The Woman He Never Forgot

Milley’s Pov

"The Lycan Princess?"

Liam's voice changed. The bitterness that had filled the room a moment earlier gave way to something harder to name, and his fingers tightened around his teacup. For a brief second he looked like a man who had spent years waiting to hear a name he had sworn never to speak again.

His mother set down her cup. "She will not enter this Pack."

Liam turned to her. "She asked for shelter, Mother. I doubt she would do that without a reason."

"After everything she did to you?"

"I said she could stay the night. I didn't invite her to move in."

His mother's face hardened, but Liam had already made up his mind. "Prepare a room," he told the guard. "Have food and hot water brought up, and send for a healer." Then he looked at me. "Milley, go with the escort and bring her here."

"Yes, Alpha."

I bowed my head and followed the guard out. I had questions, of course. The Lycan Princess had rejected Liam in front of his own army, and everyone knew what that humiliation had cost him. I could not understand why he would agree to shelter her, much less why he seemed so determined to see her himself. But questions had never done me any favours, so I kept mine to myself.

By the time we reached the entrance, the escort was waiting beside a carriage. A woman stepped down slowly, one hand braced against the door. She was beautiful in a way that made people look twice, her travelling clothes elegant despite the dust along the hem and her dark hair pinned neatly away from her face. Yet her skin was pale, and she pressed a hand to her stomach as she drew a careful breath.

"Your Highness," the guard said.

The princess gave a small nod. "Thank you for receiving me." Her voice was steady, though she looked drained to the bone.

I stepped forward to guide her inside. She glanced at me, perhaps surprised that an Omega had been sent to meet her, but said nothing. When we reached the sitting room, Liam was already on his feet, and for one brief moment his face changed. The coldness left his eyes, his shoulders eased, and a smile very nearly touched his lips, the look of a man seeing someone who had once meant everything to him.

Then his gaze fell to the curve of her stomach, and the smile died before it could form.

Hailey was pregnant.

The silence stretched between them.

"Liam," she said softly.

He stared at her a moment longer before a humourless smile crossed his mouth. "Well. It seems life has been treating you kindly."

Her expression tightened, but she did not rise to the bait. "I wasn't feeling well on the road. I've been nauseous, and I thought it best to stop for the night."

"Then you've come to the right place. We have plenty of experience keeping people alive here."

His mother shot him a warning look, which he ignored. He turned to the guard. "Where is the healer?"

"On the way, Alpha."

"Then see that they arrive before our guest collapses."

"Liam," Hailey said, a trace of reproach in her voice.

"What?" He looked back at her. "You said you were ill. I'm making sure someone examines you. Or would you rather I pretended not to notice?"

She held his gaze and said nothing.

When the healer came, Hailey sat quietly through the examination while I waited by the wall, ready to help if anyone asked. The verdict was simple: exhaustion and the ordinary sickness of pregnancy. She needed rest, fluids, and a proper meal, but there was no cause for alarm. Only then did Liam seem to release a breath he had been holding, though it lasted barely a second.

"Your room is ready," he told her. "Rest there until you're well enough to continue your journey."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

The words were polite, but his voice was not. Hailey studied him as though searching for the man she remembered beneath the bitterness. "Liam, we should catch up."

A thin smile curved his mouth. "What for? So you can tell me how wonderfully everything worked out?"

"That's not fair."

"Fair?" He gave a quiet laugh. "You came all this way to discuss fairness with me?"

"I'm not here to fight."

"Then don't."

For the first time, Hailey looked truly hurt. It was a small flicker, quickly hidden, but I saw it. Perhaps Liam saw it too, and if he did, he gave no sign of caring. He turned to me. "Milley, you'll attend her during her stay."

I straightened. "Yes, Alpha."

Hailey shook her head. "You don't have to do that. I don't need a servant."

"Of course you don't." His gaze returned to her. "You've never had trouble finding people willing to do things for you."

"Liam."

"What? You need help while you're unwell. Milley follows orders well, and you seem used to giving them. I thought you'd get along perfectly."

The insult hung between them. Hailey glanced at me, then back at him. "I can take care of myself."

"I'm sure you can. You managed to take care of your future rather well."

His mother's voice cut across the room. "Liam, enough."

He fell quiet. For a moment I thought he might finally apologise, but instead he stepped aside and gestured toward the door. "Your room is upstairs. Get some rest, Hailey. You can leave when you're ready."

She did not move at once. "Have you really become this bitter?"

His jaw tightened. "No. I became very good at remembering."

Neither of them spoke after that. I led Hailey toward the stairs, carrying the small bag her escort had brought in, and she climbed slowly with one hand resting against her stomach. At the landing she paused and glanced back toward the sitting room, and I followed her gaze. Liam still stood where we had left him, both hands braced against the edge of the table, staring down at the untouched tea in front of him.

He had agreed to shelter the woman who had broken his heart. He had sent for a healer before she even arrived, arranged a room, and made certain she would be cared for. And yet he had spoken to her as though every word were another wound he wanted her to feel.

I could not understand him. But as I helped Hailey into her room, one thought stayed with me. Whatever had happened between them, Liam Sprouse had never truly stopped remembering her.