Chapter 68 – Falling for the Alpha As a Student Novel

Filed To Story: Falling for the Alpha As a Student Novel

“Oh, Layla! I was just thinking about you. The fire near your school was all over the news. I was a little worried because I heard a lot of the students at the academy were there and got injured. You weren’t there too, were you?”

“I was…” I admitted.

“Oh, Goddess,” Cassidy-Ann breathed. “I’m so sorry to hear that. Have you been injured? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. A little banged up…” I lied. “And emotionally scarred. But I’m fine.”

“I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” she breathed, sadness lingering in her tone. “If there’s anything I can do to help you. Please let me know.”

“Actually, I know I haven’t even started yet… but I was wondering if I could take a few days off to regather my thoughts and recover from the accident…”

“Take the rest of the week off. You can start next Monday. Does that sound okay?”

“Are you sure?” I asked, surprised.

“Of course…” she breathed. “You’ve been through a lot. Please… take time off.”

“Thank you so much. I really appreciate that.”

“Anytime, Layla. I’m really excited to have you on board. I’ll see you soon,” she said kindly before hanging up the phone.

I couldn’t help the small smile that formed on my lips as I shoved my phone into my pocket. It’ll be nice to be able to recover for the rest of the week. Just as I turned to head back into Rachel’s hospital room, I heard my name from a short distance.

“Layla!”

I turned to see Becca rushing toward me with worry in her eyes.

“How are you? How’s Rachel? I know you stayed here all night. Is she okay?”

“She’s doing the best she can,” I told her. “I feel worried about leaving her by herself. She won’t leave until she knows Ryan is okay. I told her I would stay with her.”

Becca frowned and stared around my face.

“Did you sleep? You look exhausted.”

I thought I slept; one moment I was lying on the cot and the next I was waking up to the sun through the window curtains. But I was feeling an overwhelming sense of exhaustion. So, maybe I didn’t sleep as well as I thought.

“Maybe I am a little bit,” I admitted with a small smile.

“Then, you should go and rest. I can stay here. Take a few days to recover. You were in the fire for much longer than me and I’m sure you’ve been through a lot of emotional trauma trying to save those you could.”

“I couldn’t possibly…” I said, shaking my head.

“I’ll stay with Rachel,” Becca assured me. “I already spent a while in the hospital. What’s a little longer? I honestly don’t mind. Get some rest. Clear your mind… I’ll let you know if anything happens.”

I wasn’t sure I wanted to return to campus though, but maybe going to Elysium and seeing my family might help. It would be nice to get away from Enzo as well. After our last real talk, I wasn’t sure I would be able to face him. Not right now.

He didn’t even bother answering my question yesterday and my heart ached.

Becca was right. I needed to clear my mind.

I thanked her repeatedly and then went to say goodbye to Rachel.

I wasn’t going to tell Enzo that I was leaving Higala; it’s not like he would care anyways.

I went back to my dorm and packed some belongings before piling it all in my car and driving down to Elysium.

I didn’t even tell my family that I was returning but as soon as I got into the Nova packhouse, I was being attacked with hugs from my mother who didn’t seem to want to let me go.

“We heard about the fire,” she breathed. “We thought something might have happened.”

“Is your phone off?” My dad asked, narrowing his eyes at me.

It was this morning when I called Cassidy-Ann. I grabbed my phone to look at it and saw that it has died.

I sighed.

“I’m sorry,” I breathed, shoving my phone back into my pocket.

“We saw the news this morning and instantly panicked. Were you at the fire, Layla?” My mother asked, worry clear on her face.

I didn’t want to lie to her, so I nodded.

She hugged me even tighter.

“What were you doing at a house party on a school night?” My father asked firmly.

“It doesn’t matter. What matters is that our little girl is safe,” my mother told him just as firmly.

He fell silent, not bothering to argue. I knew he was relieved too as he hugged me tightly.

I finished explaining to them most of the story, including how Alpha Enzo helped get me out of the fire and to the hospital. After I finished the story, my father, who remained silent for most of it, finally spoke.

“That does it…” my father said, keeping his eyes on mine. “I’m inviting Enzo over for a few days to thank him.”

Layla’s POV

Having Enzo here at the Nova packhouse was not something I wanted. But I wasn’t going to argue with my father about it. He was keen on having him here to thank him for helping me in the fire.

It’s not like I could tell my family the reason why I didn’t want him here. Now I just had to hope that Enzo would decline the offer. I don’t think he wanted to see me either. I thought he would try to avoid me at all costs.

My father went to call Enzo while my mother and I talked a little more in the kitchen.

“Did anybody get seriously hurt?” She asked. “I heard the host was in critical condition.”

“Ryan…” I told her sadly. “Rachel’s boyfriend. He was the host.”

She gasped, covering her mouth with her hands as she peered over at me.

“Rachel as in your roommate?” She asked, eyeing me carefully.

I nodded once.

“We don’t know if he’s going to be okay. But we are hoping for the best. She won’t leave the hospital until she knows for sure. I stayed with her last night and Becca is staying with her for the next couple of days. She told me I needed to rest too,” I explained.

My mother’s eyes showed such sadness that it tugged at my heart. She walked closer to me and wrapped her arms around my body.

Val was instantly relaxed from the comfort of my mother. She liked my mother and enjoyed being around her. She knew that my mother meant so much to me and being near her meant home.

“I’m so sorry,” she breathed. “I’m sorry you had to go through all this and I’m sorry your friends are suffering.”

I wiped away the tears that strayed from my eyes and held her even tighter, not wanting to let go.

“I was so worried that I was going to lose them all, Mom,” I breathed between my tears. “I thought for sure more would get worst injuries. But I managed to get some out…”

“Of course, you did,” she said in return. “You are incredibly brave, and I adore that about you. I hope you know how much I love you.”

“I do,” I said to her. “And I love you.”

“Good news!” My father said, walking into the kitchen. “Enzo will be here in a few hours!”

My heart dropped into the pit of my stomach.

Enzo was coming?

I couldn’t ignore the excitement of my wolf; she was running laps in my mind’s eye at the sound of our mate being on his way to us. I tried to calm her down, but there was no use. She was far too gone and way too excited to hear the reason.

“That’s great,” I lied, forcing a smile. “I’m just going to go to my room and get a bit of rest before he gets here,” I told them as I walked past the kitchen and toward the door.

I was feeling unwell and plus, I really was exhausted. But maybe I could try to avoid him, at least until dinner.

I went up the stairs and to our apartment in the packhouse. Corinne and Flynn were sitting on the couch when I walked through the living room. They were both frowning at me and that’s when I saw they were watching the news.

They were talking about the fire that happened at Ryan’s parent’s house last night. I didn’t want to see anything about it, but I couldn’t help but pause when I stared at the television.

“Many were injured and remain at the hospital. The host of the party, who will remain unnamed for the time being, is currently being treated for critical injuries that may have caused his life. Pieces of the stove broke off and plunged into his body, leaving him incredibly injured and fighting for his life.”

I almost vomited at hearing the sound of that. It wasn’t until that moment that I knew what had caused him such injuries. He must have been near the oven when it exploded and then the silver parts of it struck him.

Silver was incredibly lethal to werewolves; I was surprised that nobody else got hit with the shards.

I shuddered at the thought.

“Were you there?” Corinne asked, eyeing me carefully.

“No,” I lied, turning away. “But I had friends that were.”

“I told you she wasn’t stupid enough to sneak out of the academy to go to a house party,” Flynn said to Corinne, shaking his head with a frown on his face.

Corinne rolled her eyes and turned away from me.

“She’s so lame,” she muttered, folding her arms across her chest. “She never does anything fun.”

While the two of them continued to gossip, I went into my room and slammed my door shut. I just wanted to close my eyes and shut myself away from the world for a little while. I’ve missed my bed terribly and I felt like I was wrapped in my own little cocoon.

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