We shifted and ran into the woods. It was exhilarating, my first shift ever and I felt how Clara moved in the wind and the joy she felt from being free.
She howled and I shushed her, we were trying to hide not draw attention ourselves.
âSorryâ
We were on the outskirts of the woods and stopped by the border. The sun glistened in the sky and shone down with its rays illuminating the ground. It was beautiful, the body of water on our right reached into the little lake and that reached further past the border than I had ever explored. I watched the light dance on the surface and the little fish that swam beneath.
I guess I never appreciated the beauty of where I lived or what I had around me, not until now. Not until someone threatened to take it all away.
â It fells odd, Layla â
What does?
â Everything, itâs strange. Itâs not just around us but also within us. â
The danger?
â Everything. â
We stepped forward, about to step over the border when Clara stopped and a mind link came through.
â Layla where are you? People are looking for you.â It was Tracey.
â Tell them you canât reach me.â
â What kind of bullshit lie is that? They can see me communicating with you dumbassâ
â Charm them with your sweetnessâ I internally rolled my eyes as I spoke.
â Why is Alpha Kade looking for you? Shitâ¦â
â Is he there with you now?â I asked and Clara stepped back, shaking her head back and forth as I spoke to my sister.
â Yes heâs here and so are mom and dad and Alpha Sebastianâ
âTell him Iâm away.â
â Layla noâ I closed the mind link and noticed the vigorous tossing of Claraâs head. Her entire body was moving back and forth and her claws were pressing into the ground.
She tossed her head up and howled loudly up at the sky. The wind blew in and she quieted when someone came running into her side.
The impact caused Clara to be to the side and her body slammed into a tree. The wolf disappeared just as quick and she shook her head and looked around as she bared her teeth. We saw only his shadow as he came towards us and Clara was tossed to the ground with a big wolf standing on top of her. He bared his teeth and pinned us down to ground. I smelt him, so did Clara, our mate had found us. She bit at him and started pushing back but he growled and pushed us down harder. We got up, clawing as his chest and he backed up before lunging at us. His eyes were narrowed and he was much bigger than Clara. He leapt over us and bit down on our neck. Again, he stood over us and this time he put more pressure to keep us down.
He lifted his head, slowly covering his teeth and stepping back.
Clara stepped up and behind Kadeâs wolf was a duffelbag. He picked it up with his teeth and tossed it in front of us. Alpha Kadeâs wolf was gorgeous by all means; black with silver strands on his snout and around his eyes as well as pecks on his paws.
Clara grabbed the bag and went behind a broad three.
We shifted back and got dressed in the top and shorts that were in the bag before stepping out and pulling down the sleeves.
I tossed the bag over to him and Kadeâs wolf went behind the tree and shifted as well.
âYou can run again if youâd like, go as fast as you can as far as you can think of, I will always find you.â I drew a breath and released it slowly so he wouldnât hear the shake.
âNow that weâre through with that, letâs go.â He said and folded his sleeves up.
I looked down on the ground and chewed on my tongue.
â Alpha Kade I told you that-â
âWhat you told me was that you needed an hour to say your goodbyes,â he said and stepped up to me. âYour hour is up.â I stepped back and drew a breath but he quickly reached out and tossed me over his shoulder.
âWhat the hell do you think youâre doing! Put me down!â I slammed on his back but it was like hitting a rock.
âLayla?â My mom was shocked to see me being placed down on my feet from the Alphas shoulder. She looked between us and I fixed my shirt before glaring at Alpha Kade.
âWhat is this?â She asked. Tracey was standing with a smirk and a raised brow while Alpha Kades sister and her mate stood next to my father. I looked into Caras eyes and I saw something there, something hidden behind her orbs and it caused me to shiver. I quickly look at my mom and shift focus.
âLayla is leaving with us,â Alpha Kade said and I scoffed whereas my father took a step forward and pushed his chest out. He was getting defesive and I did not want him going up against an Alpha. My father was strong but, however much I hated to admit it, Alpha Kade was stronger.
âYouâre taking my daughter?â He asked and I stepped in between, slowly placing my hand on his chest.
âItâs okay, dad,â
âThe hell it is,â he growled and slowly put me aside.
Tension rose but Alpha Kade looked calm. âSir, I mean no offense but Iâm taking my mate home with me,â everyone turned their heads so fast I thought theyâd snap of. Their baffled gazes sent me into a pit and I shrunk in my spot.
âMate?â My father asked.
âI- yes, me and Alpha Kade are mates,â I said quietly, not quite believing the words myself.
âHoly shit,â Tracey breathed with a much more dimmed expression than the smirk from before.
âI was going to tell you but I didnât know how,â
âOr rather she didnât want to,â Alpha Kade said and looked at my parents.
âWhy not?â My mom asked me and cupped my hand.
I shrugged my shoulder and smile at her.
âI donât want to leave you guys,â she grabbed my hands and sighed with a smile.
âOh honey, leaving us does not mean losing us. Weâre happy that you have found your mate and of course you should be with him,â but that would still imply me leaving my home and could I really do that?
âAlpha Kade, do you promise to take care of her?â My father asked.
âI do, sir,â he was remaining eye contact with my father and allowed him to see everything he otherwise hid. He was being honest, my father was reassured that his daughter would be fine.
But I wasnât as sure.
âDo you feel that?â
I did and it was strange. My senses were messing with me somehow. I was looking into Kadeâs eyes and I felt more than I should. I felt his love, his power, his assertiveness but I aslo felt the heartache and the pain.
What is this?
âWe can fell his emotionsâ
Thatâs not normal, is it?
âNo, but Iâm beginning to think that we arenât normalâ
Alpha Kade turned his head and locked eyes with me. He was quizzical over something and I noticed he put up walls to keep me from seeing what it was that he felt but I saw straight past them. It was like they werenât even there.
âSay your goodbyes and then we will leave,â he said with furrowed brows and adverted his gaze quickly.