JEOPARDY: The Cursed Soldier.

33. Allegations and Orders.

Kayla's face whipped to Ivan the moment he shouted the word, 'Enough!' like it had some power over the situation.

To Kayla, it seemed like he still hadn't grasped the severity of the situation. That he still thought that what he was witnessing was a normal family squabble. And that lives, his and hers, weren't in peril because he loved Angela. And Angela loved him, too.

Maybe, Kayla should be happy for him because it meant he didn't know the truth and so Sienna had no excuse to kill him. According to the code, humans (the weaker species) were supposed to be protected and left to live freely in their world, unless they discovered their secret. Then and only then, were they supposed to be killed to protect the lycanthrope secret.

But Sienna had never needed a reason to kill or harm anybody. And maybe Kayla was stupid or crazy, but she couldn't let anyone (especially Alpha Sienna) hurt Ivan, even at the risk of her life.

So, as Ivan was meeting Alpha Sienna's glare with his own, Kayla did another stupid thing and got between them. But she hadn't even gotten her footing before Ivan's hands went to either side of her shoulders and moved her behind his frame.

"This is my fight. Let me handle it." He gravely stated to her face before he ran an inspecting gaze over her face and turned to Alpha Sienna again.

Had that been a normal, human circumstance, Kayla would have applauded his bravery and chivalry. But right now, she just wanted to twist his arm and get him out of the way.

"Please, stop this," Ivan said (stupidly) in a voice that sounded convincingly confident. "I am the one who asked Angela to let me meet you, because I wanted to be able to take her out and spend more time with her, with your blessing. I didn't know that it would cause such a problem. And for that, I apologize... But, ma'am, I love your daughter. She's special to me and I want to do right by her and by you. So, please, give me a chance. Give our love a chance.

"We may be young. And I may not be good enough for you. But our love is true and I am ready to do whatever you want to earn your acceptance. I want to make your daughter happy... Please, let me."

Kayla got to Ivan's side in time to see Sienna's face twist into a snicker. "That was a nice speech. I can see how you got my daughter hooked. But I only want one thing from you, and that is for you to get the hell out of Angela's life. Get out of this city and this country... Before I make you."

"Can you just stop this?" Angela suddenly got between Ivan and Sienna. "Do you see what he's doing? He is trying. We are all trying. But you are so stuck in your high horse you can't see anyone else. You--"

While Angela kept complaining to her mother, Ivan sneaked a gaze Kayla's way and cocked his gaze towards the door. Kayla frowned, not understanding what he was getting at. He, again, cocked his head at her, then at the door... And finally, she got it.

He wanted her to leave.

Is he crazy?

If Kayla hadn't been there, Ivan would have been dead. Angela couldn't protect him alone.

Kayla glared at him in response and repeated his gesture at him. He should be the one leaving, not me. All this was happening because of him. Ivan's jaw worked just a little. A sign that he was getting worked up, a very rare sight. But Kayla didn't care. She was staying there until Ivan walked out of that room unscathed. Whether he liked it, or not.

Ivan looked back at the mother and daughter, who were still trading insults and complaints but without actually communicating, before he looked back at Kayla. His eyes were clear and sharp then they gradually softened as he cocked his head again, this time a little more gently--like he was begging her.