Chapter 333: Morning Run

The crisp, cool morning air bit at Liam’s face as his running shoes slapped rhythmically against the damp asphalt of the park path.

Beside him, Wrath set a smooth, relentless pace, his long strides effortless, his breathing measured and low like a heavy machine idling.

"Haa... haa... haa..."

"Hff... hff... hff..."

The synchronized sound of their lungs working against the dawn chill filled the quiet trail.

Sweat glistened on the back of Liam’s neck, soaking into the collar of his athletic shirt as they rounded a long curve flanked by tall, dew-covered pines.

A sharp, continuous vibration buzzed against Liam’s left bicep. The black neoprene armband holding his phone hummed against his skin, the screen lighting up through the clear plastic cover with an incoming call.

Liam glanced down briefly, catching a glimpse of the flashing name before pulling his eyes back to the path ahead, deliberately ignoring it. He didn’t break his stride.

They kept running for another half-mile until the wooded trail opened up into a wide, secluded grass field, empty under the pale morning light.

Wrath came to a gradual stop near a row of wooden park benches, settling his weight on his heels before rolling his shoulders back with impeccable posture. Liam slowed down to a walk, hands resting on his hips as he sucked in long, deep lungfuls of air, his chest heaving with effort.

"Haaah... haaah... man..." Liam muttered, wiping a sleeve across his forehead.

The armband buzzed again. The vibrating hum was louder now that the sound of their footfalls had ceased.

Wrath turned his head slowly, his calm, watchful eyes tracking the glowing screen on Liam’s arm.

"You ought to answer that, Sir," Wrath said, his voice quiet, refined, and entirely polite. "It might be someone who requires your assistance."

Liam unstrapped the band, pulling the phone out. The screen displayed Maya’s name across the top, accompanied by a small missed-call icon from ten minutes prior.

He stared at the glowing letters, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth as the memory of her wrecked, breathless form in the back of his M4 flashed through his mind.

He knew exactly why she was calling this early.

She wanted more. But he wasn’t about to jump every time she dialed.

He cleared the notification and slid the phone into his pocket.

"Don’t worry about it," Liam said, reaching down to pull his right heel toward his glutes to stretch his quad. "It’s nothing important."

Wrath gave a single, respectful nod. "If you say so, Sir."

Without another word, Wrath walked over to a clean patch of grass a few yards away.

He adjusted his posture, crossed his legs smoothly, settled his hands lightly over his knees, and closed his eyes. Within seconds, his posture locked into an absolute, immovable stillness.

Liam froze mid-stretch, his leg dropping back to the grass. He squinted at Wrath, thoroughly bewildered by the sudden shift in behavior.

"Wait... are you meditating right now?" Liam asked, leaning forward with a hand on his knee. "Just like that?"

Wrath didn’t open his eyes. "Do sit down, Sir."

Liam hesitated, then shuffled over and sat down on the damp grass across from him, crossing his legs to copy the posture. "Alright... what are we doing?"

"Breathe slowly," Wrath instructed softly, his chest rising and falling in a slow, deep rhythm. "Clear your mind. Block out every stray thought, every impulse, every distraction. Allow the ambient noise to simply fade away."

Liam took a deep, exaggerated breath through his nose, holding it for three seconds before letting it out through his mouth. "Haaaaah... Okay. What is this supposed to do, exactly?"

"If executed correctly, Sir, it replenishes the body," Wrath replied, his tone measured and gentle. "It restores focus, centers your energy, and clears away the residue of the physical world."

"Right. Easy enough," Liam muttered.

He closed his eyes, settled his hands on his knees, and tried to focus on his breathing.

Inhale... exhale... inhale...

For three seconds, there was quiet. Then, like a dam bursting behind his eyelids, the images arrived.

It started with a flash of pale skin.

Then dark hair spread across dark leather.

Tasha, lying back with that open, decisive expression under the park trees.

Then the image shifted, morphing seamlessly into Kelly’s flushed face, her blonde hair tossed wild across her shoulders, her heavy, bare breasts bouncing as she whimpered his name in the back of his car.

Then Elena appeared, her elegant frame clad in sheer lace, looking at him with that hungry, sophisticated smile.

Suddenly, Liam’s mental space wasn’t an empty field—it was a sprawling, opulent room filled with soft velvet beds, and every single girl he had ever laid hands on was right there, naked, warm, and explicitly inviting him to come take what was his.

His breathing instantly hitched, his pulse spiking as the phantom scent of sweat and perfume hit his brain.

"You are not concentrating, Sir," Wrath noted calmly.

Liam’s eyes snapped open. He stared at Wrath, who hadn’t moved an inch, his eyes still completely closed.

"I am concentrating!" Liam insisted, leaning back slightly. "How do you even know what I’m doing? Your eyes are closed!"

"Your breathing shifted, Sir," Wrath said plainly. "Your pulse quickened, your chest tightened, and your body grew warm. You are indulging in thoughts, Sir, rather than clearing them."

Liam let out a long, heavy sigh, collapsing backward onto his elbows on the grass. "Yeah... alright, fine. I can’t do it. Maybe it’s because I’m not actually tired from the run. My brain just won’t shut off."

Wrath opened his eyes, looking down at Liam with an unbothered, courteous gaze. He stood up smoothly in one continuous motion, brushing a few stray blades of grass from his trousers.

"There is no need to strain yourself, Sir, if your mind is otherwise occupied," Wrath said gently. "We may take our leave whenever you are ready."

Liam pushed himself up, dusting off his hands. "Yeah. Let me get back before the morning gets away from me."

An hour later, freshly showered and dressed in a clean black shirt and dark jeans, Liam walked down the spacious hallway of the estate toward the main study.

As he approached the open double doors, he heard the sharp, authoritative cadence of Elena’s voice carrying into the corridor.

She was standing near the large oak desk, speaking urgently into a sleek satellite phone while a pair of heavy leather traveling bags sat packed by the sofa.

"...No, ensure the private terminal at the runway is cleared for nine hundred hours," Elena was saying, her tone sharp and precise. "I want the security detail fully briefed before we touch down. I won’t tolerate delays."

Liam leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms over his chest as he listened.

Elena cut the call, sliding the phone into her designer handbag. She turned around, her eyes catching Liam standing in the doorway.

The sharp, businesslike tension in her posture melted instantly, replaced by a warm, fond smile.

"Where are you going?" Liam asked, tilting his head toward the packed bags.

"Abroad," Elena said, stepping around the desk toward him. "An urgent business matter came up overnight in Europe. Something that requires my personal intervention." She stopped a foot away from him, her eyes sweeping over his face with a look of genuine affection. "In fact, I’d love for you to come with me. I can have a seat cleared on the jet right now."

Liam chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I’m good, Elena. I’ve got classes tomorrow morning. I already missed a bunch of lectures when I went on that trip with Kelvin and his dad. I can’t miss more classes and i also need permission as well."

Elena let out a soft, amused hum, reaching out to lightly smooth down the collar of his shirt. "Always so responsible when it suits you. Well, the offer stands. If you change your mind, call me and I’ll have a car bring you straight to the airfield."

"Sure," Liam said smoothly, a small smile on his lips. "I’ll run right over the second I get bored." He took a half-step back. "Anyway, I should probably head out now."

Elena raised an eyebrow, a teasing tilt to her head. "Why? You can stay here if you want. You don’t have to run off."

Liam gave her a flat look. "Elena, I can’t just stay here all by myself in this massive house."

"You wouldn’t be by yourself," she countered effortlessly, gesturing toward the hallway. "Wrath is here, and the rest of the staff and security detail are on site."

Liam narrowed his eyes slightly, holding her gaze in total silence. He didn’t say a word, simply letting the quiet stretch out as he gave her time to process what she had just said out loud.

Elena stared at him for three seconds before the realization hit her. A sudden, light laugh escaped her lips, and she held her hands up in defeat.

"Okay, okay... fair point," she conceded, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Asking you to stay here surrounded by my muscle while I’m out of the country might be a bit much."

"Exactly," Liam said, his smile returning. "Have a safe trip."

"Thank you, Liam," she said softly, leaning in to press a gentle, lingering kiss to his cheek. "I’ll call you when I land."

Liam turned and walked out of the study, heading down the long foyer and stepping out through the grand front doors into the bright morning sun.

As the heavy wooden doors clicked shut behind him, Liam slowed his pace on the marble steps, a curious thought entering his mind.

He pulled out his car keys, tossing them lightly in his hand.

’Usually, she wouldn’t let me leave this house without dragging me into her office for a quick session,’ he thought to himself, watching a servant load her luggage into the back of a black SUV parked in the driveway. ’Whatever she’s going abroad for must be serious.’

He unlocked his BMW M4, the lights flashing twice as he stepped toward the driver’s side.

As he opened the door, a sudden surge of heat pooled low in his gut. That failed meditation attempt with Wrath had done the exact opposite of clearing his head—it had primed his engine.

All those images of naked, eager women stuck in his mind were now humming like a live wire.

A dark, confident smirk spread across his face as he climbed into the driver’s seat and fired up the twin-turbo engine.

"Well," Liam muttered to himself, pulling out of the driveway and onto the open road. "Time to go visit someone who literally can’t live without my dick."