He moves like a panther. Targeted. Confident. Precise. His gaze never leaves mine. As he comes closer, the heady scent of wood, pine and earth, fills my nostrils. Intoxicating. I breathe him in greedily as I instinctively lean closer. Who the hell is this guy? Is there some sort of rogue model agency in the forest I'm unaware of? "You're a rogue?" When Layla becomes bound to Aurthor, the heir of Crystal blood pack, a ruthless and heartless man, she thinks her life is over. Little does she know her life will change the moment she gets lost in the woods. Faced with werwolf-rogues and on the verge of death, a series of events leads her to question if the myth she's heard all her life about them, is true. She's faced with a difficult decision to make. Will she claim Roman as her mate and damn the consequences that follow, or will she lead a life of horror?
The art of oral pleasure.
I stare dumbly at the words for almost ten seconds straight. May be more but I'm not counting. When I went in search of Alexander and found this book - face down - on his bed, I didn't think. I just grabbed it, desperate to entertain myself with something.
A grin breaks out on my face as I read the words once more. He's definitely not gonna live this down, that's for sure. I inhale smoke from the dying embers of the cigarette dangling from my mouth before tossing it away. It tumbles and disappears over the roof. As it does, all the emotions I've deliberately been keeping at bay, come flooding back.
Get ready for Arthur, Layla.
My right leg bounces sporadically. Soon, my left leg joins in, and they both make tap-tap noises, momentarily distracting me from the situation at hand. I grip my hair and pull, relishing the delicious pain which rips through my skull.
Whether you or anyone likes it or not, it's gonna happen.
I jump up, startling a bird which had been inching toward me. I watch as it takes flight, cawing away. "Sorry, buddy, but I'm not in the mood to make new friends."
I walk to the edge of the roof - as close as I can get without falling - and glance down. Twilight has just set in. A few guards walk around the premises. Soon, some of them will leave for their night patrol along the territory borders, including Father.
I can't wait.
I've made up my mind to sneak out to the woods and enjoy some alone time. I roll my eyes and let out a soft laugh. Sure, I'm alone right now but still surrounded by pack members dotted around the house. It's either Alexander, Father's beta, Father once again. People are always crowding around, taking orders from Father, or dishing out ideas on how to make the pack stronger.
I'm over it.
You can't get out of this one, Layla.
A tear slides down my cheek and I wipe it away forcefully. I won't do it. I won't please Father, the pack, or anyone else at that. I get to make my own decisions. A certain calm washes over me as I stare at the woods. Ominous as well as inviting. A juxtaposition of sorts. I've always had a love-hate relationship with the woods. Hate, because of all the stories I've heard about rogues who live deep inside it. I need an escape from my present predicament so right now, that hatred is leaning toward love.
I slide down the roof and slip, unnoticed, through my window and into my bedroom. The smell of food wafts into my nostrils the moment I step inside. A covered plate of food is on my bedside table. My stomach growls loudly, reminding me I haven't fed it since breakfast. What a shame all of it will got to waste because even if it smells heavenly, my appetite is doing a no-show.
A knock sounds off on the door, making me tense up. I know what's coming but I can't bring myself to answer. Another knock, this one more persistent, sees me releasing a sigh and walking forward to open it. I take in the person standing at the entrance. "Yes, Alvin." My tone is curt. Clipped.
He looks at me wide eyed. "Y. . your father requests your presence."
I nod and wait for him to leave but he just stares at me like I've grown a second head. "What?"
He shakes his head and his gaze falls to the ground. "I'll just go."
"Oh, you don't have to. Keep standing and staring." My words are coated with a false sweetness that has him staring at me with furrowed brows.
Without another word, he backs away and walks off. My eyes bounce around the room looking for a distraction. Knowing I can't put off the inevitable for long, I square my shoulders, paste a smirk on my face, and walk out of my room. Father is eating when I step into the dining room. From the set of his shoulders, I know whatever he has to tell me isn't going to be to my liking.
"Sit." He says, without looking up.
At first, I want to object, but one look at his curled fist sees me walking to the chair beside his and slumping into it. Hopefully, someone will interrupt us and end this situation for me. Even as the thought flashes, like a neon sign in my head, I know it won't happen for two reasons. No one interrupts the Alpha and lives to see the other day. Secondly, our quarters are cordoned off from the main pack. With a heavy sigh, my eyes make their way back to him.
He stops eating, puts his cutlery on his empty plate before dabbing at a corner of his mouth with the napkin and looking up at me. "From now on, Alvin is going to be your shadow. Wherever he goes, you go." My mouth falls open as I stare in horror at him. "Do I make myself clear?"
"You have got to be kidding me." I vault up, my whole body vibrating with anger. "This isn't the year fifteen hundred, plus I'm not a child, who-"
"Silence!" His voice cuts through my ramblings but I'm not done yet.
"No, Father, that won't happen. Why do you always have to have the last say?"
My words seem to amuse him as a smirk appears on his face. I stifle the urge to roll my eyes.
"I can give you a number of reasons but I'll settle for two. I'm the Alpha of this pack and you are under my command." The smirk slides off his face in an instant. "Now. . ." He stands to his full height, reminding me I only get to his shoulder even on my tippy toes. "I hope they are enough reasons because whether you like it or not. It's settled."
Not this time.
Bang.
My right hand throbs from where I've just hit the table with it but I'm too riled up, too angered, and too fueled with adrenaline to care. I know I'm going to regret it later on, but it's satisfying to see the shocked look tattooed all over his face. I savor the feeling, even though it's only temporarily.
This feud between Father and I runs deep. It's more of a clash of wills at this point. Who will bend first.
So help me goddess, it won't to be me.
"That won't happen." I'm a bit taken aback at the vehemence in my voice but I can't stop now. "I'm done. I'm not some. . . some thing to be auctioned off. I will not, Father."
We both know I'm not talking about Alvin being my shadow. I watch as a storm brews in his eyes, as they slowly turn red. Oh, no. Not his wolf rearing it's ugly head. Judging by his ticking jaw and the rigid way he's holding himself, I know I'm not going to like what he's about to say. He raises a clawed finger and points in a direction behind me. "Go to your room. Do not come out until I tell you to."
"But, Fath-"
"Do as I say, or else. . ."
A sharp pain makes my head rock back. Had it not been for me holding onto the table with a death grip, I would most definitely have fallen. I've seen grown men falling to their knees in submission to him and I don't need to be told twice to do as he says. My shoulders slump and I nod timidly. Tears cloud my vision as I make my way to my room.
"Oh, and Layla. . ." My steps halt immediately as I turn round to look at him. "Don't ever take my cigarettes again."
It's his turn to walk off, leaving me staring holes in his back.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Welcome my lovely readers š
How are you all doing?
Like the first chapter?
Then you're about to like it even more when you keep reading.
Layla is special.
š¤« don't tell anyone I told you. You're about to find out. ā¤ļøš
Chapter 1 Almost
25/07/2024
Chapter 2 STRANDED
25/07/2024
Chapter 3 SENSORY OVERLOAD
25/07/2024
Chapter 4 REPENTANT
25/07/2024
Chapter 5 REMEMBER TO LIE
25/07/2024
Chapter 6 ANONYMITY
25/07/2024
Chapter 7 THE KEEPERS
25/07/2024
Chapter 8 SET UP
25/07/2024
Chapter 9 STRANGE THINGS
25/07/2024
Chapter 10 GREEN LANTERN
25/07/2024
Chapter 11 Internalizing
02/08/2024
Chapter 12 Surprise Mates
02/08/2024
Chapter 13 PANICKED
02/08/2024
Chapter 14 RESCUED
03/08/2024
Chapter 15 Different World
04/08/2024
Chapter 16 Discover - I
05/08/2024
Chapter 17 Discovery
06/08/2024
Chapter 18 Decisions & Reprisals
07/08/2024
Chapter 19 Consequences
08/08/2024
Chapter 20 High Expectations
09/08/2024
Chapter 21 Friend. . . or foe
10/08/2024
Chapter 22 Confessions
11/08/2024
Chapter 23 Brindlemark
12/08/2024
Chapter 24 Aftermath
13/08/2024
Chapter 25 Learning Magic
14/08/2024
Chapter 26 Lost. . . now found
15/08/2024
Chapter 27 Creating forces
16/08/2024
Chapter 28 The Task
17/08/2024
Chapter 29 Erasing Memories
18/08/2024
Chapter 30 The Discovery
19/08/2024
Chapter 31 Bait
20/08/2024
Chapter 32 The Journey
21/08/2024
Chapter 33 The Guardian of Mirrors
22/08/2024
Chapter 34 The Ball
23/08/2024
Chapter 35 Lost
24/08/2024
Chapter 36 The Truth
25/08/2024
Chapter 37 Fractured Loyalties
26/08/2024
Chapter 38 A Grave situation
27/08/2024
Chapter 39 Moonlight Deception- I
28/08/2024
Chapter 40 Moonlight Deception - II
29/08/2024