Chapter 45
Layla's POV
I stared at Thor's lips, just inches from mine, and felt myself sway toward him. His warmth, his scent—pine and something uniquely him—surrounded me. For one breathless moment, I almost gave in.
But reality crashed back like a bucket of ice water. Kael's face flashed in my mind, along with the tiny life growing inside me. I placed my hand gently on Thor's chest and pushed back slightly.
"I can't," I whispered, my voice breaking. "I'm sorry, Thor."
The hurt in his eyes was immediate, but he didn't move away. His hand remained on my thigh, warm and steady.
"Is it him?" Thor asked, his voice rough. "After everything he's done?"
I nodded, tears threatening. "My heart... it's not clear yet. And there's..." I placed my hand protectively over my stomach.
Understanding dawned in Thor's eyes. He sat back on his heels, giving me space, though his hands remained gentle on me.
Thor was quiet for so long that I finally looked up. Instead of disgust or anger, I saw something that looked almost like determination in his eyes.
"I don't care," he said firmly. "I've told you before, Layla, we're destined mates. I felt it the moment I saw you."
"Thor—"
"Listen to me," he continued, taking my hands in his. "I don't care about the baby's father. You can have the child, and I'll raise it as my own. No one would ever know. We could be a family."
The sincerity in his voice made my chest ache. Here was a good man offering me everything—safety, security, a family. Yet something held me back.
"You can't just erase Kael," I said softly. "No matter what he's done."
Thor stood suddenly, his expression darkening. "Why do you still think about him? He abandoned you, Layla! His voice rose with each word. "I was the one who brought you back. I'm the one who's been here for you!"
His outburst startled me, but I held my ground. "You don't understand—"
"No, you don't understand!" Thor paced the room, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I would wait for you forever, Layla. You're my destined mate. Don't you feel it too? This connection between us?"
"I feel something," I admitted, because I couldn't lie to him about that. "But I can't let the idea of 'destined mates' decide everything for me."
Thor stopped pacing, his shoulders slumping slightly. "So what are you saying?"
"I'm saying I need time. I'm saying..." I took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Thor. I think I need to be alone right now."
The hurt in his eyes nearly broke me, but he nodded stiffly.
"Thank you for dinner," he said formally. "It was delicious."
Before I could respond, he was gone, the door closing quietly behind him. I sat there for a long time, staring at the half-eaten meal, wondering if I'd just made a terrible mistake.
Later that night, after cleaning up the dinner dishes, I contacted Trent. I needed information about Kael, needed to know if he was looking for me or if he'd truly moved on with Olivia.
The call went through quickly.
"How is he?" I asked immediately, not bothering with pleasantries.
"Kael is... Kael," Trent said finally. "Brooding, angry, snapping at everyone."
"Is he looking for me?" I hated how desperate I sounded.
"Every day," Trent confirmed, and my heart leapt. "He's tearing apart the territory trying to find any trace of you. Olivia keeps saying you ran away, but he doesn't believe it."
Relief flooded through me. "And Griffin? Is he okay?"
Trent said, "Griffin had a massive fight with Kael about you. Said some things... well, let's just say it got physical. Griffin's back at his border post now, but I know he wants to find you."
"He does?" The thought of Griffin searching for me brought unexpected comfort.
"He cares about you, Layla. He'd be here in a heartbeat if he knew where to look. Thor's territory is notoriously difficult to locate. His pack has kept to themselves for generations, hidden in these mountains. That's why Kael hasn't found you yet."
I hadn't known that, but it explained a lot. This place was physically cut off from the rest of the werewolf world.
"Griffin's good at tracking," Trent continued. "If anyone can find this place, it's him. But it might take time."
Time I wasn't sure I had. My hand drifted to my stomach. The longer I waited, the more complicated everything would become.
"My next step is Mistral Isle," I said, my voice firm. "I have to get the Bondbreaker Herb."
Trent said, "Are you sure about that? It's dangerous, Layla, especially in your condition."
"I don't have a choice," I replied.
"Does Thor know about this plan?"
I shook my head. "And he can't find out. This is something I need to do myself." I paused, considering. I couldn't help wishing Griffin could come with me—I would feel safer with him there. But I quickly pushed the thought away. This was my own battle to fight.
Trent's sigh came through the phone. "You really trust Thor that much?"
"I do," I said, surprising myself with how true it felt. "I trusted his character, but he wouldn't understand why I still needed to go back for Kael. This was something I had to do alone."
"But be careful, Layla. Thor isn't the kind of Alpha who likes people going behind his back."
After the call ended, I lay in bed thinking about everything—Kael searching for me, Griffin fighting for me, Thor offering me a future. My hand rested on my stomach, where our baby grew, oblivious to all the chaos surrounding us.
"What should I do?" I whispered to the darkness, but no answer came.
The next morning was awkward. Thor and I avoided each other's eyes at breakfast, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. He looked tired, with dark circles under his eyes and stubble shadowing his jaw. Despite his disheveled appearance—or perhaps because of it—he still radiated a raw magnetism that made my pulse quicken.
Hunter, observant as always, glanced between us with raised eyebrows.
"Did someone die?" he asked lightly. "The silence in here is deafening."