Page 146 of The Alpha King's Curse: Part Two

“Do you remember when we were attacked, and I couldn’t figure out how those injured people who were on death's door got better?” Diedre asked. “Not once but two times. I asked around, and she visited all of them. I saw her crying as she came out of one of the rooms, and then the very next day, everyone had started to heal.”

“Diedre—”

“Do you remember waking up after you’d been bitten by an infected wolf? Again, not once, but two times. And the second time, your infection was worse, and you had broken bones, but you were up the next day like you’d just had a scratch.”

He remained quiet. He would be forever grateful that Layla had been able to help Diedre, but he would never do what he knew Diedre was going to ask for.

“I told you she’s the key.”

“There is no key, Dee.”

“She’s the only one who can break the curse. You need to mark her.”

He sighed and brought Diedre’s hand to his lips to kiss it.

“I was so worried, Dee. I need you to stay alive to help Dylan and Layla with Hope,” he said.

“Don’t change the subject,” Diedre said, snatching her hand away. “I could feel the witch’s hold on me getting stronger and stronger, sucking my birthright from my body. I’ve never felt anything so powerful. But your Layla defeated it. She beat the darkness. You don’t know how strong she is.”

He did. Every night when she was unguarded, he felt Layla’s strength. The strength she would use to protect their child.

“You have to trust me, Jax. I don’t know how I know, but she’s what I’ve been looking for, for five years. Only someone as powerful as she is can stand as your queen. Your mate. The other half of you. You met her at this precise time for a reason.”

Yes. So he could taste what real love was like before hell took his damned soul.

“If what you say is true, then let's assume she already broke the damn curse when she healed me both times. She’s in my bed all the time; I have more contact with her than anyone else,” he said as he picked up the cinnamon roll.

“What if it only works when she knows you’re dying,” Diedre continued. “You sharing the bed is like all those times she came to look after me when she assumed I would get better, Jax. There’s no greater magic than a bond between true mates. What if the witch thought of that, and that’s why she’s been trying to kill her?”

“There are still too many ifs,” he growled. “The witch who hexed you and the one who cursed me with her dying breath are two different people. I will never risk her life like that, so my answer is still the same. I’m sorry, Dee. I know you love me, and I love you to pieces. But you have to let me go. You have to accept that the witch’s curse is stronger than anything. I’m dying.”

The kitchen door closing alerted him that they were no longer alone.

And only one person in the packhouse could sneak up on him like that.

His heart started to race again. He put the cinnamon roll down before he could take a bite. Diedre’s gaze went to the door, and the big smile returned to her face.

“What... What do you mean, Jax? Why would you say you’re dying?”

Chapter 71

Jax turned slowly towards the door. Layla stood there with tears shimmering in her eyes.

She must have heard everything. Layla wasn’t even trying to mask herself; all her raw emotions were pounding into him and slicing into his heart.

His first urge was to go and soothe his mate, but he held back.

He’d made it to one month until his birthday; that was good enough. Now, he had to break Layla’s heart.

“What do you mean, Jackson?” she asked.

He looked down at Diedre and felt her relief as if she thought his ordeal would finally be over. But didn’t she get it? The same bond Diedre was relying on to save him was what was holding him back.

“Let’s take a walk,” he said to Layla.

Layla immediately walked out. She projected her breaking heart so loudly he could even hear it.

“Tell her everything,” Diedre said.

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