The arm around her waist had been the only thing keeping Layla from jumping out of her skin the whole ride to grand reception that was held in her an Nile's honour. Though, it was nothing more than a scheme for the council to make sure everything was running smoothly with the couple and to show the others in the community how they had managed to get two creatures with an inbuilt desire to kill each other to actually co-exist together.
Fortunately for the Werewolf it had worked out better than she could have ever imagined. All eyes were on them. Nerve wracking was an understatement. She had never garnered so much attention ever in her life, though it was clear that her husband was far more comfortable with it and no doubt he was used to this sort of attention. His words to her in the car about after running through her mind as she smiled and shook hands and conversed with people Nile introduced her to. Her fingers slipped through his and held on.
Layla gazed up at her Vampire husband taking in every detail as if it maybe the last time. Her eyes roaming over his features as he spoke to an acquaintance, the prideful arch of his brow, the sharp bone structure under the palest skin. He was utterly breath taking and he had been hers for a time but she wanted to keep him forever and this night encroached on all the dreams and desires she had built up in the past few months.
The night continued on and with no sighting of her father, Layla found herself slightly relaxing. She couldn't have been prouder standing next to her husband who was clearly someone quite important in the community. It almost felt real until as if out of nowhere two Were's stood before her and slowly manoeuvred her away. No one would question a father wanting some time alone with a daughter he had 'selflessly' sacrificed for the good of all the supernatural community. If only they knew the truth . . .
Layla found herself instantly clamming up. The fear in her throat almost threatened to choke her. There was nothing she could do to escape. There was no warm reunion with her father, just his coarse question. He not had hugged her, asked about her welfare. Nothing. And she felt nothing but venom for him. From nowhere, she felt a certain courage. A courage instilled thanks to Nile. Without her knowing it, he had built up in her some self esteem and worth, ever so subtly that she hadn't even noticed.
Looking between her father and the Were she had been promised to, she held her stance firm. Her head did not bow submissively as it used to. Instead she stood tall and looked her father in the eyes. "I have acquired no information." Layla lied. "He doesn't trust me and kept me away from all his dealings." She took a tentative step back. "I should get back . . . "