Sorry I'm Mated To The Commander novel Chapter 52

Chapter 52

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Chapter 52

Layla had heard people talk about the Understreet back when she was hunting for mech suit parts on the forums.

But she’d never actually set foot there herself.

Now, faced with a treasure trove of rare and quirky parts gleaming behind shop windows, she was practically rooted to the

spot.

She could hardly move her feet.

Alex found it all just as fresh and exciting. He couldn’t help but look around, wide-eyed at the sheer variety of things for sale.

Annie was only here for the second time, but she acted like she owned the place. “Alright, let’s get Alex’s mech suit parts and the materials I need for my weapons first.

“We can check out the rest later. And remember, the three of us stick together.”

This place is pretty sketchy, after all.

Layla and Alex agreed, and they made a beeline for a mech suit parts shop. Since it was for Alex, he was the one footing the bill.

The shop was packed with cutting-edge weapons and rare energy ores.

There were even some ultra-rare starbeast teeth and bones, all of which could be used in mech suits.

Layla was walking along the shelves when she suddenly spotted a familiar figure up ahead.

“Weston?” Layla called out.

She had a million questions for him lately.

So as soon as she saw him, she immediately rushed after him.

After weaving through the aisles for who knows how long, Layla suddenly realized she’d somehow lost track of Weston.

She bit her lip, then fished a mini tracker bug out of her pocket. It was barely the size of a fingernail, whirring like a tiny robot-bee as it zipped off in one direction.

The little mechanical bee did a few laps around the shop before settling in front of a cabinet, hovering there and refusing to

move.

Layla strode over and flung the cabinet door open, only to find Weston crouched inside.

Layla and Weston stared at each other, both caught off guard.

Weston didn’t look the slightest bit embarrassed at being found; he just flashed a cheeky grin. “Surprise. Layla, did I blow your mind?”

Layla felt her lips twitch in exasperation.

‘Honestly, if Weston hadn’t been Weston and taught me all that epic mech suit tech, Layla grumbled to herself. T’d have throttled him long ago!

“Weston, why are you dodging me? I messaged you. Why didn’t you text me back? And what’s up with Zaa’s name? Why can’t I change it?” Layla demanded.

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Chapter 52

“You’re firing off so many questions at once. Which one do you want me to tackle first?” Weston replied

Weston looked to be in his forties or fifties, but his hair was already snow-gray.

As he talked, he puffed at his beard, making it flutter with a mischievous air.

Just as Layla was about to speak, Weston suddenly shushed her and pulled her behind the cabinet.

Layla blinked, completely confused.

Moments later, a group of rough-looking people approached the cabinet.

At the front was a woman in her thirties or forties, still strikingly beautiful, but with a piercing gaze that could cut glass.

The others seemed to naturally fall in line behind her.

“Weston, get your ass out of here, now,” the woman barked.

Layla could feel Weston trembling beside her.

He was clearly feeling guilty.

When the woman realized Weston wasn’t there, she was about to leave.

But right at that moment, Layla’s optical computer buzzed to life.

The woman’s razor-sharp eyes zeroed in on the cabinet.

Both Weston and Layla froze.

Layla was like, ‘Ugh, not now.’ But she guessed Annie and Alex must’ve gotten separated from her, so of course they were calling her right at the worst possible moment.

Just as the tough lady was about to reach the cabinet, there was a sudden uproar from somewhere down the street.

“The rebels are in the Understreet,” someone shouted.

People started scattering in all directions.

Layla could just barely make out the sounds of mech suits fighting in the distance.

The woman paused for a moment, then waved her people away and led them out.

Once everyone was gone, Layla and Weston scrambled out from behind the cabinet and joined the crowd rushing out.

As they dashed through the crowd, Layla called out, “Weston, did you get yourself mixed up with some crazy woman drama?”

“Hey, watch it, kid. Don’t go making stuff up. I just refused to build her a mech suit, but she wouldn’t let it go, and now she’s trying to rope me into marrying her too,” Weston huffed.

Layla was totally floored. That woman looked way younger than Weston, and honestly, she was drop-dead gorgeous.

‘Seriously? Weston’s not even interested?’ Layla thought, dumbfounded. ‘Is he for real? ‘No, wait, how on earth could that woman be into Weston? Did she lose her mind or what?’

“Layla, things are getting wild today. I’m slipping out for now, I’ll find you in a few days.” Weston called out.

Before Layla could even react. Weston slipped away and was gone in a flash.

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Chapter 52

Layla just twitched her lips.

‘Crap. I totally forgot to ask Weston about Zaa, Layla mentally facepalmed.

Just then, Annie and Alex came rushing in from the other direction.

The three of them finally reunited after all that chaos and bolted out with the crowd.

“Layla, where’d you go?” Annie called out.

“Ran into someone I knew and caught up for a sec. What’s happening?” Layla asked.

“Not sure, but word is the rebels are here,” Alex replied.

Layla nodded, remembering Nolan had mentioned the rebels not too long ago.

‘Damn, those rebels have some nerve, they actually infiltrated Alpha Prime?’ Layla thought, shocked.

But with the rebels showing up, all the exits to the Understreet were under heavy guard.

Anyone trying to leave had to get through a strict security check.

Layla had no clue where Weston had vanished to, so she just stayed close to Annie and Alex, blending into the crowd as they made their way out.

Then Layla spotted Atlas, decked out in his military gear, running security checks with his squad at the Understreet exit.

He looked absolutely icy, his gaze pure frost, like he didn’t care about anyone in the crowd.

Layla was hoping to avoid Atlas, so she kept her head down. But one of the stellar rangers spotted her trying to hide and immediately came over to inspect her.

“Head up. Show your optical computer ID,” the ranger snapped.

Annie scoffed at the ranger, rolling her eyes, “What’s with the attitude? We’re citizens of Alpha Prime, you know.”

The ranger shot back, icy as ever, “Then why are you acting so nervous?”

“Nervous? Please. Look who’s talking, your whole family’s shady.” Annie fired right back.

Annie was never one to lose a war of words; she clapped back without missing a beat.

Layla tried to stop her, but Annie was already on a roll.

The argument drew a crowd, with plenty of people turning to watch, including Atlas.

He strode over, his boots ringing sharply against the floor, then came to a sudden halt.

Atlas looked over, his tone cool. “Don’t bother with them. They’re Imperial Academy students. Go search the others”

“Yes, Your Highness, they replied.

Layla looked up, but all she saw was his back as he walked away.

Annie murmured beside her, “Layla, don’t you think His Highness is just like your husband?”

Chapter 34