Healing Hearts

C H A P T E R | 36

"Marley," Layla spoke, gaining Marley's attention as they headed to the front door of the Head Doctor's Parent's House. "Luna Hannah is right — you shouldn't talk to him."

Marley huffed, "I said I wouldn't volunteer, Layla."

"I want you to promise that you won't accept the position if it's handed down to you," Layla stated, wondering if she already spoke to Alpha Joey about it.

Marley bared her teeth, still not turning to face Layla. Her mate could sense her frustration. "You all keep forgetting I'm an Alpha."

"You keep forgetting that your only eighteen," Layla commented back, smiling softly. "You should get the time to act like a normal eighteen year old."

"You keep forgetting that my family and pack are trapped."

Layla paused for a moment, "I don't want you getting hurt, Marley."

"He'll be locked up, Layla," Marley turned around, almost baring her teeth at her own mate. "I'm not doing this to prove anything; I want to do this for myself — because I think this is what is necessary."

The Doctor shook her head, "I don't see why you doing this is necessary, Marley."

The younger woman's shoulder slumped down as she shook her head. "You just don't get it," Marley sighed. She paused for a moment, "And I'm happy you don't,  but you guys can't keep making decisions for me."

She took a deep breath. "I saw thing that I wish I could forget, Layla. I seen things that not even adults should see. It's too late to protect me from this war. I was in it long before you were."

Before Layla could respond, the Alpha quickly went inside, being by Melissa, who was quick to other her future daughter-in-law something to drink.

Layla stood outside for a moment, staring at the door.

*•*•*•*

The next morning, Luna Hannah was waiting patiently at the door — along side Gabby. "We can just go inside, you know," the Nurse grumbled, as she rather be sleeping in her bed, dreaming of meeting her mate and perhaps having him wrapped around her finger.

Hannah gave her the stink eye, "It's rude to enter into a house uninvited."

"Technically," Gabby crossed her arms, "I am always welcomed here."

The front door opened with Layla standing in the doorway, "Are you two going to argue all day or come inside?" She raised, her eyebrow, motioning to enter.

Gabby stared at her best friend for a moment, "Oh Goddess, you and Marley are fighting."

Layla groaned, "Everyone fights."

Luna Hannah glared at her, waiting for an explanation. It didn't matter to her that Marley brought this woman back to life; she would kill Layla if she was out of line.

"I told her that she couldn't accept talking to that rogue — even if she was offered to," Layla grumbled, "and she's just to stubborn to realize that it's not a good idea."

Gabby shook her head, "Layla, I know you want to protect her, but it's her decision."

Luna Hannah, for once, was on Layla's side, "It's not her decision. She may be a pup of an Alpha, but she isn't Alpha yet." She made her way inside, giving the Head Doctor a respectable nod.

Gabby sighed, "Where is Marley now?"

"She's in my room."

Gabby nodded her head, "Luna Hannah wants to speak with you and her. I'll just crash on the couch."

"Actually," Layla grumbled, "she locked me out of my room, so I'm taking the coach."

The nurse started to snicker, "I love Marley more and more."

"I'm glad you're finding this moment of pain for me enjoyable, oh my dear friend," Layla muttered turning around and having Gabby close the door. "What does Luna Hannah need to speak with me about?"

"I wanted to ask you if you would like to examine me once I get approval to reject my mate," Luna Hannah declared, sitting on the couch waiting for the two of them. "Rejection will always be painful, but out legend has it that it's even worst from the kin of the Healing Moon Pack.

Layla nodded her head slowly, still confused, "Why don't you just heal yourself? Or Marley probably could."

"From the last recorded of one of us rejecting our mates, our powers couldn't save the wolf from its painful break," Luna Hannah whispered. "It was right after we located. There was this female wolf who loved the next Alpha, and he him. The Alpha rejected his mate first, killing her on accident. Her wolf was very weak, and there wasn't a chance of her surviving the bond breaking. Before the female could reject her, her mate beat her to the punch, and the three of them died — from heart break. The Alpha's little brother became Alpha.

"We pity the rogues and use this story to tell our pups to never reject their mates, but sometimes," the Luna whispered, "it's needed. If there is a way for you to figure out a way to make rejecting someone — whether it be a cheater or an abuser — that they won't get the consequences for doing the right thing."

Layla nodded her head, "I'll do my best."

"Well, that's I'll have to wait till after the war then, Doctor Layla. Thank you."

Gabby nudge the Luna.

"Is there a chance that you could get Marley? I need to speak with her."

Layla nodded her head, walking down the hallway to her room. She knocked on the door, "Marley, Luna Hannah is here, and she needs to speak with you."

She knocked again.

"Marley."

Gabby came up to her, "Are you sure she's in there?"

Layla grumbled, "She better be." She took a key out of her pocket as Luna Hannah started to make her way over to them.

Layla opened the door, opening up to an empty bedroom.

"Teenagers," the Luna grumbled. "She's heading to that rogue. Let's go."

*•*•*•*

Marley opened her eyes once she heard Layla's rhythmic breathing. She was very careful to move quietly, grabbing some clothes and stuffing them into an empty bag she found under the bed. She kept her ears open, paying very close attention to her mate — who was sleeping in the living room on the couch.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

"Marley," Mellissa whispered, "honey."

Marley bit her lip as she made her way towards the door. She opened it slowly, keeping the bag out of the doorway.

"Is everything alright?"

Marley nodded her head, and she lied, "Yes, of course."

Melissa stared at her for a moment, "Please be safe when you are speaking to him. Don't give anything away, but make him know that you have the power and he doesn't."

"How?" Marley gasped.

She took a deep breath, "No pack deserves this. You don't deserve this. You're so young to be fighting this war, but sometimes, the young are the most passionate. Sometimes, the older generation needs to make way to the new one."

The young she-wolf had tears in her eyes, "Thank you."

Melissa reached and wiped a tear away, "Never lose your light, Marley."

———— A U T H O R N O T E | 37 ————

Merry Christmas ya filthy animals.

QQ(#43) Did you guys miss Marley and Layla and the gang?