Trapped between two lifes

Chapter 8

After it got dark and I assured myself that everyone had fallen asleep, I prepared to leave.

It was very difficult for me because I had come close with everyone.

I'm going to miss Kate, who always took care of me and defended me,

Vincent and his jokes,

Ronan and Emma's fights,

But most of all, Ethen. I longed to see him one last time, but I was afraid that it would make me want to stay and thus making things worse. Either way there's no future for us and Ethen has already made that clear with his words.

However, I wrote him a letter because I wanted to say goodbye to him somehow :

Dear Ethen,

I left so that I don't make things more difficult for you.

Thanks to me, the pack is now ruined and I know how much you're hurt by that.

I want you to know that I love you and that I will never forget you. You will always be in my heart.

Concerning the peace treaty, you don't need to worry about that.

I will speak with Isla and let her know that I was responsible for the fire and that the new agreement has to be signed soon, so that you get your rights back.

Thanks for looking out for me and letting me stay in your house.

Forever yours

Layla

I folded the piece of paper and placed it outside Ethen's room, while I was leaving.

''Going somewhere?'', I heard Ronan's voice that caught me out of the blue.

''I have to leave. Please don't try to stop me.''

''Please Layla, stay. If not for me , then for Ethen. I know my brother well enough to realize when he's interested in someone. I can see it in his eyes.''

After hearing this, I hugged him and told him:

''It's already hard enough for me. Don't make it any worse Ronan. Promise me that you'll take care of yourself and the pack. Trust me, you're better off without me. I'm going to miss you all so much!''

With tears in my eyes, I stepped back and left, ignoring what he had to say to me.

I exited the house and started running as fast as I could towards the woods.

I got to the creek in no time. I was hesitant at first to cross it, but after I thought about it for a couple of minutes, I dared it and I reached the opposite side of the shore.

While I was walking, without knowing where I was going, I heard a voice:

''Layla? What are you doing here? Did they hurt you?''

The lightning of the moon shone on the figure and I figured out that it was Ian.

''No. I sneaked out of the house. I decided to join the group I truly belong to. Please, bring me to Isla. I have to talk with her.''

After he had processed my words, he eventually signaled me to follow him.

Without having to think about it twice, I obeyed. I was thinking of what to tell Isla, to convince her to sign a new peace treaty as soon as possible.

It was still dark, so I couldn't really see my surroundings, which made it difficult for me to orient.

At some point we arrived. The place was very impressive. It was a three storey villa, built according to modern architecture and its color was a metallic gray. It looked quite expensive.

The double winged blue metallic door opened. The first thing I noticed was the big corridor that had a dark moquette from the beginning 'till the end. The walls were gray and as we were walking there were paintings on its right and left side. They were depicting different eras. They were mostly portraits and other represented battles. The vampires always seemed to be stronger and winners, while the losers and theirs slaves were the werewolves.

I shivered, while looking at these pictures, but I also got angry because it wasn't right. I believe that the werewolves are just as strong as we are and that they should be underestimated like that.

We entered another room. It was big and had many windows with shutters. The walls were white and the floor looked like a chessboard with black and white squares. Deeper inside was a throne, where Isla was sitting on, looking at me stunned.

She was wearing a long red satin dress with a deep décolleté. The dress tied behind her neck and her blond hair fell over her shoulders, covering them.

Her neck was decorated by a red ruby necklace. It was diamond, forming flower petals and at some points it had also red rubies.

He got up from her throne and came down the little stairs to come towards me. She really looked like a queen at that moment.

''Why are you here? I thought that you'd be the guest of Ethen's pack, until a new agreement exists.'', she asked me.

''I left on my own will because I did not want to be a burden for them anymore. I belong here anyways, with you.''

''Of course you do and we'll gladly welcome you.''

''Thank you very much, but I actually also wanted to ask you for something. Please make a new peace treaty with the werewolves. They may be different than us, but they deserve it.''

''You are so naive. You really think that I care about these dogs? They almost killed you and you're defending them now? I hope you know that the only reason the rest of them might have been kind to you was because they needed you.''

''I was responsible for the fire that broke out last time. It was just an accident. Isla, you promised that you'd do it.''

''While I'm the leader, there is no way I'm going to help someone that might hurt my group. This time it was you. Who can guarantee me that they won't attack the rest of us? I'm doing this for our safety, sweetheart. You have to be very tired and because 'Least said fewer mended', Ian give our newest member a room and make sure she has everything she needs.''

While I was going upstairs, with Ian, to the second floor, where my new room was I thought that it was on the one hand unfair for the pack because they took care of me and helped me, but on the other hand, after Cora's actions it's logical that she is afraid of new attacks.

''This will be your new room. If you need something, don't hesitate, just tell me.'', he said and opened the door and told me Good night.

My room was huge, with a double bed on its center, decorated with many little black, red and golden pillows. Above the bed there was a golden mosquito net. I was feeling like a princess, which made me laugh.

I immediately laid on the bed. I thought that maybe I could convince Isla tomorrow, when I will be relaxed.

As much as I wanted to inspect the rest of my room, I was so tired that I fell asleep at once.