Defy The Alpha(s)-Chapter 796: Run As Fast As You Can

Duskmoon Village

Panic drove Layla forward. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

It couldn’t be.

Ziva couldn’t have killed her sister. Laura couldn’t be dead.

She pushed the door open and froze.

The room smelled thickly of blood and her eyes widened in shock.

Ziva lay sprawled across the bed, her body slick with crimson. The floor beneath her was stained with dark blood. Her shirt had been torn away and her abdomen and her intestines were practically spilling out.

It was a miracle she was still breathing.

Sweat coated Ziva’s pale forehead, her teeth clenched as waves of pain wracked her body. Despite the severity of the wound, fury still burned in her eyes.

Around the bed stood Lilian and two other witches in attendance.

"Do the goddamn spell already!" Ziva snarled.

Lilian nearly jumped out of her skin.

"Yes—yes, of course."

She grabbed the hands of the other witches. The three of them formed a small circle beside the bed, fingers interlocked.

Then they began to chant.

Low words filled the air, as magic hummed through the room like a rising current. The moment the spell took hold, Ziva screamed.

Her back arched violently as the wound began to move. The torn flesh knit itself together inch by inch. Her muscles fused while the blood retreated. And just like that, her skin sealed slowly like a zipper being drawn shut by invisible hands.

Ziva stopped screaming and finally, there was silence. The wound was gone.

Collapsing back onto the mattress, Ziva panted heavily. She lifted her head weakly and stared down at her stomach. It was smooth like nothing happened.

"Clean this place up," she ordered hoarsely.

Lilian immediately bent down, gathering the blood-soaked shirt from the floor and the stained towel. Ziva lay there wearing nothing but her underwear, her skin still ghostly pale from blood loss.

Layla stepped closer, her shock slowly morphing into irritation.

"You know," she said coldly, "the least you could do is show some respect. Our sister just saved your life."

Ziva glared up at her.

"She merely did her job," she snapped. "And I’m not in the best mood, so I suggest you take your concerns elsewhere."

Lilian quickly intervened, sensing the tension.

"I’ll get you a strength brew," she said softly. "And some clothes."

Alongside the other witches, she hurried out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Silence fell between the sisters.

Layla moved closer to the bed, staring down at Ziva. Though the wound had healed, her breathing was shallow. Whatever had happened had nearly killed her.

"What happened?" Layla asked.

Ziva’s lip curled.

"Get lost."

Layla studied her carefully.

"You failed."

Relief washed through her chest. Laura was still alive.

"Temporary," Ziva hissed. "Next time I go back, I’ll snap her little neck myself. Then let’s see how much you enjoy gloating."

Layla’s eyes flashed with anger.

"Are you kidding me? You think I’m gloating because you failed to kill our sister? Our sister, Ziva!"

Ziva laughed bitterly.

"You should have thought about that when you screwed up the mission and left her behind," she said coldly. "Now she’s nothing but collateral damage."

Her voice dropped to something darker.

"But don’t worry. I’ll bring her body back so it can remind you to do your job properly next time."

Whatever pity Layla had felt evaporated instantly. Her face hardened. Ziva didn’t deserve sympathy, not in this life. Or the next.

"Does Father know you failed this mission?" Layla asked coolly. "Or did you quietly drag the witches in here to fix your mistake?"

Ziva’s expression changed instantly.Danger flashed in her eyes.

"You do know that you’re playing with fire."

Layla didn’t flinch under Ziva’s glare.

"So I fail my mission and you’re the first one running to Father to report it. And yet when it’s your turn to fail, suddenly everyone must keep quiet about it."

Ziva’s eyes darkened.

"It wouldn’t have been a failure if Micah hadn’t interfered." Her lips twisted bitterly. "And we both know Father wants his precious son alive."

She shifted on the bed, the earlier weakness in her body disappearing quickly now that the magic had healed her.

"But don’t worry," Ziva continued, her voice suddenly lighter. "I think I just found a way to rid Laura without the stress. All thanks to you."

Layla kept her expression carefully neutral, but a cold feeling of unease slid through her chest.

"What do you mean by that?"

Ziva’s eyes lit up. They gleamed with the wild brightness of someone who had just discovered something delightful.

"Imagine that," she murmured. "All this time I’ve been tearing the world apart trying to track Laura down when the solution was right in front of me."

She swung her legs over the bed and stood up. The movement was confident. There was no trace of the young girl who had nearly died moments earlier.

"You and Laura are twins," Ziva said casually, pacing slowly toward Layla. "Same blood. Same DNA. All I have to do is link your lives together."

Layla felt the blood drain from her face.

"And once I kill you..." Ziva finished sweetly, "...Laura dies too."

She clapped her hands lightly.

"Piece of cake."

"You would not," Layla said hoarsely.

Ziva smirked.

"Oh, Layla. Of all people, you should know what I’m capable of."

Her eyes glittered with cruel amusement.

"Maybe I’ll hand you over to Bree instead. Let her have some fun finishing the job."

Ziva tilted her head, almost dreamily.

"It would be entertaining watching you fight for your life."

She burst into manic laughter. That was when Layla realized she meant every word.

Something inside Layla snapped and she lifted her hand. The air around Ziva tightened instantly.

Ziva’s laughter was cut off abruptly, her

eyes widening as the invisible grip crushed around her throat. She gasped for air but none came.

Her hands clawed at her neck as she choked.

Layla stepped forward, fury burning in her eyes.

"All this time," she said through clenched teeth, "I stood by and watched your abuse. Your cruelty. Your madness." Her voice hardened. "But no more."

The pressure around Ziva’s throat tightened.

"I’m done." Her eyes blazed. "I don’t care about Father anymore. I’ll kill you myself."

Ziva’s face was turning red but her hand twitched and across the room, a heavy vase suddenly lifted off the table.

It shot forward like a bullet and the vase slammed into Layla’s head. Pain exploded behind her eyes and her concentration shattered instantly.

The invisible grip around Ziva’s throat vanished and she collapsed to her knees, coughing violently as air rushed back into her lungs.

By the time Layla recovered, Ziva was already on her feet. This time around, Layla didn’t attack again. She knew better.

Ziva was stronger than her.

Without another word, Layla turned and ran.

Ziva watched her go and slowly began to laugh.

"Run," she called after her, voice dripping with delight.

"Run as fast as you can, Layla." Her eyes gleamed with murderous promise. "Because I’m coming for you. And when I do, it’s the end for you."