Alpha Hole

Ch. 37

On our way back to the pack house, we spotted Eric standing near the edge of the clearing.

"Hey babe," Jenna called out, and he jogged over, a relieved look washing over his face.

"Thank the goddess," he said, his eyes locking onto me. "Jaxson has been on a rampage looking for you."

"What?" I asked, genuinely confused. Hadn't he known I'd be at the clinic?

"We were at the clinic," Jenna explained, a hint of defensiveness in her tone. "Jaxson didn't know?"

"Of course, he didn't know. He's been looking for Layla for over an hour."

Jenna's face paled. "When Michelle said the alpha wanted her to examine Layla, I just assumed she meant Jaxson."

Eric pulled out his phone, rapidly texting Jaxson. In the time it took for Jaxson to appear in the common area behind the packhouse, I barely had a moment to process why the alpha would have wanted me to have a "check-up."

When Jaxson arrived, his hair was wild, and he looked like he'd been working in a field, dirt smudged across his face and clothes. I'd never seen him so disheveled, but damn, did this look work for him. I tried to remind myself that I hated him right now for being such an asshole last night, but the relief on his face when he saw me made my heart flutter.

"Layla," he said, still a few feet away. As he closed the distance, his eyes raked up and down my body, sending a shiver down my spine.

I waved awkwardly moments before he crushed me in a hug. He held me so tightly, like he feared I might disappear if he let go.

"I'm fine," I said, feeling a mix of confusion and warmth. Why was he acting like this?

"I thought you left—after last night," he breathed, his voice shaky.

I looked up and narrowed my eyes at him. "I didn't know that was an option."

"It's not," he said firmly, just as Eric cleared his throat.

A few pack members had stopped to stare, curiosity evident on their faces. Jaxson looked around, then said, "Come on—I want to show you what I've been working on."

Eric groaned. "Yeah, this ass had us working all night just to meet his imaginary deadline."

"Okay," I said curiously, allowing Jaxson to pull me along the path we'd just come from, down a trail leading to a cluster of cabin-style houses.

He covered my eyes with his hands. "It's a surprise—no peeking."

"Fine," I said, playing along, a smile tugging at my lips.

We stumbled down the path for nearly two more minutes. His hands were warm and steady against my face, guiding me carefully. I could hear the rush of water in the distance, and my excitement grew. I hadn't realized we were so close to a stream.

"Almost there," he whispered, his breath tickling my ear.

When we finally stopped, his mouth lowered to my ear. "Okay—we're here." The moment Jaxson's hands moved away from my face, my mouth hung open in awe.

An enormous cabin with endless windows was situated right at the edge of a breathtaking waterfall. The sunlight filtered through the trees, casting a magical glow over the scene.

I turned to look at Jaxson, unable to hide my smile. "It's beautiful."

"I hope you like it," he said, a smile of his own spreading across his face.

"It's breathtaking," I said, and I meant it.

"Welcome home, Layla."

His words hung in the air, and for a moment, all my doubts and fears melted away. This was our home, our sanctuary. I stepped closer to him, feeling the magnetic pull between us. He looked down at me, his eyes softening.

"Thank you," I whispered, feeling a surge of gratitude and affection.

He leaned in, brushing a soft kiss against my forehead. "Anything for you."

As we stood there, I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, we could find our way through the chaos and build something beautiful together.