Chapter 8 - Laila
Laila sat around the kitchen island, staring blankly ahead. She’d been trying to gather her thoughts all morning to no avail. After the whirlwind of the last twenty-four hours, her mind was still in tangled knots. The kiss with Tolliver had shaken her to the core, and she’d yet to recover. She wondered if she ever would. Although old wounds had been reopened, even now, her body still hummed with the memory of Tolliver’s lips on hers.
Shutting her eyes tightly, she stifled a groan as she remembered how she’d run like a frightened animal. Tolliver must have thought she was a nutcase. She needed to do something to take her mind off Tolliver, their kiss, and the danger she was in. Baking had always been her sanctuary, the one thing that grounded her no matter how chaotic life became.
Measuring, mixing, kneading—the process was rhythmic and peaceful. There was only one problem—she didn’t have everything she needed to bake to her heart’s content. Tolliver’s supermarket run had only gotten them the bare necessities. Bellefleur farmer’s market was one of her favorite places to gather the freshest ingredients. It was too bad Tolliver had ordered her to stay indoors. She hadn’t even gone near a window since he left.
On second thought, was walking around Bellefleur really that dangerous? She’d be surrounded by people she had known since childhood. Besides, the town was too crowded at that time of day for rogue shifters to try funny businesses. Maybe if she got out of the confines of the cabin, she’d feel better.
Deciding that getting some air was for the best and Bellefleur was safe enough, she reached for her phone to tell Tolliver her plans. Surely, he’d agree that it was alright to walk around town. The place was a shifter’s haven.
To her chagrin, Tolliver didn't answer.
“What harm could there be in a quick trip?” she murmured as she hopped off the stool. She grabbed her bag, slipped on a jacket, and went out the door. Tolliver had left the SUV in case she had an emergency and needed to get away from the cabin. In her opinion, protecting her mental health was an emergency. She just had to get away for a bit.
The trip into town was uneventful, and she’d been sure to stay vigilant. She’d seen no one following her, nor did she sense any danger. So, she had relaxed significantly by the time she parked in front of Mrs. Oswald’s cafe and made her way across the street to the market.
The Bellefleur farmers’ market was just as she remembered, bustling with activity, bright with the colors of fresh produce and handmade goods. It was a slice of normalcy amid everything, and for a moment, Laila let herself breathe it all in. The scent of freshly baked bread from the nearby bakery mingled with the herbs and the sweetness of ripe berries. It reminded her of summers with her grandmother, back when life had been simpler.
Laila wandered from stall to stall, picking out fresh fruits and spices. She had plans to prepare a feast tonight. Tolliver had always loved her cooking. The man could eat enough for an entire village. She smiled at the thought, but then her smile faded when she reminded herself that she needed to stop thinking about Tolliver and how things used to be between them.
“Not thinking about him, not thinking about him…” she chanted. A familiar voice called out behind her as she reached for a basket of tomatoes.
“Laila?”
She turned, her heart skipping a beat as she recognized Elena, Tolliver’s sister. The sight of her brought back a flood of memories. Elena had always been kind to her when she and Tolliver were together, but now, Laila wasn't sure how to feel after everything that had happened between them.
“Elena.” Laila forced a smile. “It’s been a long time.”
Elena gave her a typical big smile, her green eyes lighting up. To Laila’s surprise, the other woman engulfed her in a hug. She hadn’t expected such a warm greeting.
“I wasn’t sure I’d see you around here again,” Elena said when she pulled back.
Laila felt a twinge of awkwardness but tried to push it down. She stood there, not sure what else to do or say. “Yeah, I’m just picking up a few things.”
“Of course,” Elena said, scanning Laila with curiosity. “It’s good to see you back. Tolliver didn’t tell me you were in town.”
Laila shifted uncomfortably, and her face heated up. She wasn’t sure how many details to share with Elena. Surely, if Tolliver wanted her to know the full story, he would have told her. “It’s... complicated,” Laila said.
Elena nodded, and to Laila’s relief, she didn’t press. “You want to grab some coffee? It’s been ages since we caught up.”
Laila hesitated for a second before smiling. “I’d like that.” She then glanced around, remembering that she hadn’t planned to linger in the open for too long. “On second thought, I hadn’t planned to stay out long. I should get out of the town…” She anxiously looked around again.
Elena frowned and followed her gaze. “Looking for someone?”
“Er…no.”
Elena’s frown deepened, and then she said, “Ah, I get it. You want to avoid the fuss of running into everyone, don’t you? No problem. How about we go back to Sterling Manor? I was on my way there, anyway.”
Laila hadn’t been to the Sterling house in a long time. She’d always loved the old-world charm of the massive property. “Sure, that will work.”
“Great! Let’s finish up here and get going.”
They made their way out of the market, and Laila followed behind Elena’s car. She felt some of her tension ease once they were on the outskirts of town and nearing the Sterling house. The road wound around a hill until the colossal structure came into view. The three-story house sat in the middle of an expansive estate. Laila always thought it looked like something out of a movie.
Once they were inside and settled in the kitchen, Elena said, “I feel like tea. What about you?”
Laila gazed around the kitchen and replied, “I’ll go with coffee.” She’d barely slept last night, and she needed the caffeine boost.
Elena moved around the kitchen, and Laila watched silently, wondering if she should tell Elena why she was really back in town.
“So, Laila, what have you been up to?” Elena asked. “It’s been, what, five years?”
Laila took a deep breath. “Yeah. I’ve been keeping busy, working... building my business. I own a bakery in Cedar Ridge.”
“I remember you saying you wanted to have your own bakery one day. Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” Laila was surprised that she had remembered. “I hear you’re a mom now. That’s great.”
Elena beamed. “It is. Ryder and I love being parents. You’ll get to meet Elise soon. If you’ll be sticking around, that is.”
Laila smiled with gratitude when Elena handed her a mug of steaming coffee and slid the sugar and cream toward her.
“So…” Elena sipped her tea and eyed Laila over the rim of her cup. “You and my brother… Are you two back together?”
Laila knew that question was coming and had prepared for it. “No.”
Elena’s eyebrows drew together, and disappointment flickered across her face. “Oh. That’s too bad.”
“Honestly, Elena, I’m only back in Bellefleur because Tolliver has taken it upon himself to protect me.” She stared at Elena, gauging her reaction. When all she got was a blank look, she knew Tolliver’s sister was in the dark about what was going on. “Apparently, I’m in danger. Well, I’ve started to believe that I really am.”
“Oh my gosh, Laila, what’s going on?”
Laila swallowed. “I’m not entirely sure, but Tolliver told me something about female shifters being kidnapped for breeding purposes.”
Elena gawked. “Holy crap! That’s insane and sinister. Who would do something like that? And how is my brother sure you’re a target?”
Laila shrugged. “You’ll have to ask him.”
“This must be a Black Ops situation. I’ll ask Ryder. I can’t believe he hasn’t mentioned it to me.”
“Maybe he’s trying to protect you from the crazy stuff.”
“Maybe…” Elena huffed. “Laila, this is terrible.”
Laila let out a weary sigh. “Tell me about it. I was dragged away from my life and have been holed up in my grandmother’s house for days. Today is the first time I’m getting some air. And your brother might very well have my head for leaving the house.”
“Don’t be too hard on Tolliver. He can get a little overbearing when he’s in protective mode.”
Laila wasn’t upset about Tolliver wanting to protect her. It was the tension and weirdness between them that got to her. Who wanted to constantly be in proximity to the person who broke their heart?
“Tolliver thinks he needs to be my bodyguard,” Laila said. “While I appreciate him looking out for me, I’m a shifter, too. I can take care of myself. Sure, I let my guard down. I was living in Cedar Ridge, surrounded by humans. Now that I know what’s going on, I know to watch my back, and I don’t need a babysitter.”
Elena chuckled softly and shook her head. “I get your frustration. But shifters are super protective and possessive of their mates. They drive you crazy, but they mean well.”
The word mates instantly had Laila throwing up emotional barriers. “Tolliver and I aren’t… Well, you already know that.”
The room got quiet as Elena’s eyes shifted to Laila. “Right… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make things weird.”
Laila nodded. “It’s fine.”
Although curiosity shone in Elena’s eyes, she didn’t press the issue, to Laila’s relief. Talking about her relationship—or lack thereof—with her ex-mate’s sister was the height of awkwardness.
“Tell me more about your bakery,” Elena said.
Glad to be on another topic, Laila perked up and delved into how she became the owner of the bakery in Cedar Ridge. After that, the conversation drifted to more lighthearted topics until they were reminiscing about old times, laughing, and joking like they used to. For a while, Laila felt like she was back in a time before everything had gotten complicated—before her heart had been broken.
As she and Elena chatted, Laila glanced out the window and noticed the sun was setting. She hadn’t realized it was so late. As always, she became riveted by the sky’s transformation. The soft pinks and fiery oranges that blended into the blue sky were mesmerizing. Tolliver used to hold her in his arms and watch the sun rise and set with her. The familiar feeling of longing for that kind of intimate connection nagged at her, but she pushed it aside. Sometimes, she wished everything she saw didn’t remind her of what she once had with her mate.