WHERE IS SHE?!
"So this is Riven's mate? What a shame!",Cara said scornfully and folded her arms before her, staring icily at Layla.
When the news reached her father's pack about Riven finding his mate, jealousy had begun to eat deep into her. A part of her had been happy that Riven didn't find his mate. As a matter of fact, her father, the Alpha of Silver Moon Pack had been trying to establish a relationship between her and Riven. Being connected to the great Qinn dynasty was an opportunity of a life time and she had been trying to do her part by getting closer to Riven. There had been a series of hot passion in between the bedsheets between them but apart from that, Riven never made any attempt to go further with their relationship. Even when she knew he only wanted her to release his sexual desires, she still clung to him with the blind hope that he would mark her one day and make her his Luna.
Now that hope was dashed brutally as she stared at the scrawny girl before her, dressed in a gray sac and smelling like trash.
"I can't believe this",Cara said and another mocking laughter rang out from her. "Riven's mate is a child. A little child who's not bold enough to look me in the eyes".
"Miss Cara please...",Alex pleaded. He was the lycan Riven had placed in front of his room to make sure Layla was safe and undisturbed. He was a muscular man with a shaved head and thick biceps. His eyes that were usually so fearsome were now pleading with the she-wolf Cara.
"Silence Alex",Cara snapped at him. She looked back at Layla who was now trembling under her sharp gaze. "Don't just stand there looking dumb. Say something".
Layla cowered further into the wall behind her. She wished Riven was here to save her from this situation. She was greatly intimidated by Cara and she just wanted to be invisible. She wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole.
"Can't you talk?",Cara snapped and Layla flinched at her sharp tone. Tears pooled beneath her eyes and spilled down her cheek which she tried to cover with her hair.
"Miss Cara please stop. She can't speak, and she's not used to strangers",Alex said and tried again to make Cara leave. If Riven found out that he let this she-wolf into his room, it would be disaster for him.
Cara's eyes widened and a cocky smile appeared on her lips. "She can't speak. Now isn't this interesting. Riven has a dumb mate". And her mocking laughter rang out again. "Riven has a dumb mate. This is clearly a sign in my favour".
Suddenly she moved closer to Layla and gripped her hand tight. Layla gasped and tried to free herself from the hard grip. Her throat was tight with tension and unshed tears and her breath caught in her chest, building up pressure.
"Don't be scared girl. I just want you to come with me", Cara's voice was vicious with malice and she tightened her grip on Layla's hand.
Layla was sobbing hard now and she was sure there would be a bruise on her arm the following day. Her heart pounded painfully and she was reminded of her time in Madame Parker's house. Cara reminded her of how Madame Parker treated her and it was like reliving the terror all over again.
"Miss Cara I can't let you do this. The Alpha will be furious with the way you're treating his Luna",Alex pleaded and used his large bulk to block the door.
The fact that Alex called Layla the Luna made Cara furious. The supreme Luna position was rightfully hers and she wouldn't let some mute immature child take it from her.
"Oh shut up you fool",she spat at Alex, her emerald eyes glittering angrily. "Just because Riven found his mate doesn't mean he would break whatever we have together. He hasn't even marked her and you already address her as Luna. Out of my way!"
"Miss Cara I can't..."
Right in front of Layla's tears filled eyes, Cara's free hand shifted halfway into a brown furry arm with wicked looking claws and she struck Alex in the face, ripping out a part of his flesh. Blood dripped from the open wound and it healed up instantly. Layla's eyes widened astonishingly. What just happened? Did that man's wound just heal up? And how did that woman's hand transform so swiftly into that...thing? Pure terror took hold of her and she began to tremble violently, terrified of the strange occurrence that just happened.
"This would be the last time I would order you to get out of my way Alex. I won't be so nice next time",Cara said icily as her hand shifted back to its normal form. She pushed Alex roughly and yanked the door open, dragging Layla behind her.
Layla's legs were trembling so much now when she realized what Cara was about to do. They were headed towards a door and she could hear raised voices from the other side. Cara was taking her to meet the other shifters and Layla felt her heart drop. She couldn't be seen like this. She wasn't used to such large crowd and the shame and embarrassment would kill her. She began to pull back, wanting to go back to the safety of Riven's room.
"Stop struggling you brat",Cara snapped at her and tugged her along forcefully. Alex followed behind them in fear of what the Alpha would do to him but he didn't try to stop Cara again.
"You're the people's Luna right? Then I think it's time you addressed your people",Cara said and smiled wickedly at Layla. "Let's see how the people would react to having a Luna who can't speak".
Layla was sure she would die from the pounding of her heart. Living with Madame Parker had thought her a lot and she knew no one would want someone who couldn't speak. They would look down on her and rain scathing curses at her. Their eyes would be filled with scorn and loath, and they would all condemn her. Just like Madame Parker had done. She couldn't go through with this. She couldn't go through that same pain and suffering. Her heart wouldn't take it.
So as Cara's hand touched the door knob and started to turn it, Layla summoned all the strength she had and wrenched her arm away from Cara's grip. Because of the pressure and tightness of Cara's hand on hers, wrenching her hand off caused a hard friction and she felt her bones crack. Blinding white pain soared through her arm but her fear and terror prevented her from feeling it. Holding her injured arm in hers, she fled.
"What the...",Cara was cut short by Layla's sudden movement and before she could turn around, Layla was gone.
"Oh goddess, now I'm totally dead",Alex said and rushed passed Cara quickly. He rounded the corner Layla just went through but didn't find her.
She had disappeared.
Terrorized at what Riven would do to him if Layla wasn't found, he sent a panicked mind link to the other shifters, requesting for their aide in finding her.
[Luna is missing. I repeat Luna is missing. Find her now!]
There was a stir of movements as the mind link was registered in the inner minds of all the shifters. Every shifter was up on their feet instantly and the search began. They spread out round the mansion and began to search for Layla because if the Supreme Alpha were to return and discover his mate missing, they would all face the sting of his wrath.
But Riven already knew because one of the shifters, probably out of fear had quickly mind linked him, informing him of Layla's disappearance.
He arrived at the mansion in a blaze of fury, his golden eyes glowing with rage and he gripped the first shifter he could find around the neck, lifted him up and roared into his face.
"WHERE IS SHE?".