Part Layan’s Retum Chapter 1: Layan

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Layan

I’m running through the forest. I can hear him behind me, hear his paws hitting the earth, feel his hot breath on my neck as I run. I don’t want him to claim me, not him. He scares me.

I’d been hiding and another wolf flushed me out. When I started to run, the wolf had immediately given chase, howling his excitement to the sky It had only taken a moment for the Alpha to run him down. I had turned. just for a moment, to see the Alpha tackle him, taking his neck in his jaws. I heard the yelp of the weaker wolf and then the sickening snap of

his neck.

I’m running as hard as I can, but he is faster than I am. My only bit of hope is that he’s still in wolf form. They can’t claim you if they aren’t in the same form you are, and I’m still in my human form. However. I know that if I give him even a moment, he’ll shift and overtake me, so I run. I run until I can’t get enough air in my lungs, tears streaming down my

face.

He tackles me from behind and I scream. He has me pinned, but he can’t claim me, he’s still in wolf form. A moment after the thought goes through my head, I feel his teeth sink into my neck as he thrusts his pelvis between my legs, and I feel the sharp tearing of my body as he penetrates

I wake up screaming. I’m tangled in my sheets, panting, sweat covering my body and tears streaming down my face. My mother comes rushing into my bedroom, wrapping me in her embrace and rocking me.

“Breathe my sweet girl. Breathe. Follow my breaths.” She says, as she takes my face in her hands and forces me to look at her. She slowly breaths in, her eyes never leaving mine. I try. I try to follow her breaths, but I can’t. It’s still so fresh in my mind, still so painful.

12:00 D

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into the room. “Layan.

taking her eyes off of me. “We just need to get her to breathe so she doesn’t

hyperventilating, I know I am, but I can’t stop. I can’t seem to

me, and my mother sits back. I have become more comfortable with him over the past several months. He has always

with his own. “Look at me, Layan. You’re safe. I won’t let anyone hurt you. Breathe with me.” He says, taking a deep

I don’t get very far. “Good. Do it again.” He says patiently, taking another breath. He continues this until I finally get my breathing under control and my heart rate

He says, releasing my face.

this about the

to face the council. I know they want me to go back into the claiming, and I know I’m stronger than I was nearly

dark.

start to have one, which is what my mother and Alpha Davis were helping me with. Tessa has also told me that I can focus on something positive, something that will help ground me, so I don’t get lost in the panic. Thankfully, I have more and more positive things to think

chuckles. “Mason isn’t happy about it. He says she’s as big as a house, but don’t

won’t.” I say, still reeling from my dream.

won’t. Why don’t you get ready. We’ll have some breakfast and then we can all drive

“You’re coming to?”

eyebrow at me. “I am your Alpha,

“Well, yes, but you’re also going to be a claimant this

outranks claimant, so

a room with the five new council members. They represent five of the ten remaining packs in our alliance. After the attack on Mason and Jara’s pack, and the death of Stella, her seat on the council was filled by their new Gamma female. Brynn. I admit, these council members are much more friendly and open

they would let me choose him as my mate. He said he didn’t think so. He said he thought the other Alphas would want a chance to claim me, and so the council

him, I truly do, but the fear of what happened still haunts me. I know as well as anyone that anything can happen in the claiming territory and for me, anything that could

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