I Ran From My Psycho Step-brother Straight Into The Alpha's Lap novel Chapter 177

**When Night Grows Softer Hope Returns To Lead Us by Asa Rowan Finn**
**Chapter 177**

“No, Liam, you simply can’t do that,” Talya said, her voice firm as she instinctively pulled away from him, feeling the weight of the decision hanging in the air.

“Why not?” he replied, tilting his head slightly as he looked down at her, searching her eyes for an answer.

“I can’t ask you to take that on,” she replied, her tone simple yet resolute, as if the very thought of it pained her.

“You’re not asking,” Liam countered, his voice steady. “You’re my mate, Talya. They’re my family too. I have more than enough resources to help us all out.”

“What do you do for a job?” Talya inquired, her curiosity piqued, wanting to know more about the man who held such a significant place in her life.

“Garrett has been acquiring most of the land in town over the years. He runs an investment firm, and I work for him,” Liam explained, a hint of pride in his voice. “In the process, I’ve made some wise investments myself, so I’m quite secure financially. Our pack has a substantial amount of money flowing through it,” he added, a confident smile gracing his lips.

“Just how old are you?” Talya asked, her brow furrowing slightly as she considered the implications of their age difference.

Liam chuckled, the sound warm and inviting. “I’m twenty-one,” he replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“And Garrett?” she pressed, her interest clearly growing.

“Garrett’s twenty-two,” Liam informed her, a playful glint in his eyes.

Talya scrunched her face in thought. “You guys seem so old,” she remarked, a teasing tone slipping into her voice.

Liam laughed heartily. “I’m only three years older than you, Tally Bear,” he teased back, nudging her playfully.

Talya nudged him back, a smile breaking through her earlier seriousness. “By the way, I never got the chance to thank you before everything spiraled out of control,” she said, her voice softening.

“For what?” Liam asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.

“For allowing me to wear your mark. You have no idea how incredible it feels to know that I carry a piece of you with me,” she confessed, her eyes locking onto his with sincerity.

A warm smile spread across Liam’s face. “You’re welcome. So, what comes next?” he asked, genuinely curious about her thoughts.

“Well, the next step is the last step,” Liam said, his expression turning serious yet excited. “It’s akin to a marriage in the human world. We don’t typically do that as wolves, but with the way things are evolving—especially with us starting to mate with humans—it’s becoming more common,” he explained, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “It’s quite simple, really. We pledge ourselves to one another in front of the Alpha. It’s up to the couple whether they want it to be a private affair or a public one in front of the pack. We always celebrate the union afterward. Once the mating process is complete, the bond is unbreakable.”

“Hmm,” Talya mused, her mind racing with the possibilities of what that could mean for them.

“Talia, I’m more than willing to have a wedding; I know that’s what you’re accustomed to,” he said, his thumb gently stroking her cheek, sensing her uncertainty. Talya remained silent, lost in thought. “There’s something I’ve been longing to do for quite a while now,” Liam said, his grin widening. “I’ve been trying to be patient and give you the time you need to heal.”

“What is it?” Talya asked, her curiosity piqued again.

Liam studied her face, contemplating her question. “What makes you think I could beat him?” he asked, genuinely intrigued.

“It was how you reacted during dinner with Steven and Wyatt. You mentioned something about it always being that way, referring to Garrett always winning,” Talya explained, recalling the moment vividly.

“I honestly don’t know if I could beat him. It would be a close match,” Liam began, his tone shifting to one of sincerity. “But I would never disrespect him by trying, except for that night,” he admitted, a slight cringe crossing his features. “If I weren’t part of this pack, I could very well be an alpha. But this pack is my life. Garrett is the best alpha I know, and it’s a privilege to serve as his beta.”

“How do you know you could be an alpha?” Talya asked, her curiosity deepening.

“By my alpha marks,” he stated simply, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Talya looked at him, confusion evident on her face. In response, he sat up and pulled off his shirt, revealing a series of marks that danced across his skin. “The more marks you have, the more power both the wolf and the man possess. Based on the number of marks I have, I could assume the role of an alpha if I chose to.”

“I thought those were tattoos,” Talya said, her eyes wide with surprise.

“Nope. Those are my very own alpha marks. You can feel free to touch them anytime you want,” he said with a playful grin. Suddenly, his demeanor shifted, and he gazed intently at a spot on the wall behind her.

“Liam? Is everything okay?” she asked, concern creeping into her voice.

“Vampires have breached the pack lands. I need to get you to Garrett’s house. That’s where we gather the vulnerable women and children,” he said urgently. Without another word, he scooped her up in his arms and jogged swiftly through the house toward the front door. He opened it, and chaos erupted before them, the night suddenly alive with danger.