I Ran From My Psycho Step-brother Straight Into The Alpha's Lap novel Chapter 176

**When Night Grows Softer Hope Returns To Lead Us by Asa Rowan Finn**
**Chapter 176**

“You don’t even need to ask,” Liam replied, his voice firm yet tender. “I’ve got a few things to take care of; I’ll be back in just a minute or two.” With that, he slipped into the bathroom, leaving Talya in a cocoon of silence. She closed her eyes, letting the stillness wash over her like a gentle wave.

Moments later, Talya felt the familiar weight of the bed shift beside her. Liam crawled in next to her, his presence a comforting balm. She turned her head just enough to catch a glimpse of him. “You okay, beautiful?” he inquired softly, his voice laced with concern. Talya nodded, too weary to express the turmoil of emotions swirling within her. He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, enveloping her in his arms, and just like that, she drifted off into a peaceful slumber.

The morning light filtered through the curtains, and Talya woke feeling like she had been run over by a truck. Every muscle in her body protested as she tried to move, a sharp pain shooting through her neck. She attempted to shift into a more comfortable position, but her body felt like it was encased in cement.

“Are you okay, baby?” Liam’s voice broke through the fog of her discomfort, sounding groggy yet attentive. Talya managed a nod, wincing as the motion aggravated her pain.

“You’re in pain,” he stated, concern etched across his features as he swung his legs over the side of the bed and climbed out. A moment later, he returned, a small bottle of painkillers in hand. “Here’s some painkillers,” he said, helping her sit up carefully so she could take the pills. He then eased her back down onto the plush pillows, his touch gentle and reassuring.

Paul arrived a few minutes later, his demeanor professional yet warm as he checked on her. He examined her stitches, asking a few routine questions. Talya closed her eyes, focusing on her breathing, willing herself to relax and let the painkillers take effect. She could hear the low hum of conversation between Paul and Liam, but she chose to tune it out, surrendering to sleep once more.

When Talya finally opened her eyes again, the room was bathed in a soft glow, but she noticed Liam was nowhere to be seen. Just as a twinge of worry crept in, he re-entered the room. “Are you still in pain?” he asked, his voice laced with concern.

Talya turned her head to meet his gaze. “It’s not bad,” she replied, trying to sound more optimistic than she felt.

Liam settled beside her on the bed, brushing her hair away from her face with a tenderness that made her heart flutter. “I will never forget that sight for as long as I live,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “Talya, you can’t go back there again.”

She turned to face him fully, determination flickering in her eyes. “I have to,” she insisted, her voice steady. “We need to find the locations of the other sites, or more girls will die. I refuse to let that happen. It’s not like I have any control over whether I show up in the dream stasis or not.”

“Then we need to figure out a way to stop it; it’s too dangerous,” Liam countered, his tone urgent.

“Liam,” she began, but he cut her off.

“No, Talya. You could have been killed. If you hadn’t called to my wolf, they would have killed you,” he said, his voice harsh, a mixture of anger and fear.

“Then come with me; be my protector,” she urged, her eyes pleading.

Liam reached out, his thumb brushing over her cheek, a gesture both soothing and fraught with tension. “I will always be your protector, but what if I can’t get there in time? What if it doesn’t work? What if something happens to you? I can’t let that happen, Talya,” he said, his voice breaking under the weight of his worry.

Talya placed her hand over his, grounding them both. “Nothing’s going to happen to me,” she reassured him, though doubt flickered in her mind.

He shook his head, a frown creasing his brow. “How did you pull me into your dream, anyway?” he asked, curiosity mingling with concern.

“I’m not exactly sure,” she admitted, her brow furrowing in thought.

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