Chapter Twenty

Layton refused to let me come with him, and we argued about it. Well, I argued, Layton just locked me in the house. I could have climbed out the window, or smashed the French doors on the balcony. But, I didn't. Because despite everything, I still didn't want to upset Layton.

So, I sat at the kitchen island and waited. And waited. And waited. I was extremely nervous about what would happen if the police found out about the second murder. I was also nervous, and scared, as I thought of who was killing and why.

When Layton returned, it was dawn. Walking into the kitchen, he saw me and frowned. "Have you been waiting for me?" he asked, coming up to me. I jumped off the stool and he held me close.

"I was scared" I admitted, resting my head against his broad chest. I could hear his elevated heart rate, and that instantly made me nervous. Layton wasn't the type to get nervous, or startled, but something had really sped up his heart race.

"I've got you, don't worry, I'll keep you safe" Layton said, pressing a soft kiss to the top of my head.

"Layton what happened?" I asked, trying to pull away. However, Layton didn't let me; he held me tighter and pressed a kiss to the top of my head. It was odd behaviour from Layton, he was never clingy. So his behaviour worried me, because I was always the clingy one – never him.

"The human, there was a message next to the body" Layton told me. I pulled back again, he let me that time, and I looked up into his face. "I took the message away, so the police nor the rest of the pack have seen it. And I want to keep it that way".

"What did the message say?" I asked, frowning deeply. There was a moment of pause, as Layton just stared down into my eyes. "Layton, what did the message say?" I repeated, more forcefully the second time.

Layton reached into his pocket, and pulled out a piece of folded paper. He gripped it tight, looking grim, before he handed it to me. I took a step away from him as I unfolded the paper.

The note was spelt out using newspaper, and magazine, letters – like I had seen in movies. The words read out. 'Blonde hair, grey eyes, and a beautiful mind and body. Remind you of anyone? The first girl was Jessica Smith. The second girl was Scarlet Jackson. The third girl will be Gemini Vetteriano and I'll be killing two wolves with one stone'.

Underneath was a picture of me, taken earlier that day, with a pregnancy test in my hand. The picture was taken from outside the drug store, and the humans who attacked me were just up from me – watching me close.

I looked over the letter, the breath catching in my throat. I felt tears filling up my eyes as I looked up at Layton. His face was unreadable and stoic; as hard as the first day I'd seen him. We stared in each other's eyes for a few minutes, as silent tears spilled over my cheeks.

"When was this taken?" Layton asked, breaking the heavy silence.

"This morning" I whispered, "that was what I was going to tell you earlier, before Antony came. Layton, I'm pregnant". There was a tense moment, as we continued to stare at each other. Then, Layton viciously grabbed my neck and jerked my head up. Pain shot through my neck, but it went as soon as his lips touched mine.

I threw my hands around his neck, as we kissed. The desperation between our lips was almost unbearable. I could feel his fear, just as he could feel mine. My hands held onto his neck hard, as he picked me up.

Layton took a seat on the couch, and I sat straddling his lap. We kissed for a while long – long, passionate, desperate kisses. The kisses felt wet because of my tears that mingle with it. When we pulled away, we were both gasping from breath.

"I love you, Layton".

"Ditto" Layton replied, and I laughed through my tears. "I can't believe we're going to have a pup" he smiled – that beautiful smile that only I got. And then, we were kissed once more. Pulling away, I cupped Layton's cheek – he leant into my hand and gave me a small smile.

"Why didn't you want the pack to know about the note?" I asked.

"Because someone in the pack is helping the killer" Layton replied emotionless, his face cold and dark. I swallowed deeply, my throat dry and my eyes wide. I couldn't believe that someone in our pack, people we considered family, would betray us like that.

"The killer isn't from the pack, because they're been killing in half-shift. And there are only two people strong enough in the pack to fully half-shift; me and Antony. And it is neither of us. However, the killer manages to enter when there are no patrols going on. So they must have an inside source".

"Couldn't they just know our patrol schedule? Know when we have Pack Wolves watching our borders, and when the different shifts change?" I asked, biting my bottom lip.

"No, I change the shifts every day so things like that don't happen". There was a pause, before Layton growled and held me closer. "This isn't fair. You're perfect, and kind, and loving. And our pup will be the same. Yet, instead of targeting me, they go after you. It isn't fair, it really isn't".

"I don't want anyone to target you" I whispered, a few more tears escaping my eyes.

"If I kept you and our child save, then I would happily die to get this killer away from you".

"Layton, please don't say things like that. I can't raise our child by myself, so please, don't say things like that". Reaching up, he wiped my tears away. Layton gave me a soft smile, before taking my hands and kissing them.

"Layton, take me to bed" I said, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. "I want you to hold me, to love me. Please, take me to bed". There was a heavy moment between us, before Layton kissed me deeply.

It had been dawn when Layton returned home, so by the time we finished making love, it was almost time for the world to awaken. We lay in the bed together, clinging tightly to each other in silence. My head was rested on his chest, and our legs were tangled together.

"What are we going to do?" I asked Layton, breaking the blissful silence between us. We had been ignoring it – that murderous elephant in the room – but there was only so long that the ignorance could carry on.

Layton sighed heavily, as I turned to look up at him; staring into his beautiful green eyes. "Have you heard of the Hender Wolf Pack?" Layton asked me, his lips pulling down into a frown. I shook my head no, and Layton frowned more.

"My mother's father was an Alpha, of the Hender Wolf Pack. And now his son – my cousin – is the leader. He and I understand one another, we are family after all. I'm going to speak to him today, I want to send you up there for a while".

"What?" I squealed, sitting up sharply. I felt tears filling my eyes. "You're sending me away? Without you?"

"Gemini calm down" Layton sighed, sitting up with me and wiping my tears away. "I don't want to send you away, but I need to keep you safe. Both of you". He looked at me, before his hand rested on my flat stomach. "I can't afford for you to get hurt. You'll be safe there, and of course I'll visit".

"But, I'm pregnant" I hiccupped, my bottom lip trembling pathetically. Layton sighed in annoyance, I could tell his patience with me was growing thin.

"And that is why I am doing this Gemini". He ran a hand through his hair; the brown strands tousling upwards slightly. "We'll keep it quiet, tell everyone that you left back to your old pack – that we broke up. However, you'll really go and stay with my cousin, Valentine, in his pack. They'll keep you safe".

"I don't want to leave" I sniffed, eyes looking down. Layton placed his finger under my chin, and forced it up so our eyes met.

"I don't want you to leave. If anything, I just want to hold you and never let you go. But, I can't". He kissed me softly, as I offered him a sad smile.

"Can I at least stay here until after Christmas?" I asked; my fingers absentmindedly tracing the tattooed patterns on his arms.

"Of course, it would look suspicious if you left just after another murder. We'll wait until just after the New Year" he replied.

Layton was feeling anxious about leaving me in the house alone, so I went with him to his office. The entire Pack was chatting about the murder, and the police had gotten involved – again. Apparently they had been tipped off about the murder, and where to find a body. Whoever the killer was, they really wanted to put Layton out.

The police questioned Layton in the morning, and I waited in his office, with Antony. We didn't talk much; I read a book from Layton's dusty bookcase and Antony silently got to work.

"Did Layton tell you about the note?" Antony broke the silence by asking. I paused in my reading and glanced up at him.

"Yeah, he did" I nodded. "Did he tell you about Hender Pack?"

"Yeah, he did" Antony mirrored my words. We fell into a heavy silence – the mood thick and sober. "I'm sorry this is happening to you, especially with--" he gestured to my stomach. Instantly, as if by reaction, my hands rested on my midsection.

"I'm sorry this is happening to the Pack" I replied, and we nodded to one another.

When Layton returned, Antony returned to his own office and Layton sat back down at his desk. Like with Antony, I read a book quietly and let him get to work. About an hour after he returned, a knock came on the door.

Both Layton and I looked up, and I took my legs down from the table top. "What do you want?" Layton demanded aggressively. Times like that, reminded me of how harsh and cold Layton was with people that weren't me. However, Layton was Layton, and I wouldn't want to change him any.

"Alpha Vetteriano, it is Evan Morris" a male voice replied. "Beta Strider told me you wanted to see me".

"Evan, come in" Layton said. The door opened slowly, before a boy – similar age to me – walked in. He was a small for a man, but still stood taller than me, with a long, lean, body. His hair was a reddish brown, and his eyes a light blue.

"Alpha, Alpha Female" Evan nodded at us, eyes casting to the floor in submission.

"Evan, do you still wish to become the next Pack doctor?" Layton asked, instantly getting down to business.

"If you'll allow me to, Alpha Vetteriano, I'd love to practice medicine" he replied. Layton nodded, looked slightly pleased.

"I'm going to make you a deal, which I hope you'll take. My mate is in danger, from this killer, he has threatened her personally. So I am sending her to Hender Pack for them to look after her. I want you to go with her – there is a medical school about three miles away – and pretend to be her mate".

Evan and I made noises of confusion, as Layton explained. "I will pay for your schooling personally, and you will stay with Hender Pack under the rule of Alpha Asenda but you will still be part of Endoro Pack. While my mate is staying there, I don't want any males taking notice of her. So I want you to pretend to be her mate, to warn others off. I need someone to protect her, and I want that to be you".

I thought over his words, as Evan smiled softly. "Alpha Vetteriano, it would be a pleasure to look after your mate. It would be an honour to watch over Alpha Female Vetteriano".

"Good" Layton nodded, "I have spoken to the College, and you'll start in January. I can't stress enough how quiet you need to keep this, all that I am saying is for your ears only. No, pack your bags, you'll leave with my mate on New Years Day".

And that was that, plans were set. I was leaving – with Evan – while Layton tried to work out who the killer was, and who the traitor was.