Chapter 15 #2
My heart was ready to burst out of my chest. Nausea and dizziness hit me all at once, and although I made sure to lean against the tree, my body swayed dangerously from side to side.
The world spun too quickly. I placed my hand over my eyes and kept breathing.
In and out. Would I ever get used to this?
The next painful scream jerked my body and pounded my heart. I dropped my hand away from my face. Hayden was the only one standing while body parts lay scattered on the ground.
He’d torn them apart.
“Don’t look.” Hayden walked toward me, skin and sweatpants drenched in sweat and stained in enemy blood.
My body suddenly became lax and slid down to the ground, the rough bark scraping my skin under my clothes. The warrior crouched in front of me but didn’t touch me.
“Thank you, Hayden,” I muttered, unable to say more.
“Take your time. Breathe and you’ll recover from the shock in a moment.” He stood but stayed close.
The only sound that remained was Hayden’s ragged breathing and the wheezing that came from my chest.
I placed my hands on the sides of my head, elbows on my knees, and I stayed like that for who knew how long until Hayden said, “They’re coming.”
Dad’s warriors swamped the forest around us. At least thirty men stormed toward us, with my dad in the lead and Layla following behind him. My father rushed toward me as soon as he spotted me. When he got to me, I stood, and he grasped my face with both hands and then embraced me tightly.
“By the gods, Anna, I thought I’d lost you.” His shaky voice sounded different from the tone he used in the kingdom.
I hugged him back. “Hayden saved me, Dad.”
My dad released me and finally scanned the area around us, frowning at the body parts lying on the ground. His gaze finally fell on Hayden, and he looked him up and down.
“Hayden.” Reluctantly releasing me, my dad took a few steps toward him. “I owe you for saving my daughter’s life. You showed unbelievable bravery in taking on four vampires by yourself. Have dinner with us tonight. I have something to ask you.”
My dad extended his arm, and the two men shook hands.
I was in awe of the young warrior’s fighting skills, but questions arose at the back of my mind. How could an orphan who’d recently shifted without even knowing he was a werewolf learn to fight better than Dad’s experienced warriors?
Hayden didn’t shift, and usually, when danger surrounded werewolves, their eyes flickered with their wolf, signaling the beast was at the surface, ready to help the human side.
But Hayden’s eyes didn’t flash yellow, amber, or any color, as if he didn’t need his wolf or he didn’t have a wolf. But I had seen his light-brown claw.
My head throbbed, so I rubbed my temples.
Layla stood next to Dad as if he’d shield her. She flipped her hair—her giveaway that she was nervous.
She should be.
Hot adrenaline still infused my veins. The gods knew I’d tried so many times to be her friend, but Layla chose hostility. Why should I even bother with her anymore?
“Breanna, I’m so glad you’re okay. Why would you run away from me?” she asked.
My body stiffened, and I flinched. I drew a deep breath to calm my nerves and fight the urge to throw punches at her face.
Blood rushed to my head. I sucked in my cheeks and bit down on them. The pain reminded me I was alive, no thanks to Layla.
She must have told my dad lies if she stood here next to him unpunished.
And that was my tipping point. Since I was little, even before Uncle Derek passed away, she’d hurt me intentionally, and I couldn’t hold back anymore.
I lunged for her, and I was in her face in one step. Without processing what I was doing, I drew my hand back and connected with her cheek so hard that her head twisted to the side.
The slap shouldn’t have felt so satisfying, but it did. Layla had just released some aggressive, animalistic side of me that I didn’t know I possessed.
She held her face with her hand, and for a split second, the hatred in her eyes returned, but then they softened, and she whimpered.
And the Oscar goes to…Layla.
“This is what you do to thank me for bringing help?” She sobbed and turned to my dad. “Uncle Brendan, don’t be too hard on Breanna for hitting me.”
“Get out of my face, you lying…” I swallowed the rest of my words at Dad’s frowning face.
Two things happened immediately. First, Layla demanded one of the warriors support her walk back to the road where they had cars waiting for us.
Second, Hayden moved fast behind me as if ready to protect me from my father.
The King watched him carefully with widened eyes. Dad loved me and would never hit me as a punishment. Everyone in the kingdom knew that, but when Hayden stood protectively behind me, it was as if he’d acted on autopilot.
Dad stepped closer to me after my cousin was out of werewolf hearing range. His gaze darted between me and Hayden. Was the King mulling over what type of punishment to give me?
He could make me train with the more experienced warriors who wouldn’t mind throwing me to the ground. Or he could send me running on the track until I could no longer move my legs.
Dad finally broke the silence. “Your cousin came back inside the manor screaming you were attacked by vampires. She said you ran for your life to the forest, abandoning her, and she had no choice but to take one of the cars to get help.”
I snorted, and Hayden’s chuckle tickled my neck. My dad watched him with amused, soft eyes. Was he not going to punish me, then?
“You know better than anyone, Dad. I would never leave one of ours behind,” I said.
I breathed deeply and was grateful I was here with my dad.
And Hayden.
Dad nodded. “I know that, Anna. Because that’s how I taught you. Layla’s story didn’t add up. But that still doesn’t change the fact that I worry about you. I’m sure I’ll have white hair sooner than I want to.”
“I’m sorry I made you worry, Dad,” I said.
“But you can’t hit her, Anna. Now, I’ll have to deal with her complaints about you for months when I need to focus on investigating this attack. It doesn’t seem right to me.”
“I know I didn’t act like a princess, and I apologize,” I said in a steady voice because I didn’t mind admitting my mistakes. “I lost it, Dad.”
He smiled at me, and at that moment, I realized I was so lucky to have both my parents alive and healthy.
“I didn’t know if I’d live to see the day when you acted like a princess.” His smile broadened. “We’ll talk more over dinner. Now, both of you, let’s get out of here.”
Dad walked away, and I turned to say thank you to Hayden one more time.
But before I could open my mouth, he said, “I’m in your corner, sweetheart.”
At least I had two men on my side.
Over dinner later that night, the King asked Hayden to become my personal bodyguard. His reply was only a nod, but the glimmer in his blue eyes hinted that he’d waited his whole life for this opportunity.
The next time I opened my eyes, I lay on my stomach, hugging the pillow. I must have fallen asleep at some point last night and hadn’t moved since. I stirred and turned on my back, groaning.
My body ached.
The delicious smell of food outside my ajar bedroom door tickled my nose. Now, I was fully awake. Food could do that to a girl.
The clacking of dishes and the sizzling of bacon echoed from the kitchen.
Remember, Breanna. Hayden is on your side.
My memories from that day ten years ago must have awakened with Hayden's arrival. The emotion behind his voice when he’d declared I belonged to him hadn’t disappeared.
Thinking back, the master vampire’s failed attempt to compel me was not a first. Ten years ago, the same vampire power didn’t work on me either, but I must have forgotten all about it until now.
Smiling, I did my morning routine and emerged from my bedroom to find Hayden wearing my apron over his large body. I wasn’t sure how he’d tied it in the back, and I laughed while trying to imagine it.
He winked at me and continued his work over the frying pan.
I poured us coffee from the carafe and shook my head at how my friend had made himself at home overnight.
“Thanks for the coffee,” I said.
“If you’d agree, I could make your coffee every morning,” he said without glancing back.
The next sip of coffee burned my tongue. I let his comment hang there with no reply.
What was I supposed to say? Would you share your coffee with my other mate too?
I couldn’t help feeling guilty. Guilty for not being able to return Hayden’s affections.
Guilty for concealing the fact that I had another mate.
Guilty for fleeing the kingdom. Hayden would make a great partner, yet I wasn’t certain whether he would be right for me.
Every eligible and sensible woman would love to be with him.
So why wasn’t I?
After a moment, Hayden had scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast on two plates set on the countertop. We sat next to each other on the high kitchen stools.
“I’m driving you to work today,” he said.
“Not needed, Hayden. I’ll be okay.”
I had to figure out how to talk to Torin without Hayden. The two men used to glare at each other in the kingdom. I’d guess nothing had changed since I left.
Suddenly, Hayden’s hand froze with a forkful of eggs midway to his mouth, and he looked toward the door. A light knock echoed from the hallway.
Please, don’t let it be Torin at my front door.
There was only so much supernatural drama a princess could take.