Page 132 of The Alpha King's Curse: Part Two

The drive into town was made in total silence, and the dread in her stomach increased the closer they got. But whatever happened, at least she had got them away from Hope.

The van stopped in the underground parking lot of the Royal Hotel, where the Hunter told them to get out.

“What happened today was my fault. I should have checked my sources more thoroughly, especially considering I was dealing with women,” the Hunter said.

She ignored the sexist remark and waited for the axe to fall. Would they be imprisoned? She preferred death to that.

“That being said, if any word of what happened in the woods travels back to my ears, I know how to find you. I’m sure we’d both rather have our mistakes kept quiet. Good night Mr King. Miss Smith.”

And he turned and walked away.

She stood in the car park holding Jackson’s hand for a moment until the elevator door closed on the Hunter’s face. The face that she would also see in her nightmares for the rest of her life.

But she knew it wasn’t over. The Hunter would see her mother’s face one day, maybe even the day they returned to their base, and he would be back to find her.

Jackson pulled her along to the elevator ahead of the Hunters. Her head reeled as she processed it all. She would have to go on the run like her mother had. She would abandon Hope after all.

When Jackson pulled her into his suite, he slammed the door shut, startling her out of her thoughts as he pinned her against the door.

“Don’t ever do that again,” he growled. “What the fuck were you thinking? Do you know how lucky we were? Hope could have lost both her parents.”

He was furious, but she also sensed his relief. There was nothing to feel relieved about. The words stuck in her throat as Jackson pulled her into his arms and tightened his arms around her.

“I can’t lose you,” Jackson whispered.

Tears fell down her cheeks. She should have listened to Jackson. She was not ready for his world.

“I made things worse. I have to leave,” she whispered. “I have to go on the run like Rebecca.”

Chapter 65

Jackson lathered Layla’s hair for what felt like the millionth time.

Layla said she could still smell blood in it but he knew that was psychological. All the blood and filth had run down the drain a long time ago. The whole room had steamed up, he could hardly see her, but he didn’t need to. Layla was full of guilt and a lot of pain. Everything he was feeling.

“I know I was very angry with you for going off by yourself, but that was because I was terrified,” he admitted. “I’m sorry. I've calmed down now; I know no one else could have done what we did. It worked out.”

Layla’s fears were valid. Hunters enjoyed the chase almost as much as killing their prey. He and Cain were still alert, tracking movements in and around the hotel because he didn’t trust those fuckers. It wasn’t over; he could feel it. But Hunters were patient. If what Layla said was true, they could strike that night, or it could take them months.

“But for how long?” Layla sighed. “He’s coming back. He might even figure it out while he’s still here and kick the door down.”

And yet that fact didn’t make her try to escape from the hotel. She seemed resigned to it as if she was prepared for the Hunters to take her if it came to that. She knew they couldn’t leave the hotel until the Hunters were gone without him telling her. If they were in any way suspicious of them, they would be watching them. And if they tried to leave, those hounds would follow their scents back to the others.

If the Hunters left in the morning like they’d said they would, they still needed to be careful. He'd fired many people but didn't know if they had found new sources in the hotel. He’d only kept the young lady who’d snitched about Costas, but she had so far proved useless. She hadn’t once mentioned Miss Roberts and Amber's meetings.

“They went all over the woods and didn’t find our territories. I think Amber did that intentionally so she could still try to find a pack afterwards. They didn’t find your mother, and you know she’s in there,” he pointed out. “We’ll go home in the morning and figure things out.”

“I can’t do that. They already think I led the Hunters here in the first place. Everyone was terrified; I can’t do that to them again.”

“Well, if he figures it out, he’ll be back in Wolfsdale anyway. He’ll come hunting again. Wouldn’t it be better if you were more prepared?”

Layla turned around to face him.

“How does anyone prepare for that?” she asked.

“If you come home with me, you can start training with the others.”

Home. He liked that. Even if it was only going to be for a few months. He’d been so sure they would die several times in the past few days that he didn’t want to waste time on bullshit anymore. Layla was right to be worried. The threat of the Hunters would hang over her head for the rest of her life, but there were other threats to her life now. He’d claimed her as his Luna. As their Queen. Even without his mark, all of his enemies had become hers.

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