Page 80 of The Alpha King's Curse: Part Two

Diedre pulled a chair forward and sat beside the bed.

“I can’t rest now, Jax,” she whispered again. “You’re not the only one who woke up today. Half the people who were bitten yesterday woke up, and the other half are out of danger. Something is happening, Jax.”

Shit.

“Don’t read too much into things. Maybe she used a different spell this time, and it backfired.”

Diedre shook her head and took his hand.

“You felt it out there yesterday. The witch used a lot of power to do what she did. She wanted to end all of us,” Diede whispered. “But there is something here that’s stopping her. I can feel it. How else do people wake up after such a strong spell? If I can find it...”

He brought her hand to her lips.

“Diedre, stop,” he said gently. “Please. I’m okay. I just need one thing from you, and that’s for you to stay healthy and look after my pup.”

“Jax...”

“Don’t make me ask Micah to make sure you eat and sleep. You know I’ll do it again.”

“Six months, Jax.”

His chest squeezed.

“I know. But I’m okay.”

Diedre looked away from him and blinked back tears.

“I swore to protect you the day you were born,” Diedre said.

“And you have. Now you’ll swear to protect my child. I’m relying on you, Dee.”

The witch's shoulders slumped and she didn’t look at him again.

“I’ll go and rest now,” she said.

He sensed her resignation and hoped that would be the last time she would stress herself out like that. His situation had no happy outcome, even more so after his earlier realisation that he'd also have to suffer through a severed mate bond before he died.

He kissed her hand again before he let her go. And for the first time since Diedre started looking for a solution, he sensed defeat. By the time the witch walked out of the door, she seemed even older than she was.

Would his witch live long enough to look after his pup?

He sighed and looked at his leg. The quicker he healed, the quicker he could end the misery for everyone.

He focused on his mate again and heard her say her goodbyes to the people she had been talking to. He could breathe again for the first time since he’d woken up. Layla would need a good talking to before they could get on with enjoying their last few days together. Staying out there on purpose like that when she knew he couldn’t go after her was childish. They were all being fucking childish.

Fear shot through him, fear that was not his own. He sat straighter in bed and listened. He had one leg over the side of the bed before he remembered the other was useless and Cain was still indisposed. But Layla was in trouble; he had to get to her.

“Miss Layla?”

He heard Faith’s voice, and then Layla’s emotions settled. Because of Faith or because there was nothing there? He couldn’t be sure. The whole town was there, including Zach and his followers. She shouldn't have gone outside in the first place. He’d have to insist on Layla staying inside until he was better.

He followed Layla’s movement until she reached the top of the stairs. She slowed right down, and he sensed her guilt as she walked down the hallway and stopped at the door. It took her five minutes to open it. Five fucking minutes where he imagined all the horrors that could have happened to her because she hadn’t listened to him.

When she opened the door and slowly walked in, he was furious again.

“I know what you’re going to say, but I couldn’t just sit back and watch,” Layla started.

She didn’t even look him in the eye.

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