Fight for Me

Back at the house, Nick leaves Layla in her room and says to her that no one will bother her and she should rest. He leaves Margret to attend to a silent Layla.

Meanwhile, as the crowd seemed to have followed Nick back, they all part ways into their own corners and concerns.

Maxim still feels regretful for having a hand in Samantha’s death, even though he knows it had to be done. Though, he is starting to question Layla. Who wouldn't? She's obviously not human having woken up form the dead like that. But he is now too focused on getting his pregnant mate out of Shadow Moon Pack. There is too much danger here, and he needs to get Abby out.

Tristan and Melinda are both calm, as they both prepare to leave. Even though the unexpected occurrences had frightened them, they’re both still somewhat happy, -for Nick.

Anthony pulled Jason along to also get ready to leave. But Anthony doesn’t suspect anything regarding Layla and the rumours. He still trusts her and in their friendship. He almost pities her, but knowing now that she has Nicholas, he knows she’ll always be safe. As much as he would like to stay longer and spend more time with the two of them together, he respects his brother’s decisions more. Nicholas asked them to leave, so he will. But he definitely will be back.

Blake, on the other hand, is angry and very wary of Layla now. He’s angry that she lied to him, that she kept this from him and had him risk everything for her. He’s wary of her because he's still not sure what she is, or just how deep she is with the hunters, but she certainly is dangerous and not worth the risk of fighting for.

How can he when he can’t trust her? -When she didn’t even trust him enough to tell him any of this. That is, if she ever wanted to tell him in the first place.

She trusted Alpha Nicholas enough to tell him everything. Why else would he have been so calm about it all? Was she even going to tell me that the alpha was her mate?

To Blake, she’s not who he thought she was. She made him believe she needed him.

She was just playing me.

She made him think he had a chance with her, when her mate was right in front of them. And he’s livid that Mike and Jason still want to talk to her.

Blake turns and leaves, back to his pack, alone. Though, Ben is sure to escort him off their property, as he was instructed to.

In the large foyer before the front door, Nick sees his brothers and goes to see them off.

They can believe what they want to about Layla and the hunters. But either way, a war is coming regardless of her.

Nick will be ready to fight, he just wonders if his brothers will be too. Though, it is time for them to go back to their respective packs and protect them.

He doesn’t know what his brothers will do with whatever it is they saw with Layla. But he still hopes they won’t do anything to bring more danger to him and his pack. Fighting a brother is not something he would ever want to do, but he knows he will consider it, if it means to protect Layla.

After sending his brothers and their mates off with Tyler as an escort, he sees Rebecca waiting for him in the nearby sitting room.

Nick knows he needs to let her go now. He never cared for her. In fact, neither of them really care for each other. It was just an agreement to begin with.

Meanwhile, Mike and Jason are being blocked by Micah and another warrior, outside Layla’s bedroom door.

They both had argued outside with Nick’s Beta, demanding to see Layla. Nick, however at the time linked his refusal to Tyler. He suggested that they can say goodbye to her through the door.

They hated the idea, but they accepted it, knowing that as her mate, alpha Nicholas probably just wants to protect her. They started telling her that they still love her, ‘no matter what’. Mike was furious that Blake just left like that, but he tried to keep his voice calm as he tried speaking to Layla through the door. He made sure to call her ‘Starfish’ every now and then, so she knows he’s being sincere with his words. Even Jason promised her, that when things settle down, he and Mike will come and visit her again.

There was no response from her side though. They saw how scared she was of everyone in the woods, and are worried that she’s afraid of being alone again. After some time, they eventually had to say their goodbyes and leave.

Meanwhile, Rebecca is looking at Nick with a very annoyed look that she’s not even trying to hide.

She knew there was something between Nick and Layla. But for them to actually be mates…….And the fact that he was still considering a Luna ceremony with her…….??

Rebecca never liked Layla since the day she first saw her. Everybody liked her, just because. She just seemed like the type to get everything so easily by just batting her eyelashes. But to think that Nick would let her just leave, knowing that she’s his mate is even more annoying to her.

“You really are a stupid man.”

He growls from annoyance and her clear disrespect towards him. But she doesn’t care. She’s going to speak her mind, whether he wants to hear it or not.

“Did you know, I took a pregnancy test this morning?”

Nick’s growling breath goes silent.

“It’s one of the reasons I wanted to speak to you.”

She goes quiet, but his intense stare on her, urging her to continue, confirms to her that she has his full attention. –Something she rarely ever gets.

“Honestly speaking, when I saw the results and realized I wasn’t pregnant, I felt nothing but relief.”

She stares at him and rolls her eyes when she hears him too release a shallow breath of relief.

“Just like you questioned me the other day, I too question you. And from what I know now, you really are a disappointment of a man.”

He gives another warning growl, but she just calmly continues.

“And I’ve made up my mind. I don’t want to be tied to you. In fact, I don’t know why I ever thought I needed to be tied down to a man to be happy. -When I can do that on my own.”

Seeing the confused and waiting look on Nick’s face, she realizes she probably needs to elaborate further.

“I’m leaving Shadow Moon Pack.”

Rebecca doesn’t even know where she’ll be going yet. All she knows is that she wants to leave.

After a few more seconds of silence, Nick finally speaks.

“I understand.” He says, but more as an acceptance of her request.

He steps forward and extends his hand. She looks at it and scoffs. She knows that whatever they might have had was all just part of an agreement. But for him to be so ‘professional’ about this to the very end, proves his resilience.

With a quick shake of his hand, she leans in and gives him a kiss on his cheek. With just a single word of goodbye, she turns and leaves. –Leaving Nick behind, leaving the pack behind. Besides, as alpha, he doesn’t need her here to break her bond with the pack.

She finally realized that she had nothing to prove to any of them. She may have once thought she knew what she wanted, but none of it ever made her feel at peace, or happy. Happy, -there’s that word again. The one Mike spoke. The one that made her question everything, even though it was just for a split second. But it was a second that made her realize that she doesn’t need to stress about finding someone to make her feel secure or loved. First, she’ll need to learn how to love herself.

The moment Rebecca steps outside, she sees a certain curly haired man leaning against a wall.

Not in the mood for another one of his cheesy pick-up lines, she just walks past him as she straightens her black leather jacket.

His head shoots up as she walks past him, and he instantly runs after her.

“Rebecca wait.”

She stands, hearing him call her name for the first time. He almost sounds sincere. She takes a deep breath, reminding herself to not be fooled by his tricks.

He’s probably been practicing his lines out here.

“What do you want?” Her voice remains calm.

“I just,…..are you okay?”

She turns and finally faces him.

“Okay with what?” She looks at him confused.

“With the alpha, and Layla being his mate.”

She scoffs. “Don’t waste your efforts in trying to ‘rub it in’. I don’t need consoling. I don’t care about that. Besides, I’m leaving.”

“What? You’re leaving?”

“Yeah. Don’t look too heartbroken. I heard you’ll be staying here. I’m sure you’ll find someone to keep you entertained.”

Just as she turns to walk away from him, she hears him speak again.

“I only stayed because of you.”

She looks back at him, with an angry look.

“Another one of your lines?” She spats out.

He looks at her confused. “I’ve always been sincere with everything I say to you.”

After a brief silence between them, Rebecca releases a deep sigh.

“Look. I don’t know if anything you’re saying is true or not. But right now, I don’t have the time or energy to deal with something like this.” She gestures between the two of them.

“I get that……..So, where are you off to?”

“I don’t know. Don’t exactly have a pack to go to right now. But I definitely don’t need you following me around like some lost puppy.”

“Yes ma’am.” He gives a huge grin, showcasing his pearly-whites. “I don’t have a pack to go to either. And I promise, you won’t even know I’m there.” He says suggestively.

“I doubt that.”

“For you, I’ll do anything you want.”

“Ugh. Then stop with those cheesy lines.”

His smile widens.

“What?”

“So, I’m guessing that means I’m coming with you then.” He steps forward, closing the gap between them.

But she instantly takes a step back.

“I didn’t say that.” But looking at his sparkling eyes, she can’t help but accede to his ‘request’. “Fine.” She huffs out.

He instantly pulls her against him with a smile she thought she could only see on children.

“But no touching.” She pushes him back.

“Except for holding hands.” He leans in and gently takes her hand in his.

But before she can retort again, she’s silenced as he locks their hands and gives hers a gentle kiss.

“This much is enough for now, right?” He says as he pulls her along to goddess-knows-where their next stop will be.

“For now? Who said-“

“Ever been to Vegas?”

“Hey. I’m-“

“Maybe we should go to the coast first. It’s been a while since I’ve gone swimming. Can you swim?”

He looks at her almost-shy face.

“That’s okay. I’ll teach you.”

He smiles down at her as they continue to pull each other along. Rebecca is not at all bothered at feeling her bond with the pack finally breaking not long after crossing the border, starting a journey she never anticipated.