9. Caught.

~ LAYLA ~

Twigs and branches scratch against my skin as I run through the trees, my lungs burning from the lack of enough oxygen. My breathing comes out in short ragged pants as I keep running.

I don't know where to go, because I don't have anywhere to go. I have no family left. No place I can run to for refuge.

But I keep running. This is what I have been doing since the night I lost my family. Running.

And doing everything I can to stay alive.

I push harder, my legs burning as I pick up more speed.

“Aaahh!”

I hiss loudly in pain as I fall to the ground, my toes burning from the sharp agony inflicted by some evil huge rock I hadn't realize on time was in my path.

Fuck.

I wince in more pain as I crawl towards a nearby tree, trying to reach it and use it as a support to help myself stand up. The night wind blows around me, rattling through the leaves.

And then, for a fleeting mere moment, the wind ceases, and I hear low growls far behind me.

My blood instantly chills to ice.

Panic grips me. No, it can't be this soon. They can't have found me now. I just barely made it out few minutes ago.

I finally manage to crawl to the tree and hide behind it. The growls grow louder, closer.

They are gaining in on me.

Fear is an acidic feeling that preys on weakness. On helplessness. And right now, it is feeding on my inability to prevent my sad, inevitable fate.

There is every possibility that this is the night I might die.

But well, at the very least, I will not die alone.

The growling noises are getting closer, but I stay put.

I can feel my bruised toes starting to heal, but I can also scent the metallic tang of my dried caked blood still clustered around the flesh of my toes.

If I decide to run out from this hiding place, they will definitely catch me. If I also decide to remain here, they will sniff me out.

Just what the hell should I—

Something slams into me, knocking the breath out of my lungs. I hit the ground hard, dirt and leaves filling my mouth as I scramble to push the weight off me.

A massive brown wolf is standing over me, its teeth bared, pale blue eyes blazing with anger. Its paws are pinning me to the ground, pressing hard against my ribs and almost choking me.

Dear Selene, this is it. This is the night I am going to die.

“Caleb, step aside.”

My heart stops the instant I recognize that voice.

Raelin.

An instant rush of the tinniest wave of relief mixed with fear pulses through my entire body. The wolf still above me growls quietly, but eventually obeys the order, its paws letting go of me.

I watch him prowl majestically towards a figure leaning against the bark of the same tree where I was kicked out from.

That figure there is not Raelin. And there is also another wolf there too, glaring at me.

Speaking of Raelin, his towering figure clouds into my view, the moonlight basking down all over him through the openings of some tree canopies overhead all of us. His chest heaves as he glares down at me, his hands clenched into tight fists at his sides. His hair is an unruly dark brown mess.

And those veiny arms…..

I may seem super crazy for imagining this right now, but my mate is more than gorgeous.

He is angry, but still looks so fucking hot.

Maybe I am really losing my mind now, seeing and thinking stupid things since I am going to die very soon.

Raelin squats down before me, his tone dark and laced with simmering anger.

“Do you think you can escape from me, little rogue?”

“My name is Layla.” I bite out at him, despite my heart pounding rapidly with fear and panic deep inside my chest.

“I don't care about your stupid name.” He suddenly grabs me roughly by the arm, pulling me rashly towards him. “You’re really begging for a death sentence.”

I scoff, trying to free my arm from his grasp.

“To be honest, I don't want to die.” My voice is sarcastic, but grows serious. “You can't keep me locked up forever, Raelin. I know I trespassed into your territory, and I apologize for that. But I'm not a threat to you, or to your pack. Every single second I spend inside that wretched cell makes me afraid of being murdered at some point. I refuse to live my life like a caged animal. Not anymore.”

I finish speaking, breathing out hard. For a moment, Raelin says nothing. He just keeps glaring at me with those stormy teal eyes.

I keep glaring right back at him, refusing to flinch or cower in fear because of him.

Suddenly, his grip still around my arm tightens.

“Every rogue out there is a threat to my pack. You’re no different.”

His words sharply cut into me like a cruel silver knife with zagged endings. In this moment, I feel so tired of defending myself anymore.

It is pointless.

The truth that I am his mate will never change the way he sees me. Never.

“Layla, you should know you can't easily escape from us.”

A male voice interrupts the icy silence between me and Raelin. The calm voice is from the shadowy figure leaning against the tree.

I watch as the owner of the voice steps into the light and stands beside Raelin's squatting form, folding his arms. He stares down at me, heaving out a sigh.

For the record, he looks so much like Raelin, apart from the pale golden hair that looks almost white and his dark brown eyes.

“Listen Layla, Ray is only keeping you alive because you are his mate, but he is not very good in responding well to prisoners who are difficult. On the night we found you dying, Raelin refused to abandon you. He saved your life.”

“Wes, that's enough.” Raelin snaps.

But Wes continues.

“Yes, you are a rogue, Layla, but you owe Raelin your life.” He squats down beside Raelin, his attention still glued to me. “I heard you saying you don't want to die, so, how about we make you a proposition?”

“Wes, what the hell are you doing?” Raelin growls, his grip tightening harder around my arm, making me wince.

Wes turns his attention to Raelin. “I am trying to help my brother," Then, his brown dark eyes sweep back to me again. “And to stop his mate from throwing her life away. You’re stubborn, Layla, and I want to also think that you are smart too. Letting you die would be such a waste.”

I scoff.

I like this Wes. Now we are talking business. He is smart too; I will give him that. And also quite very persuasive.

His words almost feel like they hold the key to the long-awaited freedom I crave. This might be my chance, my only chance, to grab that freedom.

“What do you propose, Wes?” I ask cautiously, keeping my voice as steady as I can.

“For the record, it’s Beta Weston to you,” he says with a small smirk. “Only a few people are allowed to call me Wes. You’re not one of them.”

“Noted.” I bite back any further retort. I am smart enough to know that I am in no position to argue about flimsy names right now.

“So, Beta Weston, what’s the proposition?” I ask, pushing further.

He looks at Raelin for a moment. Raelin looks back at him, saying nothing.

Sighing, Weston returns his attention to me.

“Here is the proposition; You agree to remain in our pack. Stay with us. You don’t run, don’t try anything stupid, and in exchange, we continue keeping you alive.”

I suck in a gasp. “Really?”

“Yes.” He nods.

Wow.

I want to laugh, like really laugh, but he looks so damn serious, so I guess he is not joking.

His offer hangs in the air like a fog, and I let his words digest more into me.

It is true that his proposition is almost mouthwatering and very tempting, just like him. However, I know there is always a catch with stuff like this. Nothing in this world comes without strings or consequences.

I narrow my eyes at him. “Your proposition sounds nice, but what if I refuse?”

He smirks before speaking. “You never can tell. I might just do Ray the honors of killing you myself. I'd hate to do that, but you will be just a nuisance to us if you keep trying to run away like this everytime. However, if you choose to stay with us, we will spare your life, plus extra bonuses. No longer staying in the cell anymore can be a starter package for you if you want.”