I Ran From My Psycho Step-brother Straight Into The Alpha's Lap novel Chapter 163

**When Night Grows Softer Hope Returns To Lead Us by Asa Rowan Finn**
**Chapter 163**

The wolf gazed into the horizon, his eyes reflecting a depth of understanding, then turned his attention back to her. “How did Liam sustain his injuries?” he inquired, his voice steady yet tinged with an underlying concern.

Talya blinked in astonishment, taken aback by his apparent ignorance. “You don’t know? I assumed you were all-seeing, that you grasped every detail of our lives,” she responded, a hint of disbelief lacing her tone.

The wolf remained still, his gaze unwavering as he repeated his question, “How did Liam get hurt?” His calmness was unnerving, yet it demanded an answer.

“In a challenge. He was fighting on my behalf,” Talya replied, her voice thick with emotion, a mix of pride and worry swirling within her.

“Who was he up against?” the wolf pressed, his demeanor still composed.

Talya let out a short, derisive laugh. “That jerk I used to date. He was absolutely terrible to me,” she said, bitterness creeping into her words.

The wolf nodded thoughtfully. “Is he still alive?”

“Brandon or Liam?” she asked, momentarily confused.

“The one who inflicted pain upon you,” he clarified, his tone unchanging.

“He’s dead,” Talya stated flatly, her voice devoid of any emotion.

“Would you then say that justice has been served?” the wolf queried, his gaze penetrating as he awaited her response. Talya hesitated, her mind racing as she considered the implications of his words. Finally, she nodded, albeit reluctantly. “Then why would I have intervened?” the wolf asked, a hint of frustration in his tone.

“But he’s hurt,” Talya protested, a tremor of fear creeping into her voice. “What if he dies?” The thought gnawed at her insides, making her feel sick.

“Then he will have fulfilled the purpose he was meant to achieve, and his journey will reach its conclusion,” the wolf stated matter-of-factly, as if it were the simplest truth in the world.

Talya stared at him, a weight settling heavily in her stomach. “Is that truly what’s going to happen?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, dread pooling in her heart.

The wolf fell silent, contemplating his response. “Talya, you cannot map out every moment and detail of his life in advance. Life must be lived in the present. You cannot let fear of the unknown paralyze you from fully embracing the life that lies before you. You must trust that I have a comprehensive understanding of the situation. I perceive the entire picture; you do not. The wolves are my creation, and I cherish them more deeply than you can imagine. Do you not think it pains me when one of my own suffers?” he asked, his voice solemn and filled with gravity.

“Then why permit it to happen in the first place?” Talya asked, her voice barely above a murmur, a hint of rebellion in her tone.

“Because that is precisely what transforms my wolves into the remarkable beings they are. The trials and tribulations they face forge them into the fierce warriors they must become. If I were to shield them from every hardship, they would never evolve into the entities I require them to be. Do you think Liam became the incredible Beta he is today through an existence devoid of struggle? That I simply handled everything for him, wrapping him in a protective cocoon so that nothing could harm him?”

Without wasting a moment to check if the vampire was near, she hunted for the next black cord, driven by a sense of urgency. She was on the verge of finding something significant. It took four more dreams, each one more chaotic than the last, before she finally spotted it. There!

With determination, she dropped the line and envisioned herself back in the wolf realm. As she opened her eyes, relief washed over her when she saw she had returned. “I’ve got it!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with triumph. “Chicago.”

“Excellent work, Talya. Did he cause you any trouble?” he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

“I never even laid eyes on him,” she replied, a mixture of pride and disbelief in her tone.

The wolf paused, contemplating her response. “He may have been preoccupied, busy assisting his vampires. You might not be so fortunate next time,” he warned, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully.

“Well, I’ll take what I can get for now. I saw blood and a young girl. Eventually, I caught sight of the bean in Chicago. I’m convinced it has to be Chicago,” she said, her excitement bubbling to the surface.

The wolf stepped closer, his intense gaze fixed on her. “You need to persuade the Alpha to halt his plans.”

Talya stared at him in disbelief. “You want us to stop before we can get Liam to Paul?” she asked incredulously, her heart racing. “But he could die!”