Chapter 44
Layla's POV
Hunter sighed, resigned. "At least let me help you plan. Going in unprepared would be suicide."
I nodded, grateful for his support even if I didn't fully understand his motivations.
A thought hit me as I looked at my bandaged ankle. Thor had been so kind—carrying me, staying close, worrying about me. Guilt twisted in my stomach. Before I threw myself into that unknown dangerous journey, I had to do this first. To thank him, and to give myself a little courage to say goodbye.
"Hunter, before we talk more about this... I want to do something nice for Thor. To thank him for everything."
Hunter raised an eyebrow. "What did you have in mind?"
"A meal, maybe? Something special." I smiled slightly. "What foods does he like?"
Hunter gave me a knowing look but didn't comment. "Thor's simple. He plays along at pack dinners, but he loves comfort food. His beef stew is legendary—thick gravy, lots of vegetables."
"Really?" I pictured the powerful Alpha happily eating a bowl of stew, and the image made me smile. "What else?"
"Fresh bread. He'd never admit it, but he can eat half a loaf in one sitting if it's still warm from the oven." Hunter's voice held genuine affection. "And blackberry pie for dessert. His mother used to make it before she passed."
I filed away these details, already planning. "Can you help me cook? I think you'd know his tastes better."
Hunter's smile was warm. "Of course."
Three hours later, the suite smelled amazing—beef stew, fresh herbs, homemade bread. Hunter had been happy to help, sharing Thor's secrets while teaching me pack recipes. He made me sit and chop vegetables while he did all the heavy lifting.
"He jumped in the lake fully clothed for his nephew's toy boat," Hunter said, kneading dough. "Came out looking like a drowned rat, but the kid was thrilled."
These stories painted a picture of Thor that contrasted sharply with his Alpha persona—a man who was kind, sometimes impulsive, and deeply loyal to those he cared about.
When Ruby arrived with a blindfolded Thor in tow, I felt a flutter of nervous anticipation. I'd changed into a simple blue dress, and my hair hung loose around my shoulders.
"What's this about, Hunter?" Thor grumbled, though there was no real annoyance in his tone. "Ruby dragged me right out of the training yard."
"Training can wait," Hunter replied, guiding Thor to the table we'd set. "Some things are more important."
I nodded to Ruby, who quietly slipped out, then signaled to Hunter that he could remove the blindfold.
Thor blinked as the cloth fell away, his dark eyes widening as he took in the table set with steaming food, candles, and wildflowers Ruby had gathered. Then his gaze found me, and something in his expression made my heart beat faster.
"What's all this?" he asked softly.
"A thank you," I replied, suddenly feeling shy. "For saving me today. For everything, really."
Hunter cleared his throat. "I'll leave you two to enjoy dinner." With a knowing smile that made me blush, he disappeared from the room.
Thor approached slowly, his eyes never leaving mine. "You didn't have to do this."
"I wanted to." I gestured to the chair. "Hunter told me beef stew is your favorite."
A smile spread across his face, transforming his usually serious expression. "Hunter talks too much." But he sat down, inhaling deeply. "It smells amazing."
I took the seat across from him, oddly nervous. "I hope it tastes as good as it smells. Hunter helped with the recipe."
"You made this yourself?" Thor looked genuinely touched.
"Most of it." I served him a generous portion of the stew, then handed him a chunk of still-warm bread. "The bread turned out a bit lopsided, but—"
"It's perfect," Thor interrupted, breaking off a piece and watching the steam rise. "No one's cooked for me like this in... I can't remember how long."
Something about his vulnerability in that moment made my chest tighten. This powerful Alpha, who commanded an entire pack and fought supernatural boars with his bare hands, was moved by a simple home-cooked meal.
We ate in comfortable silence for a while, Thor making appreciative sounds that sent an unexpected warmth through me. When he reached for a second helping, I couldn't help but smile.
"Hunter said you'd have a good appetite."
Thor laughed, the sound rich and genuine. "I'm starting to think Hunter has been telling tales."
"Good ones," I assured him. "Like how you saved him when no one else would. That speaks volumes about who you are, Thor."
He paused, his dark eyes meeting mine across the candlelight. "We all deserve a chance. Hunter just needed someone to see his worth." His gaze intensified. "Like you deserve someone who sees yours."
The air between us suddenly felt charged with something I wasn't ready to name. Thor reached across the table, his large hand covering mine. His thumb traced slow circles on my skin, sending tingles up my arm.
"How's your ankle?" he asked, his voice lower than before.
"Better," I managed, though in truth, I could barely feel the pain anymore—not with his hand on mine, his eyes holding me captive.
Thor's chair scraped back as he stood, still holding my hand. He moved around the table until he stood beside me, towering but somehow not intimidating. Slowly, he knelt, bringing his face level with mine.
"May I check your bandage?" he asked, his voice rough with an emotion I recognized but didn't dare acknowledge.
I nodded, not trusting my voice.
His hands were gentle as they moved to my ankle, carefully unwrapping Hunter's bandage. His fingers brushed against my skin, and I had to suppress a shiver.
I found myself studying him—the way his brown hair curled slightly at his neck. Had he showered before coming? I noticed how his jaw clenched in concentration, the breadth of his shoulders under his simple black t-shirt.
"The swelling has gone down," he murmured, his fingers moving with surprising delicacy for such large hands. "But you should still be careful."
"I will," I promised.
When he looked up, his face was much closer than I'd expected. I could see flecks of amber in his dark eyes, could feel his warm breath against my cheek.
"Layla," he said, my name sounding different in his voice.
His hand moved from my ankle, slowly trailing up my calf, his touch leaving heat in its wake. My breath caught in my throat as his fingers continued their upward path, past my knee to my thigh, where they rested with gentle pressure.
"Tell me to stop," he whispered, his eyes never leaving mine.
I should have stopped him. Everything in me knew I should—remember Kael, honor the child I carried. But with Thor's warmth so close, his touch so tender, the words wouldn't come.
His other hand cupped my face, thumb brushing my lower lip. The touch was so intimate I felt something crack inside me—a fracture in the walls around my heart.
Thor leaned closer, his eyes asking a question I wasn't sure I could answer.