Big update today hehe
~ JULIAN ~Layla gasps as I turn sharply.“There won’t be anything in there if he’s alive,” I say.“Dead or alive, I’ll find out. There will be bones, and if I do find bones, I’ll have his DNA checked.”“You are… twisted,” I remark.“I prefer to think of it as efficient. I’ll get us the answer, whatever the method.”“Well, how long will you be gone?” Layla asks.“It’s several hours away. I’ll keep in touch. It’s late already. Get some rest,” he says, combing his fingers through Layla’s hair. She nods slowly before she tiptoes and kisses his cheek.“Take care of yourself.”He nods before he casts me a final look. “Keep her safe.”“Obviously, I have for years,” I reply.He simply nods and leaves, shutting the door behind him.Layla sighs, dropping onto the small sofa again and removes her glasses, running her hands over her face as she groans. “Goddess, this is disturbing.”“No kidding,” I reply as I massage my jaw.“I wish I remembered more.”I glance at her and cock a brow. “Your memor
~ LAYLA ~My heart hammers and I’m not even sure why. Is it because I shouldn’t be doing this? Is it because I feel guilty? Is it because years ago I imagined this? I’m not sure. He’s a good kisser, his lips rough, yet somehow slow and dominating against mine.Look beyond my feelings…I slowly kiss him back, feeling the tingle course through me, the way my body reacts, the way my mind reacts to the sensation of it.He tastes of chocolate and something else, it’s appealing. There’s always been something between us, and I realise now is my chance to put it to rest. Is Quade my choice, or is there something more with Julian?Safety and comfort, or temptation and risk?I slowly fist his shirt in my hand and he wraps his arms around me, the sliver of guilt lingering in my mind even as I try to force it from my system as we kiss one another.A moment or two, that’s all it lasts before I slowly pull away, my heart pounding, and the nerves of what I just did consume me.I look into his green e
~ QUADE ~Leaving Layla with Julian somehow made me uneasy. The gnawing feeling in my stomach kept growing, and although I told myself it's because of what I’m about to do, I couldn’t shake it off.I ended up parking halfway there and travelled the rest of the way in my lycan form. Keeping to the shadows of the night.The grave wasn’t hard to find, even if I haven’t visited it in ages, the memory of it isn’t one that will ever fade. Entering these forgotten lands where the Sapphire Pack once stood is harder than I thought it would be.I remain in lycan form, holding my bag in my hand as I pay attention to every sound around me.This was once a place I loved to spend my summers.If he’s alive and this is all his game, then those memories were all a lie, and proof that trust is usually misplaced.I look around the fields, it’s overgrown, covered in grass and brambles. No one visited, and neither did I. After the massacre, this was a place I didn’t want to come to, remembering the death o
~ LAYLA ~“All, ok?” Julian asks as I step out of the bedroom feeling horrible.“Yes,” I say with a small smile, before heading to the kitchen area to start cleaning up.“Lay?”I turn and give him a small smile. “What is it?”“Don’t do that. What happened?”“Nothing. Now please let’s drop it,” I say, sighing softly.He glances at the door, then at me. “You told him that quickly?” he asks quietly, now coming over as he tosses the rubbish into the bin.“No, he knew.”“Because you’re not a good liar.”I sigh and look up at him. “It wasn’t because of you. I did something because I wanted to, because I realised something last night,” I whisper.His green eyes soften. There’s something there, a longing mixed with acceptance. “That you love him.” It’s a statement.I nod. “Yeah, exactly that. And I have no idea how to process that. I don’t even know when my feelings became more.”“Then when he’s cooled down, you should tell him.”I look up at him and nod slowly, when I have the courage becaus
~ 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 ~“All, ok?” Julian asks as I step out of the bedroom feeling horrible.“Yes,” I say with a small smile, before heading to the kitchen area to start cleaning up.“Lay?”I turn and give him a small smile. “What is it?”“Don’t do that. What happened?”“Nothing. Now please let’s drop it,” I say, sighing softly.He glances at the door, then at me. “You told him that quickly?” he asks quietly, now coming over as he tosses the rubbish into the bin.“No, he knew.”“Because you’re not a good liar.”I sigh and look up at him. “It wasn’t because of you. I did something because I wanted to, because I realised something last night,” I whisper.His green eyes soften. There’s something there, a longing mixed with acceptance. “That you love him.” It’s a statement.I nod. “Yeah, exactly that. And I have no idea how to process that. I don’t even know when my feelings became more.”“Then when he’s cooled down, you should tell him.”I look up at him and nod slowly, when I have the courage becaus
~ QUADE ~Leaving Layla with Julian somehow made me uneasy. The gnawing feeling in my stomach kept growing, and although I told myself it's because of what I’m about to do, I couldn’t shake it off.I ended up parking halfway there and travelled the rest of the way in my lycan form. Keeping to the shadows of the night.The grave wasn’t hard to find, even if I haven’t visited it in ages, the memory of it isn’t one that will ever fade. Entering these forgotten lands where the Sapphire Pack once stood is harder than I thought it would be.I remain in lycan form, holding my bag in my hand as I pay attention to every sound around me.This was once a place I loved to spend my summers.If he’s alive and this is all his game, then those memories were all a lie, and proof that trust is usually misplaced.I look around the fields, it’s overgrown, covered in grass and brambles. No one visited, and neither did I. After the massacre, this was a place I didn’t want to come to, remembering the death o
~ LAYLA ~My heart hammers and I’m not even sure why. Is it because I shouldn’t be doing this? Is it because I feel guilty? Is it because years ago I imagined this? I’m not sure. He’s a good kisser, his lips rough, yet somehow slow and dominating against mine.Look beyond my feelings…I slowly kiss him back, feeling the tingle course through me, the way my body reacts, the way my mind reacts to the sensation of it.He tastes of chocolate and something else, it’s appealing. There’s always been something between us, and I realise now is my chance to put it to rest. Is Quade my choice, or is there something more with Julian?Safety and comfort, or temptation and risk?I slowly fist his shirt in my hand and he wraps his arms around me, the sliver of guilt lingering in my mind even as I try to force it from my system as we kiss one another.A moment or two, that’s all it lasts before I slowly pull away, my heart pounding, and the nerves of what I just did consume me.I look into his green e
~ JULIAN ~Layla gasps as I turn sharply.“There won’t be anything in there if he’s alive,” I say.“Dead or alive, I’ll find out. There will be bones, and if I do find bones, I’ll have his DNA checked.”“You are… twisted,” I remark.“I prefer to think of it as efficient. I’ll get us the answer, whatever the method.”“Well, how long will you be gone?” Layla asks.“It’s several hours away. I’ll keep in touch. It’s late already. Get some rest,” he says, combing his fingers through Layla’s hair. She nods slowly before she tiptoes and kisses his cheek.“Take care of yourself.”He nods before he casts me a final look. “Keep her safe.”“Obviously, I have for years,” I reply.He simply nods and leaves, shutting the door behind him.Layla sighs, dropping onto the small sofa again and removes her glasses, running her hands over her face as she groans. “Goddess, this is disturbing.”“No kidding,” I reply as I massage my jaw.“I wish I remembered more.”I glance at her and cock a brow. “Your memor
~ JULIAN ~We’re all in the small lounge of the cabin where we are waiting at for Axel to do as Quade hopes. Layla and Quade have just filled me in on everything.“I don’t think Reagon is the mastermind.”I cock an eyebrow at Quade’s assumption. “Who else can it be? He has Axel on his side. That’s proof enough they’re working together.”He shakes his head. “There’s been moments that felt…” He runs his fingers through his hair, “Just hear me out.”He has always been smart, so I decide to humour him and hear his assumption out.I’m sitting on the loveseat, the only sofa in this tiny place, my arm spread across the backrest and Layla is next to me, her legs tucked up as she sips her coffee, watching Quade pace back and forth.I glance between the both of them.Are they really meant to be? Why him?“Are you listening?” Quade’s cutting tone drags me from my thoughts and I cock a brow.“Always,” I reply, bored, as I smirk and place my arm around Layla’s shoulder. She smiles at me and leans i
~ QUADE ~Fifteen minutes later, he refuses to speak still, simply continuing to laugh between grunts of pain.“Get angry. Show me that face when you killed Tray!” he sneers.“What happened with Tray isn’t what you think! What do you and Reagon expect to achieve out of all of this?” I snarl.He simply spits out some blood and I grab his jaw, squeezing painfully as I slam his head back. Something snaps and although no sound escapes him, his face contorts with pain.I take out my small pocket knife and flip it open.“Layla, go to the bathroom,” I command.“Quade, we-”“Now.” I look towards her, “Please.”She hesitates before she turns and hurries to the bathroom. The moment the door shuts, I clamp my hand over Axel’s mouth and drive the knife into the tendons of his shoulder. His entire body tenses as I muffle his agony, his eyes are full of rage as he looks at me.I move back after a moment, yanking the knife out. “If you aren’t going to talk, I have no use for you. So, start talking. W
~ QUADE ~I pace the room as Axel sits unconscious in the chair I’ve bound him to. He’s tied up with his legs bound to the chair legs, and his hands bound by silver chains. We’re in the hotel room we’re staying in. Layla is sitting on the bed, staring at him.“So, you had no idea where he was all these years?”“No, I didn’t even know if he was even alive. I thought the only surviving member of the pack after the massacre was you. Reagon and Axel were a part of that pack, unlike Julian or I. But how did they survive?” I reply, running my hand through my hair.I don’t know what to think. How is Axel part of the Or’ethian? How does he even manifest his Sapphire’s abilities into magic in a mere few years rather than two decades, which is the standard? Were they not around when the massacre took place? Or worse, behind it?I don’t even want to think that, they were just kids back then.“You weren’t expecting this,” Layla states the obvious.“No, I wasn’t.”“The Or’ethian were a part of the
~ QUADE ~She laughs breathlessly, turning her face away at the last moment. “You’re good.” She smiles slightly before pulling free. “We have a long day in front of us tomorrow. Weren’t you undressing to shower?”“Clearly not good enough,” I reply mockingly, but I don’t push it. She simply smiles slightly, and I head to the bathroom. My smirk fading, Reagon asked her to kill me. I may feel a pull towards her, but it’s a reminder that no one can be truly trusted.I know that, yet I still want her in my life. At this rate, she’ll be my ruin, but I’m not about to admit that. I step under the running water, replaying the plan we’ve got in place. It’s not exactly what I would do, with more risks of it failing than I would usually agree to, but maybe that’s what we need. A plan with all of us giving our input, to step out of the way we usually would think so even Reagon can’t figure out what’s coming. I hope it works.When I return to the bedroom, she’s already finished packing and is standi
~ LAYLA ~Shock is the first reaction from both of them. Quade’s aura seems to change, his eyes darkening and I can see the anger flash in his eyes as he clenches his fists.Shit.Julian isn’t much different; his jaw clenched as rage ripples in his glimmering eyes.“He was here and you didn’t think to tell us?” Julian is the first to speak.“Because you told me everything?” I counter defensively.“Layla, that’s not the same!” Julian growls.“I couldn’t trust you! When I knew just how many lies you were feeding me! You should be happy I am telling you now,” I snarl, the anger that seemed to be festering inside me only rising.“What did he want?” Quade asks. His voice is deeper and rougher, almost animalistic, but at least he isn’t telling me off.“He said…” This could go very wrong. “I owed him a favour for letting me go back then, and because he told me parts of my past. He came to tell me what he wanted from me in return for that.”Quade scoffs as Julian almost throws the pizza boxes