Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Layla
I'm done for.
That was the only thought in my head when I saw Kai poking his head out of the hospital room.
"Kai!" I practically lunged forward, pulling him into my arms and pressing his little face against my chest.
"Mommy?" Kai's confused voice came from my embrace, muffled. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, baby." I tried desperately to control my racing heart, to sound calm for Kai, but my voice trembled. "Mommy just... just missed you so much."
I could feel Kayden's gaze.
Shocked. Scrutinizing. Then settling into certainty as it burned into my back before slowly shifting to Kai in my arms.
Don't look.
Please don't look.
"Mommy, you're holding too tight..." Kai squirmed. "I can't breathe..."
"Sorry, baby." I loosened my grip slightly but still held him close, keeping his face hidden.
I looked up, my eyes meeting Kayden's in silent warning. Whatever tenderness and longing had passed between us moments ago vanished, leaving only cold vigilance.
Kayden stood frozen, as if struck by lightning.
His face had gone pale, lips parted slightly, chest heaving. Those silver eyes were wide, fixed on the small tuft of black curls visible above my arm, and the emotion in them... so intense I could barely stand it.
There was something almost like ecstasy there.
He knows. The realization filled me with despair.
"He..." Kayden's voice came out hoarse, as if it took everything he had to force out that single word. "He's..."
"Don't come any closer." I cut him off. My protective instinct for Kai overwhelmed everything else, and I found myself baring my fangs at him—my former mate, my former lover. I stepped back with Kai in my arms.
Kayden froze. He'd never seen me like this before, showing him such naked aggression. Even when I'd desperately tried to resist him, I'd always melted in his embrace eventually.
But did he think he could still control me through biology? Make me fall into his trap again like I did seven years ago?
Diana whimpered softly in my mind. She disagreed with this assessment of Kayden.
I clenched my jaw, desperately holding back the tears threatening to spill.
Maybe he's not what I think, but I have to believe it, Diana. I have to.
Otherwise, I'll fall in love with him all over again.
"Layla..." Kayden still wore that look of disbelief. He took an urgent step forward, as if to explain—
But there was nothing to explain.
"Miss Ross," I corrected him coldly. With Kai still in my arms, I'd never felt more clearheaded. "Mr. Blackwood, I don't know why you've been following me or why you're here, but please leave. Now."
"He's your child." Kayden's gaze remained locked on Kai as he stated it with certainty.
"Mine." My voice held no warmth. "He has nothing to do with you."
"What are you saying?" Kayden's voice rose sharply. His face flushed as he started to voice the answer we both knew—
But I wouldn't give him the chance.
Kai would never need a father like him. Just as Kayden had once been so certain that he didn't need Layla Gray as his mate.
"This is your last warning." I cut him off, clutching Kai tighter. "If you don't leave right now, I'm calling the police."
I met his eyes even as my heart pounded. If he truly wanted to force the issue, I wasn't sure this threat could stop him.
"Stalking. Harassment. Trespassing." I kept my voice level. "I'm sure those charges would do wonders for Blackwood Group's stock price."
Kayden went still. His expression shifted. He was, after all, the perfect Alpha who always put the pack's interests first.
I watched the struggle play out across his face—the way he moved closer then forced himself to stop, the way his hand lifted and fell again.
"Mommy?" Kai was an endlessly curious child, and his patience had limits. He asked softly, "Who is this person?"
"Nobody." I didn't hesitate. It was the only answer. "Just a... stranger."
I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek, needing the physical pain to suppress the tearing sensation in my chest, to hold back the tears.
At my words, Kayden's rigid expression crumpled into something even more pained. I thought I saw moisture glinting in his eyes.
"A stranger," he repeated, his voice bitter.
I didn't answer. Didn't take it back. Just looked at him with cold indifference. We stared at each other as the air grew thick between us. Kayden searched desperately for some trace of warmth in my eyes, but I refused to give him that hope. Finally, he drew a deep breath and took a step back.
"As you wish." His eyes never left Kai, as though trying to memorize every detail. "I'll leave."
He turned toward the stairwell. But just as he took that first step, he glanced back at me.
That look held everything—pain, longing, and a stubborn persistence that made my heart jump.
"But this isn't over, Layla." He spoke it like a vow. "This won't end so easily."
Then he disappeared into the stairwell, his footsteps gradually fading.
I stayed frozen in place, holding Kai tight, until I could no longer hear him at all.
Then my legs gave out.
I slid down the wall with Kai still in my arms, the cold surface pressing against my back.
"Mommy?" Kai finally lifted his head from my embrace, looking at me with concern. "What's wrong? Are you feeling sick?"
"I'm fine." The words came out even as tears began to fall. "Mommy's just... a little tired."
"Then let's go home." Kai reached up with his small hands to wipe my tears. "You can rest at home."
I pulled him close, burying my face against his small shoulder.
Fear, anger, sadness, despair—all of it crashed over me like a wave.
Kayden had discovered Kai.
He'd seen Kai's face. Seen those silver eyes identical to his own.
He must have figured it out. He must know Kai is his son.
And then what? What would he do?
Would he try to take Kai from me? Use his Alpha authority to claim him?
Or would he try to eliminate him like getting rid of some stain...
The thought made me shudder. I couldn't bring myself to assume the absolute worst of him, but I had to consider every possibility. Kai was my entire world. I couldn't risk even the smallest chance that he might be hurt or taken from me.
"Mommy, you're shaking." Kai's voice pulled me back. "Are you sick? Should I get a doctor?"
"No." I released him, wiped my tears, and forced a smile. "Mommy was just worried about you."
"I'm okay!" Kai grinned, showing off the gap where he'd lost a tooth. "I'm super strong!" He flexed his arm like a bodybuilder, displaying his soft little bicep.
Looking at his innocent smile, my heart clenched painfully. I would give anything to protect him. Even if it meant pushing away the man who was once my mate... who was only ever my mate in the past. Far away. Never to see him again.
But something I didn't want to acknowledge stirred deep inside, resisting that resolve.
When Kayden had gotten close to me. When his hand had touched mine. When he'd said my name...
I'd almost surrendered.
Almost forgotten everything he'd done. Almost let myself accept him. Almost let him kiss me again.
"Damn it," I whispered.
"Mommy said a bad word!" Kai announced like a stern teacher who'd caught me in the act, then looked tremendously pleased with himself.
"You're right. I'm sorry." I ruffled his hair and stood. "Come on, let's get you back to bed."
Kai sat on the hospital bed, those clever silver eyes darting around as if plotting some new mischief.
"Mommy, can you tell me now..." He tilted his head. "Who was that person?"
My hands stilled as I tucked the blanket around him. I couldn't help the bitter smile. My performance had been that transparent—even Kai hadn't been fooled.
"All right. He wasn't a stranger," I admitted, choosing a different lie. "Just someone Mommy knows from work. It doesn't matter."
"But..." Kai's little brow furrowed as he studied me seriously. "He looked like me."
My heart plummeted.
"In what way?" I couldn't stop myself from asking, afraid of some connection between Alpha father and son that I didn't know about.
"His eyes!" Kai pointed to his own. "His eyes were like mine! Both silver!"
He swung his legs excitedly.
"Mommy, is he a werewolf too? My teacher said silver-eyed werewolves are super rare!"
Not the answer I'd feared, but the effect wasn't much different.
"They are pretty rare," I managed, my throat tight as I frantically tried to think of how to change the subject.
"Then he must be really amazing!" Kai's eyes lit up. "Mommy, can I be friends with him? I've never met anyone else with eyes like mine!"
"No!" The word came out too sharp, harsher than I'd ever spoken to him. Kai flinched.
"Why not?" he asked in a small voice, his mouth trembling like he was about to cry.
He's just curious, Layla. You're the one losing control.
I took a deep breath, forcing down my fear and anxiety, and softened my tone.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. Mommy didn't mean to snap."
"But that person is leaving Victoria very soon," I said gently. "You won't be able to be friends."
"Oh." Kai's head drooped in disappointment. "Okay."
"Don't be sad." I gathered him into a hug and kissed his forehead. "When you're all better, Mommy will take you to the zoo. How does that sound?"
"Really?" His eyes brightened immediately.
"Really."
"Can we see the big tigers?"
"Yes."
"And can I get cotton candy?"
"Anything you want." I looked at him like he was the most precious treasure in the world, pouring all my tenderness and love into my gaze.
"Whatever you want, baby."
Mommy can give you everything.
After coaxing Kai back to sleep, I stepped out into the hallway and leaned against the wall.
Too much had happened tonight. So much that it felt like I'd been thrown back into the nightmare of seven years ago. Fate had seemed to let me go, to give me a chance at peace. I'd finally built a stable life. And in a single day, it had all come crashing down.
Layla, are you going to run again?