~ LAYLA ~He doesn’t say a word as he takes the seat beside me and looks ahead.“You’re here.”“Obviously, I’m not like him.”I give him a sarcastic smile at his mockery of Quade whilst wondering how long he’s going to keep lying.You’re hurting me, Julian.He stretches his arm around the back of my seat just as he always did, but I’m unable to ignore the betrayal, refusing to relax in my seat.Ten minutes later the alleged crimes have been stated, and the proof that I had gathered is also presented before the audience and jury. It isn’t much considering Quade had given his verdict, but there were people who saw him with Sadie, the CCTV footage, also him drugging me at the restaurant amongst a few others. Together, they were enough for many to start murmuring in the courtroom.The council members look at me through shrewd eyes as each allegation is mentioned.Logan is in good condition; it seems Quade kept him in shape enough that he would not be able to delay the match because we all
~ LAYLA ~Logan is already here. He’s only in a pair of sweatpants, some sweatbands on his wrists, a band to keep his hair back and trainers.Christopher stands, and the crowd becomes silent as he begins speaking.I’m unable to focus looking at the smug expression on Logan’s face, is he up to something? Just then, Sadie hurries forward dressed in a skimpy dress and flings her arms around Logan’s neck and kisses him before she looks over at me, and casts me a dirty glare. I smirk coldly, if she thinks that would upset me, she’s sorely mistaken.“He might try something… so stay alert. He’s got more strength, you got speed. Use it,” Julian says quietly.“I have strength too,” I answer as I step forward, and Julian pats my shoulder before he walks off to the bench, the closest spot anyone is allowed to be.All the lies… yet somehow, he seems to really care…Not now, Layla. You have to win this.Right.The signal to begin goes off and Logan is the first to run at me. I move out of his way a
~ LAYLA ~The sound of my heels resonates in my ears as I approach the entrance to the grand Pack Hall. I cast a fleeting glance around the large marble hall that glitters with crystal chandeliers and ornate gold frames. The sound of music escapes the banquet hall.I am dressed to fit in – or perhaps stand out in a strapless satin red ballgown. One that is perfect for the evening but also exceeds all those around me. With every step I take, I steal attention, earning whispered compliments that flutter past me like a pleasant song.With my chin up, I keep my gaze ahead, masking the storm that rages within me.Reaching the doors, the man guarding the entrance blocks my way.“Luna, we-we didn’t know you would come,” Bryan, my fiancé’s loyal assistant, says; a flash of panic in his eyes.“I don’t need to inform you of my coming, now do I, Bryan? Where is your Alpha?”He swallows hard as he bows his head. “He is inside, Luna. Would you like me to notify him of your arrival?”“No need.” Smi
~ LAYLA ~“Luna, we-we didn’t know you would come,” Bryan says.“I don’t need to inform you of my coming, now do I, Bryan? Where is your Alpha?”“He is inside, Luna. Would you like me to notify him of your arrival?”“No need. He won’t like this surprise anyway.”Brushing past him, I enter, and it doesn’t take me long to spot Logan. He doesn’t notice me. His back is towards me, his hand resting precariously low on the bare back of a woman in a blue dress. Something tightens in my chest, and the burning fire of rage ignites within me as I watch his fingers play with the fabric of her dress.“Logan,” I say as I approach them, and as predicted, he removes his hand extremely quickly as he turns around, along with the woman. I instantly recognise her. His secretary and my ex-best friend, Sadie. They frantically put distance between one another, making me feel worse.“Layla, why are you here?” Logan asks, now taking my arm and tugging me to the side as if not wanting people to realise who I
~ LAYLA ~“Yes! You can’t do that!” Chloe exclaims as she stumbles and knocks into my back. She grabs hold of my hair as she tries to keep her balance. Pain rips through my head, but I simply place my hand at the back of my head, not reacting until she regains her balance. “Sorry!”I spin the bar stool slowly, turning to face the three women, unphased. I rest my elbow on my thigh and place my knuckles under my chin.“Then I’d beware if I were you… The Jade Pack is far stronger than all three of yours combined. You do not want to insult the Luna of it, because in case any of you have forgotten, I am the one who has alpha blood running through my veins.”My eyes glimmer, and I exude a little of the power that I hold, making all three step back before they turn and hurry off. I raise an eyebrow at the few people who had witnessed the exchange before I swivel my stool back towards the bar and wave my hand.“Get me some vodka,” I say to the bartender, who nods quickly, hastening to obey. “M
~ 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
~ LAYLA ~I exhale slowly. Logan has never raised his hand at me before, but to know he’s capable of it disgusts me further.“You should not interfere in our matters,” Logan says, his eyes flashing as he runs his hand through his hair.“And you should not treat your woman like this,” Quade counters quietly.“What happens between us is none of your business. She disrespected me - her alpha. It is up to me how I punish her.”My brows furrow as I look at him. I made him an alpha.“So, you’re going to challenge me now?” Quade’s voice becomes deadlier as he advances on Logan, who steps back, his face paling. “Your fucking king?”“No, I… you don’t know her. She isn’t the type of woman you would want to be tangled with. She only danced with you to try to make me jealous.”“That’s a lie!” I snarl.“You admitted it, Layla! You said if it’s ok with me to dance with someone else then so can you!” He looks at Quade, whose cold eyes remain fixed on Logan.“Apologise and get out of my sight,” he sa
~ LAYLA ~“Just have the locks changed please,” I say to Julian. It’s the following day, and I have moved back into my parents’ old home.“Understood.” He lowers his head before he leaves, and I sigh heavily as I look at the boxes that are piled to the side. I really had persuaded myself to accept Logan as my alpha and husband, but after this no way.I had packed everything and taken it into what I thought was our home, only for everything to go down the drain.“Here, dear.” Nadia hands me a mug of green tea and I accept it, thanking her. I take a sip just as the doorbell rings.“It’s your uncle,” Julian says from the hallway.I nod, placing my mug down, “Let him in.” It’s time I asked Uncle Drew exactly why he pushed for me to make Logan my mate and why Dad thought it was the perfect decision. Did neither of them see that he wasn’t worth it?“Layla!” Uncle’s voice is as jovial as ever as he hurries into the room, worry etched on his face. “Goddess, I was so scared! What is all this?”
~ LAYLA ~Logan is already here. He’s only in a pair of sweatpants, some sweatbands on his wrists, a band to keep his hair back and trainers.Christopher stands, and the crowd becomes silent as he begins speaking.I’m unable to focus looking at the smug expression on Logan’s face, is he up to something? Just then, Sadie hurries forward dressed in a skimpy dress and flings her arms around Logan’s neck and kisses him before she looks over at me, and casts me a dirty glare. I smirk coldly, if she thinks that would upset me, she’s sorely mistaken.“He might try something… so stay alert. He’s got more strength, you got speed. Use it,” Julian says quietly.“I have strength too,” I answer as I step forward, and Julian pats my shoulder before he walks off to the bench, the closest spot anyone is allowed to be.All the lies… yet somehow, he seems to really care…Not now, Layla. You have to win this.Right.The signal to begin goes off and Logan is the first to run at me. I move out of his way a
~ LAYLA ~He doesn’t say a word as he takes the seat beside me and looks ahead.“You’re here.”“Obviously, I’m not like him.”I give him a sarcastic smile at his mockery of Quade whilst wondering how long he’s going to keep lying.You’re hurting me, Julian.He stretches his arm around the back of my seat just as he always did, but I’m unable to ignore the betrayal, refusing to relax in my seat.Ten minutes later the alleged crimes have been stated, and the proof that I had gathered is also presented before the audience and jury. It isn’t much considering Quade had given his verdict, but there were people who saw him with Sadie, the CCTV footage, also him drugging me at the restaurant amongst a few others. Together, they were enough for many to start murmuring in the courtroom.The council members look at me through shrewd eyes as each allegation is mentioned.Logan is in good condition; it seems Quade kept him in shape enough that he would not be able to delay the match because we all
~ LAYLA ~The day of Logan’s trial couldn’t have come sooner. The last two days have felt ominous, and it was like I was moving through a dream – drugged. Everything that I saw as reality was a fabricated lie. Everyone around me who pretended to care were lying. Playing me for a fool.It hurt and stung painfully. Julian, Nadia, Quade… everyone around me are liars.I’ve barely seen Quade since that night. In ways it’s good. It’s suffocating to be around him without wanting to ask why. I wonder if he knows. The way he observed me, the way he was watching me when they entered that night, as if trying to deduce if anyone had told me anything.I lied. Even when Julian came the following day, I acted pretty normal. He’s worried as well, and just like Quade, he was trying to figure out if I knew anything.The fact that they both knew one another and didn’t bother to tell me stings. They didn’t even need to tell me the truth, just a simple ‘Yeah we’ve run into one another in the past.’ Some s
~ QUADE ~I push open the doors to my home and step inside, leading the way to the lounge. My men swarm around me, but I’m not interested.I need to see her. I slow down when I spot Layla sitting on the sofa, a blanket around her shoulders as she clutches a mug of coffee in her hands. The smell of the coffee beans is strong in the room, a sign she’s been holding it for a while. Even now, she looks as stunning and gorgeous as I remember her.The reminder of her naked body beneath me returns, and I look away.“Layla.”I am by her side in seconds as I go down on one knee, taking the heel of her foot and look at her bandaged ankle. Anger flares through me.He hurt her.“How did you get hurt?”“I’m fine,” she answers, smiling gracefully. But even as she says that she still looks distraught.Julian walks over to us, placing a hand on Layla’s shoulder. She gives him a small smile before looking at the hearth.“How did you get injured?” I repeat, trying to calm the bubbling rage within me.“I
~ QUADE ~Tyres screech, headlights blare and the sound of a horn screaming in warning fills the car as I am thrown into my window.I knew it all along, knew that he died saving Layla, but that was a secret I took with me, knowing I couldn’t tell anyone. He asked me to take care of her, and although I went in to get him; it was too late, and he was gone. Leaving behind the woman fated to be his.I grab the steering wheel, swerving to the right as we narrowly miss the oncoming lorry.“Get a fucking control of yourself!” I snarl as he blinks, his heart thundering and his face the colour of ash.“That’s not possible. Layla wasn’t there…”“I got her away from there,” I spit, not wanting to continue this conversation.“You lied.” There’s anger in his voice.“Don’t we all?”“WE had a right to know – wait, did Reagon know?”“No, he fucking didn’t. But it doesn’t matter. You three were so fucking devastated when he died, I didn’t want Layla to become the target of that hate,” I spit. “He would
~ JULIAN ~“Layla’s been kidnapped.”Those were the words Quade spoke on the phone as I lost my shit. How? How the fuck could he let this happen to her!? I had left instantly, only taking a little time to grab some weapons.This was my worst fucking nightmare.Every word that leaves Quade’s mouth isn’t only making me fucking insane with worry, but it’s also making my gut twist with dread.And the final nail in the coffin is when he says the name of the man who has taken her. A name that makes panic settle into the pit of my stomach, mixed with shock and worry.Reagon.He should be dead.He was dead.How is he here?“You fucked up by taking her somewhere you had shit security-” I snarl, watching the speed hit max on the car as I zoom through the highway.“I had fifteen men posted!” he cuts in. “I wasn’t predicting anyone but Logan or Drew to do something! My men are fucking dead!”“Who Reagon fucking killed! Shows what we’re fucking dealing with!”“Yeah, but he wasn’t working alone. I k
~ LAYLA ~“Ah, you’re awake.”My heart races as I look up, realising that I’m tied to a chair in a room that is lit with a sickly red light. One that is only making my already aching head spin. I don’t have my glasses either, which doesn’t help.“Who are you, and what do you want with me?” I ask. My throat feels rough.“What do I want? Relax. Be grateful you're alive,” comes the voice. It’s the man from the garden, the one I got into a scuffle with.My eyes flash, but although he’s not wearing his mask, with the dim red lighting casting shadows on his face and the fact I can’t see properly, I’m unable to make out his features from where he sits. But what I do know is he is watching me.“Who sent you? My uncle? The Dartmouths?”“The who? Your uncle? I never knew you had an uncle.” He chuckles grimly.“Logan then?”“You really are becoming more and more disappointing by the second.” He stands up and leaves the room.I take a deep breath, trying to focus on my surroundings. Where am I and
~ QUADE ~“There’s no sign of her, Alpha. She may have left town,” Eddie says, massaging his temples. “What was with that website?”“That’s none of your concern. Focus on Nikita. We’re talking about a psychotic maniac. She doesn’t just show her face for no obvious reason. There’s a reason she came back.”“Well, you did say she took something of yours. Maybe that’s what she wanted? And since she got it, she’s bailed.”I shake my head. “No. She could have done that without me noticing if she really wanted to. She made herself known for a reason. I just don’t know why. Keep searching for her. I find it hard to believe that she’s actually gone.”He nods and I frown. After enjoying Layla earlier, I want nothing to ruin my mood tonight.“Well, we won’t stop looking.”Maybe I could ask Julian… I don’t know… “Alright, just stay on alert, I’m going-”I pull out my earpiece. I’m sure I heard something. I pause for a second, listening carefully, a frown creasing my brow.“All ok, Alpha?” Eddie as
~ LAYLA ~I scan the trees and bushes that line the tall brick wall that lines the bottom of the garden, feeling certain I saw movement in the far corner. But when I squint, wishing I was wearing my glasses, I don’t see anything. I walk backwards to the bedside table and grab my glasses. The feeling of being watched only intensifies.Frowning, I move to the glass door that is on the other side of the window, my eyes stuck outside. I hesitate before I unlock it and step outside.“Who’s there?” I call, a small frown on my face as I scan the garden again. I look around when I catch something moving from the corner of my eye. I turn sharply, certain something moved behind the trees.I see the shadowed outline of a person.There!“Hey!” I call as I break into a run. The person moves fast, as if not wanting to be caught. My eyes blaze as I speed up, my bare feet silent on the stone paths. I jump over the low wall and look around.Where have they gone? Fuck!I should call Quade.I turn, ready