Page 34 of The Alpha King's Curse: Part Two

She nodded and quickly walked into the dressing room. Her clothes hung neatly on the rail next to his, and her shoes had been placed on the shelves. She hadn’t packed any of her ratty clothes but maybe she should have. Britney’s accusation came back to her mind. She’d grown so used to wearing the clothes Jackson had given her, but she knew that wasn’t what had changed her.

With a sigh, she picked a dress and flat shoes and dressed quickly. Jackson was still in the same spot when she walked out, and his eyes flashed again. She was beginning to understand what that meant because her body reacted every time she saw him, too.

“Keep your emotions under control,” Jackson said. “Your eyes give you away when you’re emotional.”

Like his eyes did? Had she started doing that, too? That would be very inconvenient when she was walking around town, considering how many times a day someone or something pissed her off.

“When I leave, that will settle down, right?”

His eyes flashed again.

“Of course. Go and see your sister.”

She’d heard the pause before he answered. She hated all the secrets Jackson kept from her but he was right. She was supposed to be watching a movie with Brit.

She left the bedroom without another word and walked down the hall towards the spacious lounge area. Britney was still on the sofa, clutching a cushion to her chest, and it was clear she wasn’t paying attention to the movie.

“Did I miss much?”

Brit shot to her feet. Her hazel eyes were puffy, and her face was red. Her sister had been crying while she had been grinding up on Jackson in the dressing room.

“Brit...” she said as she rushed forward. Brit stepped back from her, making her stop in her tracks.

“You said you weren’t sleeping with him,” Britney whispered.

“I said he wasn’t forcing me,” she said gently. “Is that why you’re crying?”

“I just told you that none of them are right,” Britney said. “I know they’re not because I can feel it. There’s something about them... How could you sleep with him?”

Layla regarded her sister for a moment before she came to her decision. She hoped this was the first visit of many, so she wouldn’t be able to hide her pregnancy for much longer.

“I’m sorry you’re feeling like that,” she started, “but Jackson and I are consenting adults. We’re not doing anything wrong.”

“Wait. Are you saying you’re actually in a relationship with that...”

“Yes,” she lied. “We’re together. He’s not bad once you get to know him.

Britney shook her head as if she couldn’t deal with what she had said. There must have been another reason why her sister would feel that way. Had she seen more than the glowing eyes or heard more than growls? What would she do?

“I was just coming to tell you to go and get ready. We’re going to have dinner together downstairs so you two can get to know each other,” she lied.

It would put off the talk that Jackson wanted to have with her but at least it would put her sister at ease. She couldn’t worry about Brit while locked away in the packhouse.

“Layla, I don’t think—”

“Please. Do it for me. I like him,” she cut in.

And she couldn’t tell if that part was a lie. Did she like him? Britney’s expression changed but she could still see the worry on her face.

“I’ll go and change,” Britney sighed and then walked towards her bedroom.

When her door was shut, she walked back towards Jackson’s bedroom on the other side of the suite and realised she had left the door open. Jackson would have heard that conversation. Heat rushed to her face when she saw him sitting at the edge of the bed, waiting for her.

“You couldn’t walk through the lobby earlier,” Jackson said. “Do you think you’ll make it through dinner?”

Shit. She hadn’t thought of that. Everything was muted up here, but she felt as if her head would explode when she had been downstairs.

“I suppose this will be your practice run for when you leave,” he said as he stood.

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