LAYLA'S POV
The castle walls were suffocating me. Everywhere I went, whispers followed. I could feel eyes burning into my back. People kept talking about me and Lucian.
Could you blame them? What happened at the ball was something that was unheard of. \
I was tired of people looking at me. It felt like the walls were closing in on me in a way that drove me insane. So I slipped out.
The forest was the only place where I could breathe. The air was cool as usual when I got there. My wolf stretched inside me. she was calmer here under the canopy where moonlight broke through. I wrapped my arms around myself and walked deeper until the noises of the castle faded.
Then I heard it.
The sound of blade against wood. My body froze. Every instinct of mine was alert. Slowly, I peeked around a tree.
Kieran.
He was sitting on a fallen log with a knife in hand and a block of wood in the other. His arms moved as he carved something. Slowly, the shape began to form. Even in something as simple as carving, he carried an aura of command, like every cut answered to him.
I pressed myself back against the bark, thinking I could just stay hidden, just watch him. My heart pounded against my ribs, betraying me.
Without looking up, he spoke
"I know you're there, Layla."
I jumped. I could feel the heat rushing to my cheeks. Of course he knew. He always seemed to know. My hiding spot felt ridiculous now. With a sheepish smile, I stepped out from behind the tree.
"Hi," I said softly.
Kieran finally looked up. His eyes locked on me. He didn't smile. He studied me in that way he always did, like he was reading every thought in my head, stripping me bare with a single look.
"You shouldn't sneak up on people with knives," I joked weakly, trying to break the tension.
He didn't laugh. His jaw tightened instead. "I have something to tell you."
My stomach dropped. His tone was too serious. I shifted nervously. "What is it?"
"Don't trust Lucian."
The words hit me like cold water. I was confused. "What? Why?"
There was something in his eyes. "Something about him isn't right."
I let out a small laugh. "Not right? Or are you just jealous because he's giving me attention?"
That did it. His expression darkened instantly
"Jealous?" His voice was low, dangerous. "You think I'm jealous of him?"
I folded my arms over my chest. "Well, what else am I supposed to think? You never wanted me before. You made it clear what I am to you. And now, suddenly, because Lucian looks at me, you care?"
Kieran's knife dropped into the dirt. He rose to his full height, towering over me. I could feel the tension radiating from his body. "Don't twist this, Layla. I don't need to be jealous to see when someone's a threat."
"Then explain!" I snapped, stepping closer without realizing. "Because all I hear are accusations without reasons."
He growled low in his throat. "You don't understand. It's not about me wanting you or not. It's about keeping you safe."
"Safe?" I scoffed. "From what? From being noticed? From being treated like I'm more than dirt under your boots?"
His eyes flared. "Don't say that."
"Why not?" I shot back. My chest rose and fell quickly. "It's true."
We were so close now that I could feel the warmth of his breath on my face. I could see the tension carved into his jaw. My own breathing came shallow. The mate bond moved between us. It kept pulling, demanding. My wolf clawed at me, aching to close the space, aching for him.
His hand twitched like he wanted to touch me but stopped himself.
"Layla…" His voice broke slightly. "I saw something. Something you need to know."
"What did you see?"
"Ronan. I saw him sneak into a hidden chamber a few nights ago. I saw him speaking to someone cloaked. It was a hooded figure. I couldn't see their face, but I heard them. They were talking about you."
My stomach plummeted. "M-me?"
His jaw clenched. "Yes. And then… they vanished. Into thin air. It was dark magic."
The word alone made my blood run cold. Wolves didn't use magic. Wolves feared it.
"Magic?" My voice was barely a whisper.
Kieran stepped closer again. "I don't know what Lucian wants with you, Layla. But it isn't good. Trust me on this. there's just something about him. I can't place it but my instincts have never been wrong"
He looked at me intensely. I could see the sincerity in his eyes. This wasn't about jealousy. He genuinely believed that Lucian was no good for me.
I stared into his eyes. My heart pounded so hard it hurt. I saw no mockery there. Only raw honesty. And something else, something fierce and protective that I'd never seen from him before.
I swallowed "I… I trust you."
The bond between us kept beating painfully, almost alive. His chest rose and fell. His fists were tight at his sides like he was restraining himself.
I was so confused. Everything was happening all at once. Lucian's words, Kieran's warning, the whispers of magic. It all tangled in my chest until I could hardly breathe.
But one truth stood out, clear as the look in Kieran's eyes.
For the first time, I believed him.