I Ran From My Psycho Step-brother Straight Into The Alpha's Lap novel Chapter 172

**Chapter 172**

Taking a moment to steady herself, Talya inhaled deeply, summoning every ounce of courage she had before stepping directly into the fray. The atmosphere around her crackled with tension, and she could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on her shoulders.

As a brief opening appeared between the two combatants, Talya seized the opportunity to slip in front of Garrett, locking her gaze onto him. She sensed that, unlike Liam, who was lost in his own turmoil, Garrett still had a flicker of rationality left within him. His eyes widened as he lunged toward her, fist raised, and in that split second, Talya understood that he wouldn’t be able to pull back his punch in time.

Bracing herself for the impact, she felt a sudden rush of air as her feet were swept from beneath her. The world spun around her, and she tumbled across the ring, finally coming to a halt on top of Liam. The realization hit her like a jolt; she was sprawled across him, and instinctively, she felt a surge of protectiveness.

Before she could fully process the moment, Liam rolled her off him and stood up, his expression a storm of anger and confusion. He reached down, pulling her to her feet beside him. “What was that?” he demanded, his voice thick with fury.

Garrett approached them, concern etched on his face. “You okay?” he asked Talya, his tone softening. She nodded, though her heart raced with uncertainty. Garrett turned away, exiting the ring, leaving Talya to grapple with her thoughts. The distant sound of Kyle’s voice echoed through the arena, announcing something to the crowd, but the noise faded into the background. All she could focus on was Liam, trying to decipher how she could reach him through the fog of his emotions.

“Did I hurt you?” Liam’s voice was gruff, tinged with a hint of vulnerability.

“No,” Talya replied quickly, desperation lacing her words. As Liam began to turn away, she instinctively placed her hand on his arm, halting him. “Liam, stop. I’m here now,” she said, her voice steady but unsure. In a moment of clarity, she decided to take a leap of faith. Rising on her tiptoes, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down to her lips. For a heartbeat, he remained still, and a wave of embarrassment washed over her. Just as she began to retreat, he enveloped her in his arms, taking control of the kiss, igniting a fire within her that threatened to consume them both.

Talya felt herself melting into him, grateful for his strong embrace that kept her grounded. She tangled her fingers in the back of his hair, and he gently tugged at her strands, tilting her head to deepen the kiss. The world around them faded away until it was just the two of them, lost in a moment that felt both electric and tender. Finally, he pulled back, and Talya blinked, her breath catching as she met his startling blue gaze, which seemed to shimmer with a new light.

“Are you back now?” she whispered, her heart pounding in her chest.

Liam didn’t respond with words; instead, he pulled her closer once more, as if afraid to let her go. “Can we go home now?” Talya ventured, her voice barely above a whisper, filled with a longing that echoed deep within her.

He pulled back just enough to press a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Yeah, baby. Let’s go home,” he murmured, his voice softening.

With a firm grip on her hand, Liam led her through the throng of people. Several familiar faces attempted to engage them, but he remained focused, guiding her through the crowd with a determined stride. At last, they stepped outside, the cool night air wrapping around them as they made their way to his car.

Liam opened the passenger door for her, a small gesture that made her heart swell. Climbing in beside him, Talya felt a rush of anticipation. “What can I do to help you?” she asked, her voice laced with concern as he settled into the driver’s seat.

“Just be near me,” he replied, his tone heavy with unspoken emotions. The drive to his house was enveloped in silence, a comfortable yet charged quiet that spoke volumes.

When they arrived, neither of them made a move to exit the vehicle. “Are you still angry?” Talya asked hesitantly, her voice breaking the stillness.

Liam turned his gaze toward her, his expression softening. “You know I’m not angry at you, right?” he said, and she nodded, relief flooding through her. He ran a hand over his face, a gesture of frustration and vulnerability. “When they took you away,” he began, his voice taut with emotion, “I was consumed by rage. I’ve never felt anything like it. I tried to convince myself it was for your own good, but deep down, neither my wolf nor I could accept that. When I heard from Sage that you hadn’t gotten out of bed for days, it shattered me. Garrett had already given me orders, but we ended up arguing again. He insisted I stay away from you, and I thought I could manage it for a few weeks. I underestimated how much I would struggle without you by my side. Then, when you finally returned to me, you were unconscious. It took every ounce of willpower to keep my wolf from tearing Paul apart. I thought I could handle it, but when you questioned my feelings for you, when you believed I had abandoned you… that broke me. It infuriates me that you felt that way. The last thing I wanted was to hurt you.”

Talya shifted closer, her heart aching for him. “Liam, I didn’t mean to make things worse for you,” she started, her voice trembling.

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