LAYLA I was scared, really scared and Icouldn't think clearly. My head was throbbing and my chest tightened that it was almost impossible for me to breathe.I was free. For now. I glanced behind me just twice to know if they were coming after me but nothing and I was grateful for it. Running was like wasting my time because it felt like I was just walking and it seems I wasn't given going anywhere, it was so dark and it felt like I kept coming back to the same place again. Yes, he might. Celeste said she told him of what Adrian had done.My legs felt like jelly and my eyes were spinning in their sockets, it was difficult for the moon to push itself through the clouds and it was dark Every step felt like I was dragging myself through a nightmare that didn't want to end and the air was thick and heavy with fear.I almost fell as I stum
LAYLA "Get her! " I heard as an arrow whizzed passed my left check drawing out blood. Branches slapped against my face as I sprinted through the forest, lungs burning with each breath. The footsteps behind me were getting closer. Whoever they were , they weren't stopping and neither would I. The wind howled through the trees, but I could still hear them.Heavy, relentless footsteps , closing in on me. I had to keep running. I had to get to him. My mate . My Alpha. Drake He was the only one who could help me, the only one who would protect me. I stumbled over a fallen log , nearly crashing to the ground, but my legs kept moving, powdered by adrenaline . My wolf growled in frustration , begging to shift but I couldn't. Not now ,not when I was so close. The Packhouse was just ahead, beyond the clearing. If I could make it there ,I had be safe. I knew that Drake would be there . He had to be. I burst through the treeline panting hard . Relief surged through me at the
I had tried to forget the past . But as I stood there ,numb from seeing my mate with another woman, memories of that fateful day flooded my mind , dragging me back to the darkest moment of my life . We were just teenagers when it all happened. The day I lost everything FLASHBACK "Layla! Run! Don't look back!" My mother's voice rang out ,her usual calmness shattered by fear. The trees around us blurred as I stumbled through the underbrush, my heart racing,my wolf clawing at me, begging to be let out. But I couldn't. My parents had told me not to shift . Not yet. I turned back ,the scent of blood ,the sound of snarls filling the air. Rogue wolves. Dozens of them. My father's howl echoed through the forest ,a warning and a plea. He and my mother were the Guardians Of The Moon ,a title given to those who were responsible for the protection of the Alpha and his family and sworn to protect even the future Alpha with their lives . But I know that they couldn't hold of
What choice did I have? When your own mate looks at you like... you are less than dirt... What's left to fight for? The one I had loved for three years. Drake — the Alpha of Silver Crescent, the man I thought would chose me as his Luna— had thrown me aside like yesterday's trash. I thought I could endure anything for him. Three years of being overlooked , waiting for him to see me . To love me. But when his cold eyes met mine at the ceremony.... I knew. I was never going to be enough. I had begged silently for him to consider, to change his mind but nothing. Instead he had chosen the Beta's daughter over me. Ugly and wolfless That what was he had called me. The tears couldn't stop as I was been led out of the pack very early in the morning. Allowing me to spend the night was the only good he had done for me. The pack was no longer my home and I cried silently as we got to the ends of the pack ,guards flanked by my sides like I had committed a heinous crime. I couldn't stay
Pregnant? The word echoed in my mind like a distant bell,its sound growing louder until it consumed me. I laughed,but it wasn't a laugh of joy . It was sharp, bitter, like something dark clawing its way up my throat. How could this be real? It felt like a cruel dream, and any moment now, I'd wake up in my tiny cabin — still heartbroken,but not pregnant. Not like this . "Are you serious?"My voice trembled, barely holding back the storm of emotions building inside me. I glanced at the man who had helped me ,his expression unreadable. He didn't finch, though.My hands trembled, gripping the blanket tightly.My heartbeat felt like a drum in my chest ,fast and erratic. "I wouldn't joke about something like that ?" He said softly,his tone unusually gentle. "The physician was certain." I swallowed hard. There had been no one else— Drake . The thought of carrying his child,afterall that had happened, twisted my stomach into knots. " I saw you at the Alpha's Mating ceremony, rumour
I woke up with a sinking feeling in my stomach. It wasn't just because I hadn't eaten much—a bowl of cereal and some fruits —but because I knew today will be another difficult day . Antoine's warning echoes in my mind has I prepared to head out. Who will want to employ a pregnant woman? But what choice did I have ? I have to survive. I had a child to think about now. I placed my hands slightly over my stomach and felt my child growing. "We are going to be fine." I whispered softly, hoping my words could erase the dread I had been feeling inside me The marketplace was very busy, with the scent of fresh bread and grilled meat, mixed with the underlying scent of sweat and heat. People rushed by ,merchant shouted over one another and the crowd bustled as if the world was still normal— for them at least. I scanned the job board, hoping to find something, anything to make a little money but every job either required heavy lifting or paid so little , it couldn't even cover my
LAYLAThe sound of Antoine's footsteps echoed down the stone corridor until it faded completely. His silhouette had long vanished, yes the sharp stab of betrayal he had left behind remained—a crown lingering reminder of his abandonment.How could he do this? Antoine, the perfect stranger I had trusted with my heart, had turned me over like a lamb to the slaughter. All those promises of keeping me safe, the naive hope that he had protect me were shattered in one swift act. I had been foolish to think I could rely on anyone, even him after what Drake had done to me.The darkness pressed in, thick and suffocating, broken only by my shallow breath and stifled sobs. I could barely see through the blur of tears as I sank the cold floor, my fingers clutching at the rough stone. How was I going to survive this? My thoughts were spiraling, dragging me deeper into despair. The only thing keeping me for breaking entirely was the gentler reminder of life blooming within me— the tiny heartbeat of
LAYLA The cold, damp walls of the cell seems to close in on me as the heavy metal door creaked open. I strengthened up, my heartbeat echoing in my ears. Footsteps. More of them this time. I wasn't sure I wanted to look, but I did anyway, glancing up to see several figures stepped inside. They were tall, broad shoulders, stern faces and expressions that looked like they were carved out of stone. The one who had spoken looked so tall , his face so serious. I sighed in relief, it wasn't the Lycan King. Before I could even draw a breath, rough hands grabbed me, yanking me up with a force that send a sharp jolt through my arm. I gritted my teeth, biting back a gasp. They weren't exactly gentle, not that I tell them to be. But they could have at least warned me though. I tried to pull back, struggling against their hold , but it was like fighting against steel. The more I struggled, the tighter, their gripped. My heartbeat quickened as they started to drag me out of the
LAYLA I was scared, really scared and Icouldn't think clearly. My head was throbbing and my chest tightened that it was almost impossible for me to breathe.I was free. For now. I glanced behind me just twice to know if they were coming after me but nothing and I was grateful for it. Running was like wasting my time because it felt like I was just walking and it seems I wasn't given going anywhere, it was so dark and it felt like I kept coming back to the same place again. Yes, he might. Celeste said she told him of what Adrian had done.My legs felt like jelly and my eyes were spinning in their sockets, it was difficult for the moon to push itself through the clouds and it was dark Every step felt like I was dragging myself through a nightmare that didn't want to end and the air was thick and heavy with fear.I almost fell as I stum
LAYLA I wanted to slap her, I really wanted to. I hated everything she was saying and I was supposed to believe my instincts the first time I met Celeste that she had been up to no good.This revelation about her never having feelings for Adrian and being in love with Del was the most absurd thing I had ever heard in my entire life. I had to think quickly and know what to do. I had to get out of here quickly, because who knows she might be working for someone and I would end up dead and Del would never know what happened to me.Celeste making such a demand of me was something I never imagined would happen. Her harsh, unforgiving words pierced the atmosphere like glass fragments. It made no difference that the silence of the woods was deafening.It only mattered that her icy eyes met mine at that precise moment. “Are you thinking about this, ho
LAYLA This was just the perfect opportunity for me to laugh but I realized that I was in the woods with only Celeste and her words about Drake killing me and throwing me info the river filled me with so much dread. I had already imagined myself sitting with Del at the rooftop as we laughed over what Celeste had just said. I smiled thinly and looked over my shoulders, Adrian wasn't back yet. Did he have plans of living me all by myself to stand here with his pregnant mate under this moonless night. Celeste abd Adrian were just the perfect match, they were really funny. But no matter how hard I tried driving those words our of my mind, they stubbornly stayed and as I looked at Celeste, her red painted lips now a thin, small line and her eyes digging into mine, I knew she was dead serious. Just go home, Layla. Don't listen to her. I couldn't
LAYLA I didn't care or maybe I was just too stubborn or maybe I was just too anxious or I just wanted to see Drake and give him a piece of my mind. “ Hurry up.” I said to my personal maids as they did my makeup and styled my hair. I took a glance at the wall clock and sighed in relief. The celebration was just starting and it would be just an hour and thirty minutes for Del to prepare, speak with a few people and they would come up before everyone, introduce me as the party began. That would be just enough time to get to Willows Height and speak to that dumbass and then return like nothing ever happened. “Luna, do you want the pins —” “Just do your thing, Mikina.” I said sharply to the hairstylist, I wasn't supposed to yell, I never yell at any of them but tonight was different and I had a lot weighing me down. She nodded and mu
TWO WEEKS LATER.LAYLA It was Del's birthday Eve, I had carefully wrapped a gift for me, something not too small but special.There was the usual commotion in the pack with everyone rushing about getting ready for the celebration. It was the Alpha's birthday and for so long everyone had been looking forward to it.As Del walked through the pack grounds, making sure everything was just right there and sometimes when I look down out of the window, he might be there now and here later and then he had gone in to speak with the Beta of Dark ridge pack whom he was having a meeting with, so I couldn't go to wish him a happy birthday. There was so much going on that I could hardly concentrate. As the tables were set, the decorations were strung up and the food was prepared everyone was so excited to make Del's day perfect. Love for him filled my heart. Even when I didn't think I was deserving, Del
LAYLAIt had been an uneventful dinner, the type where everyone talks but no one pays much attention. The same old conversation about the pack, Del speaking with the Gemma whom he had invited over for dinner and me feeling bored because I had something to tell him and as the dinner was taking longer than necessary I simply forgot what I wanted to say. I excused myself and withdrawed to the living room and apologizing for the conversation as soon as the last plate was cleared. I could hear the typical sound of the servantsngoing about their daily activities—voices coming from upstairs. However tonight felt different. I sank into the couch with my book open in front of me and wrapped a blanket around myself but my thoughts were far away. The letters swam in front of my eyes blending into a single unreadable stream making it impossible for me to concentrate on the words. I ought to have gone to bed. I wanted to get some rest. Rather
DRAKEI was avoiding her stare for no apparent reason. She had never asked me such a question before .Nobody knew me as well as she did. We shared a relationship, husband and wife., Alpha Luna. I believed that she knew every single aspect of me. So why the damn question.“Drake, how did you find out about Del’s birthday party?” she repeated in a gentle yet firm tone. A knot of unease twisted in my chest. I clenched my drink with my fingers. For a while I had been nursing the damn thing but all of a sudden the taste had suddenly turned sour. I glanced over at the room's corner, anyplace other than her. Sophia narrowed her eyes and leaned in. That look was there. That dreadful expression that made it clear she didn't believe the lies I was trying to convince her of. She carried on without missing a beat “You don't remember anything about our having a good relationship with Del? You don't remember anything about your conversation with him or his brother, Adrian ?she asked. “ Why this
THIS IS WRITTEN IN THE AUTHOR'S POV FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND NARRATE BOTH CHARACTERS SIDE.Drake's packhouse, a contemporary warehouse transformed into a spacious haven for oddnpack members, was enveloped in darkness,.with every nook and cranny evoking the icy efficiency of its industrial beginnings. Years of use had worn down the once immaculate concrete floors, but the sharp edges were softened by the soft amber light that filled the minimalist furnishings which included, polished wood tables, leather chairs and a long bar that ran the length of one wall. The sharp yet recognizable smell of fresh whiskey and polished metal filled the air. The soft leather of Drake's chair sank under him as he leaned back. The amber liquid within the glass swirled as his fingers moved it around in his hand, his face lit up with happiness and so much victory that he wanted to jump and dance for joy.The contents of the glass caught the light as if reflecting his own thoughts which were swift d
LAYLA'S POV. “Don't worry.” I said to the maids as I took the tray of food from her after having breakfast.“ Just take two days off and instruct the other maids to scrub the floors clean.”“Thank you so much, Luna.” She said, bowing slightly and left as I handed the tray to the maids behind me.“You can take just two hours off.” I said to her as I made my way to the garden to free my mind from my thoughts.At first, I didn't hear him because the rustle of the leaves in my little garden and the sound of the morning birds overpowered the sound of his footsteps. The delicate flowers Del had purchased for me were bathed in golden light as the sun continued to rise. To help me feel like I belonged, he had created this space specifically for me. This place made me feel secure. It served as my haven where I could escape stress and everything. Then I sensed his presence. With my hands still holding the watering can I froze. I knew it was him without having to turn around. His presence f