Chapter 1: Layla

Layla's p.o.v.

I am standing at the deserted border of our Darkwood pack's territory, waiting for my boyfriend. Waiting and tired. Because he is always late.

It's fine, though... He is the alpha of this pack. So he has countless work. I don't like fighting so I always understand his unreasonable reasons.

But today, today no matter how much I am trying to tell myself that it's fine, that it's okay...that he might really be so busy that he forgets his girlfriend is waiting for him in the most dangerous place of our territory. I just can't stay calm anymore. He...he must have forgotten, right?

" Or maybe he just doesn't care."

Raven, my wolf replied inside my head, making me throw the wooden pillar down the cliff. I am not this violent usually. Not this angry. But Jeffery really pissed me off today. And my wolf...saying logical things like this. It's pissing me off even more.

Fuck it. I don't care. I can put the fences alone...like every other impossible work I do for this pack. Wiping the sweat from my forehead, I picked up the gigantic pillar and carried it up the cliff.

There are lots of rogues these days...trying to cross our borders. Even the werewolves of other packs are attacking our borders. Resources have been lacking recently, so relations between the packs are tense. We needed continuous patrols in all of our borders.

However, this dangerous cliff never needed patrolling before, but these days you can't be more sure.

Jeffery promised he would help me with this work. And then, we can have a little picnic...some time alone for ourselves. Huh. I was so fucking idiot to believe him. Look at me now, such a romantic date this is, right Raven?

I tried to talk to my wolf...even fighting with her would be okay. This loneliness, I can't take it anymore. But even my wolf is not replying. Again, I am used to this. The connection between me and my wolf is sometimes unstable. I even changed a lot later than usual werewolves.

And then, I worked harder. Trained harder and become the warrior this pack can rely on.

I threw another pillar in anger. Great. Shaking my head, I again strolled down the cliff to carry another huge pillar...my mind felt all hazy, clouded by all those memories of me and my boyfriend.

It's been two years since Jeffery and I were in a relationship, I was eighteen when he finally confessed his love. But now when I think about it... Was that really love? Or am I just some kind of trophy for him? The only female warrior. The weirdo. The unusual one. Even his friends sometimes joked that he had tamed a beast.

I am not a beast. I am not...really.

Shit. I wiped the pathetic tears with the sleeves of my blue t-shirt. It's all dirty with mud and dust. Just like my face... No wonder Shannon, my little sister always makes fun of me. She is not evil or anything...it's just teasing.

But I guess...there is some truth in it. I am ugly and weird. A beast.

My knees shook as I crouched down on the dirty path and tried to mind-link my boyfriend again. This is so pathetic really.

" Jeffery... Are you coming or not, I have been waiting here for an hour now.", I sighed, relieved that my voice hadn't broken and he wouldn't know I was crying.

Last time he got all angry seeing my tears... It was weak for the future Luna to cry. Those words still echoed whenever these useless tears tried to break free from my eyes.

Closing my eyes I focused on the voice inside my head. I think I heard Jeffery mind-linking me back.

" I... I can't hear you."

My head feels heavy all of a sudden... it's like a pang, like someone is crushing my brain. Shit. My eyes rolled back inside my head, every inch of my flesh burning...my bones, it hurts.

I can hear my own scream echoing around the dense forest before everything gets all blank.

~~~

" Jeffery...babe?"

I mind link my boyfriend as soon as I felt my eyelid move.

" Jeffrey?"

I called when I heard a voice inside my head. It's my boyfriend...I can still recognize his voice even though my senses are not working.

"Your sister needs you, Layla. Come home."

I frowned, " B-but I...."

I need you.

He already shut down the link. I shrugged off whatever negative thoughts were punching my brain. Must be something important. No need to feel all sad and emotional. Taking a deep breath I somehow forced my body to stand up, tried to talk to Raven. But she is silent.

On the way to my home, several times I tried to mind link my boyfriend and tried to connect with my wolf. But all I can hear is silence. What's wrong? Even my heart feels heavy all of a sudden. Jeffery said something about my sister... I hope Shannon is alright. Her health has not been well recently.

The white wooden door of our two-story house was wide open when I reached there.

Straightening my painful body, I stepped inside the door...and my eyes finally found what I had been afraid of for a long time now. It was just an intuition. Just a senseless doubt... I used to shrug that feeling away.

And now, it's slapping me right on the face.

I watched my boyfriend, Jeffery, holding my younger sister's hand...both sitting too close on the couch. Both of our parents surrounding them. And the worst thing is, they all look happy.

Somehow I knew what was happening here before I even asked the question. It's so damn clear. It's always been clear. I was so stupid to realize.

So damn foolish to trust.

I took several steps and stood in front of the couch now. Then only Jeffery's eyes left my sister's face and met mine. I tried to act calm as I asked, " What the hell is happening here?!"

Jeffery ruffled his blonde hair with a hand as he stood up, " Look, Layla. I don't want you to overreact."

I couldn't help but laugh. That's all I could do as I watched my sister hugging my boyfriend from behind...her delicate arms wrapped around his torso like snakes on the sandalwood tree.

" Overreact on what?" I forced my eyes to stay on Jeffery, " What's happening? And why...why are you guys holding each other like this?"

" Shannon is sick."

I gritted my teeth, " And don't you think I know my sister better than you?"

" Not really.", Shannon sobbed from behind, her blue eyes all sad and piercing "You know nothing about me....always focused on yourself and your silly fights. But I always respected you and even sacrificed my love for you. But not anymore. You should go and focus on your fights and leave us alone."

What the... I could have said a lot of things. Could have reminded her of the times I saved her and this family from the rogue...could tell her how much work I do. The fights I liked... were never fun. But a necessity for us and this pack to survive.

I could have said it. But all I could do was take a step closer and beg her with my eyes to not do this. Not break whatever love we had.

" What the hell are you even saying, kiddo?"

" I am not a kiddo.", she started crying all of a sudden, making me take a step back. I can't believe she is saying this. " I am only a year younger than you... Don't treat me like a baby! I have feelings too, you know..."

" Hey...hey, Shannon, it's alright okay. Don't get upset.", Jeffery hugged her, made her sit on the couch again before he gazed at me again. All emotionless now. " I will explain her everything."

" Explain what?", I exclaimed and Jeffery pressed his lips together as he watched me.

" That I am marrying your sister."