Little Voices

“What are you on hunger strike? Eat.”
I frowned, narrowing my eyes at him. He held out a spoon of oatmeal for me.
“I’m not hungry. I don’t want oatmeal.”
“You have to eat something, Layla.”
“You don’t have to force feed me.”
Dean set the bowl on the nightstand and propped himself up on his elbow. He scrutinized me for a minute before snapping his fingers.
“You’re hungry for something else aren’t you?”
I shrugged, “I’m not hungry.”
He smirked. What’s so funny? He took my hand and dragged it under the covers. I raised my brows at him. My tips found the fabric of his boxers soon my palm pressed against his cock.
“Dean,” I hissed.
“Hungry for this?” He raised a brow.
I blushed and turned away but I didn’t snatch my hand away. Dean laughed and released my hand. He rolled on his back but I felt his gaze on my skin. Now all of me was red from embarrassment.
“Little Wolf,” he said.
“What?”
“Come on look at me.”
“What Dean?”
“Are you embarrassed now? You know you can touch me however you like.”
I groaned, “Yeah, yeah. Let’s go downstairs for breakfast, sound good?”
My attempt to get up was stopped by Dean’s meaty tattooed arm around my waist. “We’re not leaving this room.”
“You left to get that disgusting oatmeal.”
“It’s necessary for your survival.”
“You’re impossible, you know that?”
He winked and pulled me to his chest. “Have I told you how much I missed you, Little Wolf?”
“You can stand to tell me more often.”
“Or I could show you.”
Heat consumed my body. Dean tugged the front of my shirt down and brought his lips to my nipple. He pulled me to his chest and devoured my breast.
“Dean…” I gasped.
He buried his face in my chest. “I missed you so much,” I said.
He moved his attention to my other nipple and bit down. I gasped out. Heat formed at my core. An intense fire only Dean could extinguish. His hand rode up my ass, slipping under the fabric and…
A knock came from at the door. Dean pulled back from my swollen nipple.
“What?” He demanded.
“Get out here,” Gabe said.
“Fuck him. I’ll be right back.”
“Wait, can I leave too?”
“Out of the question Little Wolf. I’ll be right back, okay?”
I pulled up my shirt and dove under the covers. I couldn’t live like this. Dean left and I was forced to entertain myself. I walked to the window to watch the pack go on normally. I stepped back when I saw women carrying stacks of wood. Lexi’s funeral ceremony.
I retreated to my bed. Where was Dean? I’d been stuck in here for hours alone without a book to keep me company. I felt useless in here when the Dare pack ran rampant and the Locus Lake was waiting it’s return and the Goddess’s could be a great weapon aside from the Alpha King.
The had set and I had finished getting dressed when Dean walked into the room with his hand behind his back.
“Little Wolf,” he said.
“Dean.”
“I know I know but I have a piece offering.”
“Is it a box of doughnuts? I could use those.”
He scratched the back of his head. “I’ll keep that in mind for next time.”
He closed the gap between us and presented me with a large bouquet of reds, whites and lilac flowers. I smiled.
“Dean… they’re beautiful.” I brought the bouquet to my face.
Dean kissed my forehead. “Please don’t be mad at me. I had important things to take care of.”
“Like Lexi’s ceremony?”
He nodded. “It’s tonight.”
I sneezed, “I’ll understand if no one… wants me there.” I sneezed again. “I sort of feel responsible for her death.” I scratched the back of my neck.
“Layla it wasn’t your fault.”
I ran my fingers up my neck and scratched down. “I know but I was connected.” Another sneeze. “Her friends know she didn’t like me. I don’t want drama.”
Dean raised his brow, “Are you alright?”
Another sneeze. “I’m… Dean are there daisies in this?”
“Yeah. I was told they’re romantic.”
Oh crap. “I’m allergic to daisies.”
“Oh shit.” He snatched the bouquet and chucked them out the window.
My face burned and itched. I hadn’t been hit with an allergy attack in months. Back home I was always careful to stay clear from daisies.
“Alright, what do I do? Your face is red.”
“A bath with sea salt.”
“Where the hell do I get that? We’re smiles from the nearest sea.”
I stopped scratching to laugh. “In the pantry Dean.”
“Oh right. I’ll be right back.” He rushed out.
I dragged myself to the bathroom and ran the water in the tub. I stood in the mirror the horrid rash hadn’t formed but my face was red. The sea salt would prevent the rash from forming. I turned to turn close the tap but froze as the water running from the tap ran maroon.
The claw footed tub was full of deep maroon water. It was as thick as paint.
“The stone, Layla. I want it.”
“You again. I don’t have it. I wouldn’t give it to you either.”
“You don’t really know what it means not to have anyone left. I took your miserable pack I can slaughter this one too.”
“You’re working with the Dare pack?”
“Silly girl…”
“Alright, I got it. Take this off.”
Dean marched into the bathroom. He grabbed the hem of my shirt and pulled it over my head.
“Who were you taking to?” Dean asked.
“What?”
“Never mind, get it.”
“No!” It would kill me.
“What? What if it gets worse?” He yelled.
“It’s going to kill me. You can’t see it.”
“See what?” He turned to the inches from over flowing. He rushed to close it. I stared at the object that spoke to me seconds ago.
“Layla?”
I snapped out of it. I must have imagined it. How could I? I spoke to the same feminine voice again.
“Umm, must be the allergy.”
Dean wasn’t buying it. He dumped the entire bottle of salt in the tub. He pulled his shirt over his head and unbuckled his belt. I watched intently as he got naked. When he was done he turned to me.
“Aren’t you going it?” He asked.
I stared at my shorts. Oh right. Dean got into the water after me. He pulled me to his chest and held me tight.
“Everything alright, Little Wolf. You would tell me if it wasn’t right?”
“Things aren’t fine Dean. A Locus Lake was in here… and I spoke to it.”
His hold on me loosened. “You spoke to a demon lake? What did it say?”
“It killed my pack and if I don’t give it what it wants it’ll destroy this one too. I can’t let that happen.”
“It confessed?”
“Yes! If we don’t do anything this one is next.”
“That’s impossible Layla.” Dean got up and out of the bath.
He grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist.
“I watched my pack go up in flames and no one even shifted.”
“No offense but this is a different pack. I have thoroughly trained wolves. No one gets in or out.”
He held the towel for me. The water had gone cold so I took it.
“If the Lake can get in and kill it means something else can too. The Dare—”
“Layla enough. The Locus Lake has a short lifespan here. I’ve been dealing with this thing for a long time I know how to handle it.”

I looked away. We were supposed to be partners yet he treated me like a child. “It got into the castle, didn’t it?” I walked into the closet before he could respond.
I slipped into shorts and a big shirt that hid my bottoms. Dean and his wolf sulked into the closet.
“Little Wolf… I didn’t mean to— I don’t want to lose you again.”
I turned around and sighed. “It’s more than me it’s about the pack.”
“You’re the one I’m worried about. It wants you. My mate. My fucking mate. If I lose you I die. I’ll die if I lose you Layla.”
“Dean—”
He took my hand and placed it over his heart. “I already know what it’s like to lose a mate. I don’t want to feel it again. I’m going to protect you with everything I have.”
There was no fighting with the determination in his eyes. I nodded and he brought me into his arms.
“How about you and I go to bed?”
I nodded and followed him into the room Dean stopped at the sight of Gabe in the bedroom.
“Gabe…” Dean ground his teeth. “I think it’s time you get your own place.”
Gabe’s eyes washed over me for a second. “We can talk about this later. The elders are downstairs.”
“What the hell do they want?”
It was after nine. Something serious must have happened.
Gabe’s focus settled on me. “They want Layla.”