74. For as long as I live

[Xavier’s POV]

For as long as I lived, I was never going to forget the smile Layla had on her face immediately she saw that I had returned, maybe not in one piece, but at least, I was alive.

“Xavier,” she said, as she ran to meet me before I got to where she was and embraced me tightly.

I had been raging with fury just some minutes ago, but my heart melted as she engulfed me with her warmth.

“You’re alive. I’m so glad you’re alive,” she said, heaving a sigh of relief.

I smiled, softly stroking her hair. “Well, I’m glad you’re glad,” I said.

Suddenly, she pulled away from my embrace and surprisingly began to hit me on the chest with a deep frown plastered on her face. It didn’t hurt, not even in the slightest bit, but I held her clenched fist wondering why she was doing that to me.

“Let me go, you asshole,” she said.

“Did she just call the Alpha an asshole?” someone wondered aloud.

“Did I do something wrong?” I inquired, still holding her hand.

She hit me once with her other hand, agai