Her Chosen Love

Layla's pov

I gasped in pain when I woke up that morning. My back was killing me, and I believed my body was stiff because when I tried to sit up, I couldn't move my arms or legs. It was only when I looked over at them, that I noticed that they were tied to the bedposts.

After struggling with the ropes for half and hour, I finally gave up and looked around. I was in the bedroom that James had shown me, and it made me sick just thinking about it. Suddenly the door opened, and when I saw the person, I cringed further into the bed.

"Oh, good. You're finally awake. I was starting to get worried after a few days." James said sitting on the bed next to me.

"How long have I been unconscious," I asked slowly.

"Almost a week," he shrugged.

"A week?"

"Almost," he corrected. "You have been unconscious for about five days."

I nodded without really paying attention. Last time he kidnapped me, I was held for a week, and I hoped that I was found before I was last time. There was no telling what he would do this time, and that was probably what frightened me most.

"I have decided I will do something nice for you. I will allow you to visit you mother today," he said stretching as he stood up. He untied me from the bed, and I sat up while rubbing my wrists.

Ignoring his outstretched hand, I got up on my own with only a stinging pain going through my back. I saw him clench his jaw as he struggled to control his anger that was clearly showing in his eyes. After a while he seemed to contain it and he smiled down at me, and walked out the room.

I followed James down a hallway and through a door that opened to a set of stairs. Weary of what happened last time, I made sure I was out of his reach before I continued down. When we reached the bottom he grabbed a flashlight from his pocket and I let out a breath of believe. I was starting to believe he would be one of the guys that used torches.

I continued following him, making sure I was out of reach but still close enough to use the light to see where I was going. James was still quiet and in all honestly I found that frightening. The only noise was our footsteps and even then, it was quiet enough that it was barely heard.

"Here we are," he said finally when he stopped at a dark cell.

"Mom?" I called out hesitantly.

"Layla?" I heard. When my eyes finally adjusted to where I was, I looked over at a bed that held a figure wrapped up in a blanket.

"Mom! Are you alright?"

"Yeah. Just a little cold and hungry, but don't worry about me. Are you alright?" she asked in concern.

"I'm fine. Just worried about you." I said while shivering. I see why she was wrapped in the blanket. It was really cold down here. I turned to find James staring at me. "You have to get her out of here. She could get sick."

"And now why would I do that. She is the only guarantee of mine that you will not run away." He said leaning on the cell bars.

"Please, James. I can't let anything happen to her." I pleaded with him.

"Well, then you should hurry and convince me you won't run away." Seeing I was about to say something he added, "and no, just saying it will not convince me."

With that he handed me a lantern he just lit and walked back the way we came. I sat down outside my mother's cell, and just stared at her. She attempted to give me a reassuring smile, but I easily saw past that. I got her kidnapped and locked up and she was the one trying me make me feel better. I saw her look where James disappeared to and then sat up.

"You have to get out of here. Just leave me and go," she said hurriedly.

I shook my head. "I'm not leaving you."

"You have to," she breathed out.

"I can't," I cried. She dragged herself out of the metal bed and came to where I was. Reaching through the bars she wiped away my tears and brushed my hair out of my face.

Gathering my hands in hers she said, "You are the bravest person I know. You have always done you believed what was right no matter the consequence that you would have to face, and I love that about you, but right now I want you to be selfish. I want you to get out of here and live. Don't let me hold you back. If I have to die for you to be happy and safe then I will. I haven't been the mother that you have needed lately, but please let this make up for it. It is the only way I can make it up to you now, so please. Let me make this sacrifice for you."

I nodded my head, and she brought her lips to my forehead. "I love you, and I forgive you," I told her.

As I turned around, I saw a tear fall from her eye and I fought even harder to make sure none fell from mine. Clutching the lantern in front of me I walked to the hallway that James didn't go down. Hopefully there was another way to the ground level. I guess today was my badluck free day because I saw a set of stairs up ahead.

I ran up then two at a time and set the lantern at the top of the stairs. I slowly opened the door and peeked out, and almost hollerd out in happiness. I was only a few feet from the front door. After making sure nobody was around I crept out the room and up to the door.

Surprisingly, the door was unlocked and I easily open the door, but my victory was short lived. Before I could even take a step out, something hit me in the back of my head. I couldn't help thinking how I spoke to soon about my badluck as I slipped into darkness yet again.

Liam's pov

It has been five days since my little sister got captured. Adrian called me the day after, and I got here as fast as I could. I haven't seen her in about two weeks and it was killing me.

When she was kidnapped the first time, I blamed myself. We had been looking for a week when I got the call that Adrian found her. I was so relieved, but then I found about Aaron. If I knew anything about Layla, it was that she hated making decisions. If it was up to her, she wouldn't even make them at all.

Shaking my head, I continued to follow her two mates through the woods. Through their connection they were about to sense and smell Layla better than anyone else. When I saw Aaron's and Adrian's head snap up at the same time, I knew they found something. They started running and I ran after them.

When we reached a river we jumped right over. Aaron stopped and we stopped too. Since Aaron was technically a dog, he would not be able to follow the trail anymore. Everyone knows a dog can't track anyone through water, but water just intensifies the smell for vampires.

We followed her trail to a tree by the bank, and as the smell of as male overpowered her scent a growl ripped through mine and Adrian's chest. We doubled our speed and followed it to a cabin deep in the woods. It looked exactly like what the man said, and we stayed hidden as we walked towards it.

We looked through the window, and I was shocked at what I saw. Layla was tied to a chair her back bloody and her face bruised while tears fell down her face. In front of her was another chair with my mother tied to it. I clenched my fists together to keep myself from running into the house. I saw Adrian open the door quietly and we were then able to hear what was being said inside.

"You shouldn't have tried to escape, my dear. Now your mom has to pay the price." My old best friend, James, said.

"No, please. Leave her alone. Punish me." I heard my sister plead with him.

"I have already punished you. Did you think being whipped was just for my amusement?" he chuckled. "And I figure this is a worse punishment. Knowing you mom died because of you, so . . . any lasts words."

"Liam's alive, mom," I heard Layla say at last.

"My boy's alive?" I heard my mom's weak voice ask.

I could tell Layla was going to respond, but before she could say anything, James cut my mom's throat. I heard as my sister yelled mom's name, but I knew nothing could change what happened now, so without thinking, I walked right in the cabin. James's head shot up to me, and his eyes widened, but he quickly snapped out of it and ran behind Layla, who cringed at his closeness.

"Well, well. Look who is alive. I thought your sister was trying to help your mother, but apparently she wasn't lying after all." He laughed and put his hand on her shoulder. Suddenly he looked behind me and narrowed his eyes.

"Let her go, and we'll let you live." Adrian said calmly which I knew took a lot of effort from the strain in his voice.

"Why should I live without her? Would you live without her?" he asked and by the silence the answer was obvious.

"Either way she is coming with us. You can either give her willingly and live, or we will kill you and take her anyway." Aaron snapped.

"You know, I don't like either options. How about if I can't have then no one can?" Before we could do anything, he injected Layla with a purple liquid.