Layla’s eyes widened in shock, and she gasped as she stared at her worst nightmare. Jarod was also surprised to see her; he quickly changed his expression. Demetrius looked from one to the other in confusion. His mate was still as a stone, paler than he had ever seen her. He pulled her back and shielded her from Jarod's glare.“This is my mate, Layla,” Demetrius told Jarod. He heard his mate gulp behind him.“I… see,” Jarod said. “Your mate, she looks different,” he added.“What?” Demetrius asked.“Did she grow up here?” Jarod asked.“No.”“I know, she looks more beautiful.”“What are you talking about? Do you know her?” Demetrius asked, growing tired of Jarod’s games.“Why don’t you ask your mate?” Jarod told Demetrius.DEMETRIUS’S POVI wondered what relationship existed between my mate and Jarod. The way my mate reacted when he was close indicated that they knew each other. My mate was scared of him, and that didn't sit well with me. Looking at the state of my poor mate, he must hav
Jarod observed the woman closely, admiring her well-defined figure. He signaled to one of his men to offer her some clothing. Once she was properly covered, he approached her. Fatigue and hunger were evident in her eyes; she must have been fleeing. As an outcast, she seemed the perfect distraction for Jarod, taking his mind off Layla, at least for the time being."What is your name, rogue?" "My name is Annabelle," she responded, her voice hoarse but pleasant."Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Annabelle. I am Prince Jarod," he stated proudly. "As you're an outcast, I'll claim you.""No," Annabelle rebutted. She had her own agenda and refused to be tied to any pack. Realizing she was outnumbered, she resolved to escape. However, her pride prevented her from hunting and feeding on fresh blooded animals due to her weariness and hunger."I'm not giving you an option here," Jarod stated, his signature smile lingering.Glancing around for an escape, Annabelle caught Jarod's warning expres
Jarod smiled at Annabelle, who had his full attention. He ignored Freya, who gave him a disbelieving look. She knew he wanted to be alone with Annabelle, but she wasn't going to make it that easy for him, so she stood her ground. Jarod looked in Freya's direction and shook his head at her for being childish.Annabelle watched the two of them, thinking she should use this as an opportunity since she was in front of the prince. "I could use a little food," she said.Two pairs of eyes turned to her, one curious, the other angry. She shrugged at them. "I'm hungry right now and can't function well without food. You have proof of that," she said, focusing on Jarod.His curiosity turned into a smile. "Noted, Freya, make yourself useful and get the two of us something to eat. Now that she mentioned it, I need proper food," he said."What... I should be a slave for her?" Freya snapped angrily."I'm the one who gave the order," Jarod said, his voice changing and sounding dangerous. "GO," he gro
Demetrius watched as Lisa shook her head at something his mate would have said and went back to what she was doing. He did not know if he needed to be worried about Lisa, because she was one of those who helped his mate when she was attacked. So, would she now turn her back against his mate? Demetrius wondered if he should have someone tailing Lisa. He needed to know who to trust and not suspect his pack members, as it could lead to bigger trouble. For now, he would just watch her himself, and if he was still not sure about her, he would have someone on her. His mate must have sensed his presence at the door because she looked up at him and smiled, waving. Others in the kitchen also looked in his direction and bowed to him. He acknowledged them with a wave and nodded to his mate before leaving the entrance.LAYLA'S POVWhen my mate left, I went back to my conversation with those in the kitchen. Someone was talking about the almost messed-up incident that happened in the kitchen on t
When Layla woke up the next morning, she found herself alone in bed. Looking around the room, she realized she must have overslept. Demetrius hadn't returned the previous night. Was he avoiding her? She wasn't in the right state of mind to see him yet, perhaps it was for the best. Her head was pounding, and her face probably red from the crying last night. She suspected she'd missed her morning training once again.Elijah hadn't come to wake her. He likely let her rest considering her condition. After washing her face, she heard a knock on the door, and her heart skipped a beat. Was it Demetrius? But instead, Elijah entered, nodding approvingly at her presentable appearance."Good morning, Luna. Did you sleep well?" he inquired.Layla gave him a look, and Elijah suppressed a smile behind a fake cough. He soon turned serious."You still have training this morning," he stated."What? But... the time has passed," Layla protested. "I knew it was almost two hours late already.""The Alpha
Layla was acutely aware of the rumors circulating within the pack. Those who had previously accepted her were now pointing fingers at her. Unable to refute the rumors since they were true, she wondered who might have revealed her secret. Annabelle was no longer part of the pack, and aside from her, the only other person who knew about her secret was Demetrius. But she couldn't believe he'd start such rumors.“It couldn’t have been our mate,” Linda defended Demetrius.“Why not? Look at the way he's been punishing us. He hasn’t released Red. This is the third day, and we're yet to see him. He is avoiding us,” Layla responded to her mate in her thoughts.“I say he is not,” “He is.”“Is not,” Linda stubbornly argued.Layla noticed two others gossiping about her. When they realized she was observing them, they laughed and shook their heads, boldly facing her.“Does anyone have a problem? If you do, come to me!” Elena's voice echoed across the ground. As the overseer of the female pack tra
Layla remained silent as Elena addressed the pack. She struggled to believe that Elena would stand up for her. She believed the woman disliked her, never showing any real interest in her aside from aiding her when Annabelle attacked. Layla assumed Elena was just fulfilling her duties. She couldn't fathom why Demetrius sat there, seemingly unconcerned by the seriousness of the issue.Even if the people's accusations held truth, Demetrius should have stood by her, preventing them from speaking in the first place. Though Elena attempted to dissuade her from being present, Layla's stubbornness arose, partly a desire to disobey Demetrius's orders. He had taken her friend Red away and avoided her, refusing to share a bed. It felt unreasonable; was being held in a cell justification for such treatment?Accustomed to being disregarded, she sensed Demetrius was having second thoughts about their mating. With her tumultuous past, who in their right mind would settle for less? When Elena returne
Prince Jarod entered Annabelle’s chamber, his face a mix of determination and uncertainty. He had made a decision that would shape the future of his pack and was about to discuss it with Annabelle, the remarkable woman he had chosen to join his pack. He had reached this conclusion after his observation of her and wondered how Demetrius could just throw her out of his pack like that.“Annabelle,” Prince Jarod began, his voice steady, “I’ve decided to accept you into our pack. Your unique skills and brilliance are exactly what we need to stay safe as we plan and execute our attacks on rival packs.”Annabelle’s eyes sparkled with a blend of gratitude and excitement. She knew how hard she had worked in the last few days to show her worth. The pack had been against her for some time, as she had to compete with Freya. Finally, someone had seen her worth beyond her intimate relationship with Jarod. She had proven herself in training and strategy discussions, but now, her role would be pivota