Page 156 of The Alpha King's Curse: Part Two

But there was still something.

She listened closely until the sound pricked her ears. The humming of an engine. Tyres crushing the dirt and gravel underneath them. Danger. She sensed the danger surrounding the engine. No, several engines. Several dangerous people.

“Get to the packhouse!” she called loudly.

She started to run towards the gates to warn the guards so they could warn everyone.

‘Evacuate to the packhouse!’

Jackson’s loud voice in her head made her miss a step. She tripped over her feet and narrowly missed landing on her head.

What the... Was Jackson in her head now?

The people around her started to run. They’d heard him, too! When Jackson had marked her, she must have become part of the pack!

But there was no time to think about it as the darkness came closer and the warriors assembled. By the time she got to them, they could also hear the cars coming down the dirt road.

“It’s the Circle,” one of the guys said, and fear spread through them.

The last time they had been there, Jackson had killed one of them. And his lessons had included lengthy examples of why she was supposed to stay away from them and stay hidden. But several cars were coming, so she didn’t think they were there for a friendly visit. Maybe they’d heard that the baby had been born, and like Zach, they thought it was the right time to get rid of her.

Or they had come for Jackson.

Her fists clenched at her side at that thought.

“Miss Layla, please go back to the packhouse. This could be dangerous.”

She knew it would be. The last time she had sensed so much evil in the air, the Hunters had been involved. But Hope was in the packhouse. If they were there for her, she wouldn’t be stupid enough to lead the danger to her child and the rest of the pack.

“Miss Layla...”

The cars screeched to a halt in front of the gates. She counted at least ten of them. She didn’t know what she expected, maybe mean-looking people like the Hunters, but it wasn’t the well-dressed people who came out of the cars. They smelled of money and evil, a dangerous combination.

The man at the front closed his door and put his hands in his pockets as he strolled to the gate. His long blond hair was tied at the back, and his blue eyes were ice cold. But she didn’t show any fear. She didn’t show any emotion, not when she knew they would cart her off the second they realised she was different.

“You must be Layla, the cleaner warming Mr King’s bed,” the man drawled. “You must be exceptionally good at it to have lasted this long.”

She disliked the man instantly. She didn’t bother lowering her gaze like Jax had told her to if she ever met them. What was the point? They had already come to start a fight.

“Ah. I recognise your voice. You’re the one who cried and begged Jax to spare your friend’s life.”

The blue eyes became colder, and his face tightened.

“Where’s Mr King.”

“He’s a little bit busy right now. I can pass on your message.”

The guards behind her became anxious. She mentally sighed and finally lowered her gaze. She didn’t want to antagonise them, just in case she had mistaken their intentions.

“You’re not fit to speak to me,” the man growled. “Tell Mr King we’re here, and open the gates.”

“There’s no need for that.”

She looked back when she heard Jackson’s voice. He was dressed in shorts and nothing else and didn’t look concerned about the men on the other side of the gate.

“Layla, go back home,” Jax said.

“I’m surprised she’s still here. The last time we spoke, you said she would leave when the baby was born. Congratulations, by the way.”

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