“Just focus on me, Layla. Focus on being happy. Life will bring you so much heartache that I won’t be able to soothe, but I’m still here now,” Jax said as he came forward and pulled her into his arms. “You chose to stay. You chose to be with me and see this through to the end. Have you changed your mind?”

“Of course not.”

“I won’t blame you if you do. You’ve already given me more happiness than I deserve,” Jax said.

“I won’t leave you.”

It was physically impossible. She was tied to him, whether he bit her or not. And his death would be her death, whether she joined him in the ground or not.

Maybe that was the answer after all. Perhaps she was meant to follow her love, her fated mate, wherever he went.

But Hope...

She pushed her thoughts away when she remembered the innocent child she had brought into the world. If Jackson said he had a bond with her, she also had a bond with her child because she couldn’t bear the thought of leaving Hope alone.

Jackson brought his lips down to hers in a gentle kiss.

“You’ll be okay. Layla,” he said when he lifted his head. “You’re magnificent, and I bet when you shift, you’ll be unstoppable. I have faith that you’ll accomplish everything you set out to, and you’ll live your best life for both of us. Until we meet again.”

His words hurt.

How unstoppable could she be if she couldn’t do anything to save the love of her life?

“Don’t be sad. You know I’ll be obligated, as your mate, to wipe that sadness away.”

Jax lowered his head again and backed her up against the conference table. When he lifted his head, his eyes were blood red.

“Mine. You’ll always be mine, even in death,” he whispered. “I’m sorry that fate chose me for you, but I’ll forever be grateful that it chose you for me. I love you, Layla.”

She couldn’t stop the tears from falling down her cheeks as Jax went to his knees and pulled her leggings and panties down.

She could feel his words. Since he told her the truth, she knew that he was telling the truth because he was wide open. He loved her the way she loved him.

And she would never be able to live without him. It was a truth she knew deep down in her soul. There would be no life after Jackson King.

So she had to take the risk for both of them.

Chapter 73

Layla brushed her hair and fluffed it out. It had grown longer since she had first arrived. It fell in fiery red curls down her back, and Jackson loved it. He loved to tug it and bury his face in it.

He actually loved every part of her, even the parts she preferred to hide.

She looked down at the skimpy lingerie she had found in the wardrobe. The black lace barely covered anything, especially considering her tits were bigger since she had Hope, and her whole ass was exposed. She had been with Jackson for months, but she had opted for the more functional, comfortable underwear. But she was going all out tonight.

She heard the bedroom door open and took a deep breath before she picked up the matching robe. When she walked out of the bathroom, Jackson was pulling his t-shirt off over his head.

“I’m sorry that call lasted longer than...”

Jax’s voice trailed off when he saw her standing in the bathroom doorway. His eyebrows rose, and then a slow smile formed on his lips.

“To what do I owe this pleasure?” he asked.

His voice had already lowered. The husky sound zinged through her body as it always did.

“It’s an early birthday present.”

Mentioning his birthday without falling apart was a feat on its own.