Chapter 43 -Laila : : 204 IX 55 vouchers By the time we head down , Cameron and Sarah are already seated at dinner , just as Kael predicted . Alpha Max is also present and we exchange greetings with him warmly . Though his pack is lesser ranked than the Blackwood Pack , he's of the older generation and has been like an uncle to Kael and Cameron , so he's seated at the head of the table . Which is good . If Cameron and Kael had to decide who would sit at the head of the table between them , we probably won't get to eat any dinner tonight . " You're just in time . " Sarah says , passing a smile our way . " We were just talking about the kids . They'll be arriving soon and I think the air is a little too humid here . " " I don't know about Liam , but Kelly is easily affected by the temperature . The poor child hasn't been herself since that incident with the wolfsbane ... " Sarah trails off , glancing around the table like she hadn't meant to lead the conversation in that direction . " Oh , I'm sorry , " She apologizes quickly . " I shouldn't have brought it up . I just get so worried about Kelly . And Cam too ... he was so devastated to see Kelly hurt , I don't want to put him through that again . " I glance over at Cameron . His lips are pressed into a thin line , but he doesn't say anything . My hands clench at my sides . Kael and I haven't even sat down and she's already at it . Kael pulls out a chair for me before he sits . " You're such a gentleman now , Kael ." Shirley gushes , clapping her hands . Effectively stirring the topic of conversation away from me . " You've got yourself a good one there , Laila ." Cameron stiffens visibly , and Sarah frowns at the change in topic , but Shirley doesn't seem to notice it . She means no harm but seeing as everyone knows I was once married to Cameron , he doesn't seem too happy with her words . I feign a smile , placing a hand over Kael's on the table for all eyes to see . " He's just a darling . " Kael's hand turns over , intertwining his fingers with mine . " You're a lucky woman , Laila ." Sarah chips in again , just as the food is served . " I mean , everyone knows what a menace Kael has been . To think you'd be the one to finally tame him . " Shirley laughs quietly , nodding her head in agreement . " I remember he broke so many hearts in high school , he was almost expelled ." Max chuckles lowly , shaking his head as he cuts into his steak . " He wasn't any better in college . " 18:49 Mon , Oct 13 Chapter 43 29 E55 vouchers The conversation slowly turns light and cheerful . At least so far . But dinner has only begun . And like she read my mind , Sarah pipes up again . " I was pretty concerned when I heard the rumours that he shot Alpha Marcus of Bluewater and sent him to the emergency room . " She says lightly , like she's just talking about the weather . Kael sits quietly , like he's not the topic of conversation . It seems he's quite used to being talked about like he's not sitting right there . I clench my utensil tighter in my hand , distracting myself from the urge to stab my fork in Sarah's restless tongue . " Oh don't be silly . " Shirley dismisses , " It must have just been rumors . Alpha Scott would throw a big fit if it was true . " " It is . " Kael chips in curtly . The table goes silent and all eyes shift to Kael , including mine . Everyone knows how aggressive Alpha Scott of Bluewater can be , especially when it's about his only son Marcus . " It is ? " Max asks , just as uncertain as the rest of us that we heard Kael correctly . " I shot him . " Kael confirms . " In the thigh ." " You shot Marcus ?! " Cameron exclaims in a low hiss . " Are you out of your mind , Kael ?! Trying to drag Blackwood into a war ?! " Kael shrugs casually , chewing on his steak . " That's already old news , Cam . There's no need to pipe up about it . " " He got on my nerves ... talking shit about my wife . " I blink in astonishment . His wife ? I'm his wife though . " No one gets away with that . He asked for it . " Kael continues , his tone perfectly calm as if he didn't just admit to nearly starting a war . " It took a lot of self control not to blow his brains out ." His gaze settles pointedly on Sarah . Her eyes widen and she shrinks into her seat . Cameron's eyes narrow at the threat to his wife and he sits up straighter . " But Laila doesn't like me killing people . " Kael finishes . " So I try to be forgiving . Shooting thighs and all ." Pack wolves are usually not this vocal about shooting people . But Kael being a rogue doesn't seem to mind talking about blowing brains out over dinner . Alpha Max clears his throat and everyone falls into an awkward silence . The tension between Kael and Cameron only gets progressively worse and eventually , I excuse myself . Heading to the stairs . 18:49 Mon , Oct 13 Chapter 43 294 55 vouchers My body aches from all the restraints I've exercised watching Sarah run her mouth and repeatedly bring up the poisoning incident . Her intention is obvious . Reminding everyone why I was banished in the first place , in such a roundabout manner is clearly to discredit me in the presence of Alpha Max and Cameron . Even how she hinted repeatedly at how devastated Cameron had been . She's clearly urging him to remember the past event and the reason we got separated in the first place . And all of that just tells me there's already some cracks between Sarah and Cameron . Otherwise , why is she so eager to prove a point ? It's not like anyone was diagnosed with amnesia . Shaking my head , I make my way upstairs but instead of heading to Kael and I's room , I walk down the opposite direction leading to the open balcony . The lake surrounding the house shimmers under the moonlight . I try not to let my mind stray but it still does . Scenes of Cameron and I swimming around in the icy cold lake surfaces in my mind . We weren't a typical young couple in love , getting married of their own will , but even in our arranged circumstances , we'd found companionship with each other ... Cameron loves the cold . I don't . But spending the mornings and some moonlit night soaking in the lake had quickly become our ritual . Far away from our responsibilities and the Blackwood name . And then , there's Kael . He shot Alpha Marcus over me ? That can't be right . Kael and I are only a loving couple when there's eyes on us . A creak sounds from behind me . I don't bother turning . I don't need to . It's characteristic of Kael not to let me out of his sight for even a moment . His hands rest on either side of the banister , caging me in . And as he leans forward , his warm breath fans the side of my face , " Still pretending you don't remember , Lails ? " My breath catches . It's not Kael . It's Cameron ! I try to turn but Cameron stops me . " Don't ... not yet ." His tone is barely above a whisper , almost pleading . My heart shrivels within me . His cheek brushes against mine ... a gesture so tender , it stirs a numb ache in my heart . The familiarity of his scent ... of his touch , his gentle tone , and his tenderness ... it triggers memories I haven't allowed myself to entertain in years . Kael is downstairs . So is Sarah , his wife . And yet Cameron wraps his arms tighter around me , burying his nose 18:49 Mon , Oct 13 Chapter 48 into my hair I OD 4 65 vouchers He draws in a shaky breath and his hold on me tightens even more . My heart stutters within me , torn between uncertainty and displeasure , Gripping the railing , I wrench myself away from his hold , He cases his grip , letting me step away from him to the side , " Go back to your wife , Cameron ," I murmur , my voice cold and devoid of the surge of emotions bristling beneath the surface . He chuckles . A low and bitter sound . " And you to my brother ?" I frown slightly . But I don't respond . " I know you must be wondering , but it wasn't my idea to bring us here , Lails , " Cameron says again , " But from the moment I stepped into these walls again , I knew ... " He trails off . He knew ? He knew what ? His cryptic words settle heavily between us , " To me , this is a sign ... " He leaves his words hanging and the cold air clings to me as his presence retreats . His footsteps fading down the hall . AD Comment Send gift No Ads 18:49 Mon , Oct 13 Chapter 44 Chapter 44