7

HILARY

Layla practically dragged me all the way into the house and over to a couch, her movements surprisingly quick for a seemingly almost due woman. I sank into the cushions, grateful for a chance to rest after the whirlwind of emotions I'd been through.

"Okay, spill the beans, Hilary," Layla said, flopping down beside me, her eyes shining with interest. "What's your story?... Okay, maybe not that deep yet,” She backpedaled with a thoughtful look before jumping nearer in interest again. “What do you do for fun?" She settled this time.

I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "Well, I... um, I don't really have a lot of hobbies," I admitted sheepishly. "I'm more into practical stuff, like cooking, cleaning, you know, the basics."

Layla's eyes widened with mock horror, a dramatic gasp leaving her lips. "Girl, we need to fix that ASAP! You can't spend all your time doing chores, we can't have that!. We need to find you a hobby. We're going on a grand adventure, mark my words!"

I couldn't help a small giggle at her infectious enthusiasm. "An adventure, huh? I'm intrigued."

Layla grinned, clearly excited by the prospect. "Oh, it'll be epic! We'll hike through the wilderness, explore hidden trails, maybe even stumble upon a secret waterfall or two, and along the way, we can swap stories and dish about all the latest gossip." She spoke quickly, almost stumbling over her words like her brain struggled to keep up with her tongue.

I chuckled, feeling a warmth spreading through me. She felt like such a breathe of fresh air.

"Hike?" I said, shooting a pointed look at her bulging belly and she immediately waved me off.

"Oh, don't mind this" she giggled, rubbing her tummy with a gentleness that spoke volumes, but her next words felt a little contradictory to said gentleness. "I am definitely fit for hiking!"

"No the fuck you're not, Layla! What the hell!” A brown haired man came barreling in before I could utter an argument. His blue eyes piercing as he stomped over to her, clearly not concerned about any other presence in the room. “And why are you alone? What are you doing here?”

"Dylan!” She immediately chastised, cradling her belly, “How many times do I have to tell you…. no curse words in front of the baby!" She chided.

So he was Layla's mate? I could already tell from the possessiveness in his stance and concern in his eyes that their bond was a strong one. Oh, and their baby was definitely going to be so cute.

"You didn't answer my question, Layla. Where is your maid and guard?"

"Which of the questions should I answer first?"

"Layla…" the man deadpanned, his frustration palpable.

As if on cue, the girl that had tried to get Layla back into the manor and in bed earlier and a man dressed in an all black uniform bursted into the room.

Fear flashed across the maid's face as she suddenly skidded to an abrupt halt at the sight of her master. But it was too late, he was already turning to face her, his features twisted into a dissatisfied frown.

“Didn't I say to not let her out of your sight?”

“I- I'm-” She struggled to get even a single word out, curling into herself but Layla quickly came to the rescue.

"Let her be, Dylan. I ran off on my own".

“My point exactly!” He noted, still fixing them with a hard look, “How on earth did such a heavily pregnant woman manage to escape from you two-”

“Did you just call me heavy?” Came Layla's interruption, causing him to finally turn to her.

They continued to bicker back and forth obviously now in their own little bubble, the man, Dylan, eventually reduced into an apologetic sinner, appealing to his wife who sneered and scoffed as she turned away from his pleading eyes and reaching fingers. I couldn't help a flicker of envy that sparked within me.

"Hey senorita" a high pitched voice suddenly sing-songed and I turned to find a young male, he offered a smile, his strawberry blonde hair complimenting his slim face perfectly.

“Mind if I seat here?” He asked, but was already taking a seat beside me, his smile ever-growing. “I'm Eros. What's your name?”

I raised a brow at what was obviously a teenager if his looks served him right.

“Eros?” I questioned instead and he blushed a little. He seemed like a fun character.

“Yeah, like the god of love.” He finally offered and threw in a wink for good measure.

I couldn't hide my amusement at his antics. Who would've thought I'd see the day when a teenager would hit on me….. or was he.

Before I could question him further, I startled at the call of my name and turned to see Lucas. I wasn't in the mood for an argument, so I answered dutifuly when he requested my presence.

“Alpha Lucas," I replied coolly, trying to maintain some distance.

He seemed to be trying to sound casual, but I could sense the underlying tension. "I hope you slept well last night," he said, his eyes fixed on me.

I kept my lips pressed together, not wanting to engage. "I'm fine," I said curtly, trying to convey that I wasn't interested in small talk.

But he didn't take the hint. He kept pushing, trying to get me into a conversation with him. I could feel my frustration growing, and I knew I had to be careful not to let my emotions get the better of me.

"I'm not going to play games with you, Lucas," I said, making a note of all the other presence in the room to keep my voice collected. I also might not want anything to do with him, but it didn't mean I was eager to provoke his anger. "I'm not interested in being your mate or your wife or whatever it is you think I am."

My words were met with a growl from his wolf, but he seemed to be making conscious efforts to keep it at bay. "Hilary, we need to talk. There are things you don't understand," he said, his voice low and even.

But I wasn't having it, "I'm sure I understand perfectly," I said, holding his gaze. "You're an Alpha and you think you can just claim me as your own without my consent. Well, newsflash, Lucas, I'm not a possession. I'm a person, and I will not be treated like a piece of property. Isn't this a marriage of convenience for you? So why can't you just leave me alone?"

He released a heavy breath, I could see just how much he was struggling with his words, “Hilary, it's not what you think. Being mates is not a matter of convenience, it never is….. this is a sacred bond. It's a commitment, a partnership, a promise. And I swear by you, I want to do everything in my power to keep to that promise.”

The snort that left my lips was an intensional one, working to show him that I saw through his pretense and wasn't going to be so easily manipulated again. "If you will excuse me Alpha Lucas, I have somewhere to be". I said, trying to extricate myself from the conversation.

His wolf was on the brink of an outburst and it was good that he had a hold on it. An Alpha wolf with a bruised ego was never a pretty sight to behold or deal with. "Hilary, please. Just listen to me. I know I haven't been the most… transparent but I promise I want to do better. I'll do whatever it takes to make this work."

He really needed to stop with this whole charade and I could feel my frustration boiling over as I snapped. "Make what work? Our fake marriage? This forced mating? No, Lucas. I will not act as a puppet in your little play and if you continue to push me, I'll leave. I'll leave and make sure you never find me. Ever.”

I didn't wait for a reply, taking his momentary speechlessness as an out and quickly walked away from him. I could feel his eyes on me, but I was done talking about this. I was done being pushed around and having my decisions made for me.

As the distance between Alpha Lucas and I grew, I felt my mind being thrown back into the previous state of confusion and agitation. I needed someone to confide in, and as fate would have it, Layla was right there. Sitting alone on the couch with her mate nowhere in sight. I made my way over to her, my footsteps heavy with uncertainty.

"Layla," I said softly, taking a seat beside her. "Can I talk to you?"

She looked up, her eyes filled with concern. "Of course, Hilary," she replied, patting the space next to her on the couch. "What's on your mind?"

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of where to begin as I sat. But as I looked into Layla's warm, understanding gaze, the words began to spill out.

"I just had an argument with Lucas," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper. "He... he tried to convince me that being his mate was some kind of honor, but I know better. I know he just wants to control me, to possess me like some kind of trophy. And I won't let him."

Layla listened quietly, her expression thoughtful. "I'm sorry you had to go through that," she said softly. "But you're right to stand up for yourself. No one should ever make you feel like you're less than you are."

Tears welled up in my eyes as I let out a shaky breath, the weight of my fears and frustrations briefly lifting off my shoulders. "I just don't know what to do," I admitted, feeling vulnerable in a way I hadn't in a long time. "I feel like I'm trapped, like I have no control over my own life."

As Layla listened to my concerns, her brow furrowed with empathy. "Hilary, I understand why you're feeling this way, but you have to remember that Lucas isn't all bad. He's... complicated."

I couldn't hide my incredulity "Complicated? Layla, he's an Alpha who thinks he can just dictate my life without even asking for my opinion."

Layla sighed, her expression turning pained. "I'm not justifying his behavior, but you have to understand…… being an Alpha comes with its own set of responsibilities and pressure. And Lucas, well, he's been shouldering those burdens since he was young."

I shook my head, feeling a surge of frustration. "That still doesn't give him the right to treat me like property," I argued, my voice tinged with bitterness.

Layla reached out, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. "I know, Hilary. And I'm not saying you should just forgive and forget. But maybe, just maybe, there's more to Lucas than meets the eye. Maybe if you give him a chance, you'll see that he's not the monster you think he is."

Her words gave me pause, stirring a flicker of doubt within me. Could it be possible that I'd misjudged Alpha Lucas? That beneath his domineering exterior, there was a man who maybe truly cared?

Before I could dwell on it further, Layla continued, her voice soft but resolute. "Ultimately, the decision is yours to make, Hilary. No one else can tell you what's right for you. But whatever you decide, just know that I'll be here for you, every step of the way."

I nodded, trying to appear resolute, but inside, I was still skeptical. I had been betrayed too many times to trust easily. People always seemed so nice and genuine at first, but eventually, they would show their true colors.

I had to learn to protect myself, to put up walls and keep people at arm's length, and Lucas, with his dominant and controlling behavior, would be no exception. His first impression on me did nothing to help with his image in my head too.

"Yeah, you're right, Layla. I'll try talking to him," I said, trying to sound sincere. I didn't want to hurt Layla's feelings or make her think I wasn't grateful for her advice. But the truth was, I had no intention of giving Lucas another chance. I had already made up my mind about him, and nothing was going to change that.

Layla smiled, looking relieved. "That's all I can ask for, Hilary. Just keep an open mind, okay?"

I forced a smile back at her, feeling a pang of guilt for lying. But I knew it was necessary. I couldn't let my guard down, not even for a moment.

As soon as Layla left me alone, I headed straight to my room. I couldn't keep the facade up anymore. Today had turned out more…. eventful that I'd expected and despite not doing anything tasking, I could feel my shoulders pull up in knots.

I couldn't shake off the feeling that Lucas was just another person waiting to hurt me. I locked the door behind me and leaned against it, feeling a sense of safety wash over me. I knew I couldn't avoid him forever, but for now, I just needed some time to myself.

I walked over to the bed and sat down, feeling the softness of the blankets beneath me. I had been so tired lately, so drained from all the emotional warfare going on within me. I laid back, closing my eyes and letting out a deep exhale. I just needed to rest, to recharge. I would deal with Lucas and the rest of the pack later.

As I lay there, I couldn't help but think about my past, about all the people who had hurt me. My parents, my ex-boyfriend, my so-called friends. They had all betrayed me in one way or another, and it had left me with scars that still lingered. I didn't know if I would ever be able to fully trust anyone again.

But for now, I just needed to focus on myself. I needed to take care of myself, to protect myself. And if that meant going out of my way to avoid Lucas and possibly the rest of his pack, then so be it.

I was done getting hurt and played. I'd gotten my fair share of betrayals in life. It was time for me to take the reins of my life, to make my own decisions. And if that meant being completely alone, then so be it. At least I would be safe.