Page 87 of The Alpha King's Curse: Part Two

His Beta sat back on the sofa and covered his face. He was half broken, but he still had hope. Diedre had been the same in the beginning until the truth had reduced her to nothing but a husk.

“I know some people,” Dylan said after a while, rising to his feet. “I’ll be discreet. Someone owes me a favour—”

“Dylan.”

“There are six months until your birthday,” Dylan continued. “I still think it’s bullshit, but we can beat this.”

“Dylan,” he tried again as he stood, too. “I didn’t get everyone that day. The attacks on our pack, the hexed rogues, it’s someone from that pack who’s hell-bent on making sure I don’t enjoy the rest of my life. You’ve seen how strong she is; even Diedre can’t fight her magic. I’m cursed. I’m going to die. I’m sorry.”

Dylan stepped back and shook his head.

“I’ll find the witch.”

“No, that’s my job. You look after everyone else.”

Dylan shook his head again.

“Diedre says you have to mark Layla. I know she’s different. She’s been doing things lately, I’m sure her wolf side is stronger than it should be, but she’s still perfectly fine. If you mark her—”

“No.”

“I’ve been wracking my brain trying to figure out why Fate gave you a half-blood for a mate,” Dylan said, his hope rising again as if he wasn’t listening. “But that may be the solution. Maybe something will happen to her wolf, but her human side will stay intact.”

“I said no. And don’t you dare tell Diedre about that, either. You swore to keep it secret.”

“Jax—”

“I will not risk Layla’s life just to save my own. I’m not worth that, Dylan,” he growled. “Make peace with what I’ve told you and go and be the best Alpha you can be. Because that will be your job in six months.”

Dylan’s hope died, and the pain returned to crash into both of them. His Beta shook his head and then walked to the door.

“Dylan.”

He didn’t turn back, but the pain was already magnified again. Maybe Dylan would accept the truth quicker than Diedre had.

Dylan left the room and stormed out of the house. He tracked his Beta’s movement to the packhouse gates and then the woods beyond, and the whole time he projected his pain.

His brother from another mother. The man he had gone through every situation in his life with. Though things had changed lately, even his bond with Layla wouldn’t erase the past. Dylan’s pain hit him hard.

He downed his shot of whiskey and got up to pour another one and then another. But still, he wasn’t fortified enough when he walked out of the conference room to start on what he had to do.

When he walked into the lobby, he saw his mate standing at the foot of the stairs, looking at the entrance. She would have sensed Dylan’s pain, as well, and that was a reminder of how strong their bond had become.

A reminder of what he had to do to save her.

He walked to her and waited until she turned to face him. Her worry for Dylan was written all over her face.

“Is he okay?” she asked.

“He’s fine. Don’t concern yourself,” he said firmly. “Go and start packing. I no longer need you here; you’ve done your job. Give me a day or two to make arrangements.”

Layla’s pain added to Dylan’s.

And it added to his.

He left the house before the bond made him change his mind, and he ignored Cain’s howls. He had work to do. Cain could unleash his emotions more productively to deal with the threats around them more effectively.

Two days. Then Layla would be out of his life.

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