43. Chapter 43

Chapter 43

"You know the rules better than anyone, Jackson. No humans on pack territories," Hugo said. "There are Hunters who have been operating not too far from you. Now isn't the time to take any chances."

"Who told you about her?" Jackson asked as he sat back in the chair.

He was willing to bet it was Zach. That old man hadn't been happy that he had shut him down during that dinner. But of course, after the rogues had declared Layla one of them, it could have been anyone in the pack.

"That doesn't matter, Jackson," Lincoln said. "What matters is that you need to fix this before things escalate. We don't want to have to take any... extra measures."

The threat was clear in Alpha Lincoln's tone. He'd seen some of their ‘extra measures' before. The Circle was so sadistic that he wasn't sure who was worse; them or the Hunters. Whole packs had disappeared—maybe moved off their lands or worse, he didn't know for sure—just to make sure the Hunters found nothing when they arrived. All in the name of keeping the whole of their kind safe.

"There's nothing to fix. I've taken all the necessary precautions. She doesn't leave the bedroom without me," he growled in warning.

"Is that what you have her there for? To fuck? Surely the welfare of the pack is more important than that?" Finn said.

"Have you come all this way to tell me who I can have in my bed?"

"You have this hotel to do whatever you want in. Pack territory is off-limits. We're here just to make sure your little stunt doesn't bring trouble to the pack. The person who told us about it did so out of concern for everyone," Hugo said.

Or they just wanted to score points with the Circle. It was no secret that their spies were handsomely rewarded.

"Their concern is misplaced, but thank you for dropping everything and stopping by," he said as he stood up. "I hope you have a pleasant journey back to whatever hole you crawled out of."

He couldn't stand the stench of their dark magic any longer, and he didn't want to be in their presence too long, or he would say something that would make them suspicious. So far, they had kept their magic to themselves, but they could get that information out of him if they brought out all their tricks.

"Oh, we're sticking around," Finn grinned.

"Why?"

"Because if she's not dead by sundown, then we will have to come and do the job ourselves."

His rage took him over so swiftly that he couldn't control his beast. He had Finn by the neck and up in the air before he could think. And he knew his eyes were blood-red when he looked the Alpha in the eyes.

"You do not step foot in my territory without my invitation, or I will take that as a challenge," he growled, his Alpha tone filling the air with his command.

The moment he felt Finn's magic flare up to defend him, he dropped the wolf and faced the other Alphas. They hadn't even moved from their seats to help their brother.

"Do you really think I would have a human in my house for no reason? Do you think I would endanger the people I have been protecting all my life?" he growled.

"The rumour is you've not been yourself lately," Lincoln said. "They suspect magic. A hex, perhaps?"

That hit too close to home.

"I have the strongest witch in all four corners living in my house, ready to die for me, and you think someone can hex me?" he chuckled before he turned away from them to walk to the door. "The human stays in my house until I don't need her anymore. And then she will be free to live her life. Set foot on my land, and your people will be coming to pick up all the pieces of you that I haven't devoured."

No one spoke to the Circle like that. That was another reason why they both hated and coveted him. To have such power that he could face three Alphas without bending to their will made him a threat, but they still hoped to one day have him or his children on their side.

But he knew he couldn't piss them off too much now because he wasn't the one who would pay the price. It was his pack they would punish.

"The rules apply to you, too, Alpha Jackson, even if you are the King," Finn said as he rubbed his neck and returned to his seat. "Control your beast, or I will have to enforce them."

He sensed the other two wolves' unease. Those words felt very much like a challenge. Cain growled in his head, and his skin tightened as the unstable wolf took over.

"I would like to see you try," he said calmly.

Maybe Finn realised what he had done because the scent of fear spiked in the air moments before Finn stood and slowly backed off.

"There's no need for that, Your Majesty. The kid is young and still learning," Hugo said with his head lowered.

It was always ‘Your Majesty' when they knew his wolf was pissed off. And the fake respect and submission followed.

He pushed Cain back as he watched Finn hide behind the others, knowing his wolf would have an issue with being asked to let yet another challenge go. But this was for his child, not for him. What he or Cain wanted didn't matter anymore.

"Don't come without an invitation," he repeated before he forced himself to turn away.

"She has to be dead by sundown, Your Majesty. I'm sorry, but those are the rules," Lincoln said.

There was only one way out of this.

"You can't kill her. She's carrying my child," he lied.

He hadn't wanted to do this yet. They would have to discuss this development with all the members of the Circle, and the news would spread to all the packs. The witch trying to kill his unborn child wasn't his only enemy. This news would draw all of them out and put a bigger target on Layla's back.

"Really?" Hugo asked, rising to his feet. "You took our advice?"

"I didn't take your advice. I just decided it was time I had an heir," he said. "But I would appreciate your discretion. There's already been an attempt on her life."

Something filled the air that he couldn't understand. It wasn't fear—not any more than usual, anyway. Was it guilt? Finn lowered his gaze, and that feeling increased. Yes, it did feel like guilt. As Finn was still new, maybe he felt guilty about almost condemning a pregnant woman to death.

He shook his head and walked out of the room. He knew they would still try to come to his pack house even though he had warned them not to, but at least he could be assured they wouldn't kill Layla. Not yet, anyway. But it would be decades until Layla's wolf blood caused her problems, so he wouldn't worry about that yet.

He found Dylan and the warriors in the lobby, ready to go as instructed. Dylan stood in one corner with a dark-haired woman, a wolf from Alpha Kendrick's pack by the smell of it, laughing at something she said and standing way too close.

Was his Beta seriously picking up women at a time like this? The Circle was upstairs! They could have been ordering the termination of their whole pack, and Dylan was just thinking of his next conquest. He was starting to worry that he would never be able to perform his duties as an Alpha. Was he putting too much faith in him because of their friendship? Had he made a mistake?

Dylan noticed his displeasure and lowered his head before mumbling goodbye to the woman. Their car was already waiting at the entrance, and they were driving away from his hotel moments later.

"What did they say?" Dylan asked.

"Nothing," he answered, looking out of the window.

He could feel his Beta's gaze on him. Being unable to trust Dylan sucked, especially considering he kept all the secrets to protect his Beta and everyone else. Maybe when he was dead they would understand and forgive him.

Funny that. He'd never cared much about forgiveness or redemption, but that was all that was on his mind now as his death day loomed closer.

They were almost home when he felt something.

Layla. Something was happening to Layla.