5. Accusations

~ 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 says coldly.

Logan’s gaze snaps to mine, and I know he’s silently promising me that there will be repercussions.

“I am sorry, Alpha Quade.” Logan lowers his head before he grabs his jacket and turns away.

The door closes, leaving only me and Quade here.

“Thank you, Alpha Quade,” I say, meeting his cold gaze.

“If you only accepted my offer to dance to make your fiancé jealous, then you should have picked someone else. I don’t have time to entertain such rubbish,” Quade says icily. He turns, about to leave, and I don’t know why, but I stop him.

“Wait!” I feel humiliated by what Logan did. I can’t let Quade misunderstand. I need his support if I want to get my pack back.

I place my hand on his forearm, quickly removing it when he looks down at it.

“I wasn’t using you like Logan said. Look. I would like for our packs to be allies. I plan to take back my pack… would you be interested in an alliance if I proved to you it’s worth your while? I mean no disrespect when I say that although you are king, your allies are few. With a pack as big as mine behind you, it will only strengthen your power, too.”

He looks at me quietly for a while, as if trying to determine the truth of my words.

“For the sake of your father, I will give you a chance to prove yourself.”

“I will show you I’m a good ally.” 

Taking note of my bruised arm, where the bruise is darkening already, Quade takes the jacket from him and places it around my shoulders. His scent engulfs me.

There’s a knock on the open door and a man enters.

“Alpha, you called me?”

“Eddie, this is Layla Blackwell, daughter of Drakon Blackwell. I need you to drop her off tonight.”

“Luna Layla. Come along.” Eddie bows his head to me respectfully.

“You won’t be coming?” I ask, and Quade smirks.

“Trust me, there’s nothing more dangerous than riding in the same car as me.”

~

After I got in the car driven by Beta Eddie and left the venue, I decided not to go back to my own home, knowing that Julian would be angry if he realised what had happened. But right now Logan is the alpha he is pledged to, so instead I spend that night at a hotel.

Early in the morning, I ask Nadia to send some clothes with Julian. Changing, I return home with him.

“I need help with getting all my belongings removed from here. I plan to return to my parent’s home as soon as possible.” I inform him, skimming through my work emails.

“Understood, but what happened, Ma’am? If you don’t mind me asking.” he asks.

“I can’t say. Just support me silently,” I murmur.

“Yes, Ma’am.”

I best get Nadia to help me too, so I can get out of here swiftly. Entering the house, I place my bag down when Logan steps out of the lounge.

To my surprise, he’s still in the clothes he was wearing last night, and he reeks of alcohol.

“Where were you all night?” he asks, approaching me.

I cock a brow, brushing past him. “That’s none of your business,” I retort as I take the stairs.

“I am your fiancé and alpha! What is wrong with you, Layla? You’re my luna, yet you were out all night with that bastard Lycan! Tell me, did you have fun being a pathetic whore?!” he growls. I step back, pulling free from his attempt to grab me by the elbow.

“I am not like you, Logan! I am not a cheat, but I also will not stay with one. Let alone a man who was about to hit me!’’ I snarl as I take down two large suitcases from on top of the wardrobe.

“What are you doing?” he asks venomously.

“Leaving you.” I declare the obvious. 

“You can never leave me!” he shouts, pushing one of the suitcases onto the floor.

He’s about to go for the second suitcase but I push him away.

“Watch me!” I retort defiantly. He grabs hold of my chin.

“I won’t let you, Layla.”

“There is nothing you can do to stop me. I’m leaving and I will take everything that is mine back! This entire union was a mistake,” I say coldly.

“Listen to me, Layla, you’re overreacting. Do you think the elders and your uncle will accept this? This pack just got a proper leader. Do you really think that you are capable of running this pack? Do you think you can do what I do?”

I pause, my heart thumping. I may not know everything, but I will learn. I’m not useless!

“Layla! Look at me.” Logan grabs hold of my arms as he pulls me close, but I feel nothing but coldness wash over me. “Layla?”

I don’t respond as I try to pull free when he shakes me. “Stop acting like this, Layla, you’re scaring me, babe. You love me, I know you do. You’re the luna, my luna, don’t let yourself get carried away over Sadie, she means nothing. You don’t need to be jealous, at the end of the day I am tied to you and soon we’ll be married-”

“We will never be married! Let go of me!” I snarl, feeling repulsed. “I am not Sadie, who is ready to be your cheap whore!”

“You were the one who captured everyone’s attention! You looked incredible last night, and that dress you were wearing…” his hand runs down my back and my blood boils, my heart pounding.

How dare he!

“Let’s make up, babe. After all, there’s nothing that a morning romp won’t smooth out!” He grunts as he pushes me onto the bed.

“I said no!”

He ignores me as he climbs on top of me, and in that moment I feel sick with the realisation that someone you might have been ok to bed, could overnight become someone you want a hundred miles away.

He grabs my top, ripping into it.

“Logan, get off!”

He raises his hand, slapping me across the face, making my body go numb for a second as the pain jars through me.

He… hit me….

I’m brought back to reality the moment he reaches for my bra.

“I. Said. STOP!” I scream as I use my full force to try to throw him off me, my eyes burning with rage and something that feels close to fear, when the door is thrown open and he is ripped off me and thrown into the far wall.

Julian!

He stands there towering over Logan, his hands balled into fists.

“Julian!” I whisper as I get to my feet, only to stumble, Julian turns and I fall straight into his arms. His familiar warmth and scent makes me feel safe.

“Nadia, take her.” he orders, his voice low and menacing. 

Nadia pulls me into her arms as Julian steps inside the room, shoving Logan, who is trying to come after me.

“How dare you- I am your alpha!” Logan thunders, staggering to his feet.

“Not mine. Touch her again and I won't hold back.”

My heart races as I stare at his back, how is he defying him? Even Logan looks stunned

“Come let's go, it’s going to be alright,” Nadia whispers fearfully to me.

She rubs my back, soothing me, and in that moment I realise I need to get out of here as fast as possible, before it’s too late.

“Nadia, pack my things. We are leaving today.”