Chapter 23
I wake up to see Vincent and Hailey stood next to me. I sit up looking around for Asher. Please tell me all that was a dream.
“Tiger” Vincent sighs, sits on the bed.
“Where’s Asher?” I ask and Hailey looks at Vincent
“He’s with Charlotte”
“Charlotte?” I question
“Charlie” she has a nickname. He gave her a fucking nickname.
“Where is he?” I get up from the bed. I’m in the guest room.
“In the kitchen” I nod at Hailey, and walk out of the room. I walk down, and stop on the step. He’s laughing.
Two fucking girls. Two fucking girls, he’s laughed with. But me? He doesn’t. All he does is push me away.
I walk towards the kitchen and open the door, to see her sat on his lap.
Asher looks at me. He’s confused. And then he looks at her, and then back at me.
“Asher baby, who’s this?” She asks, looking at me confused.
Asher doesn’t answer her. I look at him, but he has this guilty look written all over his face. I walk closer to him, and grab the girls hand.
“Off” I pull her off, and push her away from Asher.
“Ouch!” She cries out.
“Sweetheart, let her go” Asher says pulling my hand away from hers.
“Asher, what’s happ-” he shakes his head at me, and stands in front of her.
“She’s my mate, Layla” he says staring at me. He looks broken.
My name sounds so foreign from his lips. It’s sweetheart. Sweetheart!
“Who is this Asher?” The girls stands by his side, but I don’t move my gaze from him. And nor does he.
His eyes, they’re full of hurt, sadness, and love. But what he says next breaks me. Breaks me to the core.
“A pack member”
I was always second best. Second. Never first. She’ll always be his first.
“Okay. I’m sorry Alpha” I say and he closes his eyes,
“I’ll move. I’ll go back. I’ll go back to my pack. My old pack” I say and his eyes open, quickly.
“No! I mean, you don’t have to leave sweetheart” he says
“Layla” he repeats it. It doesn’t sound good. I want him to call me sweetheart.
“I want too, Asher. I’m no long wanted. I was just a rebound girl” I whisper, and he shakes his head, placing his palm on my cheek, gently.
“Never. Never say that again, okay? You’re never a rebound girl, sweetheart. You’re my sweetheart. Mine” he whispers to me. I close my eyes, feeling the sparks.
“Asher..” the girl says again. I’m not going to call her by her name. She’s just a girl.
Asher moves back, looking at her and then back at me. His eyes are cold. Something is wrong, or either he is definitely bipolar.
“Leave. I don’t care if you go. You know what? Yes, go. You’re longer needed. I have Charlie with me” he says, wrapping an arm around her waist.
It’s hurting. My heart is breaking into more and more pieces.
“You know what I’m happy about, Asher?” He’s confused
“That I didn’t tell you anything about me. Not a single important thing. I’ll forget you easily. There’s no need to be cold anymore. Like I said,I was just a rebound girl for you. Who fucking knew that this bitch would come back?” I exclaim
“Goodbye Asher. I hope one day, you realise what you’re missing. Because I swear to god, I am way out of your league” I scoff, and he has a slight smirk on his face.
I ignore him and walk upstairs to my room. I shut the door closed behind me.
“Ahhhh” I scream, throwing the vases on the floor.
“I hate you. I hate you so fucking much”I shout, knowing he can hear me.
“Layla?” I hear Emily open the door.
“What are you doing?” She asks walking into the room.
“Leaving. That’s what. I’m leaving. I’m going back to Vincent’s pack. And I want all of you to come with me. We’re not wanted here” I mumble, pulling out suitcases, from under the bed.
“Layla, you can’t just leave” Emily grabs my hand, slowly.
“I can. He doesn’t want me. It’s easy. I get out of his life”I say pulling my hand away, and walking to the closet.
I pick up all of my clothes, and all of the clothes Asher got me. They’re mine now. I wore them. Easy. If I take them, he won’t be able to give it to her.
“Layla, you have to think this with a straight mind. You’re angry and upset” she says, as I stuff all the clothes in the suitcase.
“I’m not angry or upset, grandma. You know what? I’m actually really happy. I never was the type of person to settle down. I can be free now. And be with anyone I want.” I close one suitcase
“Layla..” Emily sighs, looking around the room.
“You can stay if you want. You all can. I’ll just leave” I walk back to the closet, and pick up all the close.
I hear the door open, and then close.
“I knew they all want to-” I stop as I see Asher opening my suitcase, and picking a dress out. Emily’s watching him, not saying anything.
“Asher stop. That’s mine now” I say, walking towards him. I grab his hand, tightly, and he smiles at it, slightly.
“Sorry sweetheart. I’m keeping this” he says, wrapping the dress around his hand tightly.
“Why? So you can give it to her?” I growl at him.
“Yeah” he mumbles, walking out of the room.
“Asshole. Mother fucker. Fucking stupid, fat asshole. I’m not you’re rebound girl okay. You can keep all of them. I don’t want none of them” I throw the suitcase on the floor.
“I don’t need anything you gave me” I shout
“Layla, sweetie,calm down” Emily tries to hug me.
“No” I whisper stepping back.
“I’m leaving.” I whisper, and walk out of the room.
“Layla.. just listen to me” Emily runs behind me, but I ignore her. I want to be alone. I need to be alone.
“I’m okay” I whisper opening the door, and walking out.
“Tiger wait” Vincent calls, but I ignore them all and walk to the forest.
“Layla, wait. You’re not safe alone” Emily says.
I turn around and throw my hands up in the air.
“When? When am I ever safe? I’m not a child. I don’t need looking after. I’m not a baby” I shout
“Tiger, you need protecting. You need to be safe.” I scoff
“Protecting? Are you going to protect me Vincent? Because you didn’t do a good job last time! Did you? Where were you when I was getting raped! Where? You were having fun. At a party. I tried. I tried to mindlink you but no! You were enjoying yourself!” I scream
I’ve never said this to him. I know he blames himself, and this? This just pushed the button. But I want someone else to feel the pain that I go through every fucking single day.
And now? Now I just want to go and pull Asher by the ears, and throw him on the floor, kicking him. A fucking rebound girl. That’s what I feel like now.
“Layla, you don’t mean that” Emily says walking towards me slowly.
“I don’t. I don’t mean anything I say to Vincent. And he knows it. But I want someone to feel what I go through every single day” I look at Vincent who looks broken.
I break everyone.
“Vincent..” I start to say, but he shakes his head
“You’re right though tiger. I could have stayed with you. Even if I was behind you. But I didn’t. I wanted to party. I wanted to fuck that girl. And I know I was wrong. Everything I do is wrong” he whispers, running a hand through his hair and I sigh.
Emily knows I have to handle this so she walks away.
“Vincent. Come with me” I walk towards him.
He’s looking at me, with tears rolling down his face.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you” he whispers and I roll my eyes.
“Vincent, you did what you could” I place my hand on his cheek.
“You bought me back home. You looked for the guy a hundred times. You nearly killed people because you thought it was them. You did so much Vincent. For me” I whisper, wiping his eyes
“But I could have done more.” He whispers and I shake my head
“Come with me Vincent” I hold his hand.
We walk- I drag him- to a small clearing. It’s really small, with a small river.
I sit down and pat down next to me and he sits down.
“I was just angry. You know I didn’t mean that Vincent. You helped me with everything. From feeling confident in myself, to making me love myself. You did all of that Vincent. And if it’s wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be like this. I wouldn’t wear skirts or dresses. Or any shorts. But I do. And it’s all because of you.” I say holding his hand tightly.
“Tiger, I could have done so much more. I could have found him” he sighs
“But you didn’t. And you know why? Because no one knew who he was. No one. Even I didn’t know Vincent.” He nods, laying his head on my shoulder.
“Why are you leaving?” He whispers
“Because I’m not wanted” I say and he nods slowly.
“We’ll all come with you. If you’re not wanted, then we’re not wanted as well.” He says and I nod.
“Good. I need to go see the twins. Have you named them yet?” I ask and he nods, a small smile on his face.
“Aiden and Jaden” he says and I nod
“Perfect. Which one is which?”
“The one who looks like Bella is Aiden and the one who looks like me is Jaden.” I nod and stand up.
“Let’s go home. To our real home” he stands up and holds my hand.
“We’ll all go.” I nod.