Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
The scent of her, the feel of her was so much temptation, but he fought it. Gritting his teeth, he wouldn’t fail himself. Layla was too important.
He pulled away, but kept her in his arms. Her face was bright red, her eyes still closed, but her lips were full and ripe. Slowly, she opened her eyes, and he looked at her. There was a sparkle.
“That was amazing,” she said.
He stroked her cheek.
“Do you … I … can I spend the full moon with you?” she asked.
This was a surprise.
Alexander had to check her eyes to make sure she hadn’t fallen under any enthrallment, or that he’d done it without even realizing he had. Her eyes were clear.
“I…” In the back of his mind, he knew, deep in his un-beating heart, that he should say no. He couldn’t do it. It was impossible.
“Yes, you can come and stay with me.” He then thought about Charles. “You’ll have to forgive my … relative. Charles is not exactly charming.”
This made her giggle. “Okay, well, what if you come to my place?”
“Your parents?”
“They’re always busy around the full moon. They’re not always home. They might be, but you could always come and meet them.”
“And they don’t have a problem with you hanging out with a vampire?”
She bowed her head. “They don’t know.”
“You’ve not told them?”
Layla licked her lips. “I haven’t told anyone, and that’s not because I’m embarrassed or anything, it’s just easier to not say anything. The pack fear vampires.”
“They’re not wrong, Layla.”
“You’re not going to hurt me.”
This made him chuckle. “Some would say that makes you very foolish.”
“I don’t think so. If you were going to hurt me, you’d have done it already. You haven’t. I trust you.”
Those words were like a magical charm weaving a spell over his heart. She trusted him. A human trusted him.
“Then I will spend the full moon with you. If your parents are there, I’d love to get an introduction.”
Chapter Four
Layla helped to put the last of the dishes on the table. Elle was chattering away, but she wasn’t paying much attention to the other woman. Her mom had already prepared the food, but her parents had said they were going to need to do some errands for the Alpha. She didn’t ask what they could be or if they needed help. Alexander would be arriving at the toll of the first bell.
Excitement filled her. She and Alexander would be alone, in a house … where there was a bed. Ever since they’d shared that kiss, she couldn’t get him out of her mind. Even serving customers at the diner, she’d have random thoughts of Alexander, naked. She imagined them rolling around in bed, enjoying each other, touching one another.
It was crazy to her. Lewis had wanted to enjoy some random sex, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Yet, one look from Alexander, and she was more than tempted. She wanted him. It was so, so, so crazy.
“Earth to Layla,” Elle said, swiping a hand in front of her.
“Sorry, I was away with the fairies.”
“And they exist,” Elle said.
“What?”
“Yeah, fairies exist. Brandon has this, like, special archive. He’s been there often and seeing as we’re both mated and he can’t stand to be away from me, we’ve been going down together.”
“The pack has an archive?”
“Yep. Lots of musty old books. Strange languages as well. Brandon can’t read some of them. He’s waiting for an interpreter.” Elle suddenly gasped. “You know, I should take you there.”
“I don’t think I’m the right person to take. I didn’t even know we had an archive.”
“It’s got a whole load of journals and documentation that the pack have been able to save. That kind of stuff. I can take you. Please, please, please.”
Layla couldn’t help but laugh at her friend. “Fine. Fine. We can totally go, but I don’t know why you’re so excited about it.”
“I don’t know either. It’s really strange, don’t you think?”
This made her laugh even harder. She pulled her friend against her and hugged her tightly.
She took a deep breath and then something flashed in her head. An image of Elle holding a baby in her arms. Brandon was there, and it was in the forest. Elle was hurt and Layla quickly pulled away.
“Layla, what’s wrong?” Elle asked.
“It’s nothing.” She shook her head, but the hairs all over her body stood on end. Sickness tightened in her gut.
“You’ve gone white as a sheet.”
The bell tolled and Layla shook off whatever it was that had come over her. “I’m fine. I better go inside. I’ll talk to you soon.”
What the hell was that?
Elle couldn’t stop her from leaving. The rules were simple. All humans had to leave as soon as the bell tolled and were only allowed to return at the sound of the bell again. Layla kept seeing Elle in her mind, so clear, almost like she’d been standing over her, protecting her.