21. Chapter 21

Chapter 21

T hat had been a stupid lapse of judgement. Jackson had been too preoccupied tracking Miss. Roberts' and her guest's movements that he'd forgotten the other threat.

He hadn't expected her eyes to glow in the middle of the dinner service.

Going downstairs when Layla hadn't learned to control her emotions had been a risk to start with, but he'd put everyone in danger now. There was a Hunter in his hotel.

The stench of death that clung to Hunters was hard to hide. The darkness, the evil in their souls, always gave them away. Hunters were human, but they committed so many heinous acts in their mission to eradicate all werewolves that he could never sense any humanity in them. Just death and darkness.

He heard Layla's elevated heartbeat behind him and turned to look at her. Her grip was so tight on the rail that he could see the metal bending between her fingers. He turned back to Britney quickly and gave her a tight smile.

"Don't worry," he repeated.

If Britney thought it was weird that he was hiding her sister behind him, she didn't say anything. The elevator door opened on their floor and he let the young girl out first before he turned to prise Layla's fingers off the rail.

"Head down," he whispered, putting his arm around her shoulders and leading her out of the elevator.

His senses were tracking the Hunter, and the threat in the air had Cain growling in his head. This wasn't a coincidence. Why would a Hunter show up just after he had gotten rid of Costas? How much did Miss Roberts know?

Britney opened the door and went into the suite first. Miss Roberts and the Hunter hadn't spoken about wolves and wolf sightings—not that he had expected them to talk about that in the middle of the lobby. But if Andrea knew what he was and what he had done to Costas, then Britney wouldn't be safe in the hotel.

‘Alpha, they have gone into the conference room with Miss Townsend.'

The one room downstairs that was soundproofed. There was a chance the Hunter was just there to dig up information. If it was a real Hunting mission, there would have been more of his kind nearby. But he couldn't take a chance with anyone's life.

‘We're leaving tonight. Tell the others.'

Layla rushed to the bedroom the second they walked into the room, and Britney made to follow.

"Don't," he said.

"Something's wro—"

"She's mine, Britney. So I'll take care of her till my last breath," he cut in as he walked to block the hallway to his room.

He looked down at the young girl. There wasn't a hint of wolf blood in her like Layla had from the first time he'd caught her scent. He wanted to believe the wolf gene had skipped her, but red wolves were still a mystery to him. For all he knew, Layla had been entirely human until she'd met him.

"I've decided to move you somewhere else tonight," he said. "I have a house on the other side of town. It's quieter, and there are fewer people there, so you won't have people like Miss Roberts making you uncomfortable."

Britney stepped back and shook her head.

"No, it's okay. You don't need to go out of your way for me," she said quickly.

And the unease and fear she'd projected before dinner returned. What had this little girl seen?

"It's not a discussion," he said firmly. "Just pack what you need; everything else will be provided there. I'm sure you'll like it better."

He turned and walked towards his room without another word, and when he opened the door, Layla was sitting on the edge of the bed, gripping the bedding and her eyes still glowing. He sensed her growing panic and fear.

"Tell me now, Jackson. Tell me why this is happening," she whispered.

"I don't know where to start."

He walked to sit next to her and released one of her hands to entwine their fingers on his lap. Her panic decreased, courtesy of their insane bond. He was made to soothe her when she needed him to.

This wasn't how he had hoped the day would end, but he was stuck right back in everything he had tried to hide from.

"Is this going to stop?"

He met the beautiful emerald gaze.

"Not likely," he whispered.

Layla pulled her hand from his and put it over her chest. He could hear how loudly her heart was beating now and how fast. It was as fast as the second heartbeat working hard to grow in her body.

"You said... You said once I left the packhouse...," Layla whispered. "Why did you do this to me?"

"I didn't do this to you. Werewolves aren't made, Layla. We're born this way," he said gently.

"I'm not a wolf, so how do you explain this?"

He reached for her hand again, and instantly her heartbeat started returning to normal.

"There are things about you that I still don't know," he started, looking down at her dainty hand in his, "but what I do know is that you already had the wolf gene when I met you."

"This isn't funny, Jackson," Layla hissed, taking her hand away again. "I already apologised to you for trying to leave. I'm still paying the price for it. Don't sit there and tell me lies just to make my life more unbearable."

"No more lies, Layla. No half-truths. I have to tell you this because, after this weekend, the thought of you living in this world without an idea of what you are is making me sick to my stomach," he whispered again. "This world is a dangerous place for us. I need you to survive."

"Bullshit. If I'm like you, then why would I have to leave? Why would you still make me leave my baby with you?" Layla said.

He felt her heightened pain when she said those words and his conversation with Diedre floated back into his head. Diedre had implied Layla would never be okay with leaving her child in his pack's care, and he was starting to believe that was true. Would she try to run again, just to make sure she kept the baby?

As much as the baby had been the catalyst for their meeting, Layla's well-being came above everything else, even his life. Feeling that way about a woman who'd broken his heart was ridiculous.

"You're not like me," he answered. "You're a half-blood. You'll have to keep yourself hidden from my kind, or they will know your wolf blood is already starting to get stronger than your human side. And that... that won't be great for anyone."

Layla's eyes widened, and she shot off the bed and turned to face him.

"What do you mean? Assuming this is all true, you're saying I wouldn't be accepted in your pack anyway?"

He stood and looked at her panicked face. How much of the truth could she handle? If he weren't dying, he would have made them accept her whether they wanted to or not. He would have protected her, even when her wolf side finally overpowered her human side for good.

There wasn't enough time left for him to sugarcoat everything now. The threats were coming from all directions: his pack, the Circle, the Hunters and the damned witch. He'd thought he could handle it all, but if Layla showed her wolf side in the pack, all his efforts would be for nothing.

"I'm saying I have to find out why all of this is happening, and while I do that, I need you to learn how to control it. You won't be accepted in any pack, but if you expose yourself when you live among humans, you'll be hunted by wolves and Hunters alike."

Layla's hand went up to her chest again, and her gaze remained on his. He could almost see the wheels turning in her head.

"Is that why you're trying to find my mother? She's a werewolf?" she whispered.

Her eyes were only just starting to flicker back to their human form. Speaking about her mother again when he was in a hurry to leave wasn't a good idea.

"It's just a theory. When I find out what's going on, I promise I will tell you," he said. "But for now, we need to pack our bags. There's a Hunter downstairs, and I can't risk you getting caught."

That seemed to bring her out of her thoughts.

"A Hunter?"

"The sole purpose of their existence is to kill us and anyone associated with us. Their hatred has morphed them so much that they're not human anymore. They will kill you without a thought. I could get rid of him now, but that would only bring all of them into our city. We need to leave."

"But I'm... How would they even know what you are?"

"It's not me I'm worried about. I'm not the one who walked out of the restaurant with wolf eyes," he said as he stepped to her and took her hand again. "I know it's a lot to take in but you listen to me this time. You need to stay in the compound where it's safe."

Or it would be safe once he purged the pack of the traitors.

Would that be enough to scare her into staying? After what she had done to him, he wouldn't be stupid enough to trust her again, but Layla would have to see sense on this one.

"I'll start teaching you how to control it tonight," he offered. "You can't tell Dylan or anyone else about it."

Layla nodded and then turned to walk to the closet. She still looked a little dazed but her wolf side was under control. He just hoped it stayed that way until they left the hotel. Once a Hunter set his sights on a target, he could track them as well as any wolf.