Chapter Two

“What’s going on, William.” Nathaniel called out to his son as they all ran to the boarder.

“Layla, she is here. I could read her mind.” William said. As they all continue to speed through the woods.

“Something is wrong with her, she is in pain, we need to get to her now.” William said. The entire family were worried for Layla’s safety.

“Where is she?” Grace spoke.

“She is at the borders crossing of our territory.” William Spoke.

“Brea and William you go to where Brea heard the scream come from. Grace and I will go to the south side of the border line and see if anyone is there. Nicholas and Eric, you search the north side of the territory. If anyone sees any sign of Layla, we call out to one other. All of you understand?” Nathaniel asked. All of them nodded their heads. Even though none of the vampires were really related they felt and acted like a family, and Nathaniel clearly suited the fatherly figure in their family. Everyone nodded to his plan, before they all broke apart and started running in different directions.

…

Layla fought with everything in her to push ahead as the pain in her wrist shot through her entire body. She knew she had to get off the wolves’ territory, they wouldn’t be able to hurt her more than they already have if she could just reach the border of their territory. She ran as fast as she could, but she was so disorientated due to the loss of blood and pain. Her mind filled like it was filled with fog. She tripped once again over her own feet but continue to push herself up once more and run to the river. All she had to do was get past the river and onto her family’s territory

‘Will, I need you.’ Layla couldn’t help but long for him at that moment. She just wanted him to appear in front of her and hold her tight. She wanted him to hold her and make her feel safe again. Layla’s eyes filled with tears, blurring her vision even more than it already was. She stumbled once more, and this time fell in the shallow waters of the river. The water burned the wound on her left wrist and a pained cried left her lips. She knew she had to move fast if she wanted to get away from the wolves, but her energy was depleting with each passing second.

“Layla!” a familiar voice called out to her. She looked up as she was still on both hands and knees in the water. Her eyes were too blurry, and she couldn’t see anything but to weirdly shaped figures, but she knew who one of them were, she had heard that voice to many times to not recognize it. A pained smiled formed on her lips as hope filled her.

“Will.” Layla said, barely above a whisper.

“Layla!” William called out again as he run towards them, but his voice wasn’t filled with excitement or relief but rather fear and panic. Layla’s short-lived hope, shattered as she felt two warm arms wrap around her waist and pulled her up from the water. Her head fell against a hard chest. Her vision could only make out the caramel-colored skin of the person that held her. Panic once again filled her chest.

“No.” Layla said breathlessly and tried to break the hold of the warm arms around her, but it was useless, even if she was at full strength, she wouldn’t eb able to break his hold on her.

“Let her go!” William screamed as he continued to push forward, and his harsh footsteps could be heard echoing from the woods floor. William run towards where Layla and Aiden were and he pulled back his fist before lifting off the ground and punching Aiden square in the jaw. Brea wasn’t far behind William, she was ready catch Layla as Aiden dropped his arms around her, but a wolf jumped from behind and tackle her down to the ground. Layla fell into the water, she shocked as the water filled her nose and throat. With the little energy she had, she pushed her head above the water and tried to crawl closer to the edge of the river. Aiden and William were pushing one another, one blow after another. William punched Aiden across the face ones more then placed another punch against his stomach which sent Aiden flying back. William turned to see Layla in pain in the water, he moved to step towards her, but Aiden wrapped his arms around William and picked him up and over his head before throwing William on the ground. Again, punches were exchange, it sounded like thunder as the blows landed on their bodies. It wasn’t long before the Lancaster Clan reached the chaos. Grace run to Layla who was still inching forward in the water, but another wolf jumped out towards her, but Nathaniel was quick in tackling the wolf down to the ground before it could reach his wife. Grace picked Layla out of the water and carried her to their side of the territory. Nicholas run to his injured sister, while Eric protected Layla and him. Grace ran back into the river to fight of the wolves as more and more appeared from the woods.

“Hey kiddo. Are you okay?” Nicholas asked Layla, but her eyes were foggy, and her body colder than it was supposed to be.

“Layla, can you hear me?” Nicholas asked as he tore her white long-sleeve shirt and placed it around her wound. Eric watched as a wolf jumped on Brea and was going for the kill. He sprinted towards them and landed another thunderous blow on the wolf. He pulled Brea, back onto the territory. Eric run to help Nathaniel who was also fighting of a wolf and pulled Nathaniel on their territory. Grace followed and then both Eric and Nathaniel had to pull William away from his fight and onto their territory. As soon as William heard a small cry coming from layla, his focus completely shifted from the fight to her. He hurried next to her side and laid a gentle hand down onto her cheek.

“Layla.” William softly whispered. As her eyes continually flatter closed and open. He placed some loos strands of wet hair, behind her ear. Layla subconsciously lifted her weak arm and held onto William’s hand.

“I’m here.” William whispered to her, but her eyes had fallen close as the dark consumed her.   All the wolves stood in the middle of the river, none of them daring to cross the invisible territory line, but desperately wanting too. The wolves growled at the vampires as the bended down towards the human. It was their duty as wolves to protect a human from bloodsuckers, but not being able to cross the line, made it impossible. The one wolf slowly stepped away and hid himself behind the tree line before returning in his human form, a black basketball short covering the things that needed to be covered.

“Nathaniel. The human is our responsibility. You have no right to take her.” Jackson said, his alpha voice ringing out in the woods.

“I have all the right! This human is my daughter. What have you done to her?” Nathaniel asked. He was a very calm man mostly, but seeing his daughter unconscious on the group, bleeding, made him infuriated.

“Nathaniel, the human will be in better care with us. You need to return her to the wolves.” Jackson said.

“Take Layla back to house and take care of her there. William and grace go with them.” Nathaniel said. William gently placed his arms behind Layla’s back and under her legs, before picking her up. Her head laid against his chest, and he couldn’t help but feel some relief and happiness as Layla was once again in is arms. William gave one last look towards the wolf that had picked Layla up first from the water, he tried to read his mind, but all that could be heard was the same phrase. ‘Get your hands off her.’ William turned and ran towards the house as Grace and Nicholas followed. Aiden hated to see the human leaving with the enemies, he took a step forward, but Jackson was quick to hold out his arm and stopped Aiden from taking one more step.

“We have had a treaty for many years, Nathaniel, do not break it today.” Nathaniel said after Layla was far away enough. Nathaniel looked at his remain children and nodded. Nathaniel turned to leave, but Jackson words cause Nathaniel to freeze in his place.

“The human can't be with vampires, she was bitten.”