"Marley, you've barley touched your lasagna," Melissa mentioned at dinner. The two mates entered the house after silence came between them. Their conversation was put on hold, and Marley mumbled about telling Joey the truth.

Marley smiled softly before taking another bite.

"Do you not like it?" Melissa continued, hoping she wasn't pushing Marley to eat something she didn't like.

Marley shook her head, "My mother used to make lasagna for me. It's just been awhile since I've had it, I guess." She took another bite, pushing away the memories of her mother serving her and her siblings food. Her younger sister was sunburnt from working in the garden. Her brother would tease the two of them since he was the only one who could heal out of them at the time.

"I hope it's up to her standards," Melissa whispered. The doctor's mother couldn't imagine the situation Marley had to live through — still living through.

"Don't worry; it is."

*•*•*•*•*

Later in the evening, Marley was lying in the guest bedroom. Layla was in her old bedroom, on the other side of one of her four walls. Gabby, despite having her own apartment, decided to stay, was sleeping on the couch in the living room.

Marley was alone, staring at the ceiling. She felt that Layla took her hidden truths well, but the guilt feeling was still in her stomach.

A small knocked echoed on the door, and Marley sat up. She was lying on top the covers, and she quickly slid from the bed without any problems. Her light footsteps were like gentle taps of rain on a window.

She opened the door, her tired eyes taking in Layla's form.

"Layla?"

The she-wolf smiled, "You haven't fallen asleep yet, and my wolf and I were worried."

Marley blushed, rubbing the back of her neck, "Yeah, I was... I was just thinking." She ended it with a yarn, making Layla chuckle.

"Do you want a thinking buddy?"

Marley nodded her head, opening the door as she made more room for her mate to enter. Layla moved inside, quickly picking up Marley. The younger she-wolf yelped as the door closed softly, a click in the silence.

Layla stopped at the edge of the bed, taking a deep breath of Marley's scent before gently placing her on the bed. She carefully climbed beside her before flopping on her back.

Layla relaxed into the mattress, looking up at her mate. Marley was watching her, her head tilting to the side like a cute puppy.

"How are you not mad?" Marley whispered, confusion lacing her eyes.

Layla yawned, and she propped her body up with elbows, "I found the line between people who hurt me on accident and people who hurt me on purpose. You show a lot of your emotions, and I know your actions weren't made based on inflicting pain on me or my wolf."

Marley bit her lip, "But pain is pain — no matter who it comes from."

"That's true," Layla agreed. "I was hurt, and I thought you might have liked Gabby more than me or maybe that I was being too overbearing."

"I'm sorry."

Layla smiled, "Apology accepted, Marley. I know you truly mean it. I'm happy you explained your actions, not a lot of people do that."

Marley nodded her head.

The doctor sighed, "Tell me about your family. You heard all about mine at dinner earlier."

Marley laid her back on the bed, lying side by side with her mate. She smiled at the thought of them. "Well, um, there's my father, whose the Alpha. He is probably the strongest healers in the pack. My mother was actually training to be a guard before she recognized the mate pull. She does still guard from time to time, but she basically stopped once I was born."

Layla rolled to her side, brushing some of Marley's hair out of her face. "You definitely took after your parents. What about your sister?"

"Annabel?" Marley asked, looking at Layla. Just then, she noticed how close they were, and she did nothing but smile and answered, "she's in charge of the garden."

Layla rolled her eyes, "Tell me something I don't already know, silly."

"Even though she's my younger sister, I felt like she would be the better Alpha," Marley admitted, smiling sadly. "She was the reason why I escaped, you know," her voice cracked.

"She could have been the one to leave, to get help, but she stayed back."

Layla frowned, "She believed in you."

Marley shrugged, still upset. Layla slide closer to her mate, snuggling her body into Marley's.

"We're going to save them, you know," Layla mumbled, kissing her mate on the check. She smiled when Marley started to blush, and she moved her lips to the younger and taller woman's forehead.

Marley nodded her head, gulping before she blurted, "I have a younger brother too!"

Layla wore a smirk that cause Marley's eyes to widen. "Does your younger brother have a name?" She teased, slowly moving herself on top. Her moves were careful and gentle, and she was ready to stop if Marley wasn't comfortable.

Marley watched, blinking her eyes, "Um, my brother, um, he's a... um, Anthony."

"Is this too much?" Layla asked.

Marley shook her head.

The Head Doctor raised her eyebrows, "I want words and the truth. If it makes you awkward or uncomfortable, then we will stop, doesn't matter if I'm your mate or not."

"I... I like this," Marley whispered, staring into her mate's eyes, "I like the sparks."

Layla pushed herself into a sitting position, and she was carefully not to let all her weight fall on to Marley's hip. Marley squirmed when Layla shifted, but she made no moves to get her female off of her.

"What else do you like about this, other than the mate bond effects?"

Marley turned red, shaking her head.

"What dirty thoughts are going through your head?" Layla laughed, herself and her wolf clearly loved the reaction they are receiving from their mate. "You have to tell me now," she added, tickling Marley's side.

Marley let out of burst of laughter, and ended up buckling her hips in response.

Apparently they were louder than expected because they could hear Gabby groan dramatically in the living room. The nurse walked down the hallway with tired and angry eyes.

Her voice was clear through the door. "I'm too afraid to open this door," she began, "for all I know you are doing something unspeakable."

"We aren't naked, Gabby," Layla rolled her eyes at her friend, but made no move to get off of Marley.

Gabby paused, "Still not opening the door. Really, I want the best for you guys, but if come in between me and my sleep, you will not like the person I will become. This is your first and final warning."

Gabby walked away without another word.

"Well, I think we should go to sleep," Marley whispered, her eyes locked on the door.

Layla crossed her arms, "I'm still waiting for an answer."

Marley turn her head to the side, hoping to stop Layla from seeing how red she has turned. "I don't, I don't remember a question."

Layla sighed before she moved off of Marley, "I guess I have to use my imagination." She started to move the covers, and Marley continued to lay on top of them. "Are you not going to sleep under the covers?"

Marley moved towards the pillows before the two of them slide under. With Layla off of her, she felt cold. She took a deep breath before moving towards her mate and cuddling into her side before Layla had a chance to look over.

———— A U T H O R N O T E | 32 ————

Hoped you enjoyed the chapter! I'll try to resume updating on weekends again.

QQ (#37): How do you think Joey will take the news?