78. Chapter 78

Chapter 78

J ax strolled out of the packhouse with his hands in his pocket. He had to find the red wolf. It was the only way he would get answers.

While Layla's fight with her dual nature was expected, it didn't usually happen until the half-breeds were older. And he hadn't actually found any cases where the wolf side got so strong so quickly. It was the wolf he had seen in her eyes the whole time he had eased her through her heat. It was the wolf that had endured every impossible position, every frenzied thrust.

It was the wolf that had kept pulling his head down to her neck so he could mark her.

Things were not adding up. Layla had masked her scent from everyone but him. Since red wolves were so rare, not much was known about them, but he wondered what was really happening to his mate. Was she a half-blood? Or was she just unshifted? Maybe red wolf physiology was different, and they shifted when they were older.

His heart started to pound as he stood on the top step outside the packhouse. If Layla was going to shift, then it meant she could stay with him.

Just as quickly as that excitement started, it fizzled out.

What she was didn't change the outcome of the situation. He would still have to say goodbye so his mate wouldn't watch him die.

He sighed as he looked around the packhouse. The Omegas had already returned and were running around the house, but no one else had yet to step inside. There was an air of disappointment around and a lot of anger. He knew how things looked. He'd kicked them all out and disrupted everyone's lives so he could fuck his human. Or his rogue, whichever they believed.

He was doing a shitty job keeping on their good side for the sake of his unborn child.

The child he had finally made while his mate was in heat.

A child.

Fuck. What the hell had he done? How could he drop a child in the middle of this mess? What had he been thinking?

"Alpha?"

He focused on Micah, who had approached without him noticing.

"There's an army in the woods demanding to see you. They're still refusing to see Beta Dylan, and that's made him a little..."

Micah didn't have to complete the sentence. He could feel Dylan's depression without even looking at him.

Something filtered through his heart at the thought of his friend going through this alone. Layla was right; Dylan was the only one he could talk to.

But, without the whole story, Dylan wouldn't understand why he had done such a complete u-turn on his emotions and character.

"I'll go out later," he answered.

"Alpha Chase is getting worried by the number of wolves in our backyard. He thinks there are more wolves than usual as if Kendrick's pack has grown."

He cocked his head as he thought of that. Could that be the witch's doing? Did she still have a hold on that pack? Maybe she had increased their numbers with more of her rogues. It had been a while since he had ripped the last ones apart, so perhaps this was the witch's next move.

"Tell him not to get involved. I'll make sure there's no magic involved first."

"Yes, Alpha."

Dylan came around the side of the house and then stopped when he saw him. His anger increased, as well as his feelings of inadequacy. His old friend then turned and walked back the way he had come.

This was the man who was supposed to take over everything after he died. There wasn't much time left to get him into shape for the role, but... But Layla. Everything came down to Layla.

"May I speak freely, Alpha," Micah started.

He pulled his attention back to the Head Warrior and nodded. Micah never wavered on his duties despite the uncertainty he carried on his shoulders. Dylan was stronger and a better choice to take over, but the past few weeks brought out some issues he would never have seen otherwise.

"Sure."

"Why did you send us away? Did something happen?"

"I... I needed to be alone," he said and then cleared his throat.

If they knew Layla had gone into heat but still smelled human, their rumours of rogue or Dylan's half-blood theory would be confirmed as the truth. It would be better if he found the red wolf first to know how best to handle this situation.

"Where's Diedre? I need to see her but can't sense her anywhere."

"She went to cleanse herself, Alpha. She said something about a spiritual quest. She's in the forest and wanted to be alone, but I sent my best warriors to guard her."

The last time Diedre had gone on a spirit quest was to find clarity on dealing with his father. She must have hit a brick wall again trying to sort out her magic situation.

He sighed and nodded.

"Good. Send word if—"

He turned to look back at the house. There was fear and then a lot of anger. Rage. The same thing he had felt when Layla had walked in on Amber in their room.

"Shit," he muttered as he shoved the doors back open and ran towards the stairs.

What the hell was that vermin still doing in his territory? If Amber laid a hand on Layla, he would fucking kill her. Had he been too lenient lately that people would go against him? He needed to set another example. He would string her up in the middle of town. He would torture her for everyone to see. He would—

He stopped in his tracks at the top of the stairs and tried to process what he was looking at.

Amber did indeed have a hand on Layla, but she was trying to push her away.

Layla was on top of the late Alpha Kendrick's warrior, punching the shit out of her. And Amber was trying to protect her face.

Layla's mouth was set in a snarl, and her rage was so forceful he had to step back. And her eyes... they glowed that beautiful green.

Fuck if he knew what was going on, but Layla looked fucking beautiful. He felt the presence of her wolf, and all her emotions washed through him. It wasn't just the fury. It was all the things the wolf felt for him because she understood that she was his.

Thundering footsteps coming up the stairs forced him out of the twisted fantasy that had started playing in his mind. No one could see Layla like this, not yet, not until he had answers.

He rushed forward and pulled his mate off the other wolf. Layla didn't stop struggling to get out of his arms and finish the job until he whispered in her ear.

"Calm yourself, my little mate."

It was almost like magic, watching the light fade from Layla's eyes as she returned to her human senses. But even then, her eyes remained much brighter than they had been before he had brought her to his house.

There was no more time to think about that as he set her down and turned back to Amber. He forced her to her feet and watched the wolf blink and wipe away the blood falling down her face.

"What... How did she—" Amber started.

"Alpha!" Micah called out as he finally reached the top. "What happened?"

"Did I not say she was banned from my territory?" he growled, turning to the Head Warrior.

"She... She appealed to Beta Dylan," Micah explained, lowering his head.

Fucking Dylan. How would they ever get their friendship back if he kept going over his head like this?

He shoved Amber towards Micah, and the woman almost fell before Micah caught her.

"Throw her into the forest. She is not welcome here."

"Alpha—" Amber started.

"Shut up! Shut the fuck up! You will never speak of this day to anyone. Go back to your pack."

His Alpha tone rolled through her, and she lowered her head. Once her head was clear, she would probably realise why he had commanded her silence. Killing her would have been a better option, but if Dylan had feelings for this wench...

Once Micah dragged the woman down the stairs, he turned to Layla. She looked down at her shaky, bloody hands, and her confusion was evident on her face.

She looked up at him with tears forming in her eyes.

"I think I'm going crazy," she whispered.

‘No, mate. You're not crazy at all,' Cain said in his head.

"Let's go get you cleaned up," he said instead.

Would it reassure her that she had a wolf inside her waiting to come out? Somehow he didn't think so.

He would find that red wolf as soon as possible. She would tell him what he was dealing with.