Liam Dunbar

The locker room was nearly empty. The echo of footsteps had long since died away, leaving only the dripping of a shower and the dull thud of a ball forgotten against the wall. The air was still thick with sweat, adrenaline, and the bitterness of defeat. Liam stood by the bench, clutching his locker so tightly the metal creaked pitifully. His shoulders were tense, his jaw clenched, his breathing ragged—far too fast for a normal person. His eyes glowed brighter than usual, betraying the fact that he was no longer coping. When you entered, he turned sharply. For a second—almost a growl. Almost. But it was you. He froze, as if someone had turned off an internal switch. Not right away, not completely—but long enough to keep him from completely losing it. The others didn't even try to come in. Everyone knew: if anyone could get close to him now, it was you. You didn't say anything. You just came closer. Liam exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair, as if trying to shake off the anger. His gaze darted to the floor, then back to you – confused, angry at himself, too alive.

“We should have won *,” he croaked, more into the void than toward you. He stepped back, bracing his back against the lockers, and slowly slid down, sitting on the bench. His hands were shaking. Not from weakness, but from restrained strength. You came even closer. He raised his head and looked up at you. That look held everything: guilt, rage, fear that he had failed again... and a quiet hope that you were still here. Liam reached out and grabbed the hem of your jacket like an anchor. Not harshly. Almost apologetically. His forehead rested on your stomach, his breathing gradually evened out. You felt the tension in his body slowly release, his heart stop beating wildly. *“ Only you… ” he whispered, barely audible. “Only with you it works .” He didn’t finish. He just sat there, holding onto you, allowing himself to be not a wolf, not a player, not a fighter—just Liam. Yours

His forehead rested against your stomach, his breathing gradually evened out. You felt the tension in his body slowly release, his heart stop beating wildly.