Mated to Two Bad Boy Alphas (Lia zane Blake) novel Chapter 273

Chapter 273 – Riskier

–LIA’S POV–

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Zane parked a little further down the street so it wouldn’t look suspicious.

His hand lingered on his phone for a second before he started typing, his thumb moving quickly. I leaned over to see, and he tilted the screen toward me.

“Just so you don’t forget,” he said.

It was a simple message saved in drafts, my name written at the top: I’m right outside. If anything goes wrong, call out for me.

We were avoiding discussing anything near the house, just in case she managed to hear us.

We didn’t know what powers she had or what she was capable of. I’d seen her in action in the classroom that day, but something told me that was a mere glimpse of her true potential.

I pressed my lips together, giving him the most reassuring smile I could manage. My chest felt tight, but I didn’t want him to see it. So I nodded, slow and steady, trying to show him that I could do this.

Zane didn’t look too convinced, but he didn’t stop me either. I pushed the car door open and stepped out, the cold evening air

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brushing against my arms. My legs felt bulkier with each step, like they knew exactly what I was walking into. Still, I forced myself forward, heading straight to the front door.

The porch light flicked on automatically as I got closer, almost making me flinch. That had stopped working for quite a while now, and neither Mom had cared, nor Dad.

Selene clearly did.

I stood there for a moment, staring at the familiar wood, my hand hovering over the bell.

My fingers trembled slightly, so I curled them into a fist, took a deep breath, then pressed the button.

The sound of it echoed through the house a bit too loud.

My chest heaved as I tried to slow my breathing and relax my pounding heart.

Calm. I had to stay calm. She couldn’t know anything was wrong. If she got the slightest idea, it would all be over before it had even started.

I repeated the words in my head like a chant, waiting for her to answer the door.

It’s Mom, I told myself. Just Mom. She has her familiar face and smile. Her gentle voice. Just think it’s her and act normal.

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It felt like forever, but finally I heard soft footsteps from inside. The lock clicked, and the door creaked open.

Selene stood there, looking like my mom. She had her hair pulled back the way Mom usually did at night, a casual cardigan draped over her shoulders. Her eyes ran over me, narrowing slightly.

Then she smiled.

“Lia, what brings you back here?” she said warmly, as if nothing in the world was wrong.

But I’d be an idiot if I didn’t hear the slight edge to her voice.

I forced my lips into a smile to match hers, even though my heart was thundering in my ears.

“I came to get a few of my things,” I said, stepping inside even though she didn’t invite me in. I left the door open, grinning at her and grabbing her hand to turn her and grabbing her hand to turn her away from it, hoping to distract her. “My Physics exam is in two days and all my texts and notebooks are here. Where’s Dad?”

My tone was as casual as I could manage, and if I still got

caught, it would be no fault of mine.

“He’s out,” Mom replied, gently pulling her hand from my hold. She turned around and shut the main door, locking it.

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A shiver crawled through me, but I quickly covered it up, turning to the stairs. “I’ll just go grab my stuff,” I said, jogging up before she’d stop me.

The moment I stepped inside my bedroom, I shut the door, releasing a heavy breath.

Okay. Step one was done. I’d gotten inside the house and she wasn’t suspecting anything yet. Hopefully.

Now I had to find one of her things within my bedroom and slip it into my pocket. It could be anything that belonged to her. Going into her bedroom would have been riskier, so I’d decided to search in my own room first. This was much safer and

allowed me to “te a more believable story for Selene.

My eyes moved across the room, lingering on the shelves, the drawers, the small things Mom might have left behind that I hadn’t thought twice about until now. Sapphire’s words echoed in my head—I needed something that belonged to her. Something real. Something hers.

I started with the dresser.

Pulling open drawers, I sifted through old clothes, folded neatly the way Mom always insisted.

There was nothing. Just clothes that smelled like washing powder.

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My gaze flicked to the dressing table. Either Mom or Selene had cleaned it up after I’d left, organising everything into a small box with compartments. I picked up a hairpin, then set it down again. That was too generic even if it was hers. Not personal enough.

A quiet panic crept in as I checked the bedside table, lifting papers, pens, little scraps of nothing.

Then my eyes fell on the wooden jewellery box tucked halfway under the bed.

Yes!

That was hers.

I didn’t wear jewellery before Zane happened.

I pulled it out, opening it at once

Inside, hidden between old rings and a few broken earrings, was Mom’s bracelet. Thin, silver, with tiny beads between the links. My breath caught. I picked it up carefully, afraid to break it.

I brought it closer to my face and sniffed. Her scent still clung to it—warm and familiar, hitting me like a punch.

My eyes pricked, blurring until I blinked the tears back. It felt wrong, standing here stealing something of hers when all I

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wanted was to bury my face against her shoulder and never let

1. go.

I took a deep breath and forced myself to move.

There was really no time for emotions at the moment. Not if I didn’t want to get caught.

From my pocket, I pulled out the small transparent plastic box Sapphire had given me just in case. I placed the bracelet inside, snapped the lid shut, and shoved it deep into my pocket. My heart pounded as I straightened, ready to bolt from the room.

But I hadn’t even taken a step when the door creaked open behind me.

Selene stood there, her smile wide and unsettling, eyes glinting like she knew something.

“You didn’t touch your books yet,” she said, glancing around the room, her voice smooth as silk.

That grin on her face made my stomach twist.

Something about it felt wrong.

Too sharp.

Too knowing.