Chapter 3

Layla’s POV

“Get in the car Layla.” Lucas said to me as he dragged me towards the car, finally letting go of my arm as he opens the door. He had come at the perfect time to save me from Daniel but I wasn’t going to let him know that I was grateful for his appearance.

“I wasn’t doing anything wrong Lucas.” I told him as I crossed my arms over my chest and then added, “What are you even doing here?”

A growl now slipped from Lucas’s lips before he says, “Protecting you from mutts like Daniel.”

Leaving out a huff, I say, “He’s a Beta’s son. How is he a mutt?”

“I don’t care whose son he is. He is not good enough for you.” Lucas says to me and I begin to wonder if anyone in his eyes is going to be good enough for me.

“Lucas what are you going to do on Saturday if I find my mate? Are you going to say that the Moon Goddess chose the wrong mate for me and that he isn’t good enough for me?” I asked him as I leaned against the car, still not getting in.

Lucas stepped back and ran his hands down his face. I could tell that this was hard on him to be able to accept something that was going to be blessed to me by our Goddess. He had no control over who she picked for me and he was going to have to accept it, whether he liked it or not.

Finally, he took a deep breath and said, “I will accept whomever the Moon Goddess chooses for you, but that doesn’t mean that I have to like it.”

A chuckle slips from my lips before I say to him, “Of course you’re not going to like it. I don’t understand why you are so hard on me.”

“Layla, I’m hard on you because you are my baby sister and I feel the need to protect you. The older you get the stronger the feeling is to keep you safe.” Lucas says to me and a part of me feels bad that I keep pressing his buttons, knowing that he worries about me. Another part of me is still upset with him that he keeps treating me as a pup.

“I understand that you care about me, but Lucas I’m not a pup anymore. Saturday will be my eighteenth birthday and I will be considered an adult and hopefully the Moon Goddess will bless me with a mate so that I’m not your worry anymore.” I say to Lucas as I look at the ground and kick at the rocks beneath my feet, knowing that he will be happy to be rid of me.

Lucas stepped forward and placed his hands on my shoulders making me look up into his eyes. It was the first time that I was ever this close to him and it was the first time I had ever truly looked into his eyes. I realized they were the prettiest shade of blue that reminded me of a summer’s day sky. “Layla, I don’t want to get rid of you. I just want what is best for you.” Lucas said to me and for some reason I believed him at that moment as I stared into his eyes not able to look away and I began to wonder if he was using some kind of Alpha influence on me.

Lucas’s hands were still on my shoulders and he began to rub them gently and something inside of me began to purr as if my wolf was beginning to show herself. Closing my eyes, I reached deep within me for her and I could feel a slight presence from her. Opening my eyes back up in excitement that I could feel her I see Lucas now stepping back from me as if he was afraid of me.

“My wolf, I can feel her.” I said out in excitement to him but he continued to step back from me. I looked at him confused by his actions and asked, “Lucas what is wrong?”

As if he had to muster the strength within him to say, “Get in the car Layla.”

“What? Lucas what is going on?” I asked him as I took a step towards him.

Lucas put up his hands, and then said once again, “Get in the car Layla! Alpha’s orders!”

A feeling of whimpering inside of me hit me hard, and I could feel Lucas using his Alpha influence on me at that moment. It was the first time he had ever used his Alpha tone with me and I became infuriated with him. Placing my hands on my hips, I stood my ground with him. “Lucas, I won’t let you use that Alpha tone with me.”

Lucas then reached into his pocket and pulled out his keys and tossed them to me. “Get in the car and drive straight back to the packhouse and go straight to your room.” Lucas said and then I heard a howl come from the distance and I knew something was wrong.

“Lucas what is it?” I asked him, now feeling a bit scared.

“Just do as I say.” Lucas said before he turned and shifted into his massive black wolf and raced towards the party that was happening by the lake.

I wanted to run after him and make sure that my friends were okay, but a series of howls now spread through the forest warning me to get in the car and do as he said to do. With shaky hands I moved to the driver’s side door and got in the car and locked the doors as I tried to put the key in the ignition to start the car. Just as I got the car started there was a pound on the passenger side window, and I jumped about out of my seat as I turned my head to see Rose pounding on it to let her in and I could see the fear in her eyes.

Quickly, I unlocked the door, and she jumped inside and shut the door locking it, herself. Rose was breathing heavily, and I could tell that she was frightened as her hands were shaking. “Rose what is it?” I asked her but all she could say was, “Drive.”

Not wasting another second, I put the car in drive and took off back towards the packhouse like Lucas had told me to do.