I reached out in my mind link, telling Andrew to get rid of the other two underage girls. As I was doing this Nick had stopped by the women’s bathroom were the brunette had ran inside.
He was waiting for her. Before I was about to go up to him and tell him to do one, she emerged and once again I was hit by her glorious scent that had my canines aching to claim her.
Nick grabbed her and I felt anger flare inside of me when he shoved her up against a wall.
Get off me ! she screamed, her eyes wide and fearful. Nick mumbled something into her ear, but I was too full of anger as I stormed over towards him and grabbed him.
The girl said let go, I said through gritted teeth and immediately Nick backed down.
I’m sorry boss, was all he said and took off, obviously not wanting to get on my wrong side.
I looked at the girl and my eyes met her light brown ones. She was stunning. I felt worried with how much I wanted to mark her. If I wanted to mark her this badly it only meant one thing and that confused me. This girl must be my mate and this shit just didn’t happen anymore. She couldn’t be my mate.
My wolf growled in protest at that, the beast within me smashed me down and I found myself looking at her again, my senses pulling me into her more. My blood rushed through my veins as my heart started pounding against me. The feelings that she was giving off was filling every part of me and already I could feel myself getting stronger just being in the presence of her.
I knew in that second of looking into her eyes that she was my mate, and for once since my parents died, I felt at home, and I sure as heck wasn’t letting her or that feeling go anywhere.
Layla
I didn’t know what I was doing, only I knew I had to go. Something was calling me to The Wolf Cave and it was as if I had to be there or else something bad was going to happen. I wasn’t ready to become a wolf yet, but I needed to do something.
Layla, what are you doing ? I felt a hand on my wrist and I was suddenly yanked back into Colton’s chest, his eyes searching my face for answers. I didn’t know what he saw but he looked worried.
I have to go, I said with determination, shaking my head when he went to speak. I have to go.
He looked at me as if I’d gone crazy, I turned back away from him, but he kept a sturdy grip on my wrist.
Go where ?
Toby and Ray entered the house behind us, the same time I tore my grip from Colton’s hand and continued for the stairs quickly. I needed to get dressed and go.
Layla ! Colton shouted after me, he took hold of my waist to stop me. What is going on ?
My thoughts exactly, Ray chipped in looking confused. You’re supposed to be a wolf.
No, I whispered and smiled, which took everyone aback. I’m not ready yet, I have to go.
I tried wriggling out of Colton’s grip but he wouldn’t let go, his eyes were silently pleading with mine. I felt bad, but he wouldn’t understand.
Where are you going ?
The Wolf Cave, I said and they all looked at me as if I had ten heads. I knew how it sounded, but I had to go back to where it all began. You won’t understand now, you’ll have to see.
Okay, Ray said holding up his arms, looking slightly bemused. This is not the time to go clubbing it Layla, you need to chill out so we can figure out why you haven’t shifted when you were supposed to.
Colton, please get off me. I ignored Ray and tried to get away from Colton, when I was free from his grasp I made it to the stairs and quickly I ran up them and into the guest bedroom.
I tore inside and pulled my bag out, rooting through the clothes that Ray had packed for me. I scowled, because he hadn’t packed a single matching bra and knickers. Gran would be so pissed.
I gritted my teeth when I felt a hand on my arm, I looked to see Colton standing beside me searching my face for answers.
Please don’t, he whispered.
I shook my head and shoved him and suddenly he flew back and hit the wall. I gasped and bit my lip, hating myself for doing that.
What the hell Layla ? Ray shouted, but I turned back round to search for something to wear, this time it was Ray who grabbed me and lifted me up away from my bag. You need to stop right now !
Get off me Ray ! You don’t understand ! I shouted as he tried to take me away, but I was too busy trying to squirm out of his grasp. I tried pushing him, but he was expecting it and restrained me. I screamed out and started thrashing, I couldn’t help it, why can’t they let me go ? I’m not a prisoner !
You will be if you don’t stop and explain exactly what is going on !
She’s stuck. A new voice said and we all turned to see Mike standing by the doorway, holding a dart gun that was pointing straight at me. She can’t shift yet.
Do you mind not pointing that thing at my sister ? Ray argued as I still continued to struggle to pry myself from his grip.
I have to Ray. It’s the only way she’s going to stop. I’ve been looking at Layla’s blood every five hours for the past few days since she was bitten, there is something really different happening.
Like what ? Colton asked. I hadn’t even seen him step beside me.
Mike swallowed hard. It’s clear she is not following a moonwalker path because she did not turn tonight. I suspect she is following pureblood rules now.
What are you getting at Mike ? Ray frowned.
Layla is mated.
Yeah, and ? Ray asked.
This matters. Colton and Layla are the first mated wolves in twenty years. I did some research into it because it was an interesting subject and I’d never heard about it before. It seems the mating bond is affecting Layla’s transition into becoming a wolf, she is not shifting because she needs to complete something else first.
Complete what ?
Mike looked at me and then at Colton nervously, his hand was still shaking around the sedative gun that was still pointing at me. He started saying the next bit like he was reading it from a text book.
At the coming age of eighteen, female wolves who haven’t completed their mating go through a heat cycle. Before this time, the female will find her mate and the alpha pair will start bonding. Because Layla was human before this didn’t start happening until she started transitioning. Within five to seven days of the heat cycle, the mated pair will have to copulate, or the female wolf will never be able to shift and she will die.
There was a silent pause, nobody moved, until Ray snorted out loud. She’s already mated though, right ?
Mike shook his head. Although Colton has marked Layla as his, they have not completed the mating by copulating obviously, if they had of done that already, Layla would go through her transition as normal, but she cannot for this reason.
English please ? Ray asked and I felt my cheeks flare red.
They haven’t had sex yet…