Chapter 5

That night I slept the soundest I ever had. Maybe it was the comfort of being home, a real home with a friend that actually cares about me. Or maybe it was because Layla was happy, for the first time she had a friend, granted that friend was a lot older than her, but it seemed that Seth would do anything that Layla asked. Maybe I was just exhausted but for whatever reason I slept so soundly that I didn't hear the wolves howling in the woods.

"Momma! There's someone at the door!" Layla cried jumping on my bed, waking me up. I mused her hair, "Did you open it and look?" I asked climbing out of bed and throwing on my robe.

Layla looked at me sheepishly. "You did, didn't you?"

Layla nodded as she followed me down the hallway.

"Lay, that wasn't very smart, don't do that again. Okay?" I replied as I swung open the door but my eyes were focused on her.

Layla nodded her eyes staring at the floor. "I sorry."

"Go play with your toys, if you do it again you'll be in big trouble. Clear?" Someone else added, my eyes quickly snapped up, who the hell thinks they can tell my daughter what she can and cannot do?

"Excuse me. I didn't remember telling you, you could tell my daughter what she could do." I rudely stated.

"I'm sorry I just thought you needed some help. I brought breakfast, if you'd let me in." Paul stated pushing past me into the house.

I sighed and closed the door behind me. I leaned against in and took a deep breath trying to calm my temper. Suddenly there was pressure on me. Paul was hugging me.

"I'm sorry." He whispered. I relaxed into Paul letting him hold me, and replied "Paul. She's my daughter. I know what's best for her, I know you want to help but please do not tell her what to do unless you're watching her."

Paul released me and turned away, "Your wrong Jacey, you don't know what's best for her. Not always. She needs her dad in her life. And I'm gonna be in her life, so stop pushing me out."

Again I let my temper get the best of me and snapped, I punched Paul as hard as I could in the jaw. I was aiming for his nose but me being so short I clipped the bottom of his jaw instead. Paul started to shake, his eyes no longer held warmth. My hand began to ache and the pain was felt through all my fingers, my knuckles ached. I glanced down at my hand for a second, then the next thing I knew I was flying through the air and was slammed against the wall. The room was fading and quickly the blackness swallowed me.