(Layla)I spun around violently at the sudden embrace, my heart beating dangerously fast. Mason’s arms locked around me like iron bands, crushing me against his chest so hard I could barely breathe.His scent—pine needles and damp air—filled my nose, making my stomach turn.“Let go of me!” I thrashed against his grip, pushing at his chest hard enough to bruise my palms. My feet scrabbled for purchase on the gravel driveway. “Mason, I swear to the goddess—”My struggles only made him squeeze tighter, one arm banding around my waist while the other pressed between my shoulder blades.Mason buried his face in the side of my neck, inhaling deeply. His nose skimmed along my skin where Samuel’s mark had been that night at the bar. His breath came hot and fast against my throat.“Samuel drove you back again? How much did he pay you for one night, huh? Tell me—I’ll double it! Triple it!”Mason’s grip was unrelenting, his arms trapping me against him. My pulse throbbed wildly, not just from fe
(Layla)“What exactly do you mean I can’t leave?” I demanded in a high voice, stepping closer to the guard. “Since when does a pack guard have authority over a Beta?”The guard—Tim, I remembered now—shifted his weight nervously. Sweat beaded on his forehead despite the cool morning. “Alpha Mason ordered me to confiscate your phone as well, Beta Layla.”I checked my purse, and indeed, the phone wasn’t there. I swallowed back the panic rising in my throat, forcing myself to remain calm. Mason was playing games again, I knew.I should have expected this.But he wouldn’t keep me here.I took a careful step back, feigning nonchalance.“What are you afraid of, Tim?” I asked, tilting my head. “That I might tell Samuel what Mason is doing? That your Alpha’s so scared of losing control, he’s resorting to holding me hostage?”Tim flinched. Just slightly, but I caught it.“Mason said—”“I don’t give a damn what Mason said.” My voice hardened. “I am the Beta of this pack. That still means somethi
(Layla)After arguing with the guard for twenty minutes, I finally reclaimed my phone from his reluctant grip. The screen lit up immediately—twenty-seven missed calls and fifteen messages from Samuel.My heart sank as I trudged toward the territory boundary, taking one dreadful step after another.Samuel’s sleek black car idled just beyond the line. I slid into the passenger seat, the coolness of the leather making me shiver.“What took you so long?” Samuel asked lowly, his eyes fixed on his phone screen.His fingers moved rapidly across the surface, typing what looked like important business messages.“Something came up,” I muttered, reaching for the seatbelt. The metal clasp felt ice-cold. “Pack business. Couldn’t be helped.”Samuel’s head snapped up suddenly, his golden eyes zeroing in on my neck. His expression hardened instantly, jaw clenching tight enough to crack stone.Confused by his reaction, I glanced in the rearview mirror. My stomach plummeted.An angry red mark marred my
(Layla)“Me?” The word came out shaky as I stared at Samuel across his massive oak desk. Homeschooling Annie?The mere thought made my stomach clench. That child already exhausted me with her constant pranks and mind games. Teaching her actual subjects felt impossibly daunting.Through the window behind Samuel, I watched pack members training in the courtyard. Seeing them running around reminded me of my own school days—top of the class, everyone had said.But teaching was completely different from learning.“I wouldn’t know where to start,” I admitted, picking at a loose thread on my sleeve. “The curriculum, the lesson plans…”“Double pay,” Samuel interrupted. That shut me up immediately. My fingers stopped fidgeting.Double pay.The phrase echoed in my head, drowning out all my doubts and hesitations.Mom’s medical bills piled higher every day, the numbers growing more impossible by the hour. With double my current salary…“When would I start?” I asked, trying to keep the desperate
(Layla)Samuel’s sharp nod directed me toward Annie’s bed. The pink comforter bunched around her small form as she sobbed into her pillow. I could see the pool of tears on her pillow.“What’s wrong?” I perched carefully on the edge of her mattress, keeping my distance.Annie’s crying intensified, her shoulders shaking harder under the blankets. The sound pierced through me despite all her manipulations. Even demon children could hurt, I supposed.I glanced at Samuel, who lounged on the plush armchair by the window. His mindlink hit me suddenly:“Why are you looking at me? I’m paying you to handle this, don’t expect me to.”Right. This was my job now. I shifted closer to Annie, reaching out to pat her back through the layers of blankets.“It’s okay if you don’t want to talk right now,” I said softly. “But when you’re ready to share, I’ll listen.”The room fell silent except for Annie’s quieting sniffles. I leaned over her bundled form, using my sleeve to gently wipe the tears from her
(Layla)I looked up sharply. “What?”“You already have a suite in the east wing, but going back to Mason was your prerogative. Not anymore, since it affects your work. Mrs. Hayes will show you to your room.”“She has already gone to bed. I was up till the midnight teaching Annie, remember? And I don’t have any clothes or—”“Everything you need is already there.” He strode toward the door, then paused. “Eight AM tomorrow. Annie’s bedroom. Don’t be late.”I stared after him, my phone forgotten in my hand. Stay here? In Samuel’s house? With Annie just down the hall?“So you know everything now?” I asked Samuel as I caught up to him in the dimly lit hallway.Samuel’s footsteps slowed. “I’m Alpha Samuel. What can’t I find out?” His golden eyes fixed on me in the darkness. “Though I admit, some things still puzzle me.”“Like what?” I asked before I could stop myself.“Like why Mason abandoned you for another woman, only to desperately chase after you now.” Samuel paused at an ornate door. “
(Layla)Samuel’s car rolled to a stop outside the Alpha Council building. I opened its polished black door as I stepped out onto the sidewalk.My body still remembered the incident from last night—his hands on my waist, the heat of his breath before he’d stepped away.I shoved the memory down.Samuel was my employer. This was a job. That’s all it could ever be.“Morning, Layla!” Cora’s cheery voice called out as she approached, beaming at me like she had something to tell me.She was beside me in an instant, that sly grin widening across her face, not budging. She elbowed me playfully in the ribs.I sighed. “Why do I feel like you’re about to ask something I won’t want to answer?”“Because you know me too well!” She linked arms with me, lowering her voice. “So…you stayed at Samuel’s place last night?”I nearly choked. “How do you even know that?”“Please.” She flipped her hair. “Do you think the pack isn’t watching every move Alpha Samuel makes? Now, tell me—was it business, or was it
(Layla)Amanda’s shrill laughter broke the tense silence of the Alpha Council office. She slapped her palm against the polished oak table, the sharp sound making several people jump.“A nanny?” Amanda sneered gleefully. “Hahaha, I think you can come up with a better excuse than that, Alpha Samuel.”“What exactly are you implying?” Jessica from accounting stood up, her chair scraping back. “Being a nanny is honest work.”“Oh please.” Amanda rolled her eyes dramatically. “Do you really think an Alpha needs a nanny? For what kids?”“That’s none of your business,” Elder Raymond barked from where he stood.“Actually, it is all our business,” Amanda declared. “The Alpha Council has standards. We can’t have people selling certain…services…under fake job titles.”Murmurs rippled through the office. Several people shot me pitying glances.Cora leaned close to my ear. “Is it…” she asked hesitantly. “Is what he said true?”Elder Raymond cleared his throat loudly. “These are serious allegations,
(Layla)Amanda’s shrill laughter broke the tense silence of the Alpha Council office. She slapped her palm against the polished oak table, the sharp sound making several people jump.“A nanny?” Amanda sneered gleefully. “Hahaha, I think you can come up with a better excuse than that, Alpha Samuel.”“What exactly are you implying?” Jessica from accounting stood up, her chair scraping back. “Being a nanny is honest work.”“Oh please.” Amanda rolled her eyes dramatically. “Do you really think an Alpha needs a nanny? For what kids?”“That’s none of your business,” Elder Raymond barked from where he stood.“Actually, it is all our business,” Amanda declared. “The Alpha Council has standards. We can’t have people selling certain…services…under fake job titles.”Murmurs rippled through the office. Several people shot me pitying glances.Cora leaned close to my ear. “Is it…” she asked hesitantly. “Is what he said true?”Elder Raymond cleared his throat loudly. “These are serious allegations,
(Layla)Samuel’s car rolled to a stop outside the Alpha Council building. I opened its polished black door as I stepped out onto the sidewalk.My body still remembered the incident from last night—his hands on my waist, the heat of his breath before he’d stepped away.I shoved the memory down.Samuel was my employer. This was a job. That’s all it could ever be.“Morning, Layla!” Cora’s cheery voice called out as she approached, beaming at me like she had something to tell me.She was beside me in an instant, that sly grin widening across her face, not budging. She elbowed me playfully in the ribs.I sighed. “Why do I feel like you’re about to ask something I won’t want to answer?”“Because you know me too well!” She linked arms with me, lowering her voice. “So…you stayed at Samuel’s place last night?”I nearly choked. “How do you even know that?”“Please.” She flipped her hair. “Do you think the pack isn’t watching every move Alpha Samuel makes? Now, tell me—was it business, or was it
(Layla)I looked up sharply. “What?”“You already have a suite in the east wing, but going back to Mason was your prerogative. Not anymore, since it affects your work. Mrs. Hayes will show you to your room.”“She has already gone to bed. I was up till the midnight teaching Annie, remember? And I don’t have any clothes or—”“Everything you need is already there.” He strode toward the door, then paused. “Eight AM tomorrow. Annie’s bedroom. Don’t be late.”I stared after him, my phone forgotten in my hand. Stay here? In Samuel’s house? With Annie just down the hall?“So you know everything now?” I asked Samuel as I caught up to him in the dimly lit hallway.Samuel’s footsteps slowed. “I’m Alpha Samuel. What can’t I find out?” His golden eyes fixed on me in the darkness. “Though I admit, some things still puzzle me.”“Like what?” I asked before I could stop myself.“Like why Mason abandoned you for another woman, only to desperately chase after you now.” Samuel paused at an ornate door. “
(Layla)Samuel’s sharp nod directed me toward Annie’s bed. The pink comforter bunched around her small form as she sobbed into her pillow. I could see the pool of tears on her pillow.“What’s wrong?” I perched carefully on the edge of her mattress, keeping my distance.Annie’s crying intensified, her shoulders shaking harder under the blankets. The sound pierced through me despite all her manipulations. Even demon children could hurt, I supposed.I glanced at Samuel, who lounged on the plush armchair by the window. His mindlink hit me suddenly:“Why are you looking at me? I’m paying you to handle this, don’t expect me to.”Right. This was my job now. I shifted closer to Annie, reaching out to pat her back through the layers of blankets.“It’s okay if you don’t want to talk right now,” I said softly. “But when you’re ready to share, I’ll listen.”The room fell silent except for Annie’s quieting sniffles. I leaned over her bundled form, using my sleeve to gently wipe the tears from her
(Layla)“Me?” The word came out shaky as I stared at Samuel across his massive oak desk. Homeschooling Annie?The mere thought made my stomach clench. That child already exhausted me with her constant pranks and mind games. Teaching her actual subjects felt impossibly daunting.Through the window behind Samuel, I watched pack members training in the courtyard. Seeing them running around reminded me of my own school days—top of the class, everyone had said.But teaching was completely different from learning.“I wouldn’t know where to start,” I admitted, picking at a loose thread on my sleeve. “The curriculum, the lesson plans…”“Double pay,” Samuel interrupted. That shut me up immediately. My fingers stopped fidgeting.Double pay.The phrase echoed in my head, drowning out all my doubts and hesitations.Mom’s medical bills piled higher every day, the numbers growing more impossible by the hour. With double my current salary…“When would I start?” I asked, trying to keep the desperate
(Layla)After arguing with the guard for twenty minutes, I finally reclaimed my phone from his reluctant grip. The screen lit up immediately—twenty-seven missed calls and fifteen messages from Samuel.My heart sank as I trudged toward the territory boundary, taking one dreadful step after another.Samuel’s sleek black car idled just beyond the line. I slid into the passenger seat, the coolness of the leather making me shiver.“What took you so long?” Samuel asked lowly, his eyes fixed on his phone screen.His fingers moved rapidly across the surface, typing what looked like important business messages.“Something came up,” I muttered, reaching for the seatbelt. The metal clasp felt ice-cold. “Pack business. Couldn’t be helped.”Samuel’s head snapped up suddenly, his golden eyes zeroing in on my neck. His expression hardened instantly, jaw clenching tight enough to crack stone.Confused by his reaction, I glanced in the rearview mirror. My stomach plummeted.An angry red mark marred my
(Layla)“What exactly do you mean I can’t leave?” I demanded in a high voice, stepping closer to the guard. “Since when does a pack guard have authority over a Beta?”The guard—Tim, I remembered now—shifted his weight nervously. Sweat beaded on his forehead despite the cool morning. “Alpha Mason ordered me to confiscate your phone as well, Beta Layla.”I checked my purse, and indeed, the phone wasn’t there. I swallowed back the panic rising in my throat, forcing myself to remain calm. Mason was playing games again, I knew.I should have expected this.But he wouldn’t keep me here.I took a careful step back, feigning nonchalance.“What are you afraid of, Tim?” I asked, tilting my head. “That I might tell Samuel what Mason is doing? That your Alpha’s so scared of losing control, he’s resorting to holding me hostage?”Tim flinched. Just slightly, but I caught it.“Mason said—”“I don’t give a damn what Mason said.” My voice hardened. “I am the Beta of this pack. That still means somethi
(Layla)I spun around violently at the sudden embrace, my heart beating dangerously fast. Mason’s arms locked around me like iron bands, crushing me against his chest so hard I could barely breathe.His scent—pine needles and damp air—filled my nose, making my stomach turn.“Let go of me!” I thrashed against his grip, pushing at his chest hard enough to bruise my palms. My feet scrabbled for purchase on the gravel driveway. “Mason, I swear to the goddess—”My struggles only made him squeeze tighter, one arm banding around my waist while the other pressed between my shoulder blades.Mason buried his face in the side of my neck, inhaling deeply. His nose skimmed along my skin where Samuel’s mark had been that night at the bar. His breath came hot and fast against my throat.“Samuel drove you back again? How much did he pay you for one night, huh? Tell me—I’ll double it! Triple it!”Mason’s grip was unrelenting, his arms trapping me against him. My pulse throbbed wildly, not just from fe
(Layla)The moment Samuel’s arms released me, Annie’s desperate cry split the air.“Daddy!” Her anguished yell rang across the lawn.Samuel darted toward her. I ran after him, my shoes sliding on the grass still wet from yesterday’s rain. Each step kicked up tiny droplets that soaked the hem of my dress.“Wait!” I called out breathlessly. “It wasn’t what you think! Your daughter—she wanted to switch places!”My words seemed to dissolve in the space between us as Samuel reached Annie first. He scooped her small body into his arms, soft but protective. She immediately buried her face against his neck, her shoulders heaving with dramatic sobs.“Princess,” Samuel murmured, his hand smoothing over her dark hair. “Tell me what happened.”Annie’s fingers clutched his shirt. “She—she—” A hiccup interrupted her words. “She wouldn’t make me any food all day! And then she made me push her in the wheelchair!”“That’s completely false!” I stepped closer, gesturing frantically. “Annie, tell him the