All Chapters of My Ex's Uncle Claims Me as His Luna: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

(Layla)I spun around at the sharp impact on my back, my heart leaping into my throat. Annie sat in her wheelchair wearing the most horrifying rubber mask I’d ever seen.Bulbous red eyes bulged from sickly green skin while jagged yellow teeth protruded at twisted angles. Ridged black horns curved up from its grotesque forehead, making her look like a demon spawned from the darkest corners of hell.“Gotcha!” Annie yanked off the mask, doubling over in her wheelchair. Her laughter peeled through the room. “Your face! Oh my god, your face when you turned around!”I pressed my hand against the wall, willing my racing pulse to slow down. The polished wood felt cool under my palm, grounding me as I fought to regain my composure. Sweat beaded at my temples from the sudden spike of adrenaline.“That wasn’t funny, Annie,” I said, keeping my voice neutral despite the way my hands still shook.“Yes it was!” Annie clutched her sides, tears streaming down her cheeks as she howled with laughter. “Yo

(Layla)I spun around violently at the sudden embrace, my heart beating dangerously fast. Mason’s arms locked around me like iron bands, crushing me against his chest so hard I could barely breathe.His scent—pine needles and damp air—filled my nose, making my stomach turn.“Let go of me!” I thrashed against his grip, pushing at his chest hard enough to bruise my palms. My feet scrabbled for purchase on the gravel driveway. “Mason, I swear to the goddess—”My struggles only made him squeeze tighter, one arm banding around my waist while the other pressed between my shoulder blades.Mason buried his face in the side of my neck, inhaling deeply. His nose skimmed along my skin where Samuel’s mark had been that night at the bar. His breath came hot and fast against my throat.“Samuel drove you back again? How much did he pay you for one night, huh? Tell me—I’ll double it! Triple it!”Mason’s grip was unrelenting, his arms trapping me against him. My pulse throbbed wildly, not just from fe

(Layla)After arguing with the guard for twenty minutes, I finally reclaimed my phone from his reluctant grip. The screen lit up immediately—twenty-seven missed calls and fifteen messages from Samuel.My heart sank as I trudged toward the territory boundary, taking one dreadful step after another.Samuel’s sleek black car idled just beyond the line. I slid into the passenger seat, the coolness of the leather making me shiver.“What took you so long?” Samuel asked lowly, his eyes fixed on his phone screen.His fingers moved rapidly across the surface, typing what looked like important business messages.“Something came up,” I muttered, reaching for the seatbelt. The metal clasp felt ice-cold. “Pack business. Couldn’t be helped.”Samuel’s head snapped up suddenly, his golden eyes zeroing in on my neck. His expression hardened instantly, jaw clenching tight enough to crack stone.Confused by his reaction, I glanced in the rearview mirror. My stomach plummeted.An angry red mark marred my

(Layla)Samuel’s sharp nod directed me toward Annie’s bed. The pink comforter bunched around her small form as she sobbed into her pillow. I could see the pool of tears on her pillow.“What’s wrong?” I perched carefully on the edge of her mattress, keeping my distance.Annie’s crying intensified, her shoulders shaking harder under the blankets. The sound pierced through me despite all her manipulations. Even demon children could hurt, I supposed.I glanced at Samuel, who lounged on the plush armchair by the window. His mindlink hit me suddenly:“Why are you looking at me? I’m paying you to handle this, don’t expect me to.”Right. This was my job now. I shifted closer to Annie, reaching out to pat her back through the layers of blankets.“It’s okay if you don’t want to talk right now,” I said softly. “But when you’re ready to share, I’ll listen.”The room fell silent except for Annie’s quieting sniffles. I leaned over her bundled form, using my sleeve to gently wipe the tears from her

(Layla)The next morning.Samuel’s car rolled to a stop outside the Alpha Council building. I opened its polished black door as I stepped out onto the sidewalk.My body still remembered the incident from last night—his hands on my waist, the heat of his breath before he’d stepped away.I shoved the memory down.Samuel was my employer. This was a job. That’s all it could ever be.“Morning, Layla!” Cora’s cheery voice called out as she approached, beaming at me like she had something to tell me.She was beside me in an instant, that sly grin widening across her face, not budging. She elbowed me playfully in the ribs.I sighed. “Why do I feel like you’re about to ask something I won’t want to answer?”“Because you know me too well!” She linked arms with me, lowering her voice. “So…you stayed at Samuel’s place last night?”I nearly choked. “How do you even know that?”“Please.” She flipped her hair. “Do you think the pack isn’t watching every move Alpha Samuel makes? Now, tell me—was it b