~Kade~
“She will need to heal and rest to regain her full strength.”
Layla’s arms dropped to the side, and her eyes closed again.
“Alpha Kade,” Tarisa said quietly. She placed a hand on my shoulder. “Let’s talk outside. Let her rest,” she said, urging me to let Layla go.
I released my arms and softly put her head back down on the pillow. Walking away was the hardest thing I’ve done, but Tarisa and I stood just outside the room.
“You need to eat and rest. Let’s join the others in the dining room,” she said.
“No, I’m not leaving her. Ever,” I said and held onto the handle.
“She is all right now, but it is better she be alone these first moments. She has, after all, just been resurrected.”
Resurrected. It was true. Layla was dead. The pain was still there, but I swore I would never let that happen again. She was alive now, and we were going to keep it that way.
I walked with Tarisa down to the dining hall where everyone was eating, or at least trying to eat.
They looked at us walking in and must’ve seen the smile on my face or the worry in my eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Layla’s father asked.
“I will let Alpha Kade explain. Those pierogies look tasty,” she said and glanced at my mother. She held up the whole plate and put it closer to the table.
“Please, eat as many as you want. I cook when I’m grieving,” my mother said and mustered up a somber smile.
“Layla’s alive.” Perhaps that wasn’t the best way to break that news. It wasn’t very subtle. The pitcher of iced tea my mom held in her hand dropped from her fingers. The pitcher broke on the floor, and the tea pooled around her feet. Layla’s mother dropped the chicken she was nibbling on, and Tracey stopped the swaddling and froze.
“Are you serious?” Anna gasped.
I nodded.
“You’re not joking?” Tracey asked.
“Never about her,” I said.
“Can we…”
Tarisa placed her hand on Tracey’s shoulder. “Let her rest for now. When she’s ready, we will know.”
Everyone had to stay calm and stay here.
I didn’t think I was the only one who struggled with that. Those who sat around the table were tapping their feet. Everyone standing was looking toward the door, ready to bolt.
Tracey slowly raised her arms, asking if I wanted to hold my daughter. She was sleeping soundly, and I didn’t want to ruin that.
“No, she’s good,” I said. Maybe that wasn’t the only reason. My eyes searched for her wherever I went in the room, but I couldn’t bring myself to get too close to her. She was fragile, and the thought of hurting her, I just couldn’t.
Time passed, and everyone was on edge. It was becoming harder to stay put, and nobody would even leave the dining room because we knew we’d go upstairs.
People were taking bites from the food, and after two hours there, one of the plates was empty. The remaining four plates were being looked at, desired but not touched. No one could eat, and that was rare for a room full of werewolves.
Justin sat with his face in his hands, and Mason was staring into the wall. Tracey and Cara played with the baby when she woke up. Danielle stood against the wall. She looked positioned, ready to protect if needed.
I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. I heard the door opening earlier, but it could’ve been anyone. However, those steps weren’t random. They were slow and heavy.
She was tired, but she got out of bed; why?
Everyone was slowly turning and facing the door. She walked in, dry blood still painting her neck and her silk robe hanging around her body.
“Kade?” she cried.
Her feet, however tired, carried her body over to me. I ran toward her and lifted her into the air. We swung around, and it felt like paradise. This was what home felt like; she was it. Layla was everything.
I put her down put, held her head against my chest, and buried my face in her neck. I licked her wound. It had almost healed. I wiped some of the blood away and felt as she pressed against me. She leaned back.
“Where is she?” Her eyes were gazing into mine, and I listened to her heartbeat.
Shit, how I loved that heartbeat. I turned to the side, and Tracey stood from the chair. She walked over, and Layla smiled through her crying as she looked at the baby girl.
“I thought I’d never see you again,” she cried and held our daughter close to her heart.
“So did we.”
Layla looked up at her mother. Everyone was standing and watching her.
“I…” She looked over everyone’s faces and sighed. “I’m so sorry,” she said.
Everyone hugged her carefully so as not to hurt the baby.
I didn’t move an inch, so anyone wanting to get close had to walk around me. When she tried to walk too far away, I pulled her back. She was never leaving my side again.
Layla smiled and cupped my face. Her soft skin and warm hand had me closing my eyes and leaning into her touch.
“You’re never allowed to die again,” I said and pressed my lips against hers.
She smiled against me.
“Now that you’re here, there is something you must know,” Tarisa said.
I tensed and felt Layla stiffening next to me as well.
“Analise gave her soul to bring your back. It is not forbidden, and it is not dark magic, but still, it comes with a price,” she said. “We could bring you back and your wolf, but not all is as it was. Your powers, even though it was a gene, were still a product of black magic. That gene died with you, and it could not be restored.”
Layla furrowed her brows. She looked at me and woke her wolf.
“Your eyes.” I was confused, and it was visible.
“What?” she asked, and everyone looked at each other.
I dragged my thumb on her cheekbone.
“They’re beautiful and gold,” I said.
Her head snapped to Tarisa.
“I’m not an Emberclaw anymore?” she asked.
I waited for a reaction; perhaps everyone did. A big part of her had been taken away.
Layla scoffed and smiled. Her shoulder relaxed, and she looked around.
“Good,” she said sternly. Her eyes met mine; they were back to their own color. “Nobody should have that kind of power,” she said and smiled.
Everyone was relieved to hear her say that. She took it well, and I was relieved.
I looked down at our daughter. A sudden pain stabbed my heart, and I shook my head.
“She’s beautiful, isn’t she? I’m sorry I didn’t tell you… about any of it.”
I placed two fingers under her chin and raised her head. “Don’t you dare apologize. You did what you needed to do to win for everyone. If it weren’t for my selfish choices, that mess never would’ve happened.”
Her lips tugged in a smile. “Why do you look sad?” she asked.
I looked down at my daughter. Her eyes would be big; I could already tell. Big and beautiful.
“We have more to lose now,” I said.
Layal smiled and leaned in. She stepped up on her toes and whispered against my lips, “And more to love.” Her lips pressed against mine.
I grabbed the back of her head and deepened the kiss.
“Is he gone?” she asked and looked at me.
That raised more than one question. My eyes circled to Justin, who was standing in the back. His chest rose, and everyone stepped to the side to let him pass. They had some things they needed to discuss, but letting her go was hard, even if I knew she’d be back. Layla handed me our daughter.
“Can we talk?” Justin nodded.
I saw the attempt he made to smile.
“Let’s go.”
They walked toward the door. Layla turned around, her shoulder brushed against my arm, and she smiled. Her face turned red as she choked a laugh. Yes, I followed them. Justin smiled in pain and shook his head.
“We don’t need to go anywhere. I know you know,” he said.
Layla’s smile fell. Her brows bowed, and her eyes looked with a deep sadness. It was becoming hard not to take it personally. Layla hadn’t officially chosen me yet.
“I’m so sorry,” she breathed.
“Me too. Maybe in another life,” Justin said and grabbed her hand.
“She’s mine in all lives. No need to touch,” I growled. The possessiveness I felt was ever-growing and fully consuming.
Justin pulled his hand back slowly and bowed his head.
“I, Justin Prince, reject you, Layla Lecruest as my mate.”
The first tear fell from her eye. It was unbearable to watch, so I looked down instead at a vision so pure and beautiful that it gave me nothing but peace and calm.
“I accept your rejection,” Layla whispered hoarsely.
