Page 82 of The Alpha King's Curse: Part One

“The rules apply to you, too, Alpha Jackson, even if you are the King,” Finn said as he rubbed his neck and returned to his seat. “Control your beast, or I will have to enforce them.”

He sensed the other two wolves’ unease. Those words felt very much like a challenge. Cain growled in his head, and his skin tightened as the unstable wolf took over.

“I would like to see you try,” he said calmly.

Maybe Finn realised what he had done because the scent of fear spiked in the air moments before Finn stood and slowly backed off.

“There’s no need for that, Your Majesty. The kid is young and still learning,” Hugo said with his head lowered.

It was always ‘Your Majesty’ when they knew his wolf was pissed off. And the fake respect and submission followed.

He pushed Cain back as he watched Finn hide behind the others, knowing his wolf would have an issue with being asked to let yet another challenge go. But this was for his child, not for him. What he or Cain wanted didn’t matter anymore.

“Don’t come without an invitation,” he repeated before he forced himself to turn away.

“She has to be dead by sundown, Your Majesty. I’m sorry, but those are the rules,” Lincoln said.

There was only one way out of this.

“You can’t kill her. She’s carrying my child,” he lied.

He hadn’t wanted to do this yet. They would have to discuss this development with all the members of the Circle, and the news would spread to all the packs. The witch trying to kill his unborn child wasn’t his only enemy. This news would draw all of them out and put a bigger target on Layla’s back.

“Really?” Hugo asked, rising to his feet. “You took our advice?”

“I didn’t take your advice. I just decided it was time I had an heir,” he said. “But I would appreciate your discretion. There’s already been an attempt on her life.”

Something filled the air that he couldn’t understand. It wasn’t fear—not any more than usual, anyway. Was it guilt? Finn lowered his gaze, and that feeling increased. Yes, it did feel like guilt. As Finn was still new, maybe he felt guilty about almost condemning a pregnant woman to death.

He shook his head and walked out of the room. He knew they would still try to come to his pack house even though he had warned them not to, but at least he could be assured they wouldn’t kill Layla. Not yet, anyway. But it would be decades until Layla’s wolf blood caused her problems, so he wouldn’t worry about that yet.

He found Dylan and the warriors in the lobby, ready to go as instructed. Dylan stood in one corner with a dark-haired woman, a wolf from Alpha Kendrick’s pack by the smell of it, laughing at something she said and standing way too close.

Was his Beta seriously picking up women at a time like this? The Circle was upstairs! They could have been ordering the termination of their whole pack, and Dylan was just thinking of his next conquest. He was starting to worry that he would never be able to perform his duties as an Alpha. Was he putting too much faith in him because of their friendship? Had he made a mistake?

Dylan noticed his displeasure and lowered his head before mumbling goodbye to the woman. Their car was already waiting at the entrance, and they were driving away from his hotel moments later.

“What did they say?” Dylan asked.

“Nothing,” he answered, looking out of the window.

He could feel his Beta’s gaze on him. Being unable to trust Dylan sucked, especially considering he kept all the secrets to protect his Beta and everyone else. Maybe when he was dead they would understand and forgive him.

Funny that. He’d never cared much about forgiveness or redemption, but that was all that was on his mind now as his death day loomed closer.

They were almost home when he felt something.

Layla. Something was happening to Layla.

Chapter 44

Rage.

That was all he felt when he saw Layla pinned down on the path. When he saw Laken and his sons with their filthy hands on her.

His vision was red as he slowed to a stop. He’d got out of the car and ran the rest of the way to the packhouse, but he hadn’t shifted because he had assumed Layla had just seen something that had scared her, and he’d known how dangerous it would be for Layla if she saw Cain. But he couldn’t rein his beast in now.

He growled in warning, and the three wolves let go of Layla immediately and backed away. Their fear polluted the air as they lowered their gazes. He had stopped Cain from carrying out justice many times already but this... This he would not let go of.

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