Fight for Me

The next Day

Layla’s POV

I’ve been going crazy out of my mind from boredom. I just don’t know what to do with myself.

I can’t help Tyler out with filing these days because Nick has apparently given him an endless list of things to do. And Nick is just as busy. Probably this whole pending war thing everyone keeps talking about.

At least my nightly strolls through the woods has me feeling a little less cooped up. There's always someone 'escorting' me around though.

I’ve actually started following Margret around the place, while she’s doing her duties. I’m not someone to offer help when it comes to cleaning, but I did. And she said no.

I can’t believe it. Even when I first got here she made sure I always had a duster in my hand. But then it all just stopped.

I always just thought she grew fed up with my pathetic attempts. But with her stern attitude, I had my doubts.

“Come on Margret. It’s just dishes.”

“I said no.” She says with that strict tone of hers again, as she gets back to informing the kitchen staff of their chores for the day.

I just roll my eyes and follow after her wherever her next stop at running this massive castle is.

“I thought you said every girl ought to know how to keep a house clean.” I say suggestively as I peek at her from the side.

“They should.”

“So.” I practically throw my hands in the air. “Why won’t you let me help?”

“Because.” She stops and turns to me. “You have more important things to concern yourself with.”

My confusion causes a brief silence before she walks off again.

“Like what?” I grunt out.

But she just ignores me as best she can, still making sure I’m not too far from her.

That’s when it hit me.

“You knew.”

Which has her looking at me with an indifferent expression, giving nothing away.

“You knew that I was his mate.” Though she continues walking down the hall in silence. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“What for?” She finally says something.

“I don’t know. Everybody else seems like they had something to say the moment they found out. But you don’t?” I sneak a peek at her with a pout, hoping to get something more from this cold woman.

“Of course I knew. I practically raised Nicholas. It eventually became clear to me what you were to him, the way he was around you. Though, he didn’t seem like he wanted it known by anyone,….you included. And it definitely wasn’t my place to get involved.” She stops and turns to me. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have more work to get to and your help can be used somewhere else.” She opens the door next to me, revealing Tyler sitting behind his desk, accompanied by an annoyed looking Ben.

“Layla!” Tyler calls out, and Ben looks up, hopeful.

I grunt out looking at the stacks of files on his desk and on Ben’s lap.

Why does it seem Tyler is always behind with paperwork?

For a Beta he has shown himself to be quite the opponent in battle, but I guess office life isn’t for everyone. Looking back down the hall I see Margret already turning a corner.

I guess her plan of getting rid of me is a success. Or should I rather say, her mission to pass on her babysitting duties on to someone else. I don’t know why Nick insists on this when he’s made it clear countless times that I’m safe here.

It's not like there has been any rogue or hunter attacks recently. And the pack members seem rather chill with me, even after what happened the other day.

Tyler slips his arm in mine and guides me in. “Just in time.”

“You know, I’m not really in the mood for filing today. I’m starting to feel like your personal filing machine.” I look at him with a sarcastic pout.

“No, no, no. It’s really not that. Besides, after your help the last couple of days, I’ve actually gotten way better at it.” Tyler says with a huge satisfied grin.

I look at Ben for confirmation, because his annoyed look can’t be for nothing.

“It’s true. He’s even gotten me confused with all the colour coding.” Ben shrugs his shoulders.

“Then what do you need me for?”

“Well.” Tyler sits me down on one of the office chairs. “You mentioned before that you have some understanding on supernatural law, right?”

“Yeah.” I say with a slight smirk, remembering the days I basically watched my dad set them up.

“Well, we’re kinda in a snag right now, and we can use all the help we can get.” Tyler says almost guiltily.

“Sure.”

“Great!” He sits opposite me, behind his desk. “You see, the thing is, supernatural laws aren’t as black and white as they are for humans.”

“Oh?” I know my dad did say that the addition of these laws were just the foundation to make more and better ones.

“Yeah. These laws are basic. They basically group all supernaturals under one system. But truth is, each of us creatures have our own laws we already live by.”

Well, that is true. “So, what’s the problem?”

“We’re looking for loopholes. Anything that can help us get onto other creatures’ lands or even their council meetings, without drawing unnecessary attention.” He bobs his eyebrow suggestively.

“Council meetings? Really?”

“Hey. We need to warn as many as we can. Right?”

Though, that guilty look on his face tells me that’s not all. I fold my arms in retaliation.

He sighs out. “Okay fine. So that’s not the complete truth. But we do need to know so we can use that information to protect Shadow Moon pack. We can’t just have people waltzing in on our pack lands with some excuse of the law on their side. If it was up to our alpha, he would just kill anyone who dares to come without prior notification, but he hates having the wolf council on his ass.”

That does sound plausible. “Why didn’t you just say that then?”

But Ben interrupts Tyler. “Alpha doesn’t want you thinking Shadow Moon isn’t safe.”

“Why would I think that? I’ve seen you all in action. You’re all killing machines.”

“He just wants to be extra careful.” Tyler says, rubbing his knees. “Besides, the way you handled that vampire, Sebastian last time, really got me thinking that we should brush up on our knowledge of these laws. They could prove to be more useful in the future. Not everything needs to end in a blood bath, right?” He laughs awkwardly.

“I guess you’re right.” I nod seeing Ben with a hopeful smile as he closes the files on his lap.