Page 39 of The Alpha King's Curse: Part Two

“There are things about you that I still don’t know,” he started, looking down at her dainty hand in his, “but what I do know is that you already had the wolf gene when I met you.”

“This isn’t funny, Jackson,” Layla hissed, taking her hand away again. “I already apologised to you for trying to leave. I’m still paying the price for it. Don’t sit there and tell me lies just to make my life more unbearable.”

“No more lies, Layla. No half-truths. I have to tell you this because, after this weekend, the thought of you living in this world without an idea of what you are is making me sick to my stomach,” he whispered again. “This world is a dangerous place for us. I need you to survive.”

“Bullshit. If I’m like you, then why would I have to leave? Why would you still make me leave my baby with you?” Layla said.

He felt her heightened pain when she said those words and his conversation with Diedre floated back into his head. Diedre had implied Layla would never be okay with leaving her child in his pack’s care, and he was starting to believe that was true. Would she try to run again, just to make sure she kept the baby?

As much as the baby had been the catalyst for their meeting, Layla’s well-being came above everything else, even his life. Feeling that way about a woman who’d broken his heart was ridiculous.

“You’re not like me,” he answered. “You’re a half-blood. You’ll have to keep yourself hidden from my kind, or they will know your wolf blood is already starting to get stronger than your human side. And that... that won’t be great for anyone.”

Layla’s eyes widened, and she shot off the bed and turned to face him.

“What do you mean? Assuming this is all true, you’re saying I wouldn’t be accepted in your pack anyway?”

He stood and looked at her panicked face. How much of the truth could she handle? If he weren’t dying, he would have made them accept her whether they wanted to or not. He would have protected her, even when her wolf side finally overpowered her human side for good.

There wasn’t enough time left for him to sugarcoat everything now. The threats were coming from all directions: his pack, the Circle, the Hunters and the damned witch. He’d thought he could handle it all, but if Layla showed her wolf side in the pack, all his efforts would be for nothing.

“I’m saying I have to find out why all of this is happening, and while I do that, I need you to learn how to control it. You won’t be accepted in any pack, but if you expose yourself when you live among humans, you’ll be hunted by wolves and Hunters alike.”

Layla’s hand went up to her chest again, and her gaze remained on his. He could almost see the wheels turning in her head.

“Is that why you’re trying to find my mother? She’s a werewolf?” she whispered.

Her eyes were only just starting to flicker back to their human form. Speaking about her mother again when he was in a hurry to leave wasn’t a good idea.

“It’s just a theory. When I find out what’s going on, I promise I will tell you,” he said. “But for now, we need to pack our bags. There’s a Hunter downstairs, and I can’t risk you getting caught.”

That seemed to bring her out of her thoughts.

“A Hunter?”

“The sole purpose of their existence is to kill us and anyone associated with us. Their hatred has morphed them so much that they’re not human anymore. They will kill you without a thought. I could get rid of him now, but that would only bring all of them into our city. We need to leave.”

“But I’m... How would they even know what you are?”

“It’s not me I’m worried about. I’m not the one who walked out of the restaurant with wolf eyes,” he said as he stepped to her and took her hand again. “I know it’s a lot to take in but you listen to me this time. You need to stay in the compound where it's safe.”

Or it would be safe once he purged the pack of the traitors.

Would that be enough to scare her into staying? After what she had done to him, he wouldn’t be stupid enough to trust her again, but Layla would have to see sense on this one.

“I’ll start teaching you how to control it tonight,” he offered. “You can’t tell Dylan or anyone else about it.”

Layla nodded and then turned to walk to the closet. She still looked a little dazed but her wolf side was under control. He just hoped it stayed that way until they left the hotel. Once a Hunter set his sights on a target, he could track them as well as any wolf.

Chapter 22

It was late at night when they pulled up at the front of the packhouse. Layla was still numb from Jackson’s revelations.

Did Jackson mean there was a wolf inside her? This thing that took her over and made her do stupid things? It was like a separate entity, a personality that was the complete opposite of who she was.

"It can't be true," she whispered.

If Jackson had no explanation, then he had to be wrong. It had to be the baby changing her since Jackson had said it would be a werewolf.

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