Chapter 6

- Authors note: Sorry it's me again. I just wanted to say thank you for choosing to read my novel, as you can already tell I am just an amateur writer, but I am passionate about reading and love the idea of bringing my own stories to life, so thank you so much for supporting me and I apologize for any grammar mistakes, I know they can be annoying! xx

-Laila's POV

As we walked out of the bathroom I could feel the guard eyeing me with curiosity, though his eyes didn't linger. My palms were sweaty and I was starting to form a migraine as I sat back down in the couch area. My nerves were slightly calmed as I could feel no sense of animosity coming from the huge man. If they were planning some sort of attack on me surely I would have felt something in the air? Though, I knew nearly nothing about these people and wasn't sure how to read them. 

Shortly after returning from the bathroom, Alpha Grayson appeared once again, his face was showing no clue as to what he was thinking. As he sat next to me once more I let out a sigh of relief, if he was going to kill me I would be dead already, I thought to myself. His eyes flickered towards me as he noticed my sigh, I was screaming at myself internally for letting something like that slip. 

"I know who you are", he said smoothly. 

My heart stopped as I tried to focus on what he had just said. I calmed myself as I tried to think of a response. 

"And who do you think I am", I replied, my eyebrow slightly arched.

"You are a member of the Crescent Moon pack".

"Perhaps this could be my way out?", I wondered. Amara let out a soft whine, she hated the idea of leaving our mate. But she knew my loyalties to my pack were strong. 

"Then you know we can't be together". I watched his face as the words left my mouth, desperate for any sign of emotion. If he was feeling anything, he was damn good at hiding it. The mans perfectly sculpted face was as unreadable as it had been before. 

"You know who I am, yet you fail to understand me", Alpha Grayson replied cryptically. "If you know who I am, then you must know I am not someone who gives up easily. I also don't like letting things go that belong to me". 

A peculiar wave of anger filled lust washed through me. I was enraged at the man for believing I was his, despite us being mates he had only just met me and already he was treating me as one of his belongings. On the other hand, I was frustratingly turned on by his possessiveness and I wanted to push him to see how far he would go, I wanted him to claim me and send me spiralling through pleasure I knew only he could give me. 

"Well, Alpha Grayson, it seems we're at an impasse". I could feel his body shiver as his name left my lips, his eyes bore into mine hungrily, swirls of black were mingling with emerald green. A low growl escaped from him as he watched me slowly dip my tongue out to moisten my lips.  

"Oh my little Laila, there is no impasse here. You are my mate, and rival pack or not you are coming home with me".

I stood from my seat, hands placed on my hips as I attempted my best scowl.

"Yes, I am going home, my home. Where I will live out the rest of my days knowing my loyalty to my pack triumphed against our mate bond".

A smirk formed on Grayson's lips, I could tell he was enjoying the challenge. I doubt anyone had ever stood up to him before, he was excited and looked like he was chasing the most rewarding prey of his life. 

"Ok Laila, you will return to your family home. Only to say your goodbyes and pack your belongings. I will wait for you on the border, and if for one second you think I won't cross it to drag you back with me, you have another thing coming. You are my mate, and I am yours. I admire your loyalty to your pack, it will come as a great addition to the Dark Moon pack". 

Before I could come up with a witty retort I was being guided back through the club, the sparks once again igniting between us. It was hard to be mad at the man when he had such a physical effect on me. As we walked briskly through the crowds I heard my name being spoken,

"OH, NO WAY! Is that Laila? What's she doing here?"

"Hey Laila, does the Alpha know you're here?", which was followed by some obnoxious laughter.

Whoever was calling at me was clearly intoxicated, but I didn't dare face them. I was sure that Alpha Grayson wasn't aware of my lineage, and I wanted to keep it that way. I could see a glint of curiosity in his eyes as he turned to look at the ones calling me, but he continued walking ahead of me, stopping for no one.

Marnie was hot on my heels, she was trying to mind link me but my thoughts were racing too fast to make sense of anything she was firing my way. I had planned to hide in the packhouse and simply refuse to leave. But I remembered the Alphas words, and I believed he would come for me, I couldn't risk anyone in my family getting hurt. My eyes focused on the floor beneath my feet as I blinked away the tears that were forming. While I wasn't entirely sure that Alpha Grayson wouldn't harm me in any way, I was silently mourning the loss of my pack. My leaving would be a betrayal that could never be forgiven, I would lose the respect of everyone I cared about and would be branded as a traitor. 

As we walked outside into the cool midnight air, several very large men followed suit. Alpha Grayson informed Marnie that she would be driving alone. She would be following closely behind his car, and in turn, she would be followed by his men. Marnie shot me one last look of sympathy before hopping behind her driver's seat and closing the door. Alpha Grayson led me to a sleek, black sports car and opened the passenger door for me. Amara purred with glee at the thought of being so close to our mate again.

"Hey, who's side are you on?", I asked her.

"The side where we get to be alone with Grayson of course", she hummed.

"Have you forgotten who he is? Who I am?"

"No, I haven't. But I'm also not going to let you ruin my fantasy of hot, car sex on the side of the road", Amara said with a huff and quietly retreated to the back of my mind. 

We drove in silence after I had put the coordinates into the map application. While the silence wasn't uncomfortable, I could tell there was something on the Alphas mind. The mate bond was assisting me with understanding him, only in the slightest. While I worked up the courage to ask him what was on his mind, I took the time to analyze his face some more. His emerald eyes lit up, almost glowing in the dark, his lips slightly pursed in thought. It was enough to awaken something warm within me, I longed to feel those lips against my own, to taste him and make the Alpha call out my name as I pleasured him in his seat. I was aware of how strong his scent was now that we were locked in an enclosed space. I almost felt dizzy from secretly inhaling it deeply, the warm mixture of apple and cinnamon tinged with a slightly earthy/Forrest note warmed my body and melted some of my anxiety away, I noticed there was a musky male tone mixed into his scent that I hadn't noticed in the club, it only made him smell more delicious. Amara howled in agreement, urging me to pursue these dirty thoughts. In an effort to distract myself from taking things too far I blurted out what I had been working up the courage to ask before,

"Just say what's on your mind", I said. I turned to look at the slightly stunned expression on Grayson's face, which was quickly wiped clean. 

"What did those people mean back in the club?", he asked.

"Who? Those people before we left? They were just drunken idiots, everyone knows to ignore people like that". 

"No. They knew your name, and they seemed surprised, no, shocked to see you there. I also noticed that they mentioned the Alpha. While I can understand how he would be mad to find a flock of his own underneath his enemies roof, I don't understand why would you being there would have such an impact on him?". 

I squirmed in my seat and I deeply regretted opening my mouth, perhaps I should have stuck to the fantasies. I looked out the window and chose to say nothing, hoping he would let it slide. My head jerked back into my seat as the car surged forward, my hands fumbled to grip onto anything they could find as we continued to fly up the road. Once we had gained some distance from the others the Alpha skidded to the side of the road, his eyes were once again black with rage. 

"Do not ignore me", Grayson thundered. "Who are you to Alpha Derek!".

I had to stop myself from trembling, even Amara was cowering away from our mate's fierce gaze.

"Are you his mistress? His side piece? I swear to Goddess I will rip him to shreds if he has ever laid a hand on you before!". Jealousy was radiating off of Alpha Grayson's body, his anger was intensifying by the second. 

"No!", I cried, "It's nothing like that! And don't you ever mention that vile idea again". Though I was scared for my life, I couldn't help but be repulsed at the idea of sleeping with my Dad.

"Then tell me! Or we won't be going back to pack your bags, we'll be going on a hunt for blood", the Alpha was gripping my already bruised wrists, his hold was growing more painful by the second as he tightened his huge hands. 

I could see he meant every word that he had said. His jealousy and need to have me to himself had overcome any rational thought. All my fears slipped away from me as I went into survival mode, I wouldn't let my father be dragged into this and though my next move may be the riskiest decision of my life, I had to protect my dad. 

"BECAUSE HE'S MY DAD!".

I watched Alpha Grayson's face as he calculated my words, the jealous energy in the car had evaporated, replaced by shock and unease. 

"My name is Laila Mason, I am the daughter of Alpha Derek and Luna Everly". 

He sat in silence, I could see he was deep in thought, but he was still hiding behind his walls. I couldn't discern any emotion he was feeling.

"Now do you see why we can't be together? I am the daughter of your enemy", tears began to silently stream down my face as I pleaded with my eyes for the Alpha to let me go. Without another word, he started up the car again. We drove in silence for the rest of the drive home.

As we approached the border separating our two territories he finally spoke,

"Go and say your goodbyes and pack your belongings. Be back within 90 minutes".