Dean POV

*Dean POV*

“Layla!” I rushed over the edge but her body disappeared in the mixture of debris and thorns.
“Fuck,” I uttered.
I shifted back into a wolf and jumped over the edge. I barked and my bark came back to me void. My nose caught moisture in the air but not my Little Wolf. She shouldn’t have run.
I waded through the thorny paths, getting cuts and nothing else. I should have caught her before she got close to the edge. I should have grabbed her. I barked again hoping my bark would bring back her location. It was like she wasn’t down here.
Maybe she ran off but that was unlikely she rolled down in her human form. She could be hurt. I’d never forgive myself if my Little Wolf was hurt.
“Layla, Layla, respond please,” I said through our link but she didn’t respond.
With my senses scrambled I stood and howled at the sun. I cursed the sky because it was under its watch that she disappeared. I felt like a fool who lost his mate. I climbed back up to the edge and scanned the area. I couldn’t make out the path her body made when she rolled. The river stuck out for me. Please, no. Not there. If she ended up in the river, I’d lose her scent.
Where the hell are you, Mate?
***
I marched back to the castle without my Mate. Fuck my wolf raged I battled to keep it confined. How could I have lost her? She was right there in front of me. Layla was special but did she have the ability to teleport?
When I saw her attack Lyle then run off I called the betas off. I wouldn’t let anyone hurt her. Maybe she wouldn’t have run if she wasn’t chased. Whatever the case I should have been told first that my Mate escaped. Instead they hunted her like a wild animal.
The betas stared at each other as I approached without the woman I loved. If I was half the monster my father was none of these men would see the sun set today. My temper grew further with the thought of him.
Omegas surrounded me with towels for me to cover myself with. I glared at them, but they never met my gaze expect for Lexi my former lover. She was brave enough to come closer and wrap the towel around my waist. I shoved it off.
Gabe and my beta Bane marched up to me.
“What happened? How did you lose her?”
“Gabe, I’ll rip your throat out.”
Gabe raised his hands. He put up the nonchalant front but I saw the concern under it. I hated it.
“How did this happen?” I blasted.
Bane shut his eyes and stared at the ground. I grabbed the front of his shirt and lifted his heels off the ground. “Talk.”
“I don’t know Alpha. She… she attacked the guard. We were just trying to get her back.”
“Under whose orders?”
Bane stared at the ground and sealed his lips.
“Fuck off. I’ll deal with you later.”
Gabe grabbed my shoulders and shoved me back. “Cool it. This should—”
I grabbed my brother’s shirt opposed to his throat. For a split second I heard my mother’s voice telling me to leave my brother alone.
“Do you believe that? Do you believe for a second Layla’s guilty?”
He licked his lips and looked away. “She’s a mystery, isn’t she?”
I let him go. The omegas dispersed and the betas dispersed. I took Lexi’s hand before she left.
“The barn. Six o’clock sharp.”
She lowered her gaze, but I caught the smile. “Yes, Alpha.”
I ordered Bane to take the betas and search the hill and the forest. I wanted her back. I needed to figure out what happened here and to clear my head. Layla wasn’t in my plans but she barged into my life and disrupted the order I set. I had a young and inexperienced mate who’d been handed life’s hardest blow. I let her slip through my fingers.
A part of me didn’t want to deal with the rumours and the suspicions of her being a spy. The evidence against her was damning, the Locus Lake and the voices. The Dare wolves wanted her when I found her about to leave Gabe’s pack. The question was why…
I went to the kitchen wearing just dark blue jeans. My body buzzed with the need to have my Mate back. My wolf was on the edge of my skin. The bastard blamed me for losing her. I hated locking her up, but I had a plan.
My brother and his betas, Lyle and Dec idled in the kitchen exchanging hushed words but stopped when I walked in.
“Want to share?” I asked.
“If you won’t, why should I?”
I growled. Was his hot head serious?
Lyle cleared his throat and leaned against the counter.
“Little Wolf—”
I raised a brow and crossed my arms. My nickname.
“I mean Layla, had help from the young betas. Sam had been searching for information her pack. He found something he didn’t get the chance to tell her.”
That stung. She trusted him more than me? Fine, I let her get locked up but it was just so the elders would think they had control. Those old bastards believed they had more power than the Alpha. I was the fool I put them before her.
“Spit it out,” I said.
“Her pack’s Alpha had one alliance with the Connolly pack just a few miles from here. The Alpha was supposed to send a letter every month to their allied pack. Those stopped.”
“That doesn’t mean she’s innocent—”
“Gabe,” I snapped.
“I’m being rational. I’m not her Mate so I can afford to use my head. If she’s responsible for the destruction of one pack, then she’s more dangerous than we thought.”
I looked away. I wasn’t a saint. I was a flame that consumed everything in its wake. I thought Layla was the one to douse that fire. I still believed it.
“The Connolly pack dispersed years ago. Their Alpha died and they never picked up. I don’t know what to think anymore.”
“Guys, can I have a moment with my brother?” Gabe asked.
Lyle and Dec marched out and closed the double doors behind them.
“I don’t want to hear it man,” I said.
He stood and marched up to me. My brother and I stood at an equal six foot five.
“Look, I don’t want her to get hurt. Until she’s proven innocent I’ll be divided over her, but I don’t want to see her hurt. Take that how you will.”
I clenched my jaw, “Thanks. Now what? I couldn’t find her. I couldn’t even find her scent.”
“Why’d you move her trial?”
I stared at the red kettle in the corner of the counter. Was that new?
“Hey, what were you planning?”
“Kill the elders.”
Gabe stepped back and ran a hand through his hair. “Damn it. You don’t even know if she’s for real!”
“She’s my fated mate. I know she’s innocent. She didn’t kill that girl and she didn’t destroy her pack. She’s innocent.”
“You-you really think the goddess wouldn’t screw you over and give you a serial killer for a mate?”
I bobbed my head to the side. He had a point.
“Trust me on this.”
“Dude, the goddess cursed us herself. She’s not going to do us any favours.”
“Then we’re all screwed because she’s the only one that can defeat the Dare pack.”
Gabe mumbled, “We can fix that.”
“I have to take care of something.” I walked away.
“Dean… you know we had no choice right?”
I nodded. Our decision infected darkness on this earth.
***
I lay in the hay waiting for her to arrive. For someone I’d slept with for more than five years she should know I didn’t like waiting. My wolf mourned Layla’s absence. The betas came back empty. It would be the worst punishment ever granted if she never came back. I’d lose her for good if she found out the shit I’d done in my past.
The barn door opened, letting in the soft moonlight. Lexi’s blonde hair bounced on her shoulders.
“Did I keep you waiting?” She asked.
“You know I hate it.”
“You deserve it. You cast me aside like wet paper for that girl. You want a real woman?” Bits of her face were visible in the barn.
I made out her curvy silhouette. She unbuttoned her shirt it dropped to the floor.
“Come here,” I said.
She rolled her hips forward and appeared between my legs.
“I knew you wouldn’t be gone long Dean. The little girl never knew what she wanted. I’ll help you forget her.”
She leaned forward and kissed my ear. “We’ll be here a while.”
I gripped her arms. “We won’t.”
I pulled her back and trapped her between my legs. “You’re going to tell me the truth, got it?”
Lexi struggled, “What? Dean… what is this?”
“You know what happens when you lie to me. Why did you tell Layla we’d be busy the night she was accused? What do you know?”
She winced as she struggled to free herself. I tightened my grip and exposed my wolf to her. She whimpered and slumped but I kept her up.
“The truth now. Or I’ll put you away for a long time.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Your girl lied to you all. She threatened Cora I was there.”
“Cora didn’t tell us you were there when Layla threatened her. Adding to your story now? Did you threaten Cora?”
Her heart rate increased as sweat formed in her palms. Her eyes darted around the room.
“I can’t tell you, believe me.”
“Can’t tell me what?”
“The truth! I’m scared.”
I scowled, “Of what?”
“I know you Dean you wouldn’t kill me but the person who threatened Cora will kill me.”
“Who is it?”
She sucked in her bottom lip.
“This is still my pack, Lexi.”
“Fine. But I want protection then I’ll tell you everything.”
“Deal.”
I knew she was innocent. Layla, my mate, my true love.