Page 137 of The Alpha King's Fate

And he didn’t say a word.

He jogged at first, looking back at her now and again. And then, after a while, he pushed both of them, going faster until the trees were just a blur.

She never knew such freedom. It felt sweeter after the horror at the Hunter base. She ran extremely fast in her human form but running as her wolf was a different level. The wind and sun on her face, the scents of nature all around her, and the soundsof the animals that scurried away. She felt at home in her skin for the first time.

She ran for hours. Her breaks were few and far between and consisted of only short drinks in any streams she found. Even when the trees started to look and smell familiar, Jax still didn't ask any questions. Even when the darkness of their forest embraced them and welcomed them home, he remained silent.

When she stopped for another drink, she lay on the dense forest floor to catch her breath, finally completely exhausted. Her heart didn’t stop hurting the whole time.

‘It’s okay, Layla. I chose this,’ Nia said.

Nia only chose it out of necessity. If she hadn’t made the stupid decisions that got her caught in the first place...

‘Then everyone would still be locked up in their cages,’ Nia said.

‘But how could he just take you away from me? Maybe I can stay like this and try to find a solution.’

‘You have Hope to raise. It’s our fate, Layla. I don’t regret any of it.’

She put her head down on her paws and sensed Jax’s gaze.

‘You should speak up next time he orders you around. Show him that you’re his equal, not his subordinate,’ Nia said.

‘I won’t be his equal without you.’

‘You’re still the Queen. Trust yourself.’

She felt the change start to happen and tried to fight it. She wasn’t ready. Nia would have lived a longer life if she hadn’t had the misfortune of being paired with her.

But Nia was stronger than she was. Moments later, she lay naked on the ground with tears flowing down her cheeks. Jax shifted and was beside her straight away.

“Talk to me, Layla. What happened?”

But she couldn’t speak. The pain in her heart was unbearable and threatened to carry her away until she reached for her mateand held onto him like an anchor. Jax’s strong arms pulled her against him, and he buried his face in her hair, offering her comfort while he comforted himself.

At that moment, everything hit her. Her body trembled with all the emotions she held back, and a loud sob escaped her mouth.

“Shh,” Jax whispered. “You’re safe now. I’ve got you. Let it all out. I’ll never let anyone hurt you again.”

In her mate’s arms, her heart shattered a million times. She remembered every moment she cursed Nia. Every moment she thought of her as a monster, and during the months of silence, part of her didn’t want Nia to return. Had she wished this into existence?

Jax sat up and kissed her cheeks, trailing her tears until they stopped. His touch soothed her, as it always did. And then he brought his lips down to hers. He was gentle as if he feared she would break apart. She felt like she would. Like even a gust of wind could knock her over and kill her.

But he didn’t stop. He kissed her until the pain faded to a dull ache. Until her body started to warm up. Until her lips parted, and she responded.

Everything else melted away as she focused on his touch, his fingers bringing her to life. When a loud moan escaped her lips, he pulled her onto his lap and lowered her down onto him. Her eyes rolled back because of how quickly she came apart. How completely.

Deep in the forest where he ruled, the Alpha King thrust into her until she called out his name.

It was only when she lay spent in his arms that she noticed that she could not sense their bond anymore.

Nia was gone.

Chapter 61

Jax looked down at Layla’s sleeping form. Her hair sprawled out on her pillow, and she was tangled up in his sheets, something he hadn’t thought he would see again.

She looked just the same, despite what she had been through.

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