4. Anything

~ LAYLA ~

Quade Steele?

My entire body freezes up as I stare at the man before me. The realisation of who the man actually is makes me numb with shock.

“The Lycan King, Quade Steele?” I breathe.

He smirks, “At one point I wondered if you were pretending to not know me, but it’s obvious you really have lived away from society for far too long.” He taunts, leading me by the hand towards the dance floor.

He’s the illegitimate son of the previous Lycan King himself. I know he has lived isolated from the Lycan family. In fact, rumours say that he was thrown out of the Steele household at the age of fifteen and others say that he left of his own accord, vowing that one day he would get his revenge, and he did.

Rumours say he built his own kingdom in the business world too. With money came power. Relying on his quick wit, ruthlessness, and power, he overthrew his father, defeated many of his brothers who were next in line for the throne, and took the Lycan throne for himself.

The Lycan King has many people who bow down to him, wanting him as their ally since he is the ultimate power. But for every person who tries to flatter him and earn his favour, there are two more who hate him and want him dead.

“Yet here you are alone. Where is your luna?” I ask, spotting Sadie and Chloe staring at me as they whisper behind their hands, but I choose to ignore them.

He’s right. I have been away from society for far too long. Did he even have a queen?

He now places his hand on my waist, the other taking my hand.

“Is that your way of asking if I have one?” he purrs, his low voice making my stomach flutter pleasantly.

“You haven’t answered,” I counter softly. Our eyes remain locked as we begin moving to the music.

“I don’t.”

We move across the ballroom in perfect sync, and I try not to think of Logan, who has now brought Sadie onto the dance floor, or the way he keeps touching her body.

My heart skips a beat as Quade’s fingertips brush my bare back before he twirls me out and then back against him.

“You dance rather well,” I compliment, looking up at him.

“As do you. One would think you might be a little rusty since you haven’t attended such an event in a long time,” he remarks teasingly.

“It really has been a long time…” I’ve forgotten this feeling… the one where I’d be on the dance floor, free.

“I can assure you, you have been missed.” His eyes burn into mine and I quickly look away as we continue to cut through the dance floor. Gaining ever-growing attention.

The silence between us is too much, and I bravely gaze up at him again.

“I may not have been around, but I know we’ve tried to put a peace treaty forward between our pack and yours.” We are currently neutral, which is something that always worries Logan.

“I’ve never really been interested in your fiancé’s proposal, but if the true leader suggests something I can’t refuse, then perhaps I might agree to an alliance between the Jade Pack and Obsidian Pack.”

“I don’t have much to offer, but once I manage to fix my affairs, it would be profitable for you, too. I would be willing to give you anything you wish.” I try to reason as he spins me out.

“Anything?” he asks huskily as he spins me back into himself. My heart hammers as his arm wraps around my waist, his lips close to my ear. “Even yourself?”

I gasp, pulling away, only for him to pull me tightly into his arms once more, my chest crushed against him. His hold tightens. “Don’t move…” he murmurs the command.

“But I-”

“Trust me.”

I swallow hard, looking around as he reaches behind me, and that’s when I realise my zipper has come partially undone.

I stay there, unmoving, as he slowly slides the zipper up. I’m unable to look away, as if his hazel eyes have a hold on me…

Only when I hear a stifled giggle, do my eyes snap to Chloe and I realise she did this! When she stumbled, it was on purpose. She tried to humiliate me!

“Thank-”

“Layla! Do you really have no shame?”

I turn at the venomous tone pulling me away. Logan stands there looking absolutely enraged, but he is not brave or stupid enough to go up against the Lycan King.

“You misunderstand, Logan, my zi-”

“You should not embarrass your Alpha… Excuse us,” Logan seethes. Taking my arm he guides me off the dance floor, his nails digging into me.

“You’re hurting me,” I say quietly, trying to free myself, at the same time trying not to cause a scene.

He ignores me, yanking me into a side room. The moment we are inside, he pushes me roughly and I stumble over the hem of my dress.

“Logan!”

There’s a terrifying look in his eyes as he takes his jacket off, tossing it aside. He rolls his sleeves up as he advances on me.

“You have insulted me by dancing like a whore with another man.”

“Oh, insulting you? What about you having your hands all over Sadie?”

“So that’s what this is about. Were you trying to make me jealous?” he sneers. “I knew you were desperate, Layla; I just didn’t realise you would drop to such levels to win me back.”

“Win you back?” I scoff. “You aren’t even worthy of me. Why would I ever waste time trying to make you jealous?”

“Layla! You will show me respect!” Logan hisses, as he grabs me by the back of my hair, yanking my head backwards.

“You are even more pathetic than I thought,” I reply, my eyes blazing despite the pain in my head. I grab his hand that is knotted into my hair, digging my nails into his skin. “Let go of me,” I command venomously.

“Don’t make me hurt you,” he spits, getting up in my face.

I clench my teeth, refusing to give him even a tiny bit of acknowledgement that he’s hurting me.

“If you dare-”

“Layla!” he thunders, raising his hand to strike me and bringing it down with full force.

I flinch, waiting for the impact, but it never comes.

My eyes fly open to see the tattooed hand that has a grip on Logan’s forearm before he’s pushed away from me roughly.

Quade.

Logan staggers as he is forced to let go of me and I stumble, only for Quade to catch me.

His eyes are hard as he glares at Logan, power and rage exuding from him in waves.

“She said let go.”