The hallways, the doctors, the guards... they took the same route they had taken before. Even with her head swimming, she sensed when they went past the restricted door.
‘Mother...’
Would she even hear her?
Her eyes closed. When they opened again, the heavy silver chains were biting down into her wrists, legs and around her stomach. She was back on the table, in the glass prison. The odd air conditioning unit hung above her, still silent.
“She’s awake.”
Several faces appeared around her. Their eyes were not the same as the monsters who dragged her into the room—they held a hint of excitement as if they genuinely enjoyed what they were doing.
“You’ve surprised me, Miss Carlisle.”
The doctors moved back and the last person she wanted to see came into her line of vision.
“Normally, I hate surprises,” the Commander said, “but I can live with this one. You’ve proved me right. Your body is full of my serum, but you still showed signs of your wolf. You’re not like the others.”
A slow smirk appeared on his scarred face. He’d said she was the key to whatever madness he was doing. Did he mean she just condemned her people?
“Take more samples before you do the tests,” the Commander said.
“Yes, sir.”
“Don’t kill her. We need her alive for tomorrow. I’ll let everyone know we’ll be ready.”
The Commander looked at her again, and the smirk widened. His face was more terrifying like that.
“I’m going to get rid of you all once and for all. And you, Miss Carlisle, will help me,” he said.
His loud laugh came out of nowhere and echoed in the room. It sliced through her head like a knife, but she could not cover her ears to protect herself. She was completely vulnerable. Completely exposed. Completely helpless.
Her eyelids dropped. The Commander’s face was the last thing she saw as her vision started to blur.
And then everything went black.
Chapter 47
Jax opened his eyes slowly and stretched. Sunlight filtered into the bedroom through the large windows. It had been a while since he’d slept in.
The sound of running water brought a smile to his face. Layla. She was the reason he slept in. She was the reason he was content. Fate had been a fucker until Layla walked into his life. It made his life hell so that he could appreciate the bond he shared with his chosen mate. It had been hard to accept at first, but he was glad Layla didn’t hold it against him.
She was amazing. The air he breathed. He would gladly die when she did because life wasn’t worth living without her.
The door opened, and Layla's sweet scent mixed with the smell of her floral shower gel filled the room. And when she walked out, his heart skipped a beat before it started to race. Still, after all this time, she brought out the same reaction.
“You’re awake,” she said with a smile.
The whole room lit up and his insides twisted. How did he get so fucking lucky? Her emerald eyes lit up, and even if he hadn’t been able to feel it in their bond, he could see all her love for him in her eyes.
She loved him, despite knowing who and what he really was.
Despite knowing the darkness inside him.
Naked and barefoot, Layla threw the towel she was using on her hair to the floor as she strutted towards him. Her confidence had grown since they first started sleeping together. All their arguments and misunderstandings were a thing of the past. Layla would never leave him. She understood he was hers for the rest of their lives.
How did they resolve things? He couldn’t remember.
He didn’t want to, not when his mate pulled the covers off his body. He pushed up to his elbows and watched her eyes eat him up. His body was on fire, ready for whatever she wanted to do to him.