Page 170 of The Alpha King's Curse: Part Two

“My Queen,” he whispered. “My beautiful, red Queen.”

Chapter 82

Jackson grinned when Dylan rolled his eyes at him as Hope led him by the finger to the tea party she had set up in the garden.

“Enjoy your party,” he called to them before he turned and walked toward the packhouse.

The trainees had the day off today, but he was pleased that most of them took their training seriously and were sparring in the fields. All the kids had to grow up quickly after the last war. In a few days, they would all hold a memorial honouring all the people they had lost.

Gavin walked up to him before he reached the door.

“Everything is all set, Alpha,” he said.

Gavin was the most prominent reminder of what the war had cost him. He’d had to fill Micah’s big shoes. Though it wasn’t his fault, his heart cracked whenever he saw Micah’s replacement as the Gamma.

“Thank you. We’ll be ready in time,” he said with a nod.

The packhouse was spotless as usual, awaiting all the guests he had invited. As he walked toward the stairs, Faith’s mother walked in, a huge smile on her face.

“Is she here?” he asked with a smile.

“They’re picking her up at the airport now,” the excited woman said.

“Great. I can’t wait to see her and hear how her classes are going.”

Faith was coming home for his birthday party and the memorial. He couldn’t believe a year had passed, and he would celebrate his birthday without the curse hanging over him for the first time in years. Sadness flittered through his mind. His birthday would always remind him of the things and the people he had lost.

As he approached the bedroom door, he heard Layla laughing as she spoke to someone on the phone. He focused on his footsteps and called on his wife’s gifts. He opened the door as silently as possible and walked in. Layla stood next to the bed, looking at some outfits she had laid down on as she spoke on the phone. He knew she hadn’t heard him and couldn’t smell him, either. His mate still had a long way to go to be able to control all the things she was capable of, but he had shared some of it when they had bonded. It had been fun to learn his new limits.

Layla hung up the phone and threw it on the bed before she picked an outfit. When she turned in his direction, she dropped the dress and clutched her chest.

“What the fuck, Jax! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” Layla shouted.

“Rule number five. Always be aware of your surroundings,” he grinned as he walked toward his mate.

She would be his wife soon. He had the ring ready to ask, but he knew it was just a formality. Layla would say yes. And he would watch her walk down the aisle towards him and finally be legally recognised as Mrs King.

"With the security that Diedre and Mum have set up around this place, I don't think anyone can get to me," Layla said with an eye roll as she picked up the dress.

He took the dress from her and threw it with the others on the bed.

"You don't need that yet."

"Chase is already on his way," Layla protested, picking the dress up again.

"Oh, Chase is coming, is he? I don't remember sending an invitation," he teased.

But Chase and his pack members had been part of the family since the attack. The blood oath had stopped him from hurting Layla, and for that, he would forever be grateful. Chase had lost people, too, in that war. The memorial would be held for all of them, even Ryker's people.

His face twisted when he thought of that man. But Layla claimed including them was the only way everyone would learn to live peacefully.

Ryker had been quick to accept. Some of the rooms that had been prepared were, unfortunately, for him and some of his pack members. Even though it was his birthday, Ryker had sent a big bunch of flowers over for Layla.

It might have had something to do with the fact that the fucker practically shit himself when Layla told him to do something.

Layla scared everybody.

He’d sensed it when his mate stood before them with the witch’s blood dripping from her red fur.

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