A nervous toothy smile spread across Alexander’s lips as he stood with eyes scanning Layla.“ What a surprise!” Alexander laughed wickedly, glaring at Layla with what seemed like lustrous eyes, and then turned to Alpha. “ Brother, you have such beauty with you? Why do you always get the best things?” His gaze narrowed back lustrously at Layla.“ What is going on here? Can someone please explain to me?” Layla managed to speak as she glared amazingly at the wolf standing loftily with evil eyes beside her mate, Alpha Tyrrell.He was handsome in a way that there were no adjectives to qualify his looks. His light skin sparkled correspondingly with his short curly gold hair that fell mischievously at his face and added to his beauty. His face was perfectly sculpted to perfection and covered with smooth beards from the side of his ears to his chin, giving him a dishing look.The wolf too has an intimidating height with a body that causes people to shudder at his presence. He was tall and w
Alpha quickly flung his towel off his waist to get dressed. The door was not locked and Alpha did not mind if someone may just barge in.He was so much in a hurry, dressing up that his hands suddenly began to tremble as if he had essential tremors.Why did Layla leave the room? Where did she go? Alpha’s mind kept darting around in different thoughts as he wore his clothes rashly.Once done, he laid hold of a hair brush and brushed his tousled hair before leaving the room.As Alpha walked down the stairs slowly he couldn't just shake off the pessimism of what had settled with him. Such a peaceful morning like that, Alpha never believed it could be ruined. He thought this pain was gone and over. He thought Alexander would never return. It's been many years already. Why did he come back? Why?Fighting an external enemy like Lord Duncan was preferable to Alpha than fighting his half-brother. If there was no Layla in the picture, then it would simply just be a tussle for the throne. Alph
Alpha Tyrrell became suddenly flabbergasted when he saw Layla with his promiscuous and monstrous brother, Alexander.What were they doing together? Where did they go? Angry, he changed his mind from going inside the mansion to meet his mate, Layla. How could she flout his rules after all that he had said to her?Layla and Alexander were getting to know each other better. They were not aware of Alpha's presence and as a result, continued chatting and laughing.Alpha was burning inside of him, and his anger could melt steel. Layla was carried away and did not hear the angry footsteps of Alpha, stomping towards them.Immediately, she caught a slight of Alpha walking angrily towards them; she quickly increased her pace, walking towards him. She knew she was in some trouble.“ Come on, Layla, where are you going?" Alexander said, giggling, but suddenly caught a glimpse of Alpha Tyrrell’s burning gaze and withdrew him from Layla stylishly.When Layla would get close to Alpha, her heart wa
Alpha Tyrrell's burnout from the previous emotional stress was triggered more when he arrived at the mansion and did not see Layla around.Without asking anyone a question, he ran upstairs to their chambers, his heart throbbing fast in his chest. He was worried about Layla and angry at her at the same time.Alpha burst the door open at once and swooshed inside like someone who was being chased by something.Getting inside the room, his heart stopped beating fast as he saw Layla lying poignant, curled up like a ball on the bed.Frozen at the spot, he is left struggling with his feelings— hate and Love.Layla hurt his feelings earlier. He hates her for doing that. Now, she is lying innocently on the bed like a homeless vagabond, in search of solace. Should he still hate her? Her sleeping posture was quite pathetic. Sighing, Alpha ignores Layla. He walked to the wardrobe to grab a shirt almost tiptoeing, avoiding every distraction. Maybe he doesn't want to interrupt Layla's rest even i
The sight of the beautiful stranger in the living room caused Layla to have a level of insecurity. For the first time after being mated with Alpha Tyrrell, this was the only time she could feel that way.Alpha and the strange lady were chatting discreetly but Layla stood from afar watching them without them knowing it.From the seriousness on the lady's face, Layla suspects that the topic of their discussion must be grave for Alpha to focus so much on what the lady was saying.The lady is certainly not a member of the WolfHaven Pack. Layla was not sure if she had ever seen her.From the side of a huge flower plant vase where Layla stood, peeking jealously at Alpha, she began to hear that loud voice of Alexander. His loud tone hinted to Layla that she had to leave the place immediately to avoid more troubleNarrowly, Layla escaped from where she stood close to the stairs and found her way to the kitchen. She was mostly concerned about not being entangled with Alexander. This would only
Alpha Tyrrell's commanding tone caused Alexander to pull back from Layla and she suddenly regained her sanity before taking a step backwards. What happened? Was she charmed?“ Animal! Where were you taking my mate to? Haven't I warned you about coming close to anything that concerns me?! Haven't I?" Alpha stormed from the door.Taken off balance, Alexander gave a faint smile that did not last in his lips.“ Don't worry, she will be mine soon. I am gradually taking over everything that belongs to you very soon. You just watch and see” Alexander scorned, hurrying upstairs, his agenda to lure Layla into his bed, twarted. Too late . Alpha stomped to where he was and held him by the neck, choking him to death.“ I have warned you ,Alexander. If this is the reason you returned, to take hold of everything I have worked hard for then you’ve missed it all because I’ll strangle you to death with my bare hands" Alpha gripped Alexander harder till his knuckles became crimson red.Gruttin
" Layla, what's going on with you?" Tyrrell's voice was low, but the edge on it drew Layla's stomach in. His violent eyes locked on hers and sounded to search for answers she was not relatively sure she had.She stood at the edge of the room, her hands to her sides, her fritters brushing the fabric of her dress absently. She had been avoiding him for days, her mind a whirlwind of confusion, but now there was no escaping it. Not presently." I am fine," she said, her voice betraying her. It was too soft, too uncertain to be credible.Tyrrell's eyebrows furrowed." Do n't lie to me, Layla. I've known you too long to buy that." He took another step toward her, the hugeness of his frame filling that space between them. He rested a warm, gentle hand upon her shoulder; for an moment, his strained warmth reached through hers." Truly, I am," she murmured, that touch like weighted memorial of what she had in store to lose.The hardness in Tyrrell's eyes softened, but the concern remained." als
The pressure in the air was so thick, made of implied words that had mounted over days and now reached a boiling point. Layla sat in the sitting room, her fritters coiled around the hem of her mug, gaping fixedly at the brume rising from her tea, lost to her studies as her mind contended with the ever- growing conflict outside.The sound of steps broke her reverie. Layla did not need to look up to know who it was. Alexander had a way of making his presence known without indeed trying. His scent, citrus and pine, hung in the air between them before he indeed spoke." Quite the thoughtful expression you’ve got there," Alexander’s voice, smooth as always, slid into her mindfulness like velvet. He leaned against the doorframe, watching her with those raptorial eyes that noway sounded to leave her.She belted sluggishly on her tea, with her heart drumming in her casket. Her body was tuned to a frequence different from her mind. Layla knew this was not something that should really get to he
"You should've stopped me."Layla's voice pierced the silence of the war room, as sharp as the blade she had just driven into the wooden table. The candlelight danced, casting long shadows across the stone walls, but neither she nor Tyrrell paid it any mind.Tyrrell stood across from her, arms folded, his expression unreadable. "Stopped you from what? Saving what's left of us?"Layla huffed out an angry laugh as she ran her hand through her hair. "No, for making the damned decision in the first place-for sending Samira on that mission, for allowing myself to dream we had something of a possibility to win in this."Tyrrell's jaw clenched. "She knew the risk.""Don't." Layla pointed a shaking finger at Tyrrell. "Don't even dare act as if that does make it easy.Tyrrell let out a slow breath, the weight of the night bearing down on him. "You think I don't feel it? You think I don't hear her screaming in my head every time I close my damn eyes?"Layla's fists clenched. "Then why do you ke
"You sure about this?"Tyrrell looked up from his blade, running a cloth over its edge one last time. Elias was across from him, arms crossed, brows furrowed. The flickering torchlight in the room lent gravity to the tension between them."We don't have a choice," Tyrrell muttered, sliding the dagger into his belt.Elias let out a slow breath, shaking his head. "We always have a choice."Not this time."Layla stood at the far side of the war room, staring down at the map stretched across the wood table. The enemy's supply lines ran deep-carefully planned, well-guarded. Cutting them off wouldn't just weaken their hold on the siege. It could turn the tide completely.But it had to be done right.Layla dug her fingers into the surface of the table, her mind racing. "Infiltration won't be the hard part," she said finally. "It's getting back out."Tyrrell smirked. "Good thing I like a challenge."Elias wasn't amused. "This isn't a game."Layla raised her head, her gaze sharp. "That's enoug
" They are out there."Layla did not need Tyrrell to tell her that. She could feel it- the weight in the air, thick with expectation. The enemy forces had moved like murk in the night, girding the fort with ruthless perfection. Now they were staying, watching, tensing the mesh.She stood at the edge of the stone wall, surveying the treeline beyond the open field. The torches lining their defenses flitted, their light slightly pushing back the darkness." How numerous?" she asked, voice low.Tyrrell exhaled through his nose, his expression grim." further than we can count from over then. They have cut off every possible escape route. We are boxed in."A muscle in her jaw ticked." No reinforcements?"Tyrrell shook his head." Nothing. No dispatches getting in or out. They have got runners watching every path. The alternate anyone tries to break through, they'll be torn piecemeal."Layla's fingers coiled into fists. This was not just a siege. This was a slow, deliberate suffocation.A fig
" You should not be then." Layla's voice was a whip of sword, slicing through the night.The firelight danced across her face as she goggled at the figure standing just beyond its light. The people behind her were tense, ready to attack at her word, but she raised a hand, averting them. This was n't an ordinary enemy.The man before her took a slow step forward, his movements deliberate, as if testing the weight of her words. His dark eyes glistered with something undecipherable, something Layla did n’t trust.“ I came to talk, ” he said, voice smooth, calm. Too calm. “ That is, unless you’d rather continue this war alone. ”Besides her, Tyrrell shifted, fingers twitching on his belt to where his gun rested." You anticipate us to believe you came then just to sputter, Cassius?" His voice had a healthy quantum of doubt trickling from it.Cassius scowled and crossed his arms over his casket." What can I say? I am feeling generous tonight.Layla studied him, her instincts at war with her
" Move out, now!" Layla's voice cut through the pressure in the camp, sharp and commanding, like a cutter. Her eyes darted over her pack, surveying the faces of those who had gathered. Every one of them stood ready, but she could feel the unease in the air. There was no turning back now.Eerily silent, the camp fell as they came together, importing the storm above them that hung in the air. Everyone knew what was to be gained and lost. Every wolf, every fighter, understood the risk. But there was no fear. Not yet. Layla refused to let in the fear. Not today." Ready?" she rumoured, her voice low but indeed. She scrutinized around, again coming to rest on the figure that stood beside her- Jace deposited himself at her side, was formerly holding his armament, his eyes sharp and focused." Ready as we'll ever be," Jace said, slightly above a murmur in the still air." They are coming. Got to move out."In one nippy stir, Layla gave the order, and the pack surged forward. The earth sounded
" You ready?" Jace's voice was low, the question carrying an edge to it that had not been there ahead. It was the kind of question you ask when you know the answer is everything.Layla did not say anything right down. She dragged on the strips of her gear, and her fritters squeezed tight around the hilt of the brand hanging at her side. She felt its weight all the weight, really, of everything that had brought them to this point every decision, every fight, every defeat leading up to now. And the storm was about to hit.Just get this over with," she murmured, further to herself than to Jace. But he heard it, and the nod he gave her was slightly distinguishable. He knew what she was allowing, perhaps indeed better than she did.They were standing in the camp, the fire fluttering low, the air thick with tension. A many of the other wolves were scattered around, stropping weapons, agitating strategies in hushed tones. But Layla was not concentrated on them. Her eyes were fixed on the hor
"Where is he?"Layla's voice cut into the thick, heavy silence like a blade that had been whetted by the weight it carried within this war room. The room itself was dark-the only light an occasional flickering from the low-burning fire, dancing in shadows across old stone walls. Hard, cool eyes stared without blinking at a map laid flat before her; crumpled, yet serviceable. Plans were being rehashed, people regrouped, and answers were needed.The injuries to Tyrrell had been grievous, and still convalescing, he would not be much help in times to come anytime sooner. Finally, out of danger but still with dark circles beneath his eyes and shallow jerks of breath with movement, he did little good for Layla, who was running out of time after all-not with the threat of war looming in every direction.One of her most trusted warriors, Jace, spoke up, his voice low but firm. "Dorian's families holed up at their estate, a few miles to the west. But it's heavily guarded. No one's gotten in si
Layla felt her instincts kick in as she and her team moved through the dense forest. The air was heavier than it should be, thick with a silence that unnerved her. Even the leaves rustling sounded like they held their breath. She knew something was off, but she wasn't quite sure what. Yet."Something's off," she muttered, scanning around them.Tyrrell, walking a few paces ahead, didn’t respond right away. He was always the more level-headed of the two. “Keep moving,” he finally said, his voice steady, though his own sharp eyes darted to the treeline. “We’ve been through worse.”Layla nodded, but the knot in her stomach constricted. Every part of her was screaming that they were walking right into a trap-a trap she hadn't seen coming, not this one, not from this ally.But with the first chopper sound wave, her thoughts flashed to Dorian-a wolf, one of their staunchest allies who'd fought with them for months-run through her brain. He's the one brought the intel-insisted this route woul
“You’re sure this is the place” Layla asked, her voice tight with a blend of jitters and determination. She squinched low, her eyes surveying the darkened landscape beyond the trees, where the faintest figure of the enemy's fort impended. The night was still, save for the occasional howl of leaves. The air felt thick, as if it was holding its breath.Tyrrell jounced. His aspect cut through the murk sprucely." The information's good. The rogue wolves we've encountered are from this area. We cannot let them get any further, Layla. We need answers."Layla's jaw tensed, her heart pounding in her chest. also, we take them, she said, her voice firm. We get the answers we need, and we do it presto.Tyrrell's eyes darted to her." Stay focused. We need to move still.She smelled her teeth but said nothing. It had been a long way, and the last thing she wanted was to peril this chance at getting inside enemy home. Every step had been calculated, every moment measured. The enemy's operations wer