Chapter 23
Chapter 23
Layla's POV
After confessing my feelings to Alex, I sulked myself in my room for hours until morning. All I did was
cry my heart out. The memory of Alex and I keeps flashing in my head. I have failed Alex. I'd rather be
her best friend forever than to lose her. Why hadn't I realized this before? I'm so selfish. I remember her NôvelDrama.Org © content.
face filled with confusion and frustration which bothered me so much. I have hurt her.
If I have a mate, this confession wouldn't happened and if I am not a f*cking omega I wouldn't lose
hope of finding my mate. If I could just shift, I wouldn't suffer like this.
I groaned and got up from my bed. My eyes were swollen because I didn't get a chance to sleep. I
finally dragged my feet towards my bathroom and took a long shower.
I should make things right with Alex. I can't afford to lose her. She's my only best friend. Maybe I should
learn to accept that she has a mate and I haven't.
I sighed and I felt a pang of pain in my heart. I hope Alex will talk to me. Even if it hurts so much seeing
her with Azrael, I will try to accept it. I want her to be happy with her mate.
I got out of my room and went to Alex's room. I knock slightly but there's no response.
"A-Alex?" I called. I waited but there's still no response. I know she can hear me because she has a
very clear hearing.
"Alex? Please talk to me?" I called again. Yet, I haven't heard from her. I sighed.
Is she still mad at me? "Alex, I'm sorry… please let's talk…"
I heaved a deep breath and decided to go in. I turned the doorknob and a quiet empty room greeted
me. I look at her bed but she's not there. The bed sheets were clean and tidy. Looks like no one slept in
there. I frowned. My heart rate increased. I hastily went to her bathroom and opened it, but, it's empty.
I hurriedly got out of Alex's room and went to Azrael's room. I knock repeatedly in a hurry. "Azrael? Are
you there? Please open the door!"
I heard a grunt inside then the door busted open revealing a sleepy Azrael. He looked like a mess and
there were dark circles around his eyes. Did he sleep or what?
"What do you want, Layla?" he asked annoyed. I sighed.
"Did you see, Alex?" I asked abruptly while pacing back and forth. I saw his forehead creased and
frowned.
"Wait---I thought you two were together last night. What happened? Alex was in pain and I also felt it. I
thought I'm going to die because I fell unconscious onto the cold floor. I slept on the floor all night." he
uttered and my heart rate sped up in nervousness.
Where's Alex?
"S-She's not in her room. Last night we had some misunderstanding and I know it's my fault. She
vanished in my sight and I thought she just went to her room but when I went to her room a while ago,
she's not there and her bed and bathroom were clean like there's no one sleeping in there." I said
anxiously.
I started pacing back and forth. Azrael has an unreadable expression.
"The pain last night was new. Something happened to Alex. We must find her!" he said and I nodded.
We parted ways and started finding Alex in the mansion. But, after how many minutes, Azrael and I
met in the living room without Alex. We both pacing back and forth. We don't know what to do. Alex is
not in the mansion. Where did she go? This is all my fault. I sat on the sofa and sobbed. I couldn't help
it.
I saw Sabrina walk towards us. Maybe she can help find Alex.
"Layla, Azrael, where's Alex? I need to talk to her." she mumbled. But frowned when she saw me
crying. "Why are you crying?" she asked.
"We can't find Alex. She's not in the mansion." Azrael mumbled while still pacing back and forth. He's
probably more worried than I am because of the bond.
"It's my fault why Alex left without telling anyone where she went. If I just knew, I stopped her." I said,
feeling mad at myself. I shouldn't have confessed my feelings to her. I am so selfish about my own
feelings not knowing she will be more hurt than I am.
Sabrina frowned. "It will be hard finding her." she mumbled sadly and I felt my heart sunk.
Alex can't leave me, right? She just wouldn't leave alone without me.
~~~~~
It's been 3 days since Alex's disappearance, we still have no lead where she is. Sabrina tried to
connect to Alex using mindlink but to no avail. We've been looking for her around the city the last two
days and now we are in the forest. Alex likes the forest, so maybe she's here. I hope so. As much as I
don't want to be stuck with Azrael, I have no choice. We have to find Alex. Sabrina is still trying to
connect to Alex but it looks like Alex didn't respond.
The entire 3 days, I have been blaming myself for Alex's disappearance. She's upset, I knew it. I feel
really bad at myself. Is Alex really that upset for her to not show up for 3 days? Somethings not right. I
hope she's fine. If something bad would have happen to her, I will never forgive myself.
"Azrael, did you try to mindlink Alex?" Sabrina asked Azrael.
"Yes, but I couldn't connect to her." Azrael said worry was evident in his eyes.
"If we cannot connect to her, it only means one thing….She's unconscious." Sabrina said unreluctant.
"What??!" I hysterically reacted.
"Maybe she is. I even fell unconscious when I felt the pain inside me." Azrael mumbled.
"She's in pain again. It happens when she gets troubled with her powers." I said anxiously. We must
find Alex as soon as possible.
We continue walking in silence for hours. I also looked up at the trees until we found a glade or an
open space in the forest. I gasped when I saw dried blood on the ground. There's blood scattered
everywhere like there's a massacre that happened not long ago.
Sabrina put her hand down to the ground and closed her eyes. When she opened her eyes it was a
glowing green but it fades quickly unlike Alex that stayed longer if she wanted.
"What did you see?" I asked.
"There's a fight between werewolves here." She answered.
"Wait---" Azrael mumbled and let out a gasps. We look at him waiting for him to talk. "We are in the
Vermount territory. They must sense us by now. We should prepare ourselves."
"Wait--Vermount? As in the Royal Family of all werewolves?" I asked and he nodded. Oh sh*t.
"Exactly. But don't worry, I know King Stephen." Sabrina said. I feel relieved.
"I think we are on the boundaries." Azrael said while scanning the area. Then we continue walking.
After 20 minutes, a group of werewolves spotted us and they growled loudly. We stopped walking and
waited for them to come closer.
"You're a witch! Why are you in our territory? Explain folks." a man with a black hat said and gave us
dangerous glares especially Sabrina.
Sabrina cleared her throat and spoke, "We are looking for someone. We didn't know we were past your
territory but, may I speak with King Stephen Vermount?"
The man narrowed his eyes. "What do you want from our King?"
"I'd rather talk to him. Tell him that Sabrina Smith wanted to talk to him. Now." Sabrina said with
authority. The other mens were reluctant but one of them maybe mindlink someone inside the castle
because he nodded to the man in front of us.
"Okay, follow us." the man said but still looking at us doubtfully. Sabrina nodded at us and we followed
the groups of werewolves. Some groups were left behind while searching for something unwelcome in
their territory.
After 5 minutes, we reached a truck. We got insides and drove towards the castle that was still far away
from here. Sabrina, Azrael and I were still in high alert in hopes that maybe Alex was still around the
forest.
We were silent the whole ride. After how many minutes, I spotted a big castle in the distance. I was in
awe. This will be the first time that I will see the castle up close. Wow, I can't believe we will be meeting
the King of the Werewolves. As far as I remember, King Stephen is still young probably by his 20's.
Well, I heard the rumors that his parents died five years ago when a group of rogues attacked them.
The big golden gate opened and the truck went inside. The man earlier nodded at us and we stepped
out of the truck.
The moment we all stepped outside the truck, we gasped loudly.
"Alex was inside!" Azrael mumbled happily and my eyes widened. Sabrina smiled and nodded in relief.
But, it was different for me. Yep, I can smell Alex scent lingered around the castle but it's not the reason
why I gasped.
A strong citrus and manly scent filled my nostrils. My heart rate also increases and that gives me
goosebumps. The scent was so strong and I am in a daze because of it. I wanted to go look for it.
'Mate. Mate. Mate.'
I stopped dead on my tracks when someone spoke inside my head.
W-Who is that?
'Finally, we found our mate, Layla.'
A voice said again and I was dumbfounded.
W-What?
'I'm Ada. Your inner wolf.'
My eyes widened more. I have a wolf?!
'Of course, Layla. I'm always here with you but since your body is weak before, I couldn't come out and
talk to you.'
Why just now?
'Because your body is now healthier than before. And your strong urge to have shifted gives me
enough strength. And the strong scent of our mate awakened me completely.'
"Layla! Are you okay?!" Azrael's worried face greeted me. Sabrina looked at me with a creased
forehead.
"My inner wolf finally talked to me…" I
I mumbled and their eyes widened.
Sabrina smiled at me sweetly. "That's good to hear, Layla. Alex will be ecstatic if she finds out." I
nodded and smiled.
I can't wait to tell Alex the good news!
I heard a heavy footsteps coming our way. I looked at the entrance of the castle and not later on, a tall
handsome man with a crown on his head showed up breathing heavily. His gaze met mine and my
heart suddenly beats faster. He was staring at me intently, never breaking eye contact with me. It's like
my world was in slow motion and all I could see was him.
'Mate,'
I was stunned. The King of the werewolves is my mate? Are you kidding me??
His dark cold blue eyes sparkled while staring at my brown ones. I couldn't move my feet like it was
glued to the ground. I feel like I'm choking up because I can't say any words like my tongue got tied up.
"Mate," he uttered. My heart rate increases in nervousness. Suddenly, there were thoughts running in
my head. What if he will reject me?
I saw something flashed in his eyes. And the moment I saw him smiling directly at me. I was
hyperventilating and also Ada. She was screaming in my head and urged me to say something to our
mate.
"Mate," I mumbled back in a low tone and smiled at him.
He walked towards me while smiling until he's 1 meter away from me. "I'm so glad to finally see you my
mate. I've been waiting for you for years now." God, he sounds so manly and sexy. His sultry voice
gives me goosebumps but in a good way.
Suddenly, tears streamed down my face. I am not expecting this to happen. He frowned when he saw
me crying. I thought I couldn't find a mate because I am an omega. I was still overwhelmed by the fact
that I can talk to my inner wolf now. And I haven't expected that I will meet my mate today at once.
He reached for my face and wiped out the tears. I leaned in into his touch and closed my eyes. It feels
so good. When I opened my eyes, he smiled at me sweetly and asked, "Why are you crying my
beautiful mate?"
I smiled and said, "I'm just happy. I thought I couldn't find a mate. My whole life I was thinking I couldn't
find a mate because I am weak and a useless omega. And---"
I was interrupted by a loud scream that came inside the castle. My heart sped up when I heard Alex's
voice. Oh god, she's in pain again!
"Aaahhhhhh" I looked at Azrael when he screamed too. My breathing hitched.
"Alex!" I mumbled and ran towards the castle and looked for Alex's voice. She was still screaming and
growling. What happened to her?
"Wait!" I heard Stephen calling me but I continued running.
"Alex!" I called several times.
When I turned around the corner. I saw Alex lying on the floor while curling up like a ball. She was
grunting and screaming because of pain. I gasped when she opened her eyes and it was a fiery red
like a burning fire. She has a dark aura all around her.
I stopped dead on my tracks when I noticed werewolves on my back. They were looking at Alex and
ready to attack. They growled loudly. I saw Stephen walk beside me while staring at Alex.
I look at Stephen while shaking my head. I turned my gaze towards Alex and now she stopped
screaming but her eyes remain the same. She's like a demon.
A creepy smile plastered on her lips. "Where's the little boy?!" she said with five different voices. It
gives me goosebumps.
"A-Alex…" I uttered stuttering. She looked at me and smiled evilly.
"I'm not Alex! I am Damona!" my eyes widened when her voice changed. "Now, where's the little
boy?!!" she said while eyeing every corner until she looked at her back into the corner.
There's a cute little boy curled up in the corner filled with tears. He was also shaking in fear.
"Eros!" I heard Stephen shouted. But the little boy was just staring at Alex, I mean, Damona. Suddenly,
the little boy stopped crying and smiled at Damona. What the h*ll?
Damona made her way to the little boy. Stephen was about to stop Damona but I stopped him. He
growled. I took his hand and grip it tightly and that calmed him.
"Did I scare you little boy?" I heard Damona asked. The boy nodded and put his hands up. Damona
gladly carried the little boy and I saw her smile. Woah.
"You're okay?" the little boy asked Damona and the latter nodded.
This is so confusing. So, Alex now has four spirits? This is insane. What was happening to her? What
kind of a hybrid is she? Ugh, this gives me too much headache. This happening to Alex was exhausting
and stressful. All the questions we have had been quadrupled and never got an answer not once.
But, the question is how did Alex's body endured the four powerful spirits? So, it's like there's a total of
five spirits inside Alex. Alex's spirit, Xandra, Val, Willow and lastly Damona.
Suddenly, Damona looked at me while grinning. I gulped then she uttered, "You got it right, Layla." she
said while her lips twitched and wink at me. Holy cow!