Asher
Layla's body tensed as she recognized my voice. Her heartbeat quickened, a clear sign of her surprise; she hadn't expected me to find her so soon. I stepped forward and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her to my side and glared down at the man's hand that held onto her arm. The jolt from our mate bond surged through my hand, and Layla's slight jump told me she felt it too now.
"I don't like him," Ares spoke for the first time, and I sighed inwardly in relief, grateful to hear his voice again.
""Let's just get Layla out of here before we do something that'll require a lot more explaining," I told him, turning to leave the diner with my silent mate beside me. To my surprise, she complied easily. I had braced myself for her to cause a scene right there in front of everyone,
