Layla Twist

Chp. 12 The Only One

* Barrett POV *

Approaching midnight I tell my men to get into position and let Drake give the signal.

I couldn't get my nerves in check, I had to be the Alpha, a strong and reasonable leader. With being distracted I knew it would be better to let Drake lead. While it may be his friend we are looking for, he is a very skilled warrior and loved by the pack.

Hanging back I will take out any of the rogues that try to flee. It wasn't long till you could hear Ambrose call out to the warriors.

The battle begins.

Already having no clothing on I shift into Po, my wolf. He was a very large black wolf, not one to mess with.

* Po POV *

Taking a second to stretch my long limbs and tail I listen in on the fight. The rogues were expecting us, using lethal poison on their claws. My men advanced quickly, taking out wolves in their path. Drake made sure to keep me updated with the fight.

A few different rogues tried to sneak out, but they didn't expect to see me before their world went dark.

After multiple kills I stand still in the shadows, catching my breath and listening on a set of paws running my way. Getting ready to take on another wolf, I wait for the moment to launch.

Before I could, a big wolf intercepted him. The wolf was covered in dirt and blood all over the coat, showing little signs of white. But the smell, was divine.

The smell of deep red wine and oak, My nose tingled as though there was alcohol in front of my snout.

Mate.

She was strong and fierce, at one point she noticed my presence. We just looked at each other. Her eyes, her left eye shining gold, her right a deep green.

The rogue she faced scratched at her head causing her to hit her back leg and yelp.

Help our mate Po! Barrett calls in my head. He let me have full control in my form, only taking control when I cross a line.

Leaping into the air I clamp my jaw around his head, feeling it pop off his body as I land on the ground behind him.

Turning back my mate seems to not set her paw on the ground, she also swayed in place slightly.

Laying down I try not to seem intimidating, she must be one of the ladies Drake and Barrett are trying to rescue.

Without a warning she puked up blood and shifted into a small figure curled on the ground. Needing to help her I go forward when she turns to look straight at me. Her right eye was still the deep green, but her left was now a crystal blue. Her hair is a dirty tangled mess with rope intertwined.

She stands up quickly while screaming, I jumped back shocked at her reaction. My ears ring and I whine seeing her depart into the trees.

Does she not want us? I ask, deciding to follow her I feel Barrett under the surface wanting to observe closely.

She must be scared and in pain, the moon Goddess wouldn't have us wait this long just to lose her in the same night.

She wasn't fast, her hair caught on a couple of branches, but she pushes through until the branches gave it.

She isn't a rogue, so she must belong to a pack. Barrett whispers. Try to cut her off, maybe if we shift back she won't be as scared.

Pushing just a little I gain on her easily, before I could plan to maneuver around her she falls to the ground rolling. Jumping over her body I skid to stop.

I howl into the night calling for Ambrose. It wasn't long until Drake's light grey wolf came out of the trees, the moon light making his fur look almost white.

Shifting I turn to the woman unconscious under a big tree, Drake following my lead and shifting back as well.

"Who is that?" Drake asks, walking up to my side.

"She is my mate." Going to her side I gently clean the mud off her face and move loose stands of dark hair out of the way. "She needs to go to the pack doctor."

Drake helps me position her in my arms to stand without causing damage.

"Wait!" Drake moves in front of me looking down at her.

He better back the f**k off. Po growled lowly, I couldn't keep the growl to myself, forcing my own Beta to bowl his head respectfully.

"Barrett, that's Layla." His voice was low, his eyes still on my sleeping mates face.

Looking down I can't help but sigh. "She is my mate Drake, and she was a wolf not even 15 minutes ago." Looking up at my closest friend, no, he IS my brother, I continue. "Regardless, I won't force her to be my mate. Right now though, she needs to go to the pack doctor."

We silently agree to jog back together. Drake mind linked the doctor to prepare for our arrival.

Upon our arrival Naomi was waiting for us. She joined the raid, but beat us to the hospital using her wolf to run here.

"How is she?" Rushibg alongside us she looked really worried. "Is Layla okay?"

I open my mouth but no words came out. She wasn't okay, she was in need of medical attention. She is my mate, Naomi's best friend, Drake's as well. Yet, I don't know how injured she is.

"Set her down!" The doctor ordered me to place Layla on a stretcher. "No one past this point but my assistants."

She pushed away ordering the staff on the other side of the big white doors.

Falling to my knees I could feel Drake and Naomi drag me to nearby chairs saying something to me.

I couldn't hear them, I thought of these weird tingles on my skin from where I held her. The crystal blue and deep green eyes, stunning.

Then the thought of her side being warm with torn flesh against my fingertips, the way her right leg hung in an off way. My heart clenched remembering the THUD against the tree when she tripped in the woods. I can't help her right now.

She is alive right now, we got her here to try and save her. Po reminded me. We cannot leave her without knowing she will make it.

I think, still oblivious to the world around me. She was so close for 7 years. We could've had her home with us 7 years ago. No Alpha has gone this long without a mate.

I put my head on my hands and think back to all those times I prayed to the moon goddess for a mate, only for having her answer to be so close.

After a while I started talking to Drake and Naomi about the attack. Many girls were found within the mountain, not one of them needed medical attention beyond hydration IVs. There were a few things my men grabbed from the caverns, and pictures were taken to review. All would be discussed after news of Layla came back.

Layla, her name brought a nervous energy to my stomach making it hard to think.

7 1/2 hours later the doctor came back through the doors.

We all stand up quickly, making the doctor jump from the sudden movement.

"How is she Doc?" Drake spoke first.

"Do you want the good news or bad news first?" She straightened her posture looking over the three of us.

"Some good news would be preferable." Naomi's voice was almost a whisper.

"Layla is alive and in the recovery wing as we speak." She smiled gently seeing the relief on our faces. "But the bad news."

Po pushed towards the surface making it difficult to control my emotions. I scrub my chin feeling my hair on the tip of my fingers.

"She is going to be sleeping for a while, days to weeks, we don't completely know. The injuries she sustained..." She paused for a second seemingly lost in thought. "Some were weeks old, others are probably less than 24hrs old."

Drake growls along with me, we didn't like where this was going.

"We had to reset multiple broken bones, and stop internal bleeding. If it wasn't for her healing being prioritized and minimizing the sutures needed, I don't think she would be off that table yet. She also has traces of poison in her system, the lab will get back to me soon." Her grey eyes looked up at me."Now that I'm out of the operating room."

She walks up to me giving me a hug now in full on Mom mode. Before I could react she already glared at me.

"Don't think I didn't register that young lady is your mate young man." She scolded.

"Mom, please not now."