I’ve never been in Francis’s office before.
It’s different from what I expected.
Lori told me once that he wouldn’t allow anyone within his office. I contributed that to his OCD. I could somewhat relate to him. I wouldn’t allow anyone to touch my paints. My brushes. They were mine and mine alone.
Francis though seemed to not mind.
He looked easy and relaxed within his office chair. Stacks of files and papers rested upon the wide desk, but they each seemed to hold their own order.
Alpha Douglas shakes his head at the sight, “I guess a pack of your size requires a lot of work.”
“Many sleepless nights have been spent here Alpha Douglas.”
I frown at the words. Something about them doesn’t settle right within me. Maybe it’s because I had never really thought of the amount of work Francis actually had to do everyday to keep a pack of this size running. And now he was spending time away from that pack because of me.
Alpha Douglas and the Luna are both seated, waiting for Hank. He soon comes in, his eyes looking for me.
He goes straight to me, and takes my hands in his.
He leans in close, whispering, “You showed him?”
All the wolves are listening. Francis is staring at Hank with an expression I cannot read.
“Yes.”
Hank’s voice lowers in volume, “It went well?”
I think back to the feel of Francis’s lips upon my faint scars. Of the sight of tears as they ran down his face.
“Yes.”
Hank lets out a deep sigh of relief, before sitting down in a chair, pulling me down to be seated next to him.
Francis though shakes his head, “Hank, Layla is sitting next to me.”
Hank glares at Francis and slowly releases my hand. I reclaim Hank’s hand, giving it a small, reassuring squeeze before standing and going to the chair that is placed next to Francis.
His blue eyes watch me, taking me in for a few more seconds before they avert back to the door, as it opens to reveal Lori, Serenity and Lydia.
Lydia takes in Alpha Douglas, the Luna and Hank, her teeth bared to show her flashing fangs. 1
“Lydia.”
The one word sends chills down my back as Francis’s cold eyes give his Beta their silent command.
She nods and slowly stalks around the trio, taking them in like a wolf would a prey, before stopping to stand behind me.
I look up and see that she is still flashing her canines, her eyes ringed gold.
Francis sighs and motions for Lori and Serenity to take the other empty chairs.
“I’ve contacted several packs of the nearby area, along with packs that are close to your own Alpha Douglas. They are aware that Cal is a wanted wolf, who is highly dangerous. If they find him, they will report it to me.”
Alpha Douglas nods, his arms crossed and features stiff as he and the Luna both exchange a small glance.
“I need to know more about Cal though.”
I stiffen at Francis’s words. My eyes meet Hank’s. He nods, a silent command for me to be brave. To hold on.
Francis’s growl captures my attention as I meet his dark blue eyes.
“Eyes on me Layla.”
My eyes widen as a warm shiver races through me from his words- hot kisses climbing up my back and landing upon my cheeks.
This was not Francis. This was the Alba Rosa Alpha.
I do as he says, my eyes cemented to his frame.
Alpha Douglas clears his throat, “I think i’ve told you enough about Cal. I don’t know what else there is to say.”
Francis growls, “What I want to know is why a high ranked general such as him oversaw Layla’s training.”
There is a pause before Alpha Douglas speaks, “Layla showed promise to be a valuable warrior at a young age.”
I almost want to laugh when I hear Lori’s rough coughing fit.
“Something wrong father?” Francis’s voice is void of any emotion, but I could have sworn I saw his lips twitch.
“Just a small itch in my throat.”
Alpha Douglas’s voice speaks out again, this time defensive, “It may seem hard to believe, but Layla is not the warrior she should have been, because she never trained. That and because she lost the counterpart of her wolf.”
I flinch from his words.
Francis’ eyes flicker to me before landing back upon the group.
“Why was Layla allowed to not train?”
The Luna speaks up then, “I thought we were talking about Cal?”
“Now we are talking about my mate.”
There is a silence before the Luna speaks, “I allowed an exception for Layla, and let her not rejoin the warriors.”
“So you thought it best to let her be alone!” Francis shouts the words his fit making contact with the table. I gasp when I hear a small crack and look down to see a split in the frame.
I can hear the Luna gasping as well- the only difference is, this is out of fear.
“Francis.”
Lori’s sharp voice rings out, bringing Francis’s back to his sense and allowing his golden eyes to be reclaimed by the color blue.
“My apologies.”
“It’s true.” I want to so hard look at the Luna and see what face she is making, but Francis’s words still ring within me. I don’t want to take my eyes from him.
“Maybe if we had done some things different….It would not have turned out like this.”
I tear my eyes off of Francis when I hear the sound of the Luna crying.
The Luna never cried.
But there she was. Sitting with tears in her eyes, while Alpha Douglas held her hand, a painful look in his eyes.
The Luna looks up at me, “I’m so sorry Layla.”
Sorry. It’s the only word they know to say to me.
But I don’t let the anger bite into me.
“You have always been kind to me Luna. Thank you.”
The Luna nods and composes herself, regaining her former stance and sitting up straight with fresh eyes.
Hank has stayed silent the whole time. He is looking out the window, watching the pack activity that is happening outside. For him this is old. For him, what Francis is arguing and fighting against is something Hank has tried, countless of times, to say.
For Hank, this was not new. This was his life he had chosen. To protect me.
A sudden flare of protectiveness washes over me as I take in my older brother.
Suddenly though I feel a finger under my chin, lifting it to make me look into blue eyes.
“Eyes on me Layla,” Francis whisperer. His voice is hoarse. It’s then that I realize that he is not asking this for my sake. He needs this from me. So I silently nod.
“So we do nothing but wait?”
Lydia’s voice grabs the other’s attention as she speaks out, “We just sit here waiting for this Cal to either show up or get caught?” Lydia’s hands grip the back of my chair tightly. So much so that I fear the wooden material will break.
“To hell with that. I won’t just sit on my ass waiting for him to come for Layla.”
Francis growls, his eyes flashing gold at his Beta, “What do you suggest then Lydia?”
The grip upon my chair tightens, “With your permission Alpha, I would like to join the search for Cal. I want to be out there looking for him.”
Francis shakes his head, “Your first duty is to the pack-,”
Lydia growls, “My duty is to my Luna. Or have you forgotten that that’s what Layla is? She’s my Luna. It’s my duty to protect her. Your first duty is to the pack.”
There is a stunned silence. I hold my breath waiting for Francis to explode from the clear defiance his Beta is showing.
“Fine. Go out and hunt the air.”
Lydia growls, but I feel the tension in the room slighten at the permission granted.
I can’t help but glance towards the group when I hear the sound of footsteps. Alpha Douglas has risen from his chair. His hand is extended, reaching for Francis.
“That is all my pack can do for you Alpha Francis. You’re on your own for now.”
Francis rises and shakes his offering, nodding in response, “Thank you for warning us.”
Alpha Douglas, to my surprise, looks to me and nods, “Goodbye Luna.”
I blink back my surprise and manage a small nod in return. The Luna nods as well, a small, grim smile on her face as they walk towards the door.
“Hank,” Alpha Douglas barks out his command, but Hank does not move.
“Hank,” he says again, waiting impatiently by the door.
Hank slowly turns to them then, sighing as he says, “I’m not going with you.”
Alpha Douglas growls, “As your Alpha-,”
“-,piss off.”
My eyes widen as I take in Hank.
“Hank…” I hesitantly say his name, my worried glance darting between him and Alpha Douglas.
Hank’s hard eyes land on me though, “If you think for one second I’m leaving you during this Layla, then you are dead wrong.”
I feel tears collect in my eyes at his words. Hank. Always my hero mark. Golden Boy Hank.
The Luna softly places a hand on Alpha Douglas’s shoulder, that same grim smile still on her face, “Douglas,” she whispers.
Alpha Douglas sighs, frustration clear in his voice, “Fine.”
He nods one last time to the group, extending a direct one at Lori, before leaving with the Luna close behind.
Lydia walks around the desk then, approaching Hank, “Do you want to come with me?”
He looks at her, his expression thoughtful before he rises, “Yes.”
I glance at Francis, eyes wide but he is leaning back in his chair, hands folded as he watches the interaction.
Lydia turns back to Francis and nods, “You know it’s in my nature Francis.”
Francis growls, “It’s Alpha.”
Lydia laughs and walks out the door, Hank trailing behind her. He pauses though at the doorway, “I’m not leaving you Layla…I just need to do something. I didn’t do anything to that bastard when he….I just need to do something.” He watches me, his eyes intent and focus. Waiting.
I silently nod. “It’s okay.”
A sigh of relief leaves Hank’s mouth. I knew he wanted this from the start. As he gazed out the window. He was itching to be out there. Dying to shift into his wolf and hunt down the man who had hurt his family for so long.
I watch as he walks out, clear determination in his eyes.
I look at Francis as he watches Hank leave also.
Gently I reach for his hand. Those blue eyes flicker to me as I softly whisper, “Eyes on me.”