Healing Hearts

C H A P T E R | 38

"I should have known she would be just as stubborn as she was when she was ten," Hannah groaned, heading towards where they think Marley was at.

To their surprise, Marley was walking on the path towards them. Her face was stone, and the next person she wanted to talk to was Layla.

She tried not to be mad and hurt because she kept her secret to herself, but her secret wasn't just hers. Marley didn't know when Layla would have brought it up; there wasn't a good time since they found each other, but she didn't think there was a good time to tell her that was or still is in love with someone else.

"Marley," Layla yelled, her eyes holding her frustration, "what were you thinking?"

Marley stopped on the path, and she took a deep breath. She knew this talk was going to be harder then the wolves she spoke to in the cells.

"I. Am. Not. A. Child," Marley breathed out, standing tall with her pride, "So. Stop. Treating. Me. Like. One. You aren't my mom; you're my mate. We are equal."

"That's not the point," Hannah counter, "Marley, you can just talk to another Alpha's prisoner. Layla is right. You shouldn't have done that; it wasn't your place."

Gabby paused, "How about we all calm down? It's been really stressful, on all of us."

"I am an Alpha," Marley started, ignore Gabby's words. "I am the only family member of the Alpha that is free, and I have a duty to protect my people. Out of everyone here, I have the most information and experience with these rogues."

"You are blinded by those experiences," Hannah argued back. "You are letting your emotions take control of your words and actions."

Marley shook her head, "I'm not ten anymore. You don't know what I have faced. The least you could do is trust me. I'm not asking for your permission. I'm asking for your support."

Hannah shook her head, "I'm not giving you my support when you do foolish things like this. You have wasted time with you disobedience. Don't you want to walk your uncle and aunt up."

Marley kept her mouth closed. She was going to argue with Hannah's take of obedience, but she rather wake up her family. "Let's go wake them up then."

Hannah huffed, changing her direction to the Pack Hospital.

Gabby looked between Marley and Layla before following behind the Luna.

"We are not done with this conversation, Marley," Layla began, walking beside her mate.

"Why are you talking to me like I'm a child?" Marley questioned, none of the previous moments she had with her made her feel like the way she did now.

Layla shook her head, "You're only eighteen, Marls. You don't know anything about the world."

"I know things," Marley rebutted, but she was tired, and she was hurt. "I think I need a break. I need to put my full focus on saving my family," her voice cracked. "I don't like how you are treating me, and I know that I kept a huge secret from you, but you are still keeping one from me."

Layla's jaw dropped, her wolf howled inside her head. "What?"

Marley started to have tears in her eyes, "I'm not rejecting you, but I think we are at two different places in life. I don't think either of us is ready for a relationship, not when my family is being tortured and harmed and not when I know a little bit about your past with the Luna. I need time, and I think you need it too."

Before Layla could say a word, they reached the hospital, and Marley quickened her pace. Gabby lead them towards the previous Alpha and Luna, stepping aside.