Kayden was silent for a second, then took a deep breath.
"That means nothing," he told Victoria, announcing to everyone. "I won't destroy my life honoring that wish."
Kayden raised our joined hands high, fingers interlaced. His silver eyes reflected my face and scattered gold sunlight.
"I'll only choose my love."
I heard shocked gasps. Pack members surrounding us focused their gazes here. But Kayden didn't back down. He gripped my hand tight—so tight I felt the sweat in his palm, the slight tremor of his fingers.
He was nervous, afraid. His eyes locked on mine unwaveringly. He feared I'd let go, retreat in this moment.
I looked at him, eyes stinging. This man, who once rejected me for his father's wish, now publicly defied it for me. Whether facing the Elder Council, Victoria, or the shadow he'd carried for thirty years—in this moment, he cast everything aside and chose me openly and proudly.
Maybe I really could trust him again.
I squeezed his hand back. Hard.
Kayden's eyes blazed instantly. That smile was like dawn breaking through clouds, frozen lakes beginning to thaw.
"Insane..." Victoria murmured, stepping back. "You're all insane..."
She glared at me, hatred burning in her eyes like something tangible. "You hybrid... murderer! Kayden, you'd betray everything for her?!"
"Not betrayal," Kayden said, looking at her like someone hopelessly lost. "Long overdue. I choose Layla. I choose my family. From today, Layla Gray is my publicly acknowledged fated mate. Anyone who objects disrespects the Alpha."
Surrounding pack members exchanged glances, but under Kayden's authority, one by one, they lowered their heads.
"Yes, Alpha."
Only Victoria still stood there. She stared at me, rage surging strangely in her eyes.
"Fine." She laughed coldly. "Very well. Kayden Blackwood, you'll regret this."
Then she turned, pushed through the crowd, and left. Her heels struck the cobblestones, each click grating.
I stared at her retreating back, thinking of something else.
She should never have met me—or rather, seven years ago, she hadn't met "Layla Gray." Yet she could expose that I wasn't "Ella Ross."
"Layla?" Kayden's voice pulled me back. "What're you thinking?"
"Nothing." I looked away, but that question stuck like a thorn.
Victoria.
When did she find out?
What else did she know?
Chapter Twenty
Layla
When Kai was riding on Kayden's neck, I was watering flowers on the manor balcony.
"Mommy! Mommy, look!" His excited shriek carried across the lawn. "I'm so high!"
I turned to see Kayden standing in the middle of the lawn with Kai perched on his shoulders, little hands gripping his hair like reins.
