Fight for Me

During dinner, the hall sounded livelier than usual.

Blake and Layla sat next to each other and were able to catch up on a lot of things. She even told him about Cody, though it was a bit difficult. But Blake knew it was rare for Layla to make friends, and that when she did, she would get very attached to them and very quickly.

Mike made sure to sit across the table from Rebecca, so that every time she looks up, she would see him. She was beyond annoyed. It was actually difficult for her to ignore him, especially because he ate his food like someone advertising food porn. She couldn’t believe he would dare to do that with everyone there. But he couldn’t care less. Because he knows they would probably just see him as an uncultured and savage lion-shifter who enjoys eating his food with his hands, like many people usually think of him.

Jason seemed to get along quite well with Ben and Tyler. He was appreciative of the fact that the pack members didn’t shun him for his sexuality, like he was expecting. Which kept making him wonder about his mate and why he would pull away like that. He knows Anthony wants him too, with the way he kissed him in the woods. But, stealing glimpses of his mate, he can see a whirlwind of emotions in Anthony’s eyes. Jason knows they’ll definitely have to sit and talk about whatever the problem could be.

On the other hand, as much as Nick would like to spend his time admiring a certain someone, he’s intently discussing his current findings with Maxim. They both carry serious expressions, discussing tactics for the imminent attack.

All while a certain someone was sat in the far corner, alone and avoided by others. Though the bandage covered half her face, it didn’t hide the slight smirk on her face as she stared at Layla’s smiling face, and at the distance between Anthony and his so-called mate. She continued eating in silence, not aware of a certain dark shadow hiding in her own.

As dinner ended, Blake and the guys, exhausted from their long travels, bid Layla goodnight. Many members already left the hall as well by then, leaving it almost empty. But Layla stayed.

She wanted to wait. She wanted a chance to talk with Nick. Though, the intense conversation he seems to be having with his brothers seem to be never ending.

She’s at the point of realizing that it won’t end soon.

She sighs, accepting she should probably just head to bed. But in that instant Nick’s eyes catches hers for a split-second stare down. Before she can mouth a question at him, he looks away and back at Maxim.

Not knowing what that was supposed to mean or what she should do to occupy her mind, she starts looking around.

She instantly knew that was the worst mistake of her life.

Seeing the shadow on the other side of the long table, across from her, her breath hitches.

All her chatting companions have already gone to bed. The only other person there that is not an alpha is Melinda, but Layla is still unsure about her. One second she’s cold and the next she’s all friendly and sisterly. So she’s not an option.

Focusing again, she almost gets a fright seeing the shadow having moved closer to her. Like it’s standing in the middle of the table.

Trying not to focus on it, she quickly looks down at the table, trying to admire the patterns on the long rustic oak table.

But from the corners of her eyes, she can see it slowly approaching her.

Layla slightly tilts her head to the side, trying to look away from it. She’s not sure if she should leave or not.

What if it follows her to the room? Then she’ll be stuck with it alone. Will it even try to do something to her with people around. Can it even do something to her?

All the while in her thoughts, she notices the growing shadow blocking her view again.

With sudden realization, she quickly looks down again, but at her hands in her lap this time.

It’s testing me!. The way it’s swaying side to side wherever I look. It wants to know if I can see it. Crap.

Fidgeting with her fingers, she tries to remind herself to breathe calmly.

It doesn’t know. I just won’t react to it. Everything will be alr-

“Layla!”

Screech!!!!

The hall is filled with the sudden noise of Layla’s chair falling, as she jumped up from fright.

She clearly heard it. It called out her name, right next to her, into her ear.

And now it knows. It knows she can see it. And hear it too? She’s looking right at it, and can see the faint outline of a smile on the face hidden in the shadow. She now knows that it’s not the smoke that looks like a person, but that there’s a person within the smoke.

With a shaky breath, she tries to contemplate her next move.

The four brothers and Melinda’s attention instantly went to Layla the moment they heard the noise. But looking at Layla just staring at something, they don’t know what’s happening.

As the shadow approaches Layla, she takes a quick step back out of reflex.

In that instant the shadow stopped, and she could see that smile drop.

The smoke around this person seems to be growing bigger and darker.

The chandelier lights in the hall give a quick flicker before the shadow moves again.

As the others are focused on the flickering lights, Layla struggles to keep the distance between her and the shadow. And the closer it gets to her, the more she notices an icy cold breeze blowing against her skin.

The breeze seems to get stronger and colder the closer it gets to her. She feels almost frozen in her spot as the cold air in her throat has her choking on her words.

Help………Nick?

Just as the shadow tries to reach out a hand to her, she’s spun in a warm embrace. A familiar one. But slightly different.

But before she can get comfortable, he hurriedly cups her face with one hand as he’s trying to hold her up with the other.

Forcing her to look up at him, she can barely make out the words his speaking. But the mumbling soon becomes louder.

“bre-,…..Layla!......breathe! Breathe Layla!” Nick orders her as he slightly tries to shake her to her sense.

Huuuuuu! She loudly gasps for air, trying to get rid of the cold air in her throat.

Slightly turning her head, she can see the shadow is gone.

Again. She says to herself, not knowing if her observation is a statement or a question.

“What the fuck just happened?” Tristan blurts out standing next to them, like the others.

“Is she alright?” Anthony asks worriedly.

“Layla?...Layla, are you fine?” Melinda anxiously asks.

But Nick isn’t paying them any mind, as he’s focused on making sure she’s breathing. He too is not sure what exactly happened. But he knows it’s nothing simple. Things concerning Layla never are.

Focusing on Nick’s stern look she finally gets her breathing to normal. That’s when she realizes everyone else staring at her. The discomfort has her swallowing hard.

She’s sure they saw her tantrum. How will she explain this? Her cheeks become warm from what she can only describe as discomfort from the situation. Embarrassment perhaps?

But trying to figure out her story, Nick pulls her up straight in his hold. That’s when she realizes she wasn’t even standing on her own.

Testing her legs, she knows feeling came back as she feels the cold marble floor on her bare feet.

“I-,…I’m fine.” She says trying to sound assuring.

“Are you sure?”

She looks at Maxim’s questioning face. Layla is a bit confused with his worried expression. She was sure he didn’t like her either. Especially with everything she did here.

“Y-yeah. I…” That’s when she realized she sucks at lying and she should probably just play dumb. “I don’t know. I think I’m just tired.” She slightly pushes Nick away, hoping to get him to drop his hold around her. Especially with everyone watching them. But he doesn’t. Still giving her that unwavering stern look.

“Tired?” Maxim says unconvinced. “That almost looked like some kind of panic attack. Do you often get those?”

Panic attack?

“Uhm. No?.......I think I’m just tired.”

She tries to walk, but Nick suddenly picks her up that she almost yelps.

Looking back at his brothers, Nick speaks. “We’ll continue our discussion in the morning.” He walks off with Layla in his arms without waiting for a response, leaving the others in the dining hall.

“Sure?” Tristan says before taking Melinda’s hand to go to their room, just as the other two.