Page 14 of Bewitched

L ayla woke in the dark. The apartment was eerily quiet. The haze of lust and anxiety had lifted from her, not gone but abated. She felt more like herself than she had in days. It felt like any other day she would wake up in her dorm room. Maybe a little hung over, like the time Helena snuck in a bottle of two-dollar wine. Except her neck hadn’t throbbed with the beat of her heart, and her nethers hadn’t felt like a raw bruise.

Jaxon had taken Damian’s advice and bit her again, teeth pressing down on her mating gland until all she could think about was Jaxon. She had whined and cried, but it felt so good.

She touched the sensitive bump on her skin, and she shivered. She belonged to him twice over. Why he would want to keep her after all the trouble she caused was beyond her.

Her heat was waning. He would see sense soon, and she would have to be prepared for how it would rip her apart.

She got up and pulled on another one of his shirts. She wiped the tacky slick from her thighs and was relieved when her body didn’t immediately produce more to replace it.

Maybe this would be over soon, and she could go back to… nothing now. Back to her dorm? Mated omegas weren’t allowed in the dorms. Maybe Mina would let her stay with her until she found her own place. Would her father still pay for her classes? Would she have to come crawling back to Jaxon after her family rejected her? He certainly wouldn’t want to keep her once this was all over. He didn’t even like her, not when she was herself.

Layla stepped out of the bedroom and into the wreckage of the living room. The carpet had been cut away in several places, but the blood had soaked down to the cement underfloor. The door was in its frame, though the edges didn’t come together. Whatever they had done had been the bare minimum to clean up and get out of Jaxon’s den.

It was still too quiet. Jaxon wasn’t there. He wasn’t in the apartment at all.

“Alpha?” she called.

No one answered.

Unease settled in her stomach. It shouldn’t bother her that he was gone. She felt better. She didn’t need his presence constantly, but she wanted it.

She didn’t need to take it so personally. He probably had things to do. He had been away from work for several days. He needed to explain everything that happened with Axel… with Garret. Were the police going to come for her next? It was all her fault.

Alpha duels were common, but that didn’t mean they weren’t investigated. Even Bryson had to contend with police after his duel. He had laughed about it each time he told the story.

Layla sucked in a breath and grabbed the back of the couch so she wouldn’t fall. It was mostly unscathed from the fight in the living room, but the coffee table was smashed, and so was the curio cabinet.

All the little dogs were scattered in pieces over the carpet, and the birthday cards were crushed and wrinkled.

Her stomach swooped to the floor. All the little things Jaxon had collected over the years were being ground into the carpet like garbage. She felt like those little dogs, broken and busted, beaten into the dirt. She was exhausted in her heart.

Layla fell to her knees amid the broken glass and picked up the little porcelain wolf and one of the dogs. The dog’s paws had been broken off at the elbow. She gathered the pieces in her shirt, ignoring the crunch under her knees and bleeding cuts forming on her fingers. She couldn’t even feel the pain.

She had to rescue them all. She couldn’t leave them there. Broken.

The door opened, but she didn’t turn to see. It didn’t matter. She had to save the little pups.

“Layla! What the fuck!” Jaxon shouted.

Her lips trembled, holding back tears. She had to save them. No one else would. She showed him a shattered greyhound. “They’re broken.”

Jaxon dropped his bags and growled. Layla cringed as he stomped to her, but he only scooped her up. He smelled like outside and the warm sun. He smelled like charcoal.

Layla grunted and wrapped her shirt around her precious cargo. She didn’t want to make it worse.

He sat her down in a chair at the kitchen table. He took the little dogs from her shirt and poured them onto the table.

“Stay,” he said. It wasn’t a Command, but she still felt compelled to obey. It was their bond. She would always want to obey him now, in whatever he wanted. That was okay. The bond was her fault.

She could feel his simmering annoyance again now that he was close. He had been happy before, amused when he was last in the nest with her. Of course, he liked her best when she was sleeping.

Jaxon returned to the remains of the cabinet, picking up little broken pieces of dog and bringing them to the table. He made three trips, and Layla sorted through them. A Great Dane with broken legs. A Border Collie with a broken tail. A big black mastiff with a broken neck.

She tried not to think, not to let her mind wander. She wanted to be present with her Alpha here. She didn’t know how long she could hold on before she would become confused again.

On the last trip, he brought the birthday cards to the table and laid them down reverently. The top one was signed Love, Eris. She touched the paper, accidentally leaving a trail of blood behind.

Jaxon rummaged in a kitchen drawer and finally dropped a tube of superglue on the table.

Layla reached for it.

“Wait,” he snapped.

She put her hands back in her lap and bowed her head low. She shouldn’t have left her nest. He wouldn’t be mad if she had stayed in her nest.

Jaxon stomped away to the bathroom and came back with a first aid kit. He pulled his own chair around the table and sat in front of her.

“Hand,” he said.

She slipped her hand into his, and he began to check for slivers of glass and bandage her wounds. He said nothing as he worked on her fingers, spritzing her cuts with anti-bacterial spray. He released her hands and continued to her knees, legs, and feet. She hadn’t even realized she cut her feet.

“I’m sorry,” she tried.

Jaxon glared. “You should be in your nest.” He put his hand on her forehead. “You are still in heat.”

“I was hungry.”

“Yet you were picking through trash instead of eating.”

She put her hands over the porcelain figures, trying to protect them from his words. “I had to save them. They’re your pups.”

“They’re just baubles,” he said but pushed the black mastiff next to the howling wolf. “I told Hera I liked dogs once, and ever since, everyone has had to give me these little glass nuisances.”

She picked up a skinny greyhound, and even though her hands shook, she slotted the porcelain back into place with a drop of glue. She glanced at him furtively, but he was staring at the table coldly.

She could sense his anger mellowing as she worked, and soon, the mastiff and three other little dogs were whole again.

Jaxon sighed, turning into a rumbling growl. He uncrossed his arms and poked at a tiny chihuahua. “This one was from Bryson.” He glanced at her and smirked. “He said it was because my cock was bigger than a chihuahua.”

Layla let out a startled snort and covered her mouth in embarrassment. “That is highly improper.”

“You have met Bryson, right? Not sure he ever did anything that could be called proper.”

Layla bowed her head and smiled. It was true. Bryson was a nuisance; even her father admitted it.

Jaxon pointed out different gifts. A bird dog from Kaiser. A bloodhound from Clover. A wolfhound from Mina. A basset hound and pup from Raina.

Layla ran her finger over the howling wolf. “Who got you the wolf?”

“I bought the wolf. She, uh, she’s Mina.” He shifted uncomfortably. “She bites.”

Layla smiled. Alpha liked Mina. So few people actually liked Mina. She was so glad that someone was her friend.

“Did Damian get you any of them?”

He gave her a half-hearted glare. “No. He gave me the sword. Guess he’ll take it back now. Wasn’t exactly supposed to run my brother through with it.”

Layla bit her lip as her eyes filled with tears. He’d killed his own brother — because of her. They fought because of her.

“Whatever you’re thinking, fucking quit it,” he said.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I never meant for… Axel was—”

“Axel was a monster and stupid. It was only a matter of time before someone mean enough put him down. Guess that was me and you.”

She stared at him. His scars stood out pink and irritated on his face, twisted with his frown. He didn’t look at her, only staring at the pack of pups on the table. “Do you regret it?”

He snarled, but it wasn’t directed at her. “Yes. It shouldn’t have come to that. He shouldn’t have come here. It was the only way it was going to end, and he knew it. He was my brother. I loved him. You know how you love people you survived with? It’s a bond you can’t shake.”

She wasn’t sure what he meant, but her chest ached with his anguish.

“He always thought I owed him. It was his right to have what was mine.” He shook his head. “I wasn’t going to give you to him. That was something for me. You’ve always been for me.”

She reached for him, touching the deep rivers of mangled flesh that trailed up the side of his head. Her hand shook. He took her hand in his and pressed her harder against his skin.

“You ever hear how this happened?” he asked.

Layla shook her head. “An alpha fight?”

He laughed. “Yeah, something like that. My dad was a drunk, and he liked to take it out on whoever was close enough to reach. I had just presented as an alpha, and I thought I was a big dog. I tried to buck up to him.”

She stared at him in horror.

“Broken liquor bottle, right to the face. I’m lucky I kept my eye. Ax was the one who stopped him. He dragged us out of there and took me to Damian.” Jaxon sighed. “Fuck. It wasn’t supposed to turn out like this.”

Layla couldn’t stop the bitter laugh from bubbling up. Hadn’t she been saying that the whole time? “Sorry, it’s just… right? I should have stayed home.”

He didn’t say anything for a long moment, just stared at her with piercing gray eyes. “Don’t worry about me, kitten. I’ll figure it out.”

She rubbed a thumb under his right eye — a new bruise forming, one that hadn’t been left by Axel.

“Your sister,” he said. “Not happy with me right now.”

Layla pulled her hand away, and he reluctantly released her. “Mina knows I’m here.”

“Aye,” he nodded. “She knows you are mated, too.”

She could imagine Mina's reaction. “She didn’t bite you?”

Jaxon laughed and pulled up his sleeve to show a dark bruise on his forearm. “She very much did bite. I’ve known her too long. I wasn’t about to let her get a good grip.”

“Is she angry?”

“Angry, yeah, but not at you.”

Layla flicked her eyes to him. “I did this. I made you.”

Jaxon cocked his head. “Made me?”

She scratched her arm, digging her fingernails in, exposing raw skin. “It’s what omegas do. I’m sorry. I tried not to. I never meant to force this on you or anyone.”

He stared at her hard, and she had to look away. “Because I bit you?”

She nodded. “And your brother. It’s my fault. Alphas can’t control themselves.”

He laughed bitterly. “Whoever said that is fucking lying to you. A good alpha can always control themselves.”

A nerve in her cheek twitched, and Layla looked down, checking over a dachshund and making sure the glue set. It was nearly the same thing Rolland said. An alpha could always control themselves… then why didn’t they? “What about you?”

He grunted and turned back to his own pile of dogs. “What reality are you living in where I’m a good alpha?”

She looked down and smiled. No, he wasn’t good. He was rude and domineering and aggressive and violent. He touched her so softly. He held her close when she was breaking. That was nice. She couldn’t escape him now. She didn’t know if she wanted to. It didn’t matter. He would be the one to send her away in the end.

Layla concentrated on setting each dog to rights—tails, legs, and fragile necks—with Jaxon watching her quietly and calmly. She liked this side of him. It was soothing in its own way. He seemed to take care of her the way he’d take care of any security job, efficiently and effectively, his practicality winning out over all else.

Layla shifted and scowled. Slick had pooled in the chair beneath her. She didn’t feel good anymore, sort of floating and… “I’m itchy.”

Jaxon took her hands in his, turning them over and checking up her arms. He then turned to the bruise on her neck. “I don’t see anything wrong.”

“No, it’s… inside.” She didn’t want to say it. She didn’t want to make him want her again. “I think I’m ready… again.”

Jaxon smiled, lips tugging on his scars cruelly, but he didn’t seem to notice. He stood and kissed the top of her head. “Good girl. I’ll take care of you.”

She felt manipulative — like she was coercing him to bed her. She had always been so careful to be as unlike an omega as possible. Never follow her instincts. Don’t flirt with alphas. Don’t dress provocatively. Cover all her scent glands. Only omega whores wanted alphas.

He took her hand and tugged. “Hey, kitten, where are you?”

She glanced up at him. She was where she always was when he acted as if he wanted her. “Far away.”

Jaxon tugged on her hand again. “Stay here.”

She nodded. She wanted to believe that she could.

Jaxon led her to the bedroom, but Layla pulled him toward the closet. It was a disorganized mess of blankets and pillows and towels, and she itched to make it right. But it would never be good enough. Whatever her senses were telling her was lying. Alpha liked her nest. He said so.

Layla ignored the annoying buzz in the back of her brain and crawled into her nest. She pressed her face into the soft blankets and spread her legs, presenting. Alpha could take her like this. It would be so good.

Jaxon leaned over her, pulling his shirt off in the process and adding it to the pile of fabric covering the floor. He pressed his chest to her back and kissed her shoulder. His hand slid down her arm, tugging, trying to turn her over.

She pulled out of his grasp and burrowed into the covers. She couldn’t turn around. She couldn’t get her teeth near his throat. She didn’t have the strength. She did not want to bite him. Force him to be hers forever. It was too cruel.

“Layla, please,” he said.

He wouldn’t beg when she was out of heat. She shook her head. “Fuck me.”

Jaxon groaned into her back. He pushed her shirt up to her shoulders, exposing the long line of her back. He stroked over the curve of her hip. His hands slid down, parting her labia for his viewing pleasure.

Layla moaned, dizzy with want. She flexed her hips, hoping to give him an idea of what she needed. “Alpha, please.”

“Hold still,” he said. Then his mouth was at her center, licking inside her aggressively.

Layla yelped, and he laughed against her skin, the vibration tickling her sensitive clit.

She wailed and pulled a pillow under her nose to bite.

Slick dripped from her under the stimulation, and he licked it up like a man starving.

“Alpha,” she whined.

Jaxon slipped two fingers inside her, pressing down on the front wall of her channel.

Layla groaned. “Jaxon, please!”

“Turn over, and I’ll fuck you.”

She shook her head.

Jaxon growled, and Layla felt a rush of slick slip from her channel. “Noooo, I can’t.”

He ran a hand up her stomach, tickling over her skin, and cupped a breast in his massive hand. His thumb caressed over a nipple, and Layla tried to arch into his touch. “I want to look at you when I fuck you, Omega.”

She shivered, her resolve breaking. “Alpha…”

He tugged at her hip. “Turn over, my good omega, my perfect mate. I want to see her lips and her eyes and her tits. I want to watch her pant for my cock. Is she going to do that?”

Layla groaned, and her knees slipped out from under her. She was weak, too weak. She wanted him surrounding and consuming her. It made her sick with how much she wanted it.

She let him tug her over, and immediately, his lips were on hers. She licked into his mouth, chasing his taste. It was wonderful. She believed she could taste his want and his affection.

Layla wrapped her legs around his waist and arched into him. Jaxon groaned into her mouth. He slipped his hand between them and aligned his cock with her channel. He sank into her with a long groan, and she cried out.

He ran his hands through her hair, touched her cheeks as he began to thrust. She gasped as his sheer size drove the breath from her body. She wondered if it was the omega in her that loved the way he devoured her whole.

She broke away from the kiss and pulled his wrist to her mouth, licking over the scent gland there. Cinnamon burst over her tongue, sending a rush of contentment and arousal through her body.

Jaxon purred. “I’m going to knot you, kitten.”

Layla nodded. She wanted him there, filling her.

Jaxon pressed closer to her neck, finding her sore mating gland. He pressed his teeth into her, and Layla felt a rush of hormones through her body. Euphoria and bright lights. She hadn’t even been close to coming, but he dragged it out of her with his teeth and his cock deep inside her.

He moaned against her neck as his knot swelled. He ground himself against her, pushing inside, locking them together as her channel gripped him harder. For one shining moment, it was wonderful.

Fuzziness swirled on the edges of her mind, and she pressed her fingernails into his biceps. Fear and anxiety washed over her. It was a false, artificial feeling. She tried to push the bad thoughts away. This was okay. This was good. Her mate was here. Jaxon and Alpha weaved in and out of her mind, never becoming one or separate. She was safe. He wanted her. He had to want her.

She hated this feeling. “Jaxon,” she whimpered.

“Where are you, kitten?”

“I don’t know. I’m scared.”

“I know.” His fingers went to the scent glands on her neck, forcing her to calm. “It’s your medication. Remember what Damian said. Your suppressant is causing issues.”

“Okay.” She shifted and felt his trapped cock come in her again.

He grunted and closed his eyes.

She watched him in the dim light. She sensed his contentment and sour notes of worry. He remained silent for several minutes while she reminded herself that he was real, and so was she.

His cock twitched inside her several times, and Jaxon eventually began rubbing her belly as he had the first time he knotted her. It felt like such a long time ago — long before they were connected so intimately.

Layla swallowed down the tears, trying to crawl up her throat. “I want to be good. I’m sorry I’m a bad omega.”

Jaxon opened his eyes and stared at her for a moment. He pulled them both to their sides, a more comfortable position to be stuck in. He arranged her close to him, letting her use an arm as a pillow.

He pushed her hair back from her face. “You’re a good omega. Just stubborn. Should have expected a stubborn Nash.”

Layla laughed. “Hold me?”

“I am holding you,” he said, but he pulled her in tighter, nearly crushing the breath from her body.

She would keep him as long as he let her. She would do her best to be his good omega. She had disappointed everyone else so profoundly. Jaxon was her only hope. Maybe he would keep her as long as she was good. He said she was good.

“I’m good,” she whispered to herself. She could keep being good.

Jaxon sleepily nuzzled the top of her head. “So good. My favorite.”