Chapter 12
Layla’s p.o.v
Broken.
That’s what I feel.
I don’t feel guilty anymore. I feel broken.
Asher is quiet. He left me. Is that what I wanted? No.
I walk downstairs, to see Asher laying on the couch, his arm covering his eyes. His shirt has been pushed up, making me see his tattoos.
I look at his face. It’s covered with his arm. But I know he didn’t sleep. I could hear him pacing up and down, all night.
I walk to the kitchen and decide to make something. I know Asher likes chocolate chip pancakes. Like me.
There isn’t much I know about Asher. But I do know that he loves chocolate. Like me.
I start to make the pancakes and when I pour them in the pan, a pair of arms wrap around me.
He pulls me back to him, but quickly let’s go. I feel cold. I turn around to see him shaking his head, and standing far away from me.
“Sorry. Sorry sweetheart. I forgot”he whispers and starts walking out of the door, but I grab his arm.
“I made breakfast. Chocolate chip pancakes” I whisper
“I’m not hungry” he mumbles pulling his arm away from me, roughly.
He walks out of the door, and I hear him slam his room door upstairs.
I take the pancakes out, and place them in the fridge.
I walk out of the kitchen to see Holden walk into the house.
It’s not the right time.
He smiles, but then frowns.
“Didn’t you sleep luna?” He asks.
He knows he has to call me luna in front of Asher.
“Asher--- he knows” I whisper and he sighs, walking closer to me.
“What did he say?” He asks, holding my hand.
“That he’ll give me a divorce today. And that I can be with you” he smiles brightly.
“That’s good. That’s amazing” he hugs me tightly.
“Holden..he-” I whisper, pushing him away slightly.
“What’s wrong? Aren’t you happy? You can stay with me. I have been waiting for this day, for a long time. It’s finally here” he leans closer to me and kisses my forehead.
Am I happy? A little.
I’ve finally found my mate, the person the moon goddess has chosen for me. I can finally love someone. And someone can love me.
But then Asher? I’m happy I can be with Holden. He’s the perfect guy, the perfect for me. And I know I like him.
But Asher? I’ve broken him more. I can tell from the way he chuckled, when I said Holden.
He was really leaving me. I wanted that before, but now? Now I don’t know why but I feel upset.
Maybe because I have a feeling that he’s upset because I broke my promise to him. That I’ve broken him more.
“Layla” Holden places his hand on my cheek, gently.
“You haven’t done anything wrong. He was going to find out sometime. And it’s good it’s earlier. He wouldn’t have feelings for you then.” Asher having feelings for me?
“You’re right Holden. I don’t have feelings for her. I don’t think I’ll ever have feelings for, sweetheart.” Asher walks down the steps and towards us.
Holden holds my hand and Asher stares at it, before he chuckles, darkly.
“Wait till she’s divorced, man. People will think she’s a cheater” he says handing me a folder.
“Read through this, Sweetheart. And then sigh it” he smirks,
“What is it?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
“What? You think I’ll give you a certificate? It’s the divorce papers. Don’t act stupid, sweetheart” he says and walks back to the steps.
“Holden. Keep a good grip on her. A lot of people might want her, even though they can’t” he stares at me, smiling slightly.
That’s the first time I saw him smiling since yesterday. But it disappears as fast as it came.
He’s walking upstairs as Holden places his finger under my chin, making me look at him.
“It’s okay Layla. He won’t hurt you” I know he won’t. Because Asher isn’t how everyone describes him.
“Sign them, and all this is over. We can finally be together” he smiles at me.
That’s what I wanted. Me and Holden to be together. But somehow Asher to still be in the picture. But that’s not happening, and it’ll never happen.
“You are happy right?” He asks quietly, and I frown at him.
Am I happy?
Yes.
“Yes. I’m happy Holden.” He smiles walking to the living room. He comes back with a pen in his hands.
“Here. Sign it and you’re free” he makes it sound like I was in jail.
But Asher was free with me. Yes in the beginning he was controlling but, then he changed.
I place the papers on the table, and notice Asher had already signed them. He doesn’t want me.
I write my name on it. On all of them.
There is no Asher and I now. Its Holden and me.
Holden kisses my cheek and hugs me tightly.
“You can move to my place. It’s amazing. And you’ll like it. Everything is perfect now Layla. Everything.” He smiles and I nod.
Everything will be perfect. It’ll all fall into place.
I smile.
I can finally be loved, and I know Holden is a great guy. He’ll love me.
“You’re smiling. You’re happy.” Holden says holding my hand.
“I’ll be back. I’m going to go and clean my house” he chuckles walking out of the house.
I smile at him, even though he’s gone. He’s perfect.
I walk upstairs with the papers in my hand, just as Asher walks out of his room. He’s dressed in a black Armani suit, with a crisped white shirt.
“Sweetheart” he says smirking, like he knows I’ve been staring.
“Have you signed the papers?” He asks and I nod.
He walks closer to me and my breath hitches in place. He’s too close.
“Don’t worry sweetheart. I won’t touch” he smirks, taking the papers off me.
“You’re finally free. You can be loved” he whispers under his breath.
“What are you talking about Asher?” I ask confused
“You want someone who will love you. Someone who will make you happy.” Does he know?
“Do you know?“I whisper freezing into place, and he notices.
“I know what?“he frowns
“He doesn’t know.” I whisper to myself.
“Know what sweetheart. Are you hiding something from me?” He asks grabbing a hold of my arms, gently and I look up at him.
“I’m hiding something from all of you. Not only you” I walk around him, and towards his room.
I get my clothes and turn back to the door, to see him staring at me confused. He’s trying to figure me out.
“What are you hiding?” He asks
“What are you hiding?” I ask and he freezes but growls
“Don’t talk to your Alpha like that!” He shouts.
I expect him to walk up to me or something, but he doesn’t. He walks out of the room.
I get changed into leggings and a big grey top. It comes down to my thighs.
I wrap my hair in a bun, just as Holden comes into the room, with a huge box.
I raise my eyebrow at him.
“It’s for your stuff. I was thinking we could move some things in now, and then some later” I nod smiling at him.
He helps me put all my clothes in the box, in complete silence.
“Do you think my parents will know?” I ask, stuffing my last shirt into the box.
“They do.” I look up at him.
“Who told them?” I ask confused.
“I don’t know. I’m guessing Asher did” I nod as he picks up the box.
“Shall we go to my house?” I nod as he holds my hand.
We walk out of the house, and into the forest a little further where the pack house was. There’s a few people staring at me as I make my way to Holden’s house.
I lower my eyes, walking to his house.
His house is the same as everyones. But it looks bigger. We walk inside and I see the living room and kitchen together.
It’s an open space house.
“I tried to clean everything up as quickly as I could” he shakes his head, as he sees the shirt left on the floor. He kicks it in corner and pulls me inside with him.
“I’ll show you your room” I nod following him upstairs towards a door. He opens it, and looks at me.
“It’s not the best, but when you’re ready, you can move to my room” I nod as he places the box on the floor and walks downstairs.
It’s a nice room. Blue and white. It was very light.
The sun is shining through the window. I look outside to see everyone happy, playing around. It was a wonderful day.
I start unpacking my clothes and after 10 minutes I’m done.
I turn around to see Holden walking in, and he smiles at me. His smile is so perfect. Everything about Holden is perfect.
“Asher’s calling you. Something about the divorce paper. Do you want me to come with you?” He asks, wrapping his arms around my waist.
“No. I need to face him someday, he is the Alpha. And now he’s my Alpha.” He nods placing a kiss on my cheek.
“I want to kiss you. But I want the moment to be special” I nod
“I’ll be back in a couple of minutes” I kiss his cheek, and remove his arms from me.
I walk away from him and downstairs. I brace myself for the stares.
I walk out of the door, and no one is looking at me. Everyone’s doing their own thing. I walk past them all quickly and towards Asher’s house.
It’s so peaceful here. You can’t hear the kids, laughing or the mothers screaming at them.
I walk inside his house. It’s not my house any more.
“Sweetheart, I’m in the kitchen” he calls, his voice deep.
He still calls me sweetheart. I feel the elephants running around in my stomach. Is this a wrong feeling to have?
“Sweetheart, I need to talk to you” I hear his voice again. I walk onwards, and push the kitchen door open, to see Asher cooking.
“Would you like some?” He asks, pointing to the pizza.
“No thank you, Alpha” I mumble. I know that it’s disrespectful if you don’t call him an Alpha, especially if he hasn’t given you permission to call him his real name.
He freezes. He looks up at me, sadness floating around his eyes, and too quickly it’s gone. All of it. There’s not a single emotion on his face.
I don’t like this Asher. He’s cold, mean, hates me.
“Alpha... has a nice ring to it” he chuckles to himself. It’s not a friendly chuckle. It’s dark, like he hates it, that I call him Alpha. But he has no choice.
But he does? He does have a choice, right?
“Did you call me, Alpha?” He turns around not looking at me.
I sense sadness, oozing around in the room. I know its from me, because Asher won’t even look at me.
“Vincent and Hailey are coming tomorrow” I smile
“Really?” I ask, knowing I sound excited. I am.
“Yeah.” He turns around looking me up and down.
“Why are you dres-” he shakes his head at himself.
“They’ll be coming tomorrow. They will be staying in this house, so if you want to stay here, you can” he rubs the back of his neck. I know that move. He’s nervous.
“Why are you nervous?” I ask and his arm drops quickly
“I’m not nervous. I was mindlinking someone. You can leave now” he dismisses me.
He wasn’t mindlinking anyone. He’s lying to me.
“Asher-” he looks down at me, his eyes full of pain.
“Let me help. Let me help you” I whisper, walking towards him.
“Help me with what?” He whispers back staring at me, as I stand in front of him.
“Let me hel-”
“Layla!” I hear Hailey’s voice. I turn around to see her and Vincent standing there.
“Hailey!” I exclaim running towards her. I pull her towards me, hugging her tightly. I missed her so much.
“Where’s my hug? I knew you longer” Vincent grumbles.
I let Hailey go and hug Vincent tightly, as he wraps his arms around me, pulling me up, slightly.
“I missed you so much Vincent” I whisper, knowing I have tears running down my face.
“So he gets tears?” Hailey asks but I ignore her.
I need this.
“Has anyone hurt you?” Vincent asks, sensing my sadness.
I hear a glass break, before I can answer. I let Vincent go and look to see Asher’s hand bleeding.
“Asher!” I exclaim running towards him.
He stares at me, as I place his hand under water.
“Why do you have to act so stupid sometimes?” I mumble drying it with a towel, to see the mark gone. No blood.
He must heal fast.
Vincent and Hailey both cough and I drop his hand quickly.
What am I doing! I broke the wedding. I’m with Holden now.
“Shall we leave yo-” I shake my head at Hailey.
Vincent’s staring at me, and then back at Asher.
“What’s going on here?” He asks
“Layla..” Holden appears behind Vincent. He looks at them, and then walks towards me.
“What’s wrong?” He places his hand on my cheek.
He’s okay now, with all the affection. He doesn’t care that it’s in front of Asher, or that he’ll get angry.
“Tiger, what’s all this?” Vincent asks looking at me.
He calls me tiger, ever since I was 16. He thinks I’m strong, really strong. But I’m not.
“I broke the wedding with her” Asher says
“What!” Hailey shouts
“Did he hurt you tiger? Anything? Tell me” Vincent walks towards me, making me stand in front of him.
“No. I did it myself Vincent. I found my mate” I whisper and he smiles
“That’s good. Who?” I look at Holden.
“Holden” I smile slightly as Holden smiles at me.
“But what about Asher?” Hailey asks walking towards me.
“I broke the wedding” I whisper and she stares at me, like Vincent. They’re both staring at me, and Hailey grabs my hand, pulling me out of the room.
I follow. She walks upstairs to Asher’s room.
“Who’s room is this?” She asks closing the doer behind her and locking it.
“Asher” she nods
“Good” she makes me sit down on the bed.
“You’re a werewolf Layla, right?” I nod slowly
“And you can smell his scent? All of their scents right?” I nod again.
Asher smells of chocolate and the forest. A warm feeling.
“Can you smell Asher’s?” I nod again confused
“Good. Now tell me Layla, that you don’t like Asher. That you don’t have a single feeling for him. That you don’t feel anything for him” I frown.
“And don’t lie to me. I can pull Vincent in this room. I know you don’t lie to him” Fuck.
Do I have feelings for Asher? Everytime I think about him, a burning passion begins in my stomach.
I didn’t like it when he was with Selena. I wanted him to tell her that he was taken, and she can’t touch him. That no one can. Because he’s mine. Asher is mine.
“I knew it” she smiles and I look up at her.
“What?”
“It’s clearly written all over your face, Layla. You like him a lot, you may even be in the love section. But you’re only with Holden because he’s your mate” how can she do that? How can she read me, so clearly?
“I don’t know why Layla, but you’re forcing yourself. You want someone to love you unconditionally, and you think Holden will do that. You see him as the perfect guy. You think he’s the perfect guy for you to love. Because he doesn’t come with any problems. You want a simple love life”
“Stop! Stop it Hailey!” I shout standing up
She’s too fucking good.
“No. You know that Asher is hiding something from you. Something big. And you know that if you find out, you might run away. You’re scared that his past is too big for you to handle” I scream, closing my eyes, hoping she stops.
“Bella! Open the door!” I hear Vincent’s voice.
“No!” Hailey shouts. I run to the door and open it. I wrap my arms around Vincent and he pulls me closer to him, walking inside the room.
“Tell her to stop Vincent. Please” I whisper resting my head on his chest, as he pulls me closer.
“Bella, stop it. Please” Vincent says.
“No. Tell me Layla. Tell me that you’re scared. That you want the easy way out with Holden. That you think Holden is easy, and he has no problems for you to run away from” Vincent pulls me closer, covering my ears.
“Shush tiger. Ignore it. Don’t listen to her” he whispers pulling me closer. I cover my ears, trying to get her words out.
“Tell me what you’re hiding Layla. Tell me. Tell me why you want the easy way out” I can’t take it. It tips the edge. And Vincent knows it.
He can feel my legs going numb as I fall to the floor.
I want the easy way out.
“Fuck Bella” he growls picking me up and placing me on the bed.
“What happened?” I hear his voice before I blank out.