Page 167 of The Alpha King's Fate

She smoothed her dress again and sat on the top step. It had been hours since Jax left her with Faith and walked back out of the packhouse, and she didn’t really want to see him after what he did. But her heart still yearned for him. She wanted him next to her when their daughter came back home.

“Why were you hiding all day?”

She almost jumped when she heard Dylan’s voice behind her.

“I wasn’t hiding. I was resting,” she lied.

Dylan snorted and sat next to her.

She looked up at the man who was once her biggest enemy. She noticed he looked different, though he wasn’t looking at her. He was leaner, almost as if all he did was train and fight.

“Have you been alright?” Dylan asked.

“I should be asking you that. You look exhausted.”

“No more than anyone else,” Dylan shrugged. “We did what we had to do. The only thing we could do.”

“Did the Hunters come back?” Did they look for her after what happened at the base? Her biggest fear was that she put everyone else in danger.

“No. We went after them. We lit the fire that started the revolution,” Dylan said, finally meeting her gaze.

And in his eyes, she saw a man who went through too much. Would they all be like that? Would they all have traumas to heal?

“Don’t worry about me,” Dylan said with a little smile as he nudged her with his shoulder. “I don’t think you will find anyone here who regrets what we did.”

“Did you... did you lose people?” she whispered.

The smile left his lips.

“A few.”

Dylan picked imaginary lint off his jeans and then looked at the people at the gates.

“But everyone agrees that life will be easier for our kids now. They will know how to defend themselves if the Hunters ever regroup,” Dylan said.

The gates started to slide open, and the excited chatter from the gates became louder.

“It’s a new start, Layla. And you’re a vital part of that, so don’t pull that disappearing shit again,” Dylan said gruffly before standing.

He offered her his hand and helped her to her feet.

“Take care of your kid and mate,” he continued. “Be happy. Jax went through a lot so you two could have that.”

How much did Jax confide in his friend about the foolish plan to bite her again? Somehow she didn’t think Dylan would have approved when it meant their king would no longer be a king.

The first truck came through the gates, and all her worries disappeared. Whatever came, whatever Fate decided to throw at them again, it was a miracle that there was still a home for the kids to return to.

The truck stopped, and Jax was the first out of the passenger seat. He met her gaze before he turned and reached inside. A pair of chubby little arms wrapped around his neck.

Her heart started to hammer, and tears flowed down her cheeks when father and daughter turned to face her. A big smile formed on Hope’s chubby little face, and her emerald eyes twinkled. The little girl held out her hands and called, “Mama!”

Her vision blurred as she raced down the steps and took her little girl from Jax. She couldn’t stop the sobs, the tears of joy when Hope’s arms tightened around her neck. Moments later, Jax embraced them both, kissing the tops of their heads and whispering that he loved them. It was the embrace she dreamt of for months.

“Save some for me.”

At the sound of Britney’s voice, she looked over Hope’s head and saw the beaming smile on her sister’s face. When Brit ran over, she hugged her with her free hand, raining kisses all over her face. Sobs mixed with laughter.

Her family was safe. They could finally move on from all of this and start healing.

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