Layla Twist

Chp. 16 Nerves

* Barrett POV *

A long shower was needed after hours of running around, feeling completely drained. I spent a while scrubbing dirt and blood off my body, then stood there with the water hitting the back of my head.

Stepping out of the shower I wrap a towel around my hips. Taking a breath I can smell Layla has been brought to her room.

She had a divine red wine scent with a oak base. I knew I would smell it when she was in the room next to me, right now it seems to be very strong. I didn't imagine her scent to be so heavy this soon. It was shocking, a harsh reality that I'm next to my mate. A mate who may or may not want me.

Po purred in my head when I thought more about Layla.

She was absolutely beautiful. Last time we saw her she was completely nude. I may not have looked at her body, but her curves were still in my sights. Her pretty face even with an aggravated scar over her cheek and nose.

Walking out of the bathroom I had aimed for laying in bed but stopped seeing Layla standing in the middle of my room.

She was wearing a short grey sundress her hair in a long ponytail falling down her back, reaching a little past the dress.

She seemed to sniff the air while chuckling before abruptly turning around, her eyes wide when she sees me.

"Layla?" I was lost for words. "Why are you in my room?"

She swung her arms for a second and then steps forward all nervous.

"I wasn't told it was a conjoined room, I got lost looking at it."

What do I say now? Panicking I try to ask Po for help, before I do she speaks again.

"What's a mate?" She asked me looking me straight in the eye.

That was not expected. I start coughing chocking on my own spit.

"You.... You don't know." I struggle for a second unsure what exactly to do.

Stop embarrassing yourself, get it out. Po laughed hysterically.

A*****e.

"You don't know what mates are?"

"I wouldn't ask otherwise. She keeps saying it when you are around."

"Why didn't Mom tell you?" I say more to myself but to my surprise Layla heard me.

"I thought she was Drakes mom." Her arms started to swing before she pinned them to her sides. "She mentioned she was the old Luna, but the family for the Alpha and Beta are typically completely different bloodlines." She started to turn really red, even her arms turned a shade darker. "Isn't he the Beta?"

"That's correct." My voice is rough compared to hers, maybe it scared her.

"Drake and you call her Mom. Are you brothers?"

"He is my brother. We are not related though." I walk over to the new couch that was brought to my room and sat down. Layla follows my lead and sits in a oversized arm chair. The skirt of her dress rising a little high but she didn't seem to look down or notice. Clearing my throat I decide to tell her the truth of the family, completely ignoring the dress.

"Drake and Naomi's parents died 21 years ago. My parents raised them, they are family." She seemed to get upset about what I told her.

"I heard Naomi mention something once to Drake when they thought I wasn't listening. They mentioned I remind them of someone from a long time ago."

She grabs a blanket from the table in front of her and holds it close.

"Naomi would compare you to their mom, she was 6 when they were killed."

Layla quickly stood not noticing my interest on her legs. Most of the marks were clustered together, the main focus seemed to be on more sensitive spots.

"Those doors are a balcony right?" She jogged to the doors before I could answer opening the doors to the cold night air.

"I don't know if that's a good spot for fresh air." I followed her forgetting the only thing I wore was a towel.

My doors open to a big balcony covered in plants with a greenhouse off to the side. She makes it to the railing griping the stone breathing heavily.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"Yes." She gasped taking deep breaths. I place a hand on her back and she jumped away from me with tears down her face. "I'm sorry, please don't touch my back right now."

Putting my hands up I take a step back.

I didn't realize it would hurt her still, or is it because it was me?

Barrett let her breathe for a minute, I think this is what Drake said about family being a sensitive topic. Po sounded sad saying that, it was something to remember for the future, including not touching her back.

After a few minutes of silence and she spoke up again, seemingly a lot calmer now.

"What are mates?"

Tell her now or I will, and you know that could scare her. Po growled lowly, he wanted everything in the light.

"What do you smell around Drake?" I ask her. She was confused but answered.

"Nothing really stands out, he smells like him and typically coffee from drinking it often."

Chuckling I continue. ”Besides the plants around us what do you smell right now?"

She hesitated taking in air looking for the words. I became antsy, wanting to know what the uniques mate scent is for her."

"The same as the room, Orange and Eucalyptus." She looks at me waiting for an answer.

Her wolf hasn't explained anything. Po quickly added, a thing to be addressed later.

"What do you think of with it?" At this point I am grinning from ear to ear.

"Oranges was my childhood snack, the smell was always a favorite and the eucalyptus is just addicting and I don't know why." She swings her arms a little before straightening up. "But it's different, it's not a normal person smell. That's what your saying right? It's you?"

"Yes, that's me. You will always recognize my scent and it will forever stand out to you."

"What do I smell like to you?" She asked in all seriousness.

Clearing my throat I know she deserves the same honesty. "Red wine and oak. Layla you smell like my preferred alcohol and my Father's office before I took over."

She nodded her head and slowly started to walk back to the room.

A penny for her thoughts.

Shutting the doors behind me, I b-line it to the closet throwing on a grey T-shirt and black sweats.

Layla was still in the room, standing by the door for the conjoined rooms.

"You can go back to your room if you want to." Gosh I sound like an a*****e.

"Are we a couple?" Layla grabbed the handle looking at the door.

"If you want me." My heart began to ache thinking about her leaving here if she didn't want me as her mate."I don't know what your thinking right now, but I would like to get to know you."

I see her hand twitch and she slightly turned her head my way.

"I will be honest with everything, nothing held back. Your pace." Swallowing before I continue I feel my hands shaking."I don't know much about relationships, but I've been waiting for you my whole life."

"Thank you for the truth." Her sweet voice drifted across the room. "What's your name?"

That's a good sign. Po remarked.

"Barrett Pine."

"Barrett Pine." She repeated, Oh Goddess my name sounds good on her lips. "Have a goodnight Barrett, I will think it all over." Closing the door as she goes to her room, I was left in my room alone.

Goodnight beautiful, Po and I both think at the same time.