Page 10 of The Alpha King's Fate

“I know, I just... I need to go for a little while,” Layla said as she got up. “Can you... Can you stay in your room until I get back?”

Brit turned back and gave Layla a pointed look.

“Do I have a choice?”

“Just until I get ba...”

Brit had already walked away. Layla turned to him as if asking for help, but what was he supposed to do?

“You can stay and talk to her,” he offered. “I’ll go deal with him. I’m sure you can find him again once things settle down.”

“My father shouldn’t even be looking for her,” Layla growled, and anger surged in their bond.

Fifteen minutes later, they arranged a sitter for Hope and were about to get into the car when Dylan drove up the driveway. He was back early. It usually took at least a week to make the rounds, and that was with visiting only a few of the territories. Something was wrong.

“What happened?” he asked his Beta when he got out of the car.

“I think people are still being cautious,” Dylan said. “A couple of them wouldn’t let me in, and the pack that opened the gates had heavy security. They said their scouts are a few days late to return, so the whole pack is on alert.”

If the witch was still alive, he would have instantly suspected she’d got her hands on them and hexed them. But they’d had peace for a year now; it was unlikely that anyone else would want to start a war when they all suffered losses at Hailey’s hands. The scouts likely encountered some other problem; they would report the matter soon. All pack scouts were highly skilled; they trained as warriors as well as the additional skills they needed to do their job.

He knew what the issue was, though. He’d known that would happen. His pack was trying to heal from what happened, but they accepted Layla as their queen because they saw how she fought for them. But to everyone else, she was still a faceless human who caused all their problems.

He would have to go on a diplomatic tour to introduce her and ease their fears so they would accept his mate.

He put them out of his mind and sighed as he opened the passenger door of his car for Layla.

“I’ll go there myself in a few days. Don’t worry about it.”

That would have to wait until he’d dealt with Layla’s father, and then her sister. Then maybe when all that shit was done, he could whisk Layla away and propose.

“They just need time, I think. A lot has changed lately,” Dylan shrugged. “Where’re you guys going?”

“The hotel. We’ll be back by tonight, so take care of Hope and Britney.”

The drive to the city was made in silence. Layla’s anger increased with every minute, and by the time they were out of the forest and driving on the smooth road leading to town, he sensed she was ready to explode.

“Whatever happens, you know you’ve got me, right?” he asked.

And he didn’t mean just with her dad. He’d been feeling things he had no right to inflict on his mate, which would upset her emotional stability, too.

“Yes,” she answered.

He took the hand on her lap and brought it to his lips while he kept his eyes on the road.

“Be patient with me. I know it hasn’t been easy for you, but I’ll do better,” he promised.

“I wish you’d talk to me, though,” Layla said. “I don’t like seeing you in pain; I want to help.”

“You’re already helping. I’d be a mess without you. All those bonds being severed at the same time were hard to endure. While everyone else feels the loss because we’re all connected, I also feel it on a more physical level.”

“I know. I felt it, too. It was excruciating,” Layla whispered.

He looked back at her and tensed. He’d known she would have felt that he was in pain since she was his mate, but he hadn’t thought she’d feel the pain herself. Guilt started to eat him up at that thought.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked, returning his gaze to the road.

“I’m okay, Jax,” she said, bringing their joined hands to her lips and kissing his hand as he’d done hers. “Don’t worry about me.”

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