HERMESPACK MEMBERS WERE in complete support of my motion to wholesomely fight against Hunt rather than split into groups to combat both our enemies as earlier opined by Layla. Everyone was shaken by the poisoning of Michael and Rosa. I was grateful that no one else from the pack was a victim of Hunt's wolfsbane induced ice cream.Each pack member was saddled with a role in finding Hunt's current hideout. Some of them were to keep eyes on the environs of the honey land park, another group were to scout the woods, while the others were to hang around the few restaurants, taverns, and bars scattered around Westwood. There was a probability that someone connected to Hunt could be scented in any of those places. Everyone was to assume their positions the next morning.There was an exception for I and Layla. She was going to spend most of the day with Rosa while I planned to visit the shop. I haven't been there in a long time. Surprisingly only a few customers reached out to me for repairs
LAYLAI TURNED ON the mobile phone, hoping my text had been responded to. I dialed Jacob's number severally the night before, but no one received the call. Undeterred, I sent a text and waited endlessly for a response. None had come, even up till this morning.An exasperated sigh escaped my mouth as I tossed the phone to the bed. There was no need to be so cautious since Alpha Christopher was out. All I needed was a final conversation with Jacob which will determine my decision to return to my family. It was all I could think of.Jacob was right. No matter how unfairly I was treated by them, I still longed to see their faces. Most especially my mother. If Jacob would guarantee the safety of the desert wolf from the claws and fangs of his pack, I would pay my family a visit. If the air surrounding them is accommodating, I might spend a few days.I left my room and headed to the kitchen. My recent addiction to caffeine was disturbing. I wake up in the morning and the next thing I'm doin
HERMESMY UNEASINESS was obvious to the rest of the pack members as I wiped a considerable amount of sweat off my forehead with my palm. I had no idea of what I was supposed to do, mourn Rosa's death or conduct search parties for Layla.I dialed her phone number for the umpteenth time, still no response."You said she was in a hurry?" My focus moved to James who also had a look of worry plastered on his face. It was a miracle that he survived. It was hard to believe that Rosa didn't."Yes. She was afraid too. I could smell fear before leaving the vehicle."She was supposed to alert me if she wanted to leave. There was no way I would know if she was in danger. I tried not to think of Hunt getting to her."What are we going to do?" James questioned.I looked up to the rest of the pack and adjourned the meeting, hoping Layla would return home.My mind drifted to Hathor. For a minute I thought she could be the one behind Layla's disappearance. The thought was quickly discarded when Michae
LAYLAI blinked to be sure that my eyes were not failing me. The brown hair lady Jacob cheated with was standing on the driveway of the house. Her hands were spread out by her side like she was ready for a combat or ready to be attacked."Bitch!" I cussed under my breathe before dashing out of the vehicle furiously."Wait" I heard Alpha Hermes faintly as my rage almost deafened me. I swung a fist at her face with all the energy I could gather. She lost stamina.She groaned as her hand rested on a side of her face. When she straightened up to face me, I realized that she had sustained a bleeding cut beside her right eye."What are you doing h..." Before I could tell my sentence completely, she returned the punch. I fell to the ground feeling incapacitated. My limbs went numb, and my vision was blurry. This wasn't as a result of the punch, there was something more. My arms and legs became too heavy for me to lift. When my vision was a bit clearer, the brown hair lady was crouching over
HERMESSLEEP eluded me as I thought of Layla all through the night. I would have gone after her, but I had not concluded yet. Her action was almost unforgivable, but Hathor had opened my eyes to her reasonable ambition. It was truly for the benefit of the pack. Still, I found it hard not to think of the ulterior motives Jacob had probably been nursing as a result of their meeting. Her actions were very dangerous, and she was able to pull it off without arousing my suspicion. That scared me the most. Maybe I had undermined her, or she was just too good at being discreet when she wanted to. It would take a long time before she could earn my trust again.I watched from my seat at the kitchen table as Hathor prepared breakfast. This was the way it used to be even before Sarah came into the picture. Just I and Hathor.During mornings like this, she prepared bacon, fried eggs, and waffles accompanied with a cup of coffee. I could bet she was making the same. Those were golden moments that w
LAYLAIt was impossible to believe what was happening. It seemed too good to be true that I thought it was a dream. But the sweet tone voice of my mother assured me that it was real."You have changed so much," she said sorrowfully without looking from the front seat. I knew the comment was directed at me.I made up my mind to respond and rehearsed in my head. "Change is constant.""Yes," she agreed. "Which is why you will be changing again."I did not quite understand what she meant. Before I could speak, Jacob's warm left hand reached for mine and he squeezed it tightly. I forgot about my mother's response. While my silent father drove, my mother sat beside him, leaving I and Jacob to the backseat.I was supposed to feel uncomfortable with Jacob's action but surprisingly I didn't. My gut told me to yank my hand away from his but I refused. Instead, I smiled at him and leaned my head on his shoulder. We held that position till we reached Westwood.The house looked different. Perhaps,
HERMESThirty-six hours since the death of Hunt and Layla was nowhere to be found. Every member of the pack was delighted to hear the news of Hunt's downfall except for James. He was mad that he had not been involved in making the hunter pay for his horrible actions.I was more worried about Layla than James anger towards me. I needed to find her. Every pack member was at the tavern, celebrating and chatting loudly. I could barely hear what was being said.Hathor nudged me. "What's wrong?""She's nowhere to be found," I responded solemnly before gulping my beer."Do you think something bad happened to her that night?""I don't know. I should have asked Hunt. He is the only one who can hurt her.""What about Jacob?""He is nowhere to be found also."Hathor was silent for a while. "You don't think there's a possibility they eloped together. She probably returned to her family."The possibility of Hathor's suggestion made me angry. I walked out of the tavern to lean on my vehicle, starin
LAYLAI burst out a grin at the sight of Alpha Hermes wide-open arms in the green woods under evening light. It was one of the things I craved for.With a quick walk, I neared my mate. From nowhere, Jacob's bloodshot face appeared in front of me with red glowing eyes. Fear gripped me. When did Jacob become an Alpha? And where did he come from?A loud growl came from behind Jacob. It was definitely Alpha Hermes."Please, don..." a fight kicked off between them before my sentence was completed. "Jacob stop, Hermes please." I tried to put an end to the bloody brawl by coming in between them. I was shoved to the side with a push. None of them seemed to be considering my safety in this fight. All I could do was yell at them to stop hitting each other. They turned deaf to my pleas and shifted into their wolves. To my dismay, Jacob was winning. He was stronger than Hermes as an Alpha. Suddenly he pinned the jet-black wolf to the ground and started lashing at his neck with sharp, white claws
HERMESTHE SMILE plastered on my face from watching couples of the pack dance, most especially Hathor and Michael disappeared when I heard Layla's troubled voice. She was struggling to breathe. I stood from the couch and strained to listen but there was nothing. I called using the mind link, still no response."Turn this music down!" I growled, throwing my cup of beer on the floor. It shattered to pieces and garnered everyone's attention along with my growl. The music was turned off and Gregory ran out of the kitchen."Layla is gone," he said."You were with her just now.""Yes. She said she was going to be back but she's not anywhere around.""No, no, no. Who do you think is behind this?" I was evidently worried. If I had danced with her all of these wouldn't be happening."Let's not jump into conclusions. Maybe she went to get something few blocks away and..""I heard her whispering my name through the mind link, Gregory. From her voice I could tell she is in danger.""Oh crap! What
LAYLA "WHAT ELSE DO I do?" I asked rhetorically. "I turned on my family, he made me swear by the moon goddess after you left. Then late at night, he became cold. He thinks he can't trust me." "Can he?" Gregory asked with raised eyebrows. "What do you mean can he? Haven't you been listening? I've literally sacrificed every other thing just to be here." Gregory nodded. "I get you. But you need to give him time, he is scared that's just it. He knows your family is out there and it bothers him that you can return to them anytime." "No, I can't. What are you saying Gregory?" "I'm telling you the Alpha's mind. He doesn't trust you anymore." "There's no way I can return to my family. They won't accept me after the stunt I pulled with them. Not like they were genuinely interested in me from the start. If not for what Alpha Hermes and this pack made me become, I wouldn't be revered by them in the first place." "Hmm," Gregory adjusted his position on his seat, leaning forward and placi
JACOBWITH EVERYTHING I had done for Layla, I wouldn't allow a local Alpha to brainwash her. She was definitely under a sort of spell. I've known her all my life, shielded her from every threat and stood by her when no one else did. Why would she want to choose someone she met less than a year ago over me? He was below standards, a local Alpha to a true blood. I grabbed a small glass vase placed on the table on my room and sent it crashing to the floor, leaving the flowers with no place of residence. I paced crazily around the room, thinking of what else I could do to win Layla over. There was no way I was letting her go. We were meant to rule the Silver Crescent pack as mates before that stupid Alpha came into the picture. He had to die, he and his whole pack. They all needed to be extinct. The support of the current Alpha was crucial. There was no way they could deny the extinction of the desert wolves wouldn't be the best thing to happen at this point. The chief council of werewolv
HERMES I DIDN'T KNOW what to think. I least expected Layla to abandon her family for me. It was confusing. What should I have expected if she warned me of her family's plan beforehand? Maybe she was being deceitful, and this was a plot to get vital information from me pertaining to the chief council of wolves. I needed to be careful. It was necessary to admit, I felt relieved seeing her. It did not occur to me that she was in the vehicle taken down by Gregory. If I knew beforehand, I would have told him to use another vehicle for distraction. The way she stood up for my pack in front of her own was commendable, regardless of whatever harm that befell her as a result of our sudden attack. Still, it could be a ploy. My feelings remained for her but not an iota of trust was left. To build a solid relationship, trust is needed. I pulled over at the driveway of the house and heaved a sigh. Today was a huge relief even if I didn't act like it. No member of the pack was lost and Layla is b
LAYLAI WAS PACING around my room ruminating on why Alpha Hermes didn't pick up his phone when I called. He refused to respond to any of my text either. Was he that mad at me? Or Hunt had gotten to him. Perhaps, Jacob went to Westwoods secretly with another pack unit to end the Alpha. Several thoughts kept running through my mind. I was trying to stay sane. I should probably return to Westwoods no matter the cost.As the hours passed, my fear and anxiety increased. I couldn't sleep or eat. I was really worried. I felt very foolish for telling my family about the conversation between I and Hermes. Now I was going to send everyone to an early grave including James and the man I loved. I was almost in tears. Night had taken over the day and there was little or nothing I could do to stop the coming massacre.I decided to speak to Jacob and Derek at the same time. I should be able to talk them out of it. I communicated with them using the wolf link and we agreed to meet at the living room.
HERMES"GIVE ME A goddamn reason to trust you after what you did to me last night, huh?" the sheriff barked."Because we could have taken down your whole team this morning, but we chose not to and decided to come along as your friends. Can't believe you show your hospitality to friends by shooting them and locking them in a cage," I responded in a guttural whisper, leaning towards the prison bars."Alright, let me handle this, Alpha." Gregory stepped forward, pulling me backwards. We had been locked up for two hours while the sheriff was doing his duties. He didn't look a bit comfortable; he was probably finding it hard to comprehend the changes in his system."Listen, Sheriff. You are putting us all at a big risk, including yourself," Gregory stated."How? You bastards are to be blamed for whatever crap I'm feeling now and you expect me to let you get away with it?" The sheriff interrupted harshly."Relax, your voice is a bit loud. I know how you feel, I know everything is loud and i
LAYLAHEARING THE ALPHA rage frightened me so much. I couldn't bear to listen anymore. I dropped the phone with shaky hands. I was not sure if my choice was right. I know my heart was with Hermes, and nothing could be done to change that. But with the anger filled voice I just heard, it was hard to tell which feeling was greater, the fear or love I had for him. He just threatened I and my family. Honestly, I was scared to my marrow. Not because of the threat, but because I had no idea which side to be on if things escalated into a war between the packs.My phone rung. I had no effrontery to pick knowing it was him. Right now, all I needed was space to think. Behind the anger he showed were broken pieces he was trying to hide, that I could understand. Though, I wanted to be with Hermes, I had to play it cool with my family and Jacob. Things appeared to be under control since I agreed to stay. I know it could go out of control if they knew my mind was changed.Instead of sleeping in the
HERMESMY EYES OPENED at the sound of my ringing phone. What was so important that couldn't wait till dawn. This was the middle of the night and I was trying to sleep off my worries. I reached for my phone and contemplated picking it or not since it was an unknown number. I opted for the former and to my delight, it was the voice I yearned to hear."Layla?" I inquired, amid jumping off my bed in a mixture of surprise and excitement."Yes," she responded."I miss you. Where have you been?"There was silence. "Hello." I walked towards the window anxiously. Probably, she was outside, calling on me to open the door."I'm with my family," she responded finally. I almost wish she didn't. My fear was confirmed. Still, I refused to believe.I chuckled. "Nice joke. But your family is right here. Are you outside? Do you need me to get the door for you?" There was no response again. "Hello."She sniffed. "No, I'm not. I mean I'm with my real family, the Silver Crescent pack."My heart was so hea
LAYLAGLASS CUPS PRODUCED a clank as they touched each other. Everyone had a smile on their face. "Cheers!" We all said amid gently ramming our cups into each other while an orchestra performed in the hall-like living room. Our mission to take out an important pack member in the hierarchy of the North claw was successful. Thanks to my plan.While the North claws were too busy celebrating their new affiliations with members of various packs including ours, I, Jacob, and Derek were waiting in one of their rooms for a beta or two of the pack to walk in then we strike.We were shocked when the Alpha of the North claw pack walked into the ambushed room. It turned out we were in the wrong room, but it was for the best. We targeted betas of the pack, but the moon goddess walked the Alpha into our trap. Who were we to back down out of fear?The fight with the Alpha was tough. He matched the energy of three betas. He was indeed a strong Alpha. Eventually, we won, breaking off an arm before sli