I choked on my toast. Liam’s statement was a contrast to his wide innocent eyes boring into me right now.
"What... What do you mean, Liam?" I forced out.
Liam pushed his bowl away, the spoon clattering on the table. "The pack won’t find who’s doing it," he repeated, his voice surprisingly firm. "Because it’s someone inside the pack, Megami."
There was something about how he had suddenly made a switch to calling me Megami again. Kylo called me that when he was being sweet. Now, for Liam, why do I get the feeling that it was the opposite?
Panic clawed at my throat. This couldn’t be happening. Liam was just a child, picking up words he didn’t understand. Yet, his unwavering gaze sent shivers down my spine. "Liam, honey, that’s – that’s not something you should say," I stammered, trying to dismiss his words as childish imagination.
But Liam wasn’t finished. "I’m not a child, Ms. Isleen. I’m twelve and I sure know what I’m talking about."
"No, you don’t!" I banged the table. "We don’t have proof, we don’t have anything to back up this claim. Sure, the killer is in the pack to be able to pull such feats, but you should leave that to the adults. What you should be worried about right now is going to school, meeting your friends, and getting good grades."
To my surprise, Liam stood up. "I don’t have friends, Ms. Isleen. And you are right, I should worry about that. So, let’s go to school."
Liam’s abrupt maturity sent a fresh wave of unease through me. His words had weight and were unlike the ramblings of a scared child. There was more.
However, he was grieving, and in due time, I’d know. I did and said worse when I lost my parents.
Trying to maintain composure, I cleared my throat. "Alright, Liam. Let’s be on our way. But listen, whatever you hear, remember it’s important not to jump to conclusions. The pack is doing everything they can to find the culprit, and spreading rumors won’t help."
Liam nodded and mustered a grin for me. I could worry less now. We should get going.
I held his hand, and together, we left the house. It was more crowded outside every Monday morning and such was the case today also.
People getting their kids to school, people going off to work and even those with nowhere to go flooded the streets.
"Ms. Isleen?" Liam grumbled, tugging at my clothes.
I glanced down at him. "What’s up, Liam?"
"I’m hungry."
Hungry? Didn’t we just finish having breakfast?
"Huh?" I frowned but Lupe didn’t permit that conversation to commence.
From behind us, "Isleen?!" She squealed.
I turned abruptly to find Lupe waving vibrantly at me with a handbag hung on her shoulder. Standing beside her was a chubby woman.
I waved back, albeit with a lesser enthusiasm than Lupe’s. "Lupe." I sighed, brushing my hair aside.
"Good morning, Lupe!" I greeted, them as they neared me and Liam. "This is...?"
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