her pack, her friends, and the undeniable presence of Liam by her side.

As Anastasia watched from across the room, her eyes narrowed in anger as she saw Liam dancing with a female alpha.

The sight of him pulling the alpha closer only fueled her frustration, he did it on purpose and she felt her angry pheromones swirl around her, a tangible manifestation of her displeasure.

But to her satisfaction, she noticed Liam’s eyes briefly glow purple, a sign that her pheromones were affecting him.

It gave her a small sense of satisfaction, knowing that she still had some power over him, even in the midst of their fractured relationship.

When Liam finally let go of the alpha and made his way to the balcony, Anastasia followed him, her steps purposeful and determined.

She found him leaning against the railing, his posture tense as he stared out into the night sky.

"Did you enjoy the dance?" she asked, her voice laced with bitterness. "You certainly know how to work your magic on the dance floor."

Liam’s response was curt. "Yep."

Anastasia studied him for a moment, her anger warring with the flicker of longing in her heart. "You are so stunning," she blurted out, unable to stop herself.

For a brief moment, Liam’s eyes glowed purple in response, but then he quickly looked away, his expression guarded.

"Whatever. Why are you here?" he asked, his tone clipped.

Anastasia took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she was about to say. "Just wanted to know if dancing with that alpha was fun," she replied, her voice tinged with bitterness.

"Yes, it was," Liam admitted, his gaze unwavering.

"I hate it," Anastasia confessed, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Liam’s jaw clenched, but he remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

"I don’t think that’s any of your business," he finally replied, his tone cold and distant.

Anastasia felt a surge of frustration rises within her, but she pushed it aside, focusing on what she needed to say. "Tell me what to do to give me a chance," she demanded, her voice tinged with desperation.

Liam’s expression softened slightly, a flicker of hope sparking to life in his eyes. "Nothing," he replied quietly. "Nothing can make me forgive you."

Anastasia felt her heart sink at his words, but she pressed on. "No, not that," she clarified.

"I don’t want you to forgive me. I want you to give me a chance to ask for forgiveness. Give me a chance to show you that I have changed and that I regret everything I’ve done to you."

Liam remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the horizon.

Then, finally, he spoke. "Tell everyone what you did. Tell them you killed our baby and lied to me. Then, maybe, I can think about giving you a chance to show me what you want. But I still reserve the right to reject you in the end."