Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
“No, not anymore. I used to, but … I just can’t do it. It’s far too dangerous now.”
“Is this because of the Disaster of the Otherworld?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you,” she said, after a few seconds’ pause.
“Why are you thanking me?”
“You don’t lie to me, or hold back. It’s refreshing.” She turned on her side to look at him. She hated that she was starting to feel tired.
“Do you think they’re going to come here?” she asked.
Alexander didn’t say a word at first. She watched him, waiting. His gaze so focused on her.
“Yes, I do.”
“Are you afraid?”
“No.” This time, he didn’t hesitate.
“Not even a little bit?”
“I have nothing to be afraid of. When they come, I’ll deal with it.”
She glanced down toward his chest. “What about Brandon?”
“He will handle it. He’s a strong wolf. A good Alpha.”
This made her smile. “Did you struggle to say that?”
“No. He is a wolf, but it doesn’t hurt me to admit to strength that’s already there.”
“You’re a good man, Alexander.”
“Many don’t see me as a man.”
She shrugged. “I don’t care what other people think.”
Silence fell between them. Layla felt sleepy, but she didn’t want to close her eyes. Even as she blinked, she felt them getting heavier.
“You shouldn’t care what anyone thinks of you.” He reached out and stroked her cheek. “What you do have to do is sleep.”
“Is that an order?”
“More like a polite request.”
“Well, seeing as you asked nicely…” She snuggled in close. This felt like the most natural thing in the world to her.
She breathed him in and then, slowly, she closed her eyes, hoping she didn’t fall asleep, but knowing in her heart she was going to.
****
“So, all the families are accounted for?” Brandon asked.
Darcy nibbled his lip. Elle placed a hand within his, and he instinctively brought her wrist up to his nostrils and inhaled. He always found his scent surrounding hers a turn-on. Nights like tonight, with the full moon ebbing away, he found comfort in her. His mate. His love.
“What is it?” Brandon asked, knowing Darcy wasn’t saying something as his gaze kept going to Elle. “Whatever you have to say, you can say it in front of my mate. We don’t have any secrets.”
“I can’t find any information about Layla and her family. There’s nothing in the records. No petition. No nothing. It’s like one day they just showed up.”
Brandon frowned.
“Layla was here before me. She was pretty much raised here. Did you guys have a fire or something? Maybe you lost that kind of information. It happens all the time,” Elle said.
There had never been any kind of fire. Brandon ran a hand down his face as something gnawed at the edge of his mind. Something important.
“Your dad, he knew them. I remember Layla being here.”
Brandon ran a hand down his face. “We’ve got to go and talk to Layla’s parents.”
“Why?” Elle asked. “You can’t think that they’re any threat at all.”
He sensed his mate’s distress.
Getting to his feet, he pulled her into his arms. “You have nothing to worry about. I’ll take care of her. I promise.”
****
Alexander heard the doorbell ring and he frowned. It was late. Way too late for a visit.
Layla had fallen asleep and he stared into her face, not wanting to leave her. Staying quiet, he heard the door open, and the greetings. It was Brandon, along with Darcy. He didn’t hear Elle. Climbing off the bed, he made his way toward the door, and listened.
“I’m sorry for coming this late,” Brandon said.
“It is fine, Alpha. You are welcome to come into our home,” a woman said.
“What brings the Alpha here?”
Alexander wanted to know what brought Brandon here as well.
“It’s with regard to your … petition. I know your father dealt with…”
He frowned as Brandon’s voice suddenly faded away. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, and he wasn’t a fool. Magic was happening right now. Opening the door, he did so carefully so as not to alert anyone.
When he got to the stairs, he froze again as Brandon’s voice came close to him.
“You’re so right. I apologize for the intrusion.”
Alexander had no choice but to escape back to Layla’s room, before he was seen. He listened as Brandon left, along with Darcy. Standing in Layla’s room, he heard the door close.
“We have to take Layla away. They’re getting closer. We don’t know who we can trust,” this came from the female.
“If we leave, we open ourselves up to her being tracked. We can’t risk it. The threat grows closer every day.”
“We have to warn Layla what is coming.”
“She is not ready for this. We know she’s not ready for this.”
“We have to awaken her.”
“Not until it’s the right time. We were told all we must do is guide. When the time is ready, she will know what to do.”