But she just fell silent. Endless silence. Layla stared at me stubbornly, those eyes full of resentment, disgust, and wariness. Each emotion I identified felt like another knife in my already riddled heart.
My wolf curled in on itself under that gaze, anxiously biting its own tail over the mate it had missed for seven years—and her rejection.
We faced off, both of us panting, both trembling. The air was filled with something dangerous, about to explode.
The room door suddenly cracked open.
"Mommy?"
A small, childish voice.
Layla and I both froze.
I slowly turned my head toward that door.
A little head poked through the gap. Black curls slightly messy, small face still pale from illness.
Then he looked up. I saw his eyes.
Silver.
Chapter Eight
Layla
I'm done for.
That was the only thought in my head when I saw Kai poking his head out of the hospital room.
"Kai!" I practically lunged forward, pulling him into my arms and pressing his little face against my chest.
"Mommy?" Kai's confused voice came from my embrace, muffled. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, baby." I tried desperately to control my racing heart, to sound calm for Kai, but my voice trembled. "Mommy just... just missed you so much."
I could feel Kayden's gaze.
Shocked. Scrutinizing. Then settling into certainty as it burned into my back before slowly shifting to Kai in my arms.
Don't look.
Please don't look.
"Mommy, you're holding too tight..." Kai squirmed. "I can't breathe..."
"Sorry, baby." I loosened my grip slightly but still held him close, keeping his face hidden.
I looked up, my eyes meeting Kayden's in silent warning. Whatever tenderness and longing had passed between us moments ago vanished, leaving only cold vigilance.
Kayden stood frozen, as if struck by lightning.
His face had gone pale, lips parted slightly, chest heaving. Those silver eyes were wide, fixed on the small tuft of black curls visible above my arm, and the emotion in them... so intense I could barely stand it.
There was something almost like ecstasy there.
He knows. The realization filled me with despair.
"He..." Kayden's voice came out hoarse, as if it took everything he had to force out that single word. "He's..."
