Chapter 20 The Weird Call
The ringing tone of my phone woke me up, and I turned to grab it, but instead my whole body rolled off the couch. I hit the cold marble floor with a soft thud.
Wincing, I pushed myself up quickly and reached for my phone. Still feeling drowsy, I answered it and brought it close to my ear as I sat back on the couch.
“Hello… good morning,” I mumbled.
There was silence for a second before I heard Layla’s voice. My eyes widened instantly.
“Diana, are you okay? I was worried sick about you.”
“I’m fine,” I said, standing up slowly as I made my way to the bathroom. “Why haven’t you been replying to my texts? And anytime I call, it goes straight to voicemail.”
“I’m so sorry, Diana,” Layla said quickly. “I’ve been busy. Tonia’s friends are too much of the party type, so we’re always at the mall, and after that we’re jumping from one place to another.” She paused. “How are you doing? Any gist from work?”
“Layla…” I walked back to the living room and sank into the couch again. “I got attacked last night. A strange wolf came after me. I would’ve been dead if Mark didn’t come to my rescue.”
“Oh my God,” Layla gasped, and I heard the slight shake in her voice. “Why do you think it happened? Hope you didn’t get hurt?”
“I don’t know where the wolf came from,” I said softly. “I was thinking… maybe it's a rival pack that wants revenge. Thankfully it was only a scratch.”
There was silence for a moment before she spoke again. “Thank goodness Mark was there. Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. Just be careful, okay? When I’m back, we’ll look into it.”
“Well, I’m kinda scared,” I admitted. “I’m the only one in the apartment. Can you tell Tonia you have something important to handle and come home quickly? We need to look into this together before something bad happens again.”
“No, I can’t,” Layla said too fast, and it made me frown. The last bit of sleep in my eyes vanished. “I mean… you’ll be fine. Just don’t open the door to strangers. I’m not close by, and Tonia and her friends really need me.”
I blinked slowly.
Layla had never acted this calm about danger. Ever since that incident years ago, she had always been the one who panicked first. She would never ignore something like this, not even for a second.
Something felt off.
Her tone didn’t sound like her. Her calmness didn’t sound like her. I checked the caller ID again just to be sure.
“Layla, are you—”
“I have to go now, Diana,” she cut in sharply. “Talk to you later.”
Before I could say a word, the call ended. I stared at the screen, my chest tightening. Something was seriously wrong.
My phone vibrated again. This time it was a message, from Cora.
{Hey Diana, are you awake? Just heading to work now}
I glanced at the clock on the wall and gasped.
I was running late.
{Yes, chat you up later}
I quickly typed back, tossed my phone aside, and rushed to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth and took a quick shower, but the entire time, my mind kept circling around Layla.
She has changed. Something is not right.
After dressing in my black trousers and grey corporate shirt, I slipped into my black flats and reached the door. That was when it hit me.
I didn’t have any money for transport. And I couldn’t trek to work.
So I called Mark, he came almost immediately.
When I got into the car, the worry on his face was impossible to ignore. His fingers tightened around the steering wheel as he pulled off.
“Mark… about Layla,” I started softly.
He let out a long sigh. “I’m worried. Really worried. It’s not like her to behave this way. I couldn’t sleep last night. I kept thinking about everything.”
I swallowed. “I think something is wrong. She doesn’t sound like herself at all.”
“I tried calling Tonia,” Mark said. “It didn’t connect. Not even once. And that’s strange. Tonia always picks up.”
I nodded slowly, feeling my chest tighten the more he talked. “She called this morning," I told him and his gaze swept towards my direction hastily.
“What did she say?" He asked calmly.
"Our conversation was weird, cause she didn't acted concern and like she used to and she ended the call before I could get the chance to talk to her about you," I explained my voice sounding weak.
Mark sighed and rubbed his hand against his forehead. "I don’t know, what to think anymore, if only I knew where she is right now, I would've go to her and ask why she's acting all strange."
I opened my mouth to say something but I didn't know what to think.
We were still talking about it when Mark pulled into the company driveway. I unfastened my seatbelt and stepped out of the car.
“We’ll talk more later,” I told him.
He nodded, giving me a small worried wave before he drove off.
I adjusted my bag and turned toward the entrance, but I stopped when I saw Warren getting out of his car with Jane beside him. His eyes followed Mark’s car for a moment before landing on me.
I walked closer and greeted him. “Good morning, sir.”
He replied, but he didn’t sound like his usual self. His voice felt distant. Cold, almost.
He turned to Jane. “Give her the bag.”
Jane handed me the laptop bag with a smug smile on her face before walking proudly beside Warren. I scoffed quietly under my breath and followed them inside.
In the office, I placed the laptop bag on Warren’s desk. My eyes trailed across the table, and for a moment I imagined him sitting there, looking at me the way he always did.
My heart skipped.
I shook the thought away immediately. No. He has a mate. Stop thinking nonsense.
The door creaked open, and Warren entered with Jane. I quickly excused myself and headed out to get his coffee, trying to ignore the strange feeling in my chest.
And reminding myself, and my wolf, that Warren was someone else’s mate.
Even if my heart didn’t want to listen.