Fated to a human

Haylie POV  

After a quick, warm bath, I slipped into sweatpants, a simple shirt, and my slippers. I didn't care about how I looked; I just wanted to be comfortable and clean. There was nothing quite like a good warm bath to soothe you. 

As I made my way downstairs, the delicious aroma of food wafted through the air, drifting from the kitchen. 

 I hoped Liam was okay in there, that he hadn't somehow managed to break the place down. But when I stepped into the kitchen, I stopped in my tracks. 

Liam wasn't just okay—he was perfect. Standing there with a dish towel casually draped over his shoulder, he was busy dishing up our plates. As soon as he noticed me, a sexy smile crossed his lips. 

"Hey, gorgeous," he said, his voice low and warm. 

My heart swelled and melted at the same time. I took a step closer to the table, unable to stop the smile from spreading across my face. 

"You did all this for me?" I asked, taking in the perfectly baked eggs, the crispy bacon, the golden sausages, and the toast that looked just right. 

"I told you I could cook," Liam said, a touch of pride in his voice. 

I smiled up at him, feeling a rush of affection. "It looks amazing." 

"Please, sit down," he gestured toward the chair across from him. 

I pulled the chair out and sat down, my heart warming further when I noticed the mug of camellia tea he'd placed beside my plate. He was the best. 

As he joined me at the table and sat down next to me, he looked at me with a small smile. "I hope you like it." 

A smile tugged at my lips as I looked at him, my voice sincere. "It's already perfect because you made it." 

I picked up my knife and fork, cutting into the sausage and savoring the first bite. 

The first bite was like heaven in my mouth. Liam clearly knew how to cook; it tasted even better than my aunt's breakfast. 

I took another bite of the eggs, then the bacon, and suddenly, I realized just how hungry I'd become. His food was a reminder that I needed to eat—and now I was eating. 

"This is amazing," I said with my mouth full of bacon. 

Liam chuckled, clearly amused. "It's the least I could do." 

I gave him a warm smile, feeling my cheeks flush. He was such a gentleman, and I loved this man with all my heart. It was then that I heard him ask, "So, if you could choose anywhere in the world to visit, where would you go?" 

I popped another piece of bacon into my mouth, glancing at him as I chewed. After a moment, I swallowed and thought about it. "Well, I've always wanted to see Paris. It's been on my bucket list." 

Liam raised an eyebrow. "Why Paris?" 

I took a bite of toast before answering. "I've always loved the pictures I've seen of it—the Eiffel Tower, the lights, the romance. It always seemed like a magical place." 

Liam laughed softly. "Well, the Eiffel Tower is there, but it ain't all that romantic. It depends on who you are and who you're with when you go," he said, a teasing note in his voice. 

I frowned. "Have you been to Paris?" 

Liam took a sip of his coffee, his eyes meeting mine as he replied, "Yeah. My mother has a fashion line over there, so I used to go a lot with her when I was a kid." 

My mouth dropped open. I hadn't expected that. Of course, his mother would have a fashion line in Paris. 

 Haylie, I reminded myself. His mother was... like a freaking goddess. She was built out of perfection, her body stunningly beautiful. Even I, as a girl, felt a twinge of jealousy at how hot she looked, and I could admit that I had a bit of a girl crush on her. 

Curious, I decided to keep the conversation going since we were on the subject. "Was Paris the only place you visited as a child?" I asked. 

Liam took a bite of his sausage, shaking his head. "No. I've been to New York as a kid, and we went on a family vacation to Australia." 

My jaw dropped as I absorbed the places he mentioned. Then, he added, "I've also been to London and Ireland once, too." 

My eyes widened. He'd practically seen the world, and he wasn't even eighteen yet. This was amazing. I finished my plate and gently pushed it aside. 

"Well, Liam, you've outdone yourself with this food," I complimented him. 

He finished his plate too, then smiled. "This is just the tip of the iceberg. I'll cook you a proper Italian meal one day." 

My eyes widened in surprise. "You're kidding. You've been to Italy too?" I asked, curiosity bubbling in my voice. 

Liam chuckled, and I couldn't help but blush at how adorable he was. "I have, and I lived there for four months when I was seven with my mother," he said. 

I took a deep breath. He was truly an adventurer—so lucky to have seen so much of the world already. 

He was good at football, he could cook, and he'd traveled everywhere. In that moment, I thought to myself, I should marry this man in a heartbeat. 

I rose from the chair, and Liam stood up with me. "Did you enjoy your food?" he asked, his voice warm. 

I looked up at him, walking over and draping my arm over his waist. "I loved it. And if you cook for me like that again, I'll marry you on the spot," I teased. 

A bright smile spread across his face as he looked down at me, folding his arms around me. "That sounds like a plan. I'll cook for you anytime." 

I chuckled softly, resting my head against his chest as he held me. His heartbeat was steady and soothing. Now that my stomach was full, I felt a reminder to take my pain pill and lay down before the discomfort set in. 

"Would you lay down with me?" I asked softly. "We can clean up later." 

I lifted my head to meet his eyes, and his warm gaze held mine. "If you want, I'll lay with you," he said, his voice gentle. 

A smile tugged at my lips as I pulled away from the hug, taking Liam's hand in mine and leading him out of the kitchen. I felt surprisingly at ease in my own house with him by my side. 

We made our way up to my room. As we entered, I noticed the glass of water with the pill beside it and the water bag already placed on my bed. My heart swelled with gratitude. Aunt Camellia had thought of everything. What would I do without her? She was like a second mother to me. 

I let go of Liam's hand and walked over to my bed, taking the two pills and swallowing them with water. I set the glass down and slipped my slippers off beneath the bed. Liam was looking around the room, seeming a little hesitant at first. 

I walked over to him, closed the door behind him, and took his hand. Gently, I led him to the bed. "Come on," I said with a smile, pulling the duvet back. I climbed in, and I noticed Liam took off his sneakers before climbing in on the other side. 

He settled in behind me, and I curled up against him. His arms wrapped around me, and it felt like we fit together perfectly. 

 My head rested on his upper arm, while his other hand pulled the duvet around us, cocooning us in warmth. His body pressed against my back, easing the pain that had been lingering. It was as if his warmth wrapped around me like a blanket, comforting me in ways words couldn't describe. 

I was at ease and as I lay all snuggled up in warm, my become fall close as the pain pill and Liam warm sent me to a deep sleep. 

Laim POV 

My wolf was restless in my head as I lay this close to Haylie. I could feel how her body reacted to my presence, and it stirred something inside me. But I fought to ignore it, choosing instead to focus on the moment. 

 It wasn't long before I noticed her breathing slow and become steady, a soft, rhythmic sound. I lifted my head slightly and was surprised to see she had fallen fast asleep in my arms. 

 She must have been exhausted from the pain, and my body heat seemed to have soothed her, helping to ease the discomfort. 

I decided I would stay with her a little longer, offering whatever comfort I could. With that thought in mind, I laid my head back down and nestled into her hair. She smelled amazing, a mix of the soap from her bath and the shampoo in her hair. I gently wrapped one arm around her waist, my hand resting softly on her stomach. 

As I lay there, my mind wandered. The place where my hand rested made me think about something I hadn't considered before—what if, one day, Haylie had children of her own? 

The thought caught me off guard, but it made my heart swell. I hadn't known her long, but the idea of her carrying my child filled me with a quiet joy. Just imagining it made me feel like the happiest man in the world. 

But I knew it would be impossible—I'm a wolf, and she's human. 

I shook my head slightly, but the thoughts didn't leave. I traced my fingertips gently across her stomach, feeling the warmth of her skin under my touch. In that moment, it didn't matter. I loved her, and that was enough. I wanted to be with her, to stand by her side, no matter what the future held. 

I placed my hand flat against her stomach again, my mind racing. We didn't know each other that well yet, and I had no business thinking too far into the future. 

What I needed to focus on was something immediate—Haylie's birthday. And I already had the perfect idea. 

I opened a mental link to my father, asking, "Dad, could I borrow the private plane tomorrow? It's Haylie's birthday, and I want to surprise her." 

I let out a steady breath, letting the tension leave me, and buried my face in her hair, inhaling the sweet scent of her shampoo. It had a calming effect on me, and I let the familiar smell wrap around my soul like a blanket. 

"You can borrow it, but where do you want to take her?" my father's voice echoed in my mind, breaking through my thoughts. 

I thought about it for a moment, then responded with a smile forming on my lips. "I want to take her to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower and have dinner there." 

The idea seemed perfect. I could already imagine the surprise and excitement in her eyes when she saw Paris for the first time. 

We wouldn't be there for long—just a few hours—but it would blow her mind. I could even ask my mother for one of her latest fashion line dresses for Haylie, something beautiful for her to wear while we dressed up and spent the evening together. 

I wanted to give her a magical experience—something she would always remember. 

When I was sure Haylie had fallen into a deep sleep, I gently wiggled myself out of her embrace, trying not to disturb her. 

She looked so peaceful, her breathing steady and calm. I slipped out of bed as quietly as possible, tiptoeing to my shoes. I carefully slid my sneakers on, trying not to make a sound. 

I didn't want to wake her—she looked too serene, too content. But I had so much to prepare before tomorrow morning. I wanted to make her birthday as perfect as I could, and there were things I needed to do, even if it meant leaving her side for a while. 

I moved back to the bed and pressed a soft kiss to her temple, savoring the warmth of her skin for just a moment longer. 

Then, without another word, I quietly slipped out the door, closing it gently behind me, and took off to make the day everything she deserved.