Chapter Three

Layla’s entire body was stiff and sore, and her head was filled with the beat of her heart. Layla stirred and tried to sit up, but two hands pushed her back down. She tried to push the hands away and tried to sit up again, but it was no use. Soft cold hands stroked her forehead gently.

“Your okay, Layla. Your safe.” A voice softly spoke in her ear. She couldn’t make out the voice, but she trusted his words. Layla stopped fighting the person and fell back into the darkness.

When Layla woke up again, her muscles were finally relaxed, and her body was in a lot less pain. She ran her hands over a soft material, a familiar material. She opened her eyes and looked at the soft white cotton bunched up in her fingers.  She slowly sat up to stare out of a glass wall that showed the comforting landscape of the woods and the walls in the room were filled with pictures and paintings of her memories. She was in her room. Her really room. Excitement filled her entire being. She throwed the covers over her and jumped out of the bed. She pulled her door opened and the light sound of her bare feet hitting the tile floors were heard. She saw the living room come in view.

“Dad, mom?” Layla called out.

“Will, Brea, Nick, Eric.” Layla continued to call, she turned to see if anyone was behind her, but none appeared.

“Will.” Layla called again and it was at that time that will walk around the stone wall that separated the living room and dinning room. Layla stopped in her stepped and looked at William. He looked the same. Of course, he did, he couldn’t age, but to Layla it was the greatest comfort to see him as he was. His light skin a contra to his hazel hair and green eyes. His broad shoulders fit perfectly with his fit and lean body. Layla didn’t know what to do. She wanted to rush over and hug him, but the last time they spoke, they ended on a strange and a bit uncomfortable note. Layla’s heart hurt with the distance between them, but she didn’t want to make him angrier than he might already be with her. She held her breath in anticipation in William’s reaction to her. William took a step towards Layla, but she still stood still.

“I’ve missed you.” William said and took another step towards Layla. Layla didn’t know if that meant if he forgave her or not, but it was broke her from her frozen state. She ran towards him and jumped into his arms. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and he wrapped his arms as tightly, as he could without hurting her, around her waist. Her eyes filled with tears as she held onto Will. She moved her head out of the crook of his neck and spoke.

“I’ve missed you too.” Layla whispered as Will placed her feet back down onto the ground. They stood there for a minute or two in each other’s embrace, before Layla pulled away.

“Where are the rest? Where are mom and Dad?” Layla asked. A small smile formed on William’s lips at the eagerness filled Layla’s eyes. William nodded in the direction. Layla’s smile grew and   the tears filled her eyes even more. She walked past Will and soon her mother and father came into view.

“Mom.” Layla said as her voice got shocked up and the first tear fell. She ran to hug Grace. Her mother embraced her and then her father was soon to join. Nathaniel kissed the top of Layla’s head.

“it’s good to have you back home.” Layla just nodded as more tears fell down her cheek.

“Look who has finally decide to wake up.” Eric said in a joking tone. Layla pulled away from her parents and turned to see Eric and Nicholas. A small squeal of excitement left her lips as she jumped on Eric. He ruffled her hair and laughed at Layla’s cuteness.

“You’re looking better kiddo.” Nicholas said as he smoothed out Layla’s hair that his boyfriend messed up. Layla took Nicholas hand in hers and held it at her chest.

“I’ve missed you guys.” Layla said as the rest of her family surrounded her. She looked around but confusion filled her.

“Where’s Brea?” Layla asked and she watched as her family exchange strange looks between one another.

“She took a walk...” William said, but Layla knew her family just as well as they knew her, and the way Will was speaking made Layla realized there was a lot more to the story.

“Why?” Layla asked, her family exchanged looks once again, but before they could answer a strange voice spoke.

“She doesn’t want to be around us.” Layla stepped away from her family and walked around the stone wall into the living room to find three unknown men, … correction two unknow men and one known one. Aiden stood at the open glass door that led to the patio. Layla stepped back in shock and fear. William caught Layla at her shoulders, and she turned to him and her father.

“What the hell?” Layla asked. Her nerves picking up at the close proximity of the wolf that bite her. Layla picked at her finger joints skin as her anxiety increase. William noticed immediately and pulled he hand away from the other one.

“It’s okay. Your safe here.” Nathaniel said to his daughter. One of the wolves scoffed and all the heads turned towards him. The wolf pulled up his shoulders.

“What?” Noah said.

“Why are they here?” Layla asked her dad. William and Nathaniel exchange looks again, and Layla got annoyed with them continually leaving her without answers.

“What’s going on?” Layla asked, making it clear she wanted an actual answer this time. Nathaniel looked at Layla and it was clear that he was trying to find the right words to tell her the truth.

“You might want to sit down.” Nathaniel said and the atmosphere around everyone shifted.