Chapter 5 Chapter 5

Liora's POV

The private room was warm, golden-lit, and thankfully more silent compared to the chaos I'd left behind. Just as I was settling into the quiet room, the door swung open.

"Liora!" Raya burst in, half-laughing, half-breathless. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold or the sprint, probably both, and her sleek ponytail had lost its perfect symmetry.

"You're late Raya," I teased her playfully with a smirk, rising to hug her.

"I know, gods, don't remind me. Traffic was hell, and I forgot how bad the bridge gets after six. I swear I left an hour ago." She hugged me tightly, then pulled back and gave me a suspicious once-over. "You okay? You look... smug."

"I might've slapped someone." I said rolling my eyes when I remembered Selene.

"Oh, don't just say that" Raya said, chuckling.

"And to make it up to you for being late, I brought... you know it, gifts!." She squealed excitedly and dropped into the chair beside me and immediately started pulling items from her oversized tote like a magician performing a reveal. "From Seoul. First, this." She handed over a structured, midnight-blue handbag. "You said you didn't have anything with gold hardware, and this screamed you."

I ran my hand along the leather. "Raya, this is... ridiculous." I said with a bright smile. She really didn't have to.

"And this." She plopped a small velvet box in front of me next. "Rare shade from Hera. I fought two women in duty-free for it."

I opened it. The lipstick was a dusky rose, exactly my tone. "You're a menace." I teased her

"Oh, I'm not done." A small beautiful black hairpin followed. "Figured you could use something like this" She said to me with a wink.

"Raya-"

"One more. Necklace. Vintage. Couldn't pass it up." I let out a gasp at her words. She still wasn't done with these expensive and delicate gifts. The chain was delicate, with a tiny moonstone pendant that looked so beautiful.

"This is too much," I said softly, overwhelmed in spite of myself.

"No, it's exactly enough." She gave me a mock stern look. "Because you deserve luxury" She said and I smiled.

"Thank you so much Raya, I have no idea where I'm going to wear all these to" I said, truthfully grateful and confused.

"You'll have lots of dates to wear them on" she ssaid, already picking up a menu, "right after I set you up with someone hot. Hotter than Kade. Maybe a model. Or a stuntman."

"A stuntman?" I repeated raising my brows.

"I heard they're flexible." she said with a mischievous wink and We both laughed. Raya didn't waste time in placing orders and I joined her in on it. Soon the table was filled with different delicacies and we both started eating. Halfway through the second course, I excused myself. I needed to use the washroom.

"I'll be right back," I said, sliding my chair out.

Raya nodded without looking up. "If you're not back in five minutes, I'm coming in after you." she said with a playful stern look.

"Please don't." I chuckled and walked away. The hallway to the restrooms was dim, quieter than the main dining area. I walked into the women's room and it was more quiet. I walked towards the faucet, turning it on and letting cold water run over my hands. The air smelled faintly of sweet vanilla, a flavor I liked.

I let out a gasp when I caught someone in the mirror. My eyes locked onto his before he even spoke. What was he doing here

"Kade." I called out in suprise.

He reeked of alcohol. His shirt was wrinkled, half-untucked. The bandage on his forehead was still in place, but his eyes. bloodshot, unfocused.

"Liora," he slurred, stepping closer. "Why haven't you answered me?"

I took a slow breath. "What are you doing in the women's washroom? Get out, now." I glared at him.

"You blocked me," he said, staggering forward. "Why would you block me?" He asked, completely ignoring what I just said.

"Because I didn't want to hear from you." I said to him point blank.

"I've messaged you, called you, I thought something happened." He continued to ramble.

"You know exactly what happened." I stepped away from him, drying my hands calmly. "You made a choice. Now live with it."

He reached out suddenly, gripping my wrist. His skin was hot, clammy. "Don't do this," he said. "I know you still love me."

I yanked my arm back. "Let go." I gritted my teeth, his grip on me was quite strong but I managed to free myself.

"You do," he insisted. "You always did. You wouldn't have reacted like that earlier if you didn't still care."

"You don't know what you're talking about Kade" I shot at him.

"You're lying." His breath was sour with whiskey. "I told you. My position in the Hayes Pack isn't secure yet. But once it is, once I inherit the title, I'll divorce Selene. I'll marry you. Properly. Like I should've from the start." He continued to speak. I stared at him, genuinely stunned by the audacity. How dare him?

"You want me to wait around while you finish climbing your ladder, while you keep parading that woman around, and then what? Crawl back to you when you're finally bored?" I scoffed at his words. "You're delusional"

He flinched. "Liora-please."

"No." My voice was sharp, final. "There's no 'us.' Not in this life. Not in the next. I don't care about your title. I don't care what promises you think you can throw at me. I don't want you."

"I know you don't mean that," he snapped, voice rising, desperate now. "I know how you looked at me. You were mine. You still are." And then, he grabbed me again. This time tighter, his fingers bruising around my arm as he dragged me backward.

"Kade!" I shoved at him, stumbling in my heels.

"Just talk to me!" he said, pulling me toward the men's room door. "No one will hear, I just need to explain-"

"Let go of me!" I screamed at him. I began to panic The hallway was too quiet and there was no one around. I twisted in his grip, digging my nails into his wrist. "You're hurting me, Kade." I said to him again.

"Stop fighting me, dammit-!"

"Kade!"

The next second, I was shoved, my back slammed against the cold wall with a force that rattled through my spine. I hissed, pain flaring through my ribs. He loomed over me, stinking of alcohol. His hand braced beside my head, the other grabbing my jaw roughly.

"Kade, don't you dare. Get away from me" I yelled at him in panic as he leaned in, trying to kiss me. I turned my face away sharply. His lips scraped against my cheek instead. I felt bile rise in my throat. I wanted to throw up. I felt so disgusted by his actions in that moment.

"Stop it! Get off-"

He stilled, breathing heavy, then went quiet. His eyes locked on the faint mark on my neck, barely visible in the low light. Just a shadow, but one he knew too well.

"What. is that?" he asked, voice suddenly sharp and cold but I didn't answer. His gaze darkened, jaw tightening. "Liora. Who the hell put a mark on you?"

"You lost the right to ask me that." I snapped back at him.

His hand dropped from my jaw, but the fury didn't. "Answer me." His voice was filled with anger but I couldn't care less.

"I don't owe you anything." I shot at him.

His nostrils flared. "You let some other mutt touch you?" He raises his brows furiously.

"More than touch me." I stated coldly.

His face twisted in anger at my words. "How could you" He growled, dragging my shoulder. I struggled, but he was stronger than usual, crazed by anger and whatever he'd drunk. He yanked at my coat, tearing one sleeve halfway off. Then his hand went for my collar, fingers tugging at the neckline of my dress.

"I should've known. You- you're filthy." His voice was low, shaking with rage. "I'll see for myself. You think you can lie to me-?"

"Kade get your hands off me!" I tried to shove him back, panicking even harder.

He gripped tighter. "I gave you everything, you were supposed to be mine!" He yelled.

And then, he was suddenly gone. Ripped away from me so violently that the air shifted. Kade's body hit the opposite wall with a loud crack. The thud echoed down the hallway like thunder. I blinked, my heart beating so loud. And Then I saw him.

Rowan.

He was standing where Kade had just been standing and had a furious expression on his face. Rowan, he has saved me! Kade groaned from the floor, pushing up with one arm. Rowan walked toward him, calm. Controlled. But the air around him. it pulsed with something dangerous.

"You put your hands on her again," Rowan said, voice quiet, "and I'll tear them off." That was no empty threat and Kade knew it.

Kade stumbled to his feet, furious. "You bastard-"

He lunged at him but Rowan didn't even flinch. He sidestepped, caught Kade's momentum, and slammed his elbow into Kade's back. Then, with one sharp motion, he twisted and threw him to the ground again, harder this time. I heard something crunch. Kade coughed, sputtering.

"You think this is your territory?" Rowan asked, tone still maddeningly even. "That you can treat her like property and walk away?"

"She was mine!" Kade shouted, blood now trailing from his mouth.

"No. She was never yours." Rowan knelt beside him, one knee pinning Kade's shoulder. "You were just too blind to see it."

Kade struggled. "You've ruined everything!" Kade cursed, breath heaving.

Rowan looked over his shoulder at me. "Liora." I took a breath. The torn strap of my dress hung from one shoulder. My hair had come loose. My chest was tight, but I wasn't trembling anymore. I wasn't scared anymore. Rowan was here, he was going to protect me.

"You want to say anything to him?" Rowan asked.

My heels clicked against the tile as I stepped forward. Kade's eyes locked on mine, bloodshot, bruised, frantic. I didn't hesitate, my foot came down hard on his face. The sound was dull. His head jerked slightly. Blood poured from his nose. He groaned. I stared at him, my expression blank.

"One more violation," I said, my voice low and measured, "and I will run you over myself. And I won't stop at the first hit."

Kade gave a faint, miserable nod, still under my foot. How pitiful. I stepped back. Wiped my hands on a napkin from the hallway dispenser.

"Get lost."