The Human Luna

Chapter 3

Layla’s Point of View

“You’re hovering,” I hummed, bagel halfway into my mouth.

My mother puffed out a breath and took a step back, giving me back some of my well-deserved personal space.

“Are you sure you don’t want to see Dr. Lidia again today? I’m sure if you explained to her what happened-”

I gave her a long sideways glance. “No. I’m fine. Dad even knows I’m fine. Right, dad?” I asked, looking at my father across the kitchen island.

All I got in response was a raised brow from him before he flicked his newspaper and resumed reading. He felt as convinced as my mother.

“I just think that it’s a bit sudden that you had a hallucination so soon after your appointment. Are you taking your meds right? Did you guys change anything in your session that might have caused you to… you know… have another episode.”

A hand came into view as my mom tried shoving yet another therapy brochure in my face. I swiftly shoved the thing away and rolled my eyes at her when she glared at me.

“I’m fine. I think I want to hear what Jordan is up to today and ask him if he wants to hang out.” I said, taking the last bite of my bagel.

My parents exchanged a long glance. My dad shook his head slowly at my mother but the woman refused to listen and barreled forward.

“He’s at the Alpha’s-” She caught herself.

That word again. One she had used often enough that it was like second nature to me by now to ignore it.

“He is with his employer today. I don’t think he will be able to hang out. Why not spend the day with your dad in the shed? You always loved helping him with his woodwork.” My mom finished.

Making a face, I slid off of my seat. Kissed my mom swiftly on her cheek before sauntering to the living room. Or tried to before my father’s voice made me pause.

“Actually, I have work to do. Same shift as you today, my love. So I think it would be alright if Layla went to Jordan for the day.” He replied nonchalantly.

It was clear as day that neither wanted me to be left alone. Not with the events of last night hanging over their heads.

There was no way in hell they’d let me be alone again today. Which was fine, considering I’d get to spend the day with Jordan.

Jordan. The guy who I never saw coming but was glad to have him. Even if we weren’t entirely sure where we fell on a relationship scale. Not friends. Not lovers. Stuck somewhere between flirting and being friendly.

A confusing grey space that I hated.

“What about Caden?” My mother snapped back at my father. Whoever she was talking about clearly made her uncomfortable.

My dad shrugged. Set down his newspaper on the dining table before he smiled at my mother. A world’s worth of love danced in his eyes.

“Caden has been informed of the situation. I doubt he’ll have a problem with her hanging around for a little while. He wouldn’t have adjusted the roster the way he did if he didn’t care somewhat.” He explained.

Sighing loudly, my mother pinched the bridge of her nose. Lost the fight in her veins and only nodded back at my dad.

Which settled the conversation right then and there.

A few minutes later we pulled up to an intimidating large house. Windows of all sizes dotted the front. The garden spanned for what felt like kilometers. People mulled about in various stages of work.

I glanced at my father, making sure he had gotten the right place. That we hadn’t just rocked up somewhere a lot more fancy than we should have.

His encouraging smile wasn’t enough to untie the various knots in my stomach.

“We’re here,” He declared as if I hadn’t noticed he had stopped right in front of the house.

“Do I just-” I started but cut myself short.

As if summoned, a woman appeared on my father’s side. All beaming smiles and furious curly red hair. Her piercing yellow eyes reminded me a lot of Jordan’s.

In the sense that they looked unnatural and predatory. On her, it was harsh. On Jordan, it almost felt like home by now.

“Lector! Jordan is inside. He sent me out here to come and collect Layla,” The girl beamed and motioned for me to get out.

Casting a wary glance at my dad again, I unbuckled my safety belt. Reluctantly reached for the handle of the door before slipping out.

“Jenny. Patrols going alright? Any signs of…” My dad cut himself off and gave me a sideways glance that I caught right before closing the door.

There was a pause of tension between the two of them. Like a conversation was being relayed through their stares.

I rounded the car and awkwardly stood a good few meters away from Jenny.

After another second of just staring at each other, Jenny nodded and slapped the top of the car. “Alright, Lector. Have a safe shift. Call if something goes wrong.” Jenny declared.

My dad stared at the girl with fire in his eyes. Didn’t say anything else as he nodded and took a long turn on the driveway.

So, they worked together as well. Strange. Was this entire town employed by the same company or was this just someone from work he trusted to get me safely to Jordan?

“Come on. Jordan is in the house with Caden.” Gone was the light tone she had used with my father, replaced by a stone-cold wall.

Squinting at her back, I followed her up the path. Refused to let my mind wonder about her sudden change.

Every person I had noticed earlier seemed to stare at me then. Their eyes followed me. Some of them were the same furious shade as Jenny’s. All of them unnerved me.

“You’re lucky to have such good parents,” Jenny said from in front of me. Her cold tone remained firmly intact.

We walked deeper into the expanse of a house. Every inch of the place was nicely decorated but lacked any personal touches. Whoever lived here clearly didn’t value sentimentality.

“They are amazing. Don’t know what I would do without them.” I replied but kept my voice soft.

We took several more turns in silence with Jenny leading the way. Her shoulders were squared. Guarded.

I nearly asked her more about herself just to break the silence before I heard voices floating down the hallway we were in.

“She is human, Jordan! This doesn’t concern us! Why should we endanger our pack for her?” The voice was brutal. Grating. Sent shivers of fear down my spine.

Jenny stopped in front of me. Glanced over her shoulder, eyes slightly flared. “I think they might be-” She started but was promptly cut off by an even angrier voice vibrating down the hall.

“She is as much a part of the pack as any of us! Her parents are respected warriors who would do anything for this pack! To exclude her because of what she-”

He cut himself off. Silence enveloped us again.

Moments later, a worried-looking Jordan popped his head out of a door not too far away, like he knew we were there.

His eyes scanned the hallway. Settled on Jenny, a tense moment passed between them the same way it had happened between her and my dad.

Then Jordan’s eyes slid to me. Softened considerably. An easy smile spread across his lips.

“There’s the most beautiful girl in the world. We were just talking about you,” Jordan mused and twisted his head to look into the room again. “Why don’t you come say hi, Caden, like a normal person?”

A grunt vibrated through me. Deeply unsettling and not at all pleased. But a neatly swept head of black hair emerged from behind Jordan and stepped into the hallway reluctantly.

He was massive. Taller than Jordan by a good two inches. Looked like he stepped right off of the cover of a men’s magazine.

But his eyes were what took me off guard. Blood red. Intense beyond human comprehension. And when they settled on me, my entire body quivered.

For a brief moment, the world seemed to fall to silence as our eyes locked. Battled against each other. Gobbled up every inch of air around us.

The man opened and closed his mouth. Jaw muscles worked against each other as he just stood there, staring at me. Fire crawled across my skin. Seeped into my flesh.

“f**k. f**k. Not her,” He growled to no one in particular.

Then Jordan was in front of me, eyes wide and lips turned down. “I think we need to head to the kitchen for a snack. Jenny, handle Caden, will you?”

“Don’t tell me she is his mate,” Jenny started but Jordan only growled and snapped his teeth at her, disdain written across his face.

“Now, Jenny!”