Chapter 3

Nate’s POV

  

  It almost felt like I had the rug pulled off from underneath me in an instant. Though I despised Layla, I suddenly felt like she didn't deserve to go through that sort of pain.

  

  A part of me desired Hannah immensely, but that part of me had suddenly died immediately I put my hands on her. I didn't have the words to explain what had caused me to suddenly need to be alone. 

  

  I just couldn't do it with Hannah. And that was it. There just wasn't an explanation for it. 

  

  “Nate...” 

  

  I looked up to see Freddie standing on the balcony where I had wanted to spend time alone. It was hard not to get annoyed at that point, as I knew just what exactly he was about to say to me. 

 

  “What is it?” I asked, trying my best not to give in to the feeling of annoyance that was threatening to break out from within me. It was quite a lot to deal with having my friend as a beta. 

  

  “Did you have to go that far with Layla?” Freddie asked with a sigh. “It's okay that you don't love her, but then, locking her up like a prisoner was quite too extreme for someone who assumes the position of Luna and—”

  

  “Spare me that...” I interrupted, as I was tired of the lecture that he was trying to put me through. “I am not having this conversation with you right now.”

  

  Freddie was speechless for a while at my absurd behavioral change. “You could at least order the men to open the door for her. I get that you don't love her, but she's not some sort of prisoner.”

  

  “If that's what would make you quit bugging me, then it's done...” I said as I walked past him hurriedly. At that moment, my mind linked with my men to set her free. “Now if you would excuse me...”

  

  At that point, I didn't care if I was sounding cold or harsh. All I wanted at that point was to be all alone to battle my contradicting feelings on my own. 

  

  “Aren’t you supposed to meet with the council of elders about the increasing threat of the rogue wolves on our borders?” Freddie was beginning to get on my nerves at that point, even though he was just doing his job. 

  

  “I will have to adjourn that. I’m in no mood to meet with anyone right now.” I made it clear in my tone, as much as I could, hoping that he would just get that I meant it. 

  

  “But, alpha… your people are in danger as we speak. You have to--”

  

  “I will not repeat myself nicely again,” I suddenly retorted violently, and that made him back off finally. “Don’t make me do something that I might end up regretting.”

  

  Freddie froze in shock, almost making me feel guilty for being unnecessarily harsh. But my anger didn’t give room for any other feelings whatsoever.

  

  

  ***

  

  

  Layla's POV

  

  Alone I sat in my room, as I wondered what exactly was happening to me at that point. I had gone from being the alpha’s wife to being a house prisoner. 

  

  I had been in there until the next morning, and I was prepared to stay for as long as Nate wanted to keep me. At that point, I didn't care anymore.

  

  Suddenly, the door came open with Tianna coming through it. I was surprised that the door had been opened, as I had my mind prepared to stay in there for quite some time.

  

  “What’s going on?” Tianna asked, with her eyes brimming with concern. “Are you hurt?”

  

  I was done crying by the time she came in, and that enabled me to answer her without breaking down. I was literally out of tears at that point. 

 

  Deep down, I was hurt by the fact I was even crying because of Nate. I hated that I was hurting for someone who didn’t care if I lived or died. He wasn’t worth my tears, but there I was, out of tears and out of breath.

  

  “I’m fine…” I sniffled as I said that lie. I was far from being all right. “It’s nothing new… I’ll get past it somehow.” 

 

  “You don’t look alright at all,” Tianna said, as she crouched beside me to have a better look at the pain in my eyes. “You look like a mess right now…”

  

  “Because I am…” I suddenly broke into tears all over again, not knowing where the tears came from that time around. “I don’t know what else to do…”

  

  “I’m also not sure what you need to do, but I do know that you’ve got to stop crying first. It’s not going to get anything done.” Tianna’s words hit hard even though they were true. “It’s not the end of the world, Layla.”

  

  “But he won’t reject me…” I cried in frustration. “If he doesn’t want me, he could at least let me go. I’m tired of all this…”

  

  “I understand, and that’s why we need to find a way to get you out of this. But we can’t do anything in your current condition.”

  

  With that, I was able to still myself to an extent. That was more than enough encouragement to snap out of my sorrowful mood. Finally, some hope in my gloom.

 

  “Now get up, go get something to eat, and we’ll talk about what to do…” Tianna said, urging me to get up from the floor where I had balled up myself. She put her arms around me and that gave me enough strength to stand. 

  

   

  *** 

  

  Hannah’s POV

  

  “How could he?” I questioned myself angrily, still reeling from Nate’s sudden withdrawal. Nate was meant to be mine and mine alone, but then, I was sure that he still had his eyes on that fool who thought me to be her best friend. 

  

  Layla was the only obstacle between me and Nate, and I was going to get rid of her once and for all with one masterful move. She totally wouldn’t see it coming. 

  

  “Where is the alpha’s meal?” I demanded urgently from the maids as I stepped into the kitchen. “He has ordered that I bring it to him at once.

  

  All the maids stood, staring at me in shock, like someone had suddenly hit a ‘pause’ button on them.

  

  “Come on now!” I yelled, instantly unfreezing them. Immediately, they handed me the tray. “Thank you,” I said with a forced smile, in a bid to not appear suspicious. 

  

  I headed out at once and took out the hallucinogens I had gotten from the witch. With that, I was going to get Nate to have me and do away with Layla in one clean move. 

  

  “I’m sorry Nate, but you are mine…”