Fight for Me

Third POV

Layla slowly opens her eyes, seeing the familiar walls of her princess styled room.

How did I get here?

Remembering the woods, she shoots up from the bed just to grab a hold of her head, hoping to stop the sudden headache.

“Fudge that hurts.”

Blinking a few more times, she notices the bit of light in the room.

It must be morning already.

Slowly scanning the room, she becomes worried again, seeing the shadow in the near corner.

After what she saw last night, she’s starting to feel that her caution for the shadow may just be justified.

Trying to not even look in its direction, she tries out get out of bed to get to the bathroom.

But she stands up too quickly, and the dizziness is back making her fall to the floor.

Keeping her head down, she tries to use the bed to push herself up. But from the corner of her eye, she can see the shadow nearing her.

What will happen if it touches me?

“What are you doing out of bed?” She looks up to see Nicholas rushing to her.

The moment he reaches her to help her up, she sees the shadow rushing backwards, through the wall and out the room. In that split second, Layla grabs a hold of him too, nudging her face in his chest as she releases a deep but shaky breath.

She doesn’t know if it’s his amazing scent, or his huge frame enclosing her in his hold, or just for the fact that his sudden presence seemed to have scared the shadow off. But in this moment, Layla feels something she hasn’t felt in ages, - safe.

But Nicholas can feel her shaking in his hold. He doesn’t know what’s wrong.

Is she sick?

He tilts her head up to look at him. He looks at the bruise on her head. The cut was small, and it looks better than last night. He places his large hand on her forehead, but she doesn’t seem like she’s burning up.

With the way that she was shaking, if she’s not sick, then she must be scared. But of what?

“Uhm. Nick?

“What’s wrong?”

“What?” She’s a bit lost with his question.

“What are you afraid of?”

“W-what do you mean?” She looks away and tries out step out of his hold.

He huffs, annoyed.

“You heard me. What are you so afraid of that you were shaking like that?”

But Layla is more worried that the shadow may still be close by and hearing all this.

It mustn’t know I’m afraid of it. It can’t know that I can see it. I don’t know what it’s capable of. I don’t know what it wants exactly. But I think it wants something from me.

“I’m not a-“

“Don’t.” He interrupts in a serious tone. “Don’t lie to me.”

Looking into his eyes, she can see the seriousness in them. But he isn’t angry, he is pleading her.

She sighs with defeat. “Nick. Don’t concern yourself with my issues. It will be better that way.”

Nicholas takes a step back to analyse her. He can see the concern in her eyes too, for herself and for him.

“I disagree.” But he continues before she can question him. “As long as you are on my pack-grounds, your issues become mine. I need to know what I’m protecting my pack from. So tell me,………..are you the woman the trackers are looking for?”

Nicholas has so many questions, and he’s going to try and get as many answered as possible.

Layla looks up at him with a straight face, giving nothing away. But she then gives a gentle nod.

“And I must ask,,….the rogue attack the other night,….was that because of you?”

“No. I’m not running from rogues. Not that they would work for them.” She says the last part in a whisper.

“So you’re more running away from something than you are running to something?”

“Yeah, I guess you can put it that way.”

“And you being here, is just to get their trail on you to go cold?” He asks but says it like a statement.

She lightly bites her lower lip from guilt of being caught.

Nick smirks. He’s happy to finally get some answers for his mysterious……..guest.

But he also knows now, the fact that she admitted this to him, not only means she trusts him with it, but that she is not a culprit running from a crime, but a victim running for her life. He has dealt with his fair share of criminals. And he knows they always take any opportunity to make themselves look innocent. Not her.

There is so much more he would still like to ask, - like, how she actually survived that rogue attack. But he won’t push it. He knows what he ‘needs’ to know. He shouldn’t feed his curiosity on her too much anyway.

“Alright then.”

Layla looks at him a bit dumbfounded.

“That’s it? You’re not going to kick me out, now that you know why I actually wanted to come here?”

“You don’t need to look so guilty. You made it clear from the beginning that your staying here, is for your benefit. But I now know what I need to know. Besides, an Alpha never breaks his promises. I will continue to provide you with,….'protection’ while you’re here.”

He smiles at her, and she can’t help but smile back. They stand that way staring at each other for a while longer, enjoying their first comfortable moment of clarity.

“Well isn’t this a sight to see.”

They both get pulled from their trance as they see a smiling Anthony in the doorway.

“What are you doing here Anthony?” He asks annoyed.

“What? I just came to check up on my favourite person. But she seems to be in good hands.”

Nicholas huffs and walks out the room.

Anthony rolls his eyes, smirking as he walks into the room.

“He always gets pissed off by anything and everything. But I’m glad to see someone can put a smile on his face. Didn’t think he would remember how to.”

Layla just nods, not really knowing what to respond with.

“So, tell me what happened to you last night. I’m glad to know you went on the run, but how did you end up with a knock on your head? Did you not look where you were going?”

“Yeah. Something like that.” She gives a lazy giggle.

“Well, you should be more careful next time. You’re human, remember. You can easily wind-up dead with a simple knock to the head. You had us worried.” He basically scolds her.

Layla can’t help but smile a bit. His scolding reminds her of her mother.

“Us?” She asks.

“Yeah. I felt so guilty for suggesting you go on the run when I saw Nicholas carry you out of the woods like that. And he just made me feel worse when he didn’t want anyone to come near you.”

Nicholas found me? She thinks to herself.

“You really have no need to feel guilty. It’s not your fault at all. Besides, it was just an accident, and a simple injury. No harm done.”

“Well, I hope so. But if you want to go into the woods again, you better tell me so I can tag along.”

“You know, I don’t need another babysitter. Speaking of which, do you know where Cody is? I haven’t seen him at all since the day before yesterday.”

“Well now that you mention it, I didn’t see him last night either. But if I see him I’ll let him know you’re looking for him.”

“Thanks.”

“Anyways. You get freshened up so long, and I’ll see you downstairs for breakfast. Okay?”

“Okay.”