Alexander didn’t like that this Lewis had annoyed her enough to make her shake. He saw it in her hands, and he quickly moved toward her and pulled her into his arms. If she wanted him to stop, all she had to do was say the words.

Layla surprised him even more by wrapping her arms around him, and then pressing her face against his chest.

“Tell me if you want me to stop,” she said.

He chuckled. “I believe that is supposed to be my line seeing as I’m the one hugging you, my sweet.”

“I don’t mind.” She nuzzled her face against his chest and he was pretty sure she breathed him in. “You smell good.”

This did make him laugh.

“I’m pleased you think so.”

Layla sighed and then pulled her head back. “Do you think we could go for a walk? Or something?”

He had a feeling she needed to keep moving.

“Yes.” He held out his hand and expected her to decline, but this little human surprised him by sliding her hand within his own.

She was just full of surprises tonight.

Tightening his grip around her hand, they walked down the path. Alexander had explored the Northern Forest Pack’s land. They were not too far from a lake that was close to the edge. Humans frequented the spot as it was beautiful, but it was also far enough away from Grace Hill.

He didn’t think he could take Layla there tonight and with the threat of the Disaster of the Otherworld, he wasn’t interested in putting her life in danger. So, walking around the forest, enjoying her company would have to do.

“So, er, you know it’s close to the full moon,” she said.

“Yes.” Charles had reminded him once again that they were going to have to stay indoors during that night.

He wasn’t interested in spending the night with the man who was a constant bore. All Charles wanted to do was kidnap Crazy Lizzie and that would never be on his agenda. He liked the strange little witch. After everything she had been through, he’d seen her ability to smile and maybe it was strange to think about, but the woman gave him hope. Even during times of war and great despair, Crazy Lizzie always came out smiling, thriving. There were also rumors that when she was being tortured, she laughed at her tormentors, even mocked them, but again, they were just rumors.

“How will you spend the full moon?” she asked.

“By staring outside and wondering how you’re doing.”

“You’ll be thinking about me?”

“Of course. I do spend a lot of my day curious about what you’re doing.”

This made Layla stop and he followed suit, looking at her.

“I had no idea you thought about me.”

Alexander knew this was dangerous. As a vampire, he was considered intoxicating to humans, and he could play on that to get anything he wanted. When it came to Layla, he’d not used any kind of enthrallment. For one, he’d promised Brandon he wouldn’t harm anyone in his pack, and he stuck by his word. Second, he hadn’t used his enthrallment in close to a century. Once you realized people were only around you because you forced them, it long lost its charm, and that was what happened to him.

Everything Layla was feeling, was what she felt. Nothing else.

“How could I not think about you?” he asked. “You’re an incredibly beautiful woman.”

He saw the way her cheeks heated. His words had embarrassed her a little. No, not embarrassed, he’d made her blush. It had been a long time since he’d made a woman blush, without intention.

“I’m not.”

She shook her head.

He closed that distance between them and without thinking, he brushed aside her long hair. Tonight, she’d kept it down, and he thought it looked even more stunning than ever. Staring into her eyes, a strange feeling came over him. It was like he was looking into the eyes of an old soul. Someone who’d been around for almost as long as him. That couldn’t be. This woman was very much a human.

He remembered over the years, people saying similar words, how people had been on the earth before. Alexander had no real concept of whether there was a chance for people to come back or have multiple lives.

“I’m going to kiss you,” he said.