Page 165 of The Alpha King's Fate

He bit his lip to stop himself from saying any more. If what he did worked, he would spend the rest of his life apologising and making it up to her. If it didn’t work, he would die, and it wouldn’t matter. Layla seemed ready to live without him anyway.

Dawn was breaking when he slowly drove back up the main road from town. His warriors told him Layla had a couple of jobs in town and refused the money he offered her. Her work didn’t bother him as much as that she was exposed all day with no one protecting her. He’d called back all the warriors guarding her because it had been all hands on deck to fight the Hunters.

But that was over now. Layla could return where she belonged.

“The kids are coming back today.”

Layla whipped around to face him.

“What? What time?” she asked.

“As soon as they have breakfast, they’ll start loading the planes.”

He didn’t look at her, but he sensed her relief. They cried together in the forest when they said goodbye to Hope and Britney because they didn’t believe they would never see them again.

“I know I’m the last person you want to see, but you should come home. I’ll stay out of your way. You need to be there when they land. Hope won’t understand if you’re not there, and I'm not sure what the situation with Britney is like now. If they found out she lied, your sister will need you there, too.”

Layla didn’t answer him, but she didn’t need to. Whatever her decision about his actions, she would want to see Hope immediately.

He turned the car into her road and drove slowly. Some of Layla’s neighbours were already up, and so was Gerald. To get ready for work, maybe. That was surprising. Layla’s father lasted longer than he expected at his dead-end job.

When he stopped the car, he realised why Gerald was up so early. The older man stood in front of the open doorway in his pyjamas. He looked like he’d seen a ghost, his eyes wide and jaw dropped. He followed the line of vision and saw the fiery red hair of the woman standing in front of Layla’s car.

It had been two years since Rebecca showed herself in his forest. How often did she make this journey to be close to her former lover?

“Mum?” Layla whispered.

Rebecca didn’t even turn.

Layla went for her door handle, but he put his hand on her arm to stop her.

“I think you should give them a moment,” he suggested. “And you’re kinda naked right now.”

Anyone who saw Layla wouldn’t have to guess what she had been doing. It was evident in her flushed face and her messy hair. And the lack of underwear.

Layla let go and shook his hand off. It stung, even though he had known that was coming.

“She looks thinner,” Layla whispered.

“We’ve been through some hard times,” he admitted.

Layla looked at him for an explanation. But there was nothing he could say. Layla knew what a Hunter base looked like and was probably still traumatised by it. Telling her what they’d gone through and who they’d lost would bring it all back.

“Maybe I should just go and pack a bag for you,” he said, turning the subject around. “Those two look like they will stare at each other forever. Tell me—”

Someone was there.

He scanned the area just as Rebecca turned to face the woods behind her. And before he knew it, Layla’s mother rushed over to Gerald and grabbed his hand. Gerald was deposited into the backseat of his truck before he could say anything.

His fingers tightened around the wheel when Rebecca disappeared into the woods. He was the one who should have gone on the hunt and caught the fucker who dared to come too close. Wolf or vampire? He couldn’t be sure. Whoever it was wasn’t close enough.

But it wasn’t his place anymore. His place was next to Layla.

“What... That was Rebecca,” Gerald whispered. “How could it... She looks...”

He started the car and looked in the rearview mirror. Gerald’s face lost all its colour. He was probably in shock.

“What’s going on, Jax?” Layla asked when he started to back out

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