Every thought in my head felt like a pressure on my chest, it was the guilt and hurt I felt. Guilty for doing that to Rachel even more so that Layla seen. Hurt because, Layla didn't want to see me, that thought alone killed me.

It only fueled my heavy hits to the punching bag harder, one after another. No telling when she'll want to see me again but, it wasn't going to stop me from going to see her later tonight. I just needed to see her, that's it. It didn't sit right with me that she wasn't with me and instead wanted to be in her room. The idea that she's there, without me despite what she's been through just irks me.

"Landon."

My hits stopped hearing my moms voice and I caught the bag as it swayed my way, "Don't you have something to be doing?" she asked, and I was surprised she was out of bed.

Right now though I was confused, she knew Layla went back to the pack house, I told her what she said and everything. I could only think of, Rachel. Which had my fists clench and a growl to escape me.

"No." I said, before pushing the punching bag away from me, only to start throwing hits again.

I could already feel my knuckles bruising as I've been at it for hours, since I left Layla's room. It would be much better to be punching one of the guys faces but, it would only make me angrier. Especially since I couldn't decide what to do with them. Yes, I wanted to kill them, but, I want them to suffer longer. I also want to just punish myself right now for going against something that was my number one rule.

Yet I couldn't bring myself to apologize not when she hurt, my Layla.

"Landon." I didn't stop hitting the bag this time, "If you don't want to apologize to Rachel for me or for yourself even, then do it for Layla." My hands stopped the bag all together as I closed my eyes, an image of her now in my mind.

Fuck.

I waited outside the pack doctors office, dreading what was to come. Rachel didn't deserve an apology but, I want to do this for Layla. With that I walked into the room, spotting her right away. I walked over to the counter but, she was looking down filling out some paper. Now that I'm looking at her the guilt was there, she watched after my mom for me, came by once a month to check on her and look what I did to thank her.

Clearing my throat, she looked up her eyes widening slightly, "Um."

There was no doubt that she was scared, "Look, Rachel, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have touched you like that but, Layla is my mate, your Luna and you hurt her." At the end of my statement, I released a low growl wondering for the first time why she even hurt Layla, she looked down in submission.

It was quiet and she didn't say anything, I said what I had to say so I turned around to leave.

"I'm sorry." she stated, making me stop for a second before leaving the room all together.

I had seriously thought about putting her in the cells but, what I did was enough. As I was making my way down the hall, Layla's scent hit me and I had to stop. It was so heavenly, I just want to hold her in my arms again, already. Layla's room wasn't even close to the pack doctors office yet, I could smell her.

Before I knew it my feet were taking me in the direction of her room. Once I knocked on her door, it was a second before she opened it. Seeing her face was like a breathe of fresh air. We locked eyes and I noticed how her cheeks flushed when we did, her scent being much more evident. But, as I inhaled deeply I caught scent of something else, which made my wolf want to take control.

Zach.

"Why do you smell like Zach?" I grounded out, my nostrils flaring as I was close to shifting.

My hands twitched at my sides, my wolf pushing at me to grab Layla, to kiss the hell out of her just so my scent could be on her. I never knew what people meant when they said it angered a mate to smell another on them, now I certainly do. It was absolutely infuriating, I didn't even know why the hell his scent was on her in the first place. Did they even know each other, god, I was growing angrier by the second.

Layla's eyes widen slightly, "Um, I, h-he was here earlier." her response only made me growl.

For a second I closed my eyes, breathing in to gain control over my anger, remembering that I'm with Layla. Yet all I could smell was Zach and her scent meshed together.

I released a breath of air and opened my eyes to see she was looking down, "Can I come in?" I asked her as gently as I could.

I watched her nod before opening the door to let me in. When I walked past her, my hands twitched, wanting to grab her as I got a whiff of her again. When she shut the door, she leant against it, my next words coming out like word vomit.

"How do you even know him?"

From here I seen her eyebrows furrow almost in confusion, she looked so nervous and I didn't like it. But, knowing his scent was still on her as we spoke made me shake with anger. I watched her push herself from the door, taking wary steps into the room.

"I-I actually just met him t-today." she spoke quietly, her eyes remaining on the floor, "..h-he introduced himself to me." she continued.

Hearing this just made me freeze and I felt my bones ache from Jake about to shift. Layla glanced up meeting my now probably and inevitable, blazing eyes. As much as her gaze gave me a sense of stability I just need to kiss her. To feel her soft, gentle lips on mine. The next thing she did though I wasn't expecting.

Layla moved closer to me but, she was still looking down, her hands reaching out for mine. The contact sent waves of relief through me, it wasn't her lips but, it was something. Her thumbs ran over my bruised knuckles, the pain in my bones slowly dissipated.

"Y-you hurt yourself?" she asked gently, looking thoughtfully at them.

When she glanced up at me I couldn't help it, her green eyes were to captivating. I took my hands from hers only to cup her face, my fingers threading into her hair before smashing my lips onto hers. They were soft just as I expected, feeling warm against mine and I fought the urge to pick her up. Yet, she wasn't kissing me, I want her to kiss me. It was like she was frozen, like the first time we kissed.

My hand slipped from her face, to her waist to bring her into me. Both hands went to my chest, one of them clutching my shirt, just how it always does and I groaned. Now her lips were moving with mine. The scent of roses was all I could smell, it was mixed with mine and that thought alone crazed me. I brought her impossibly closer to me, to press my lips harder against hers, just needing her.

When I pulled away slowly, all that could be heard was our breathing, I opened my eyes to see hers still closed. Her cheeks were flushed, and her lips were slightly swollen from our kiss, it made me want to kiss her more. I was also, so pleased when all I could smell was her scent, no more Zach.

"Baby." My thumb ran across her flushed cheek, feeling her hand tighten around my shirt.

Then I stopped to really think through my fuzzy mind that was now just clouded with lust for her. Does she even forgive me, hell I didn't even forgive myself but, I need her to.

I watched her eyes open slowly, those amazing forest green eyes gazed up into mine. God, she is so beautiful, she stared at me almost in deep thought. I couldn't possibly know what she was thinking, whatever it was I was longing to hear.

"What is it, love?" I asked her, wanting so badly to hear her voice, "Talk to me, please." I pleaded watching her eyes wonder over my face.

"D-do you remember that first night.." she turned her head to look at her bed, my hand from her cheek dropping in the process, "That you slept next to me?"

Did I remember, of course I did. It felt like heaven having her so close to me. I wondered why she was bringing it up though.

Her eyes were still focused on the bed, "Yes I do." I replied my eyebrows drawing together as I brought my free hand to the other side of her waist.

"How about what you said to me?" she asked, turning to look at me now, her hands remained placed on my chest.

At this I tried to rack my brain around for what she could be talking about, "You said you w-were always going to protect me." Flashes of me saying that filled my mind as she went on, "I-i know you were j-just protecting me but..." her voice was shaky and for a split second Jake was worried she'd reject us.

he whimpered, now getting me on edge, could she really reject us?

"But, what?" I asked urgently, my hands gripping her hips.

"Y-you scared me." she replied in a quiet tone almost a whisper, "When I-I seen you." she closed her eyes, reopening them, they were filled to the brim with tears, "You reminded m-me of Brad." her voice cracked, tears of pain streaming down her cheeks.

Which absolutely broke me and I realized in that moment....yes she could reject us.