Layla’s pov.Alek and Damien are waiting for me by the time I get back to my room and something in me squirms at the sight of them. I did not think they’d be here so I was not ready for them. I still am not, and for some reason, I feel it’s because of what happened just now with Ryan.I frown because what even happened with Ryan?The confusion that question brings to my heart is brief, and yet it plagues me in an odd way. Damien’s voice interrupts my thoughts and I snap my head to him as he asks in his deep baritone again,“Are you okay, Layla?”Ryan’s voice echoes in my mind as he asks me that same question and I shake my head just to get it out. That felt like deja vu just now, and there’s no need for anything like that.I feel Damien’s and Alek’s gazes fixed on me and I decide I have to take some deep breaths, just to get this choking feeling out of my heart.They watch me close my eyes and take those deep breaths.They watch me as I try to stabilize this strange pounding in my hea
Alek’s voice is an annoying presence when it enters my head,“Trouble in paradise?”But I ignore him. He sidles up closer to me, and this time he asks verbally, clearly seeing I don’t like how he speaks into my mind,“Trouble in paradise Layla?”Alek’s voice is a husky soft thing and I take it in, letting myself breathe a bit before shaking my head and responding to him calmly,“What paradise?”Alek chuckles and out of instinct, a smile lines my lips. I wipe that smile away immediately because it’s obvious I'm letting their joint effect influence me too much. The task in front of me is what I should focus on right now, and I do, trying to clear my head as I look at the stables.Ryan is gone like I asked.Damien is somewhere behind, and I don't know if he’s behind trying to talk to Ryan, or if he’s behind because he’s trying to figure out where he can get what we’ll need for hunting. Absentmindedly I ask,“Is Damien still…”I catch myself before I can complete the statement but Alek
“Is Ryan being rude to you?”I find that I haven't really forgotten how to ride. It just feels like it’s a memory I locked up for a while, and which is now taking some time to come back open. I try to keep my hands to myself, and not in my hair aiming to get out the twigs and leaves that have taken root in it.My horse shot me right into the copse of trees on the Earl mansion grounds.Alek dangles the reins in his hands lightly so I can return my attention to him and I do. He’s helping me lead the horse now, so I have to pay him some attention at least, I respond to his unanswered question,“Why should that be any of your concerns?”I sound like I just got told my favorite cat died.“Because there was tension between you two earlier today?”And in response to that, I look up to meet Alek’s eyes in a gesture that I hope shows I do not appreciate whatever it is he’s doing right now, and he looks away, shrugging and clearing his throat. The air between us grows awkward even before he sp
38: Alek doesn’t ask me weird questions anymore and I feel thankful for that. There would have been a limit to my answers and once I passed that limit, I’m not sure I wouldn’t have snapped at him.Right now though, there’s something else on my mind, something more pressing.How do I…deal with all this?I know that sounds incredibly vague but it’s still what’s on my mind. Today is the first day of 120 days I need to be around Damien and Alek.Alek just said he and Damien came into the city to track down someone who’s been giving the pack trouble, and even though I have no idea who that might be, I want to assume that it will take up most of their time.This trial we’re having is for them to see if they can get me to come over to them, but for me, it’s a way to fulfill a simple formality. I don’t think Damien and Alek can ever change.Sure. I might have thought that yesterday, but today, I feel differently.The images of Damien I caught while in his wolf form as he hunted still flash p
Khai’s POVKhai grabbed his phone from the nightstand and sent a quick text to the mayor. “Problem solved.” The ring that followed let me know that the message had been delivered.“So quick?” The reply from the mayor came in barely a second later.“It wasn’t a big deal, just something minor and it’s fixed now,” I replied.“And the evidence? Witnesses?” Another text caused his phone to beep yet again.“No images would suddenly appear on the internet, you need not worry.” I fired a text back. The last one. That should be enough to keep the mayor’s anger at bay. Not like he could exactly be mad at him anyway. The mayor needed him just as much as Khai needed the mayor, if not more. Aside from the obvious protection they needed from werewolves, there was also the fact that Khai’s company brought in more tax revenue than four companies combined or any company in the other states for that matter. And for someone with electoral plans, plans that involved being the country’s president, he ne
“I can’t love you, Ryan.”Ryan watches as I choke those words out, each of them stinging my heart like a thousand needles into soft flesh. I look away. “You remind me too much of him. Each time we touch and each time we kiss, I can't… I can't help but feel it’ll start all over again. You’re not the one I should be falling in love with. I was married to your father once, Ryan, that has to mean something.”Ryan stalks closer to me, his steps slow and intentional as he asks darkly, “What if it doesn’t?” I scoff because he can’t mean that. Of course it does. I’m… doing this for him as much as it is for me. I whisper resolutely.“Me and you…. We can’t work, Ryan.”He replies in a rasp, “Who says we can’t?” “I say we can’t. I can’t do this, Ryan.”The air grows cold as two other people enter the room and their auras settle firmly in my gut. Two people I once knew and hated but who have also shown me that I might be wrong about how I view life.That I might be wrong, with how I view…. them
“Ride him harder, Layla!”. My lips tremble violently as I heave, my eyes blinded by tears and my husband’s voice sinking a deep pike into my heart as he snaps at me again.“I SAID to ride him harder!” My heart throbs and jabs at me as tears stream down my face. The old man below me has his eyes closed as he grunts in pleasure while my husband watches. I look to Clifford and in an act of foolishness I beg, my words barely coming out because the moment I open my mouth a sob overtakes me instead. Hoarse broken words come out and my lips tremble as I plead, “P… please Clifford.” A sob wracks my chest and I look away. The pain I'm feeling makes it hard to speak but the man I’m on grabs me by the neck, his fingers closing around my throat and forcing me to look at him, at his grinning face and his cruel smirk. I beg him too because maybe he might listen to me, maybe he’ll put a stop to this.“Please,” the shame rolling through me makes me want to vanish, to tell myself I'm not here, bu
Whispers follow me everywhere I go now.“Have you seen what she looks like?”, A low harsh rasp that comes from the elderly woman a few paces behind me.“I heard she killed her husband.” A shocked gasp rings out as someone refutes that, “No, no, There’s no way… women aren’t capable of killing, Mar, we know that.”I hear whoever Mar is scoffing in disbelief before the priest begins his sermon. He clears his throat to catch our attention, but my focus is on the coffin. How beautiful and regal it looks.Mr Clifford Earl wasn’t part of any pack. Too wealthy to bow, and too old to obey the whims of any Alpha.The priest’s voice is weathered and raspy as he begins, “On this day, we gather here to celebrate the life of a good man, a hardworking man. Mr. Clifford Earl lived a long healthy life, 74 years of age, and we can all agree that he had things a lot of people don’t in this day and age.”A low murmur of approval ripples across the small crowd and someone bursts into sobs, the feminine k