Fight for Me

The next day

Early the next morning, Nick had Tyler and Ben share more intel with their new guests, Mike and Jason, to help figure out new possible tactics to defend their pack-grounds.

Nick was more interested in going out into the woods with Micah and a few border patrols to have a look around possible weak spots in their borders. But that was also more of an excuse to just get out of the house and find a peaceful distraction.

But before Nick and Micah could leave, they ran into a certain alpha.

“Alpha Nicholas. Good morning. I wanted to thank you again for your hospitality. This definitely isn’t the type of high-class service we are used to, so I’ll try to get my men to not make a mess of things.” Blake says looking around with a cheeky smile.

“No problem.” Nick gives a curt nod before trying to walk out.

“Before you go.” Blake gets his attention again. “There are actually a few more things I wanted to talk to you about regarding the attacks. Well,…..to be more specific, - regarding the people behind them.” Blake raises a knowing brow.

Nick looks between Blake and a waiting Micah. “We’re on our way around the borders for some reconnaissance. If you don’t mind tagging along, you can tell me on the way.”

“Sure.” Blake nods as he joins them in the woods.

A couple of hours later, Blake and Nick make their way back to the pack-house, after Micah leaves them to return to his patrol duty.

The two were loudly laughing as they got closer to the house. Sharing stories on their previous fights and experiences with touchy vampires. Apparently, they both have bad history with Sebastian for having killed a couple of his nosy spies.

Nick looks to the side, as if expecting to see something. Seeing his curious look, Blake follows his line of sight. His eyes go wide, seeing a small figure, which he can only imagine to be Layla in sport tights, walking on a branch of a massive tall tree by the lake.

“Layla!”

Suddenly hearing her name, she looks up and almost falls as one-foot slips.

She yelps as she grabs hold of the branch, pulling her dangling leg back up. She looks up and sees an angry looking Blake practically running her way, with a very calm Nick strolling behind him.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing up there?!”

Layla sighs, realizing why she felt like sneaking her way here this morning.

“I’m just sight-seeing.” She tries to say casually, as she continues to look at the lake again.

“You can fall. You almost did. Just come down, before you hurt yourself.”

“Blake, you don’t need to baby me. It’s not my first time up here.”

They both look at Nick, who just gives him a confirming shrug.

But Blake can’t help but be so protective of her. With the way they met, he always tried to be cautious with her, - to not let her get hurt again. Being reminded of her bruised and broken body as he held her to get warm in the cell, he knows she is fragile.

He looks at her pleadingly. But he’s barely surprised with the tenacious chuckle she gives. How can he forget how feisty and stubborn she can be?

“What the-.” Blake gasps.

Layla suddenly swings down on the branch with her body hanging, right before she lets go and lands on the branch below.

“Dammit! Layla.” He stands under the tree with his arms out, ready to have caught her.

“Move. You’re in the way.” She smilingly gestures him to move so she can jump off.

“Layla. Don’t make me come up there. You know I don’t like it when you don’t take me seriously.” He says in a stern voice.

Layla huffs, trying to think her options over.

“Just move.” A deep voice from behind Blake speaks.

Looking back, Blake sees Nick, having almost forgotten he was there, with his ranting with Layla.

“She could get hurt.”

“And I’m sure she knows that.” Nick says with a smirk and a slight sparkle in his eyes as he looks at Layla.

That’s when Blake realized that this alpha knows of Layla’s stubborn ways as well. But for such a stern man to have such an amused look on his face, does make Blake wonder how well this cold alpha really knows her.

Blake hesitantly takes a few steps back and looks up at Layla, waiting.

Almost instantly, Blake sees Layla jump off the branch, as if expecting the wind to carry her. She hits the ground almost softly, as she crouches down with her landing.

Releasing an excited breath, she stands up with a satisfied smirk, before turning and jogging back to the house.

Nick smirks again an pats Blake on the shoulder before following her to the house.

“Come on. It’s almost lunch time.”

Blake follows after, not knowing if he should be relieved for Layla’s strengthened body, no longer limping and bruised, or if he should be worried of his rising jealousy for another man knowing another side of Layla he hasn’t seen yet. He always knew she was a fighter, verbally and physically, but…….

I always found comfort in the idea that I am her safety. -To the one I choose to be my mate.

He clenches his fists, remembering that that is a conversation he still needs to have with her. He knows she probably doesn’t look at him that way, yet. But he does know that she is no fool, and knows of his feelings for her. But she’s still quite young. So he will take it slowly with her.

She’s worth waiting for. She’s worth fighting for.