19. Chapter 19

Chapter 19

L ayla looked up at Britney's window and then at Dylan holding the passenger side door open for her.

"She'll be fine, Luna. Don't worry about us here," Dylan said with a smile.

But the smile was strained. She'd heard him arguing with Jackson about why he suddenly decided not to take some warriors with him for protection.

And Jackson's argument was sound. She also wanted as many people as she could trust to look out for Hope and Britney while they were gone. But the tension in the air only confirmed that where they were going was much more dangerous.

"Don't let her run away," she whispered.

"We have twice as many patrols around the boundary. Britney's not going anywhere," Dylan assured her. "Just stay safe out there, okay? Don't do anything foolish."

Like choking out another Circle member?

"And Hope—"

"Will also be fine. Go, Layla. You'll be back in a few days."

He didn't sound sure.

She sighed and got into the car. Jackson already had the engine going and looked straight ahead even though the car wasn't moving. The second Dylan closed the door and she put her seatbelt on, he started driving without a word.

What she did to him still hung in between them. His cheek was back to normal, but she would never forget how it looked with her palm print. How the slap echoed through the room.

She had never felt so ashamed of herself—and she did some pretty shameful things to take care of Britney when they'd been growing up.

They'd been driving for half an hour when she couldn't keep her mouth shut anymore.

"Jax, what I did to you was—"

"Let's worry about where we're going. We need to stay focused," Jackson cut in.

"How can I focus on anything else? I can feel how angry you are with me."

Jackson chuckled but there was no humour in his tone.

"I deserve it," she added. "I'm a terrible person."

Was this how it all started? Exploding and taking things too far, then apologising only to do the same thing again the next time? She didn't even know what came over her. Her wolf had been a little unhinged when she could hear her in her head, but now everything inside her felt unstable. How could she even promise she wouldn't do it again when she wasn't sure?

"What you did changes nothing."

"But it should, Jax. It should."

The muscle in his jaw ticked but he seemed to be pushing down his emotions—smothering them so she only felt a little of it. It was enough, though. She knew she had already damaged their relationship.

"What do you want me to tell you? That something's messed up between us? That something like that shouldn't have even crossed your mind?" Jackson growled. "It changes nothing, Layla. Your life is linked to mine, and mine to yours forever."

And for the first time, she felt like Jackson regretted meeting her. The weight of their bond settled on her shoulders like a tonne of bricks.

"Get some sleep. We have a few hours of driving to do. We would have gone on the plane but it's better to leave all the available avenues of escape for the pack in case they have to evacuate," Jax said.

She bit her lip and looked outside her window. Minutes of silence stretched into half an hour and then an hour, and still, she couldn't shift the weight off her shoulders or stop her heart from hurting.

She must have fallen asleep because the car had stopped at a rest stop when she opened her eyes. Everything looked unfamiliar, and even the air smelt different from Wolfdale's. Her lifelong dream had been to explore the world once Britney was in college, but her first trip that far from home was on her way to her death.

"We'll get something to eat and stretch our legs for a bit," Jax said, opening his door.

"Wait."

Jax looked back at her with an impatient look on his face.

"What if we just keep driving? Just go and not look back?" she whispered.

Those beautiful ice-blue eyes flashed briefly before they turned cold.

"I'm not abandoning my child," he growled, shoving the door open and getting out. His anger showed in the force he used to slam the door shut.

She closed her eyes to try to stem her tears. If they were the problem and bringing the enemy to their child's door, wasn't it better if they removed themselves from the equation? It wasn't a decision she would make lightly. Couldn't Jackson see that?

Jax only walked a few metres from the car before he turned back and got back into the driver's seat.

'It's not safe here,' he said in her head as he pulled out of the parking space. 'Don't look back.'

Her whole body tensed, and she gripped her seat as she tried to sense whatever danger he saw. Jax drove within the speed limit towards town, looking in the mirror occasionally. She sensed nothing. Maybe her head was too messed up, thinking about the Circle and what she did, but she didn't feel the darkness that usually filled the air when Hunters were around.

Jax drove at an average speed through the picturesque town until he made a U-turn and then sped back, taking some turns with a skill that showed he had done something like that many times before. And then, once again, he took her to a busy car park and wiped the inside of the car thoroughly before they swapped cars. Did they leave getaway cars in every city?

Back on the highway, Jax was more relaxed but still drove at high speeds without speaking to her again. At some point, he drove through a fast food restaurant and ordered them something to eat before continuing the journey.

She kept her thoughts to herself and dozed off again. A prickling against her skin woke her up. She shot up in her seat and looked around, only to realise they must have passed through a protective barrier. It was dark, and Jackson was pulling into the car park of a lowrise, sprawling modern building with glass windows, well-lit on the outside.

"Are we here?" she whispered.

"Yes. This isn't their headquarters. They don't disclose where that is for security reasons, but they usually take over a hotel and secure it for such gatherings."

"Like the Hunters do when they bring a hunting party to town and say it's a conference?"

"Exactly like Hunters," Jax answered wryly.

He switched off the car and sighed as he sat back and rolled his shoulders. She was such a lousy mate; she'd slept for a long time and didn't offer to do any of the driving. Jax had been up all night, too. He'd also been up the night before when she'd told him about Brit.

"We'll check in, and a messenger will give us more information about when we have to present ourselves tomorrow," Jax said. "Remember to keep your head down. They referred to you as human in their summons, but I'm sure they already know you're not. If you act submissive, we'll avoid unnecessary challenges."

"Are you going to keep your head down?"

Jax looked at her as if she'd asked a stupid question. Maybe it was absurd to him because anyone who'd seen Cain would know he wouldn't bow to anyone. But if he didn't have to bow, why did she? Even though she hadn't shifted again, she was still the Queen. And she'd always had issues with the whole submissive thing.

Knowing it would do no good to ask that question, she sighed and gathered her things together. Jax got out of the car and retrieved their bags from the back.

‘They're already watching us. Let's just do whatever they ask and get this shit done as soon as possible,' he instructed before walking towards the entrance.

Other cars arrived as they were crossing over from the car park, and valets took care of them and carried their luggage before driving around to what looked like an underground parking garage with security guards at the front. They wouldn't get out of there easily if they had to leave in a hurry. That was probably why Jax parked in the car park, closer to the exit.

The hotel was very nice. That was an understatement. She was used to the luxurious settings from working as a cleaner at Jax's hotel, but this hotel seemed miles better than that. It reeked of opulence and money in every inch of its decor. The name on the front said it was called The Haven. She'd never heard of it, even when she spent countless hours pouring over magazines and online, daydreaming about trips she would never take.

A valet placed their bags on a trolley while Jax continued to the front desk. He didn't take her hand as he usually did.

"Mr King and Miss Carlisle," the man at the desk said with a smile before Jax spoke. "Welcome to The Haven. Your rooms are ready."

He was a young man with smooth, light brown skin and hazel eyes, and his smile was captivating. But there was something about him that rubbed her up the wrong way.

"Rooms?" Jax asked.

"Yes," the man said, again with that bright smile. His teeth were perfect, white and blinding. "Two trials. Two rooms. Please refrain from breaking the rules. I hope you enjoy your stay."

Were they separating them? But they couldn't! Jax was her mate, and everything he did against the Circle was to protect her. Her heart started to pound, and her anxiety rose. The trial hadn't felt real until that moment.

The man pushed two folders in front of Jax with two key cards on top. Jax looked back at her before reluctantly taking the folders offered.

‘Don't say anything,' Jax warned.

He opened one of the folders, and his eyes flashed briefly before he handed it to her. It was an agenda for the trial with the hotel logo on top.

Initial statements. Cross-examination. Ruling.

Just those three things. There was no mention of what time that would happen or even if it was all on the same day.

On two sheets of paper under it, there were rules printed that she knew she would never memorise. One of the rules stated that meeting the other accused during the trial would be a violation and would allow the Circle to decide their fate in their absence without their input.

Her eyes widened as she met Jax's gaze. He hadn't even told her anything!

‘I'll fix this,' he said. ‘Keep your head down until I find you.'

"Mr King, if you would follow that gentleman to your room and Miss Carlisle, please go through the opposite hallway."

She sucked in a breath when she looked away from Jax and realised there were guards at the entrance of both hallways. Big, unsmiling men who did not go with the feel of the hotel. They looked like jailors.

"We'll be okay," Jax said out loud.

The valet took the bag with her name on it and put it in her hand without a smile, and then he pushed Jackson's bag towards his designated hallway. She knew immediately she wasn't getting the same treatment because they assumed she was human.

"How nice to see you both here. I thought you'd chicken out," a voice said behind them.

She looked back and saw the three Circle members who had come to their gates. The one she choked was looking right at her, and his eyes were cold and full of hatred.

They'd fucked up. They shouldn't have come.