Chapter 60

JAKE

As I get out of the hotel and make my way through the airport, I was likely not attacked by any crazed fan. I guess I will now always think about Layla when I think about walking through the airport. I feel very bad that I was not the one that got the slushy in my face because I know now that I would have healed much faster than what she would have.

I have a secret and no one can ever know about it. I feel much lighter today because I know now more about being a wolf and it is good to know that I am not the only celebrity with this heavy burden to bear. It seems that there are much more vampires and werewolves in the world than what I originally thought. I am not alone.

It seems like everyone has already boarded the plane and I make my way back to my private room. I walk through the aisle as usual and my eyes fall immediately on Layla. It looks like she is lying on her arms and not even noticing that I am walking past her.

I guess that she must be tired. It is kind of disappointing because I was really looking forward to looking into those beautiful blue eyes. She probably still has pain from the slushy so it is better that she keeps her eyes closed. The pilot soon let us know that we are taking off and I decide that I would call her as soon as we are in the air for a while.

I seriously still need some sleep because I did not get even close to enough sleep, after the things I did last night. So, I decided to rest first and then I will call her.

LAYLA

As the plane takes off I realized that I did not see when Jake walked into the plane. I think I was so busy focusing on what happened last night that I completely forgot about him. I have been trying ever since I woke up to think back on what happened and try to remember but I can not remember even one little thing.

It really bothers me because I like to be in control of my life and usually, I do not drink so much. I have truly learned my lesson for drinking like that again. I am sitting in the middle again and I wish I could sit on the side of the aisle. I like to stand up when everyone else is sleeping and just have some time for myself.

So, I lay back and close my eyes because the medicine that I am drinking really makes me drowsy. It is difficult to fall asleep but soon I visit my dream world. Then I feel someone's hand on my shoulder and I open my eyes slowly.

"Layla, Jake would like to see you"

It is Mark, Jake's manager. I quickly stand up and try to wake myself up as it feels like I just fell asleep. I wonder why Jake would want to see me but I am not here to question why he needs me. I know that I am employed by him and I should do exactly what he says when he says it.

As I walk to his room I feel pain radiating from my arm. When I look at my watch I see that I should have drank my painkillers a while ago already. But I act as professionally as possible as I knock on the door.

"Come in"

I open the door and I see Jake sitting at the window seat looking out of the window but then he turns to look at me. Abruptly his eyes fall on the bandage on my arm and he quickly stands up and walks to me.

"What happened?!"

I swear I see real concern on his face and then he touches my arm with his hand.

JAKE

I am in complete shock as I see a bandage on Layla's arm. I can not stop myself from touching her arm with my hand holding it up as if she is some fragile object that I need to protect. I look into her eyes and I hold my breath to hear what happened to her.

"Oh, I do not really know"

"What do you mean you do not know?"

I am confused by her answer because how can she not know what happened to herself?

"I mean, I know it was an animal bite but-"

"An animal bite?!"

Suddenly a million thoughts run through my mind. Why would Layla have an animal bite on her arm? Did she encounter one of my pack members and they bite her? But they made it clear that they do not bite human beings only vampires. We have strict rules about biting human beings.

"Yes, the doctor told me, well told Rita that I was bitten by an animal and... You know what, it is a long story and I am sure you are not interested in the detail"

I can not believe that she would think that I would not be interested in how she got hurt. My only concern now is her and her alone but I also need to know what animal would bite her and where. If it was somebody from our pack then that somebody must be punished accordingly.

LAYLA

I feel ashamed to tell him that I was drunk and I have no idea what happened but when I told him that it is a long story I can see almost hurt playing on his face.

"I really want to know what happened to you. I do not care if it is a long story. I do care about you...I mean..."

I can see that he realized he said something wrong and so he tries to make it sound more feasible for him to say that. Then he coughs and says.

"...I mean, I care about my employees"

I can still feel his hand on my arm. I look at his hand unintentionally and he quickly takes it away.

"I am so sorry...I did not realize I did that"

"It is okay...really"

"Please, take a seat and tell me what happened to you"

I take a seat and then he takes his seat right next to me. He sits on the edge of the couch making sure that he makes eye contact with me. It is clear that he wants to hear everything I have to say and so I start from the beginning.

"Well, we were at the rave club and I guess I was a bit reckless in drinking too much, and well...the next thing I remember was waking up in my bed with this bandage on my arm. Rita told me that the doctor said I was bitten by an animal and I said to Rita last night that I was bitten by a wolf in my drunkenness. Please do not laugh"

I am waiting for him to laugh at what I am saying but his face is still very serious.

"I have no intention to laugh. Is that all that you remember?"

"Yes. I have been trying to remember but there is just nothing"

JAKE

I realize that what she said might be the truth and I start to get nervous that she might figure out that there are wolves among us. One piece of me wants her to know it and the other piece of me wants her to never find it out..ever.

"I am truly very sorry that you got hurt. Are you going to be okay?"

I feel a little bit angry but at the same time very sad because this woman got hurt and once again I was not there to protect her. I do not know what she is doing to me but I just feel very protective of her.

"I am okay. The doctor gave me some antibiotics and painkillers so, I am really okay. But thank you for caring"

As her sweet voice tells me that she will be okay I can not help the blush appearing on my cheeks. She has this way of hypnotizing me and has this hold on me that everything she does is perfect to me.

"But you called me here for a reason, I guess?"

"Oh yes, I wanted to ask if there is a possibility that you can help me with an outfit before we land. I have some interviews to do before the show. But now that I see that you are hurt-"

She does not give me a chance to finish my sentence when she looks at me with seriousness on her face.

"Please, I can still do my job and I do not have a problem getting you an outfit. I am just going to need access to the clothes?"

"Yes, that is not a problem. If you think you are going to be okay to do it, Mark would be able to help you with whatever you need"

I watch her stand up and I realized that I do not want her to leave. I want her to stay here with me. I want to look after her. I want a protect her.