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17. A Shot To The Heart
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
The Alpha King's Fate 18. Pack A Bag
Layla didn’t sleep a wink since Jackson ran out of the packhouse. She looked back at the bed where her sister passed out, fully dressed. Britney had been too exhausted to take in anything she tried to tell her. Not that she’d made much sense. She’d been too worked up to say much more than ‘keep your damn mouth shut’. She didn’t know if Britney understood anything. Why the hell did Jackson keep something so important from her? The summons had nothing to do with the pack; he should have told her the moment he knew the Circle wanted to see her. She’d almost choked one of them to death at the main gates! In the human world, that was similar to attacking someone high-ranked. Maybe even a president! Humans got life sentences for that. She stopped pacing the room as dread filled her and rooted her to the spot. She was probably going to die. And she only had the night to process that she might have to leave Hope and Britney to fend for themselves. If she had known about the trial w
The Alpha King's Fate 19. The Haven Hotel
Layla looked up at Britney’s window and then at Dylan holding the passenger side door open for her. “She’ll be fine, Luna. Don’t worry about us here,” Dylan said with a smile. But the smile was strained. She’d heard him arguing with Jackson about why he suddenly decided not to take some warriors with him for protection. And Jackson’s argument was sound. She also wanted as many people as she could trust to look out for Hope and Britney while they were gone. But the tension in the air only confirmed that where they were going was much more dangerous. “Don’t let her run away,” she whispered. “We have twice as many patrols around the boundary. Britney’s not going anywhere,” Dylan assured her. “Just stay safe out there, okay? Don’t do anything foolish.” Like choking out another Circle member? “And Hope—” “Will also be fine. Go, Layla. You’ll be back in a few days.” He didn’t sound sure. She sighed and got into the car. Jackson already had the engine going and looked straight a
The Alpha King's Fate 20. Lincoln, Hugo, and New Finn
Jax turned at Lincoln’s voice and met the arrogant Alpha’s gaze without flinching. He’d almost killed that bastard, but he wasn’t on trial for that. Lincoln probably felt insulted by that decision if that coldness in his eyes was anything to go by. “Lincoln. Hugo. New Finn.” A muscle ticked in the new member’s jaw after being referred to by his deceased predecessor's name. He looked as young as Finn had been, but at least this new guy had the good sense to keep his eyes lowered and not react. “You’re about to pay for your crimes but you still feel the need to show your disrespect,” Lincoln said, shaking his head as they walked further into the lobby. “I’m sure you know my treatment of you didn’t even make it on the list of things I have to pay for,” he growled. Lincoln’s eyes flashed, but he held his gaze until Lincoln lowered his. At this point, if Lincoln started any shit, he would be in as much trouble as he was. He turned to Hugo, the one who’d always been the more level-h
The Alpha King's Fate 21. Embracing The Darkness
They were going to die in the fancy hotel. Layla was sure of it. And Jackson had been right that she couldn’t defend herself. Even though they were in the middle of all that danger, her wolf still hadn’t reappeared. Jackson’s arm was around her middle, and his legs entwined with hers, something she was grateful for after he’d told her they could snatch her out of her bed. He’d been reluctant to hold her at all, which hurt. But she had to try to put all of that aside until they got out alive. She’d kept some of the floor lamps on despite her perfect vision. The bed was behind a solid wall, adding a little to her sense of security. It was a false sense of security. The only other time she sensed so much evil was when she had come face-to-face with the hunting party. There didn’t seem to be many people inside the hotel, but she could sense several outside, stepping carefully through the underbrush quite a distance from the hotel. They were either the hotel security or people sent
The Alpha King's Fate 22. No Touching
Jackson watched the morning light start to spill into the room. He shifted his weight slightly to get more comfortable against the headboard, and Layla’s grip tightened around his torso as she burrowed into his chest. She hadn’t let go of him all night. He looked down at her sleeping face and felt the raw, unguarded power radiate from her. They were still shrouded in darkness. It was the strangest thing he’d ever experienced. He had no idea if he would ever be able to share that much of Layla’s strength, but it was amazing to experience first-hand how red wolves hid under people’s noses so easily. They had been able to go around the whole room to break all the hidden cameras they could find, and no one had knocked on their door yet to ask what was happening. Maybe they were scared. Or they already knew what Layla could do. It was like they had blended into the darkness. Vampires had the same sensitivity as wolves, but that assassin hadn’t heard their heartbeat or caught their s
The Alpha King's Fate 23. Keep Your Head Down
Layla sensed the darkest, most oppressive aura pressing down on her as they walked down the hallway. Several cars had arrived since she had woken up, but she could feel that the new arrival was different. Darker. The cruellest. When they entered the lobby, her muscles stiffened involuntarily as she looked towards the hotel entrance. Hotel staff were lined up on either side of the doors as a limousine stopped just outside. Someone rushed to open the car door, and her heart skipped a beat as she waited to see who would come out. Something in the back of her mind told her that, somehow, her life was about to change forever. She was about to come face to face with evil. Perhaps the face of the person who’d tried to have them killed while they were sleeping. A man in a dark suit and sunglasses stepped out of the car. He brushed imaginary lint off his jacket and straightened his clothes before looking up. Though the sunglasses hid his eyes, she felt he could see through her. And tha
The Alpha King's Fate 24. Alpha Cole
Jackson turned the moment someone somehow snuck up on him and grabbed his hand. His claws extended, ready to rip their throat out, but he slashed through... nothing. A spotlight came on and blinded him for a moment before his eyes adjusted. Layla was not in his arms anymore. Lead settled in his stomach when he realised what had happened. His rage ripped through him instantly, and Cain wrested control from him, half-shifting as he looked around the circular prison that was the main attraction in all Circle trials. It was a raised stage made of silver, surrounded by an invisible ward of dark magic to keep him inside it. And he knew from experience that the Circle’s witches would have also warded the whole room. His jacket and shirt started to rip at the seams, constricting him. It took him seconds to get rid of both as he met the gazes of the people that sat around the stage, only feet away from him. “What are you doing?” he snarled. “Give my mate back to me.” It was no longer him
The Alpha King's Fate 25. Inevitable
Layla stopped banging on the door and screaming when there was no response. She turned and leaned against the door to look around again. The room felt even smaller. Her throat started to close up, making it harder to breathe. Was she still at the hotel? Did Jax know where she was? “Breathe, Layla,” she gasped. Her knees gave out, and she slid to the floor. So much for being the queen, the woman worthy to stand beside Jackson. She couldn’t even get out of the room. Jax had been right—she was not ready. She was a liability and should never have come with him. If she had left when she’d wanted to... Pain lanced through her chest, but she forced herself to breathe through it. She had to think. She was still alive, which meant Jax was also alive. He would move heaven and earth to find her. Her heart calmed down as her panic started to dissipate. She pushed her fear to the back of her mind and focused on her link to Jax. ‘Jax?’ No response. She couldn’t even tell if he could h
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The Alpha King's Fate 78. No Regrets - Epilogue
“What’s this?” Jax looked at the envelope in front of him with the Circle’s seal. The last time he received one of those, they summoned him and Layla to stand trial. He looked up at Hugo, sitting at the end of his conference table with Keith and frowned. If they thought they could punish him for defending his pack, they could think again. “You’re not going to sit at my table and tell me that piece of shit deserved to live, are you?” he growled. Hugo shook his head. “No, of course not, Your Majesty,” he said. “That’s just a formal apology from the Circle, acknowledging our mistakes. And we’d like to welcome the Queen and her family into your pack.” “They don’t need your shitty welcome,” Ryker snapped. Hugo flinched and looked at Ryker, who was sitting opposite him. Out of everyone, the Alpha of the Night Walkers was the least agreeable about the new partnership. If anyone knew how to hold grudges, it was Ryker. He wouldn’t be surprised if he managed to string one of them up
The Alpha King's Fate 77. Reunion
Layla struggled to breathe. She could feel Lincoln’s large hand crushing her windpipe, even though part of him was twitching on the floor in front of her. Her mind was foggy with the lack of oxygen, but the fear that crippled her disappeared. Jax had taken charge now. Everything would be okay. Her eyes fluttered and then closed even with all the commotion around her. The cut-off screams. The scent of blood that even her nose could pick up. And when she heard her mother’s voice, she breathed a sigh of relief. Rebecca’s wolf was stronger than Nia. She would never allow anyone to hurt her family. She relaxed entirely until Britney's scream brought her back to the present. Her heart lurched as she sat up and saw Alpha Cole drag her and Hope towards him. Maybe Cole didn’t have a wolf, or he wasn’t shifting because he knew he was outnumbered. But there was no denying he had enough dark magic to follow through with his threats. She could almost smell it even though she was less than
The Alpha King's Fate 76. And Then There Were Three
The dark magic continuously ripped Jax’s cells apart even as Cain worked on healing them. Cole—that fucker—rounded up some of the strongest witches. They were no match individually for Diedre, but together they bound her up tighter than anything. He gritted his teeth and looked sideways at Diedre. Her face was pale, her teeth snapped together, and her eyes closed. He sensed her pain. He felt all the pain in the room, even the children’s. “Silence!” The command rippled across the room. Cain growled in his head at the challenge. Had he not been bound, he would have commanded Cole just as he did at the trial. Another warrior fell beside him, and the pain slashed through his body when another bond broke. He was still trying to recover when Lincoln grabbed Layla by her throat. His claws dug into her delicate skin and punctured it. And the scent of her blood overpowered every other smell in the room. Her blood. Her pain. Her fear. All of it clouded his head, calling on the beast
The Alpha King's Fate 75. Gatecrashers
Where did the vampire come from? How did he go through Diedre’s wards? Layla backed up until she felt Jax’s car behind her. The vampire grinned, showing his teeth, and she froze in place. Fear filled her body. This was her worst nightmare come to life. She was vulnerable, and her child was in the hall. She couldn’t protect her. “Breach!” Someone shouted behind the vampire. But she would never have outrun him even if the fear didn’t paralyse her. Their speed was unmatched. There were screams. Something zoomed past at such speeds she realised there were more of them. And if the vampires were there, the Circle was making its move. And that was the twist—the final nail in the coffin full of all her hopes for a future with Jax. Something snapped around her, some invisible force that pulled her forward. It was magic. How did it even get past Diedre’s wards? She tried to lift her arms and drag her feet, but it was futile. Wolves around her were hauled towards the hall like rag do
The Alpha King's Fate 74. Party Time
Layla didn’t sleep much. She’d alternated between having nightmares of Jax losing his wolf and watching her two girls sleep. She had her arm over them, content to soothe herself with their presence. She didn’t know where they had been and how far it was, but after dinner, Brit and Hope had been ready to go to bed. Faith prepared Britney’s room next to Jax’s and moved Hope’s cot there because the girls bonded while away. The three of them snuggled on the bed together. She imagined she heard someone outside the bedroom door a few times. She knew it was Jax. He’d told her the main bedroom was ready for her to return to, but she wasn’t prepared for that. It would be like accepting what he did—acknowledging that he ruined his life over her. Her hand went back to the bite on her neck. Did that mean they were mated again? It hadn’t felt the same as when he marked her the first time, even though it still caused the earth-shattering explosion. There had been no fire in her bones, and she
The Alpha King's Fate 73. Home
Layla smoothed her summer dress and adjusted the straps before she took a fortifying breath. Not that the expensive clothes would make a difference. Compared to how vibrant she’d looked when Nia manifested, she looked like crap now. No amount of makeup could hide the bags under her eyes or how lifeless her eyes had become. And she couldn’t tame the frizz, no matter what she did. She'd tied her hair up in a puff— the same style she used to have before she’d met Jax. She tilted her head to see the angry red mark on her neck. Her stomach churned, almost bringing up the few bites of food she’d managed to eat. Images of her night with Jax returned, and her nostrils flared. What did he think would happen now? The bite wasn’t healing as it did the first time; it was starting to look infected. Jax poisoned himself for nothing. She ripped out the hair band and the millions of pins holding her hair up and fluffed her hair, covering the mark again. No one else needed to know what Jax did.
The Alpha King's Fate 72. Hypocrite
“What the hell have you done?!” Layla repeated, and this time her anger surged as her voice rose. Jax gently pulled out of her before he straightened. He’d known how the night would end. It had been the same the first time he marked her. But her anger still hurt. It had been months, and every second of that had been torture. Did she not feel the same? “I did what I had to do, Layla.” “How could you do that to Cain?” Layla shouted. She pushed him aside and got off the hood to look for her skimpy little night dress. “We don’t know what they put in my blood, but we know damn well that it will kill him!” Layla pulled her nightie on before she turned to face him. Her emerald eyes blazed at him. He’d been just as angry when she bit him the night before the blood moon on his birthday. Marking someone without their consent was a dick move, and as the Alpha King, he’d put down a few wolves for that exact reason. But there he was. Being a dick. “It was Cain’s idea. And I completely agree
The Alpha King's Fate 71. No Regrets
Layla rolled her neck and shoulders to ease some of the stiffness but knew it wouldn’t do her any good. She couldn’t remember a time when she’d felt that tired. She spent money that she didn’t have to buy some energy drinks to keep her awake for the drive home. It was almost two in the morning, and working two jobs was sucking the life out of her. At one point in her life, she’d even had three jobs and still had the energy to run around after Brit and take care of their trailer. With a sigh, she grabbed her bag from the passenger seat and shoved her door open. The car had been a piece of crap when she’d bought it, but it was worse after being off the road for so long. She’d worked at least a month to afford the extra money to pay someone to get it roadworthy again. It was hectic catching buses or getting a taxi to take her close enough to her neighbourhood, especially this late at night. She hadn’t seen Jax since the picnic, but some warriors hung around the neighbourhood for wee
The Alpha King's Fate 70. Fuck Fate!
“Jax?” He kept his back to her with fists clenched. Cain wasn’t backing down. It felt like the time the beast had completely taken over when he killed Alpha Kendrick on his doorstep to protect Layla. Now all he wanted was to sink his teeth into her neck and return what was lost. “I’m sorry I don’t have the endurance I used to have,” Layla said as she came up behind him. He sensed the pain in her words but didn’t turn around to offer any comfort. If he’d needed proof that her wolf was well and truly gone, he had it now. Even before she had shifted, Layla could sense the danger in the air. She’d been able to feel when he was losing control. ‘She can’t sense me at all.’ Cain’s words caused an avalanche of pain that shoved him further into despair and buried him deep within it. He tried to focus so he could pull himself out, but it was pointless. He felt the same way his beast did. Cain couldn’t live without his mate, either. And if he tried to deny his mate, he would end up like
