Oh shit, I hear Toby say across the room, but I’m too busy soaking in what tMike is saying.
Mike, Colton says in warning. She’s my…she’s my mate. I can’t let this happen to her.
Mike doesn’t say anything to that, actually I think he doesn’t even know what to say.
I’m sorry this happened to your mate, I really am. The full moon is coming in a week, it’s going to be a rough, but all we can do is play it by ear and hope for the best.
Once again my heavy eyes meet Colton’s. He bends his head and kisses my forehead. I will brutally murder whoever did this to you, I promise, just please don’t leave me. I need you.
The emotion in his voice has my heart breaking and my world crumbling around me. Colton needs me, but I’m so scared. Scared of what I’m about to become. What if my pureblood doesn’t do anything ? What if I turn into a flesh-eating monster ?
Layla’s injuries should be healing soon, but once they do, it’ll be hard controlling her through the transition, Mike mumbles.
I’ll be here for her, Colton says.
Who could have done this to her ? Toby asks out loud. Have we learned anything yet ?
No, Colton answers. I’m still waiting for Andy to come back after following the scent from my office-
Suddenly a sharp pain sears through my bitten shoulder. I cry out loud, silencing everyone in the room. I start spluttering and suddenly there’s a bowl under my chin and I’m vomiting up nothing but blood.
The room starts blacking out around me and I’m suddenly back in Colton’s office, the lights are dim and I’m standing frozen to the spot. Someone is here. Someone wants to kill me.
Carlos steps out from the shadows and a scream rips its way up my throat. He closes the distance and grabs my neck, leaving me breathless.
I’m waiting, he smiles coldly.
No ! I scream, blinding terror slicing its way into my heart. I start thrashing, pushing out my arms to get him away.
Stop, Layla ! I hear Colton shout, but I can’t see him. Carlos continues strangling me. It’s a trick. My
Mind is playing tricks on me. I continue screaming in fear and in pain. Mike, do something please !
She’s hallucinating, I only have sedatives !
I scream again and Carlos smile widens. It’s so cold as he’s trying to kill me.
Colton ! I scream, wanting him to save me this time.
I’m here, Layla. I’m not going anywhere, open your eyes and look at me ! His voice demands.
I’m overwhelmed when I feel a strange sensation inside of me, like something has reached inside of me and is tugging me forward like a magnetic pull to open my eyes.
Carlos fades away. He’s no longer strangling me and I’m not in Colton’s office, but in his room and lying on his bed.
I look up to see Colton on top of me. He’s holding me down by my arms. I’m faced with even more horror when I notice three fresh wound marks on his face.
Scratches.
I inhale in a sharp breath, did I do that ?
I lift my hand from his grasp and immediately put it against his cheek, cupping the cuts I made on him. I can feel my eyes welling with more tears. I hadn’t meant to do that. I hadn’t meant to hurt him.
Colton. I cry and he pulls me up in his arms.
It’s okay, you’re fine. You can do anything you want to me, just don’t leave me.
I start sobbing. I’m so sorry.
I move my head to the side to see Mike slowly taking a needle from my arm. A sedative is now running through me, numbing me out and allowing me drift off into a pain free sleep.
This is your fault, Colton !
My brain jolts awake from the sudden intrusive voice. A pain shoots through my bitten shoulder, stilling me as I begin waking up. I can’t move my body, only listen to the argument that is going on around me.
You did this ! I recognise Ray’s angry voice. How could you just leave her there on her own ?
Ray, stop. That’s Toby’s voice, but I hear Ray huffing and puffing like an angry dragon ready to shoot flames from his mouth. I can imagine him even pacing, ready to attack.
I didn’t know this was going to happen to her. I wasn’t going to let someone get away with almost shooting her. I thought she would be safe in my office, Colton argues back, his voice edgy.
Ray laughs sarcastically. My sister is fighting for her life after getting beaten to shit and bitten because you didn’t take care of her. You should have made sure she was safe and out of the club. Do you know what your problem is, you’re too absorbed in yourself to care about anybody else.
Ray ! Toby shouts again, obviously trying to calm down my brother.
Stay out of this, Ray growls and I actually feel my stomach turn from the fierceness of his words.
Guys, Mike says. Arguing about this isn’t going to help Layla. Everybody just needs to calm down.
I fight to open my eyes, to see what is going on, but nothing is happening. I wish I could see.
Mike is right, Colton mumbles and I feel a warm hand in mine. I know immediately it’s him by the tingles that are now shooting up my arm from his touch. This isn’t the right time to talk about this.
-Alpha, a new voice calls out from across the room, interrupting the argument. It doesn’t sound familiar.
Did you follow the scent ? Colton asks quickly.
Yes, sir.
Who did this to her ? Colton demands and the room goes quiet.
We followed the scent until it disappeared past Ironer Bay. We suspect the moonwalker that did this to Layla was picked up in a car, so we could no longer follow it. We decided to go back to your office, to search for anything else. We discovered another scent, one we missed.
Another scent…who ? I feel my insides twist and tighten.
This scent was recent sir, like the other, and it led straight to Jenny.
The room goes even quieter. I’m sure if you dropped a pin to the floor you could hear it.
Was Jenny in your office at all today ? Toby breaks the silence.