Chapter 0001

SARAH

I can recall every moment I dreamt of this happening. Every nightmare haunted me with this possibility but I would wake and he would kiss those fears away. I had dreamt of it but my dreams hadn’t prepared me; it was worse.

He was my nightmare, in the flesh, staring down at me.

****

I followed Ryder straight to his study. My heart beat painfully against my chest as I slammed the door shut behind me.

“What was that you displayed in the hall, Ryder?” I asked breathlessly, exhausted not from walking too fast but holding back my emotions.

“Exactly what it seemed to you.” He spoke, standing behind his mahogany desk, his hands jammed into his pants. “You’re to vacate this house. I’ve set up plans for you in the city with Trevor. He will see to it that you are settled in nicely.”

I stared at my mate in shock, with no words to express my disbelief. “Ryder...” I called softly.

No response.

“Ryder!” I repeated, my voice a notch higher as I walked towards him. “If this is a joke, this is the cruellest joke you could play on me. And you decided to pick today of all days…on our anniversary… in front of all those people. I had planned this party for you, to celebrate with us.” My words caught in my throat in my haste to suppress my tears. “You introduced her as your Luna. You brought another woman to our home...and…and pregnant.”

A tiny smirk stained his face. “Something you’ve failed to achieve for the past five years.”

I took a step back, stunned by what I was hearing and seeing. The look on his face scarred me; he wasn’t the same man I fell in love with.

I pinched myself hard, hoping to wake up from this nightmare.

“That's untrue. The moon goddess has seen fit to bless me.”

“Bless you?” He scoffed. “There is no healer on this land who can make you whole.”

The realization of what was happening hit me like a moving train, crushing the life out of me. Instinctively, my hand went to my belly. I wasn't showing yet and I had wanted to surprise him with the news at the party.

Tears rolled freely down my eyes. “You betray me by sleeping with another and now you mock my plight?” I grabbed his hand tightly. “How long have you been planning this? Do you hate me so much to hurt me so badly? I love you Ryder and I gave up my family for you.”

“You did nothing for me.” he bit back, his voice flat, emotionless. “You left your family for your ambition and greed. You wanted to leave the gutters so bad, you threw your family under the bus.”

“That's a lie!” I screamed, and my grip tightened. “And you know it. I never wanted any of that to happen. Look what it caused me.”

I had met Ryder for the first time at his transition ritual to become an Alpha. I laid my eyes on him and our bond had clicked into place. My father never accepted our bond—I was owed to someone.

But really, my father knew I would never agree to it. That was why he poisoned me slowly with wolfbane; so he could control me. He ended up pushing me close to my death.

Ryder had stood by me as I recovered but I never fully recovered.

I lost my wolf.

He became my only family after he banished my father from his land.

I closed my eyes, a tear slid down my cheek. Five years and I have never gotten over losing her.

Until now.

The growth of the little bud in me was healing. I realized I wasn't damaged after all.

I smiled sadly through my tears. “I love you and I was going to tell you the good news while giving the anniversary speech. I'd known for some time now but I wanted to be certain… I didn't want to raise your hopes high. Ryder, I'm pre—”

A light knock on the door interrupted us and the reason for my ordeal walked in, hand in hand with a stranger.

Ryder swiftly dropped my hands and stepped away from me. I watched as Alexis swayed to his side, her big belly protruding from the black silk gown she had worn, her face radiating a victor’s smile. Ryder’s arm subconsciously went around her waist but his eyes were focused on the stranger.

“Lucas,” Ryder called, his tone was deceitfully calm.

“Ryder.” The stranger smiled as he gave a mocking show of salute.

“What are you doing here? This is a private matter that doesn't concern…”

“Not anymore, it isn’t,” the stranger injected, taking a seat on the plush couch, one leg crossed over the other. “Not when you decided to make a show in front of your guests. Please carry on, don't let my presence disturb you.”

Alexis looked at me mockingly, but her words were directed to Ryder. “Babe, be nice. He offered to walk me to your study.”

Babe. Wow.

Without so much as acknowledging my presence in the room, Ryder dismissed me.

“Sarah we're done here,” Ryder ordered, his eyes still focused on the stranger. “I'll have the guard escort you out.”

“No… please wait, Ryder,” I called out, running to him as the guards entered the room. “Please, I've something to tell you. Just hear me out.” I fell on both knees, wailing as tears blinded my vision. “Please Ryder, don't do this to me. Don't push me out of your life, you're all I have left…. Please..”

My pleas fell on deaf ears as he stood there, watching the guards grab my arms. I fought against them, scratching my nails over their open arms.

“Please, Ryder…please don't do this.” I continued, screaming. Propriety thrown to the wind.

His expression was taut, his eyes blank and oddly chilling when they settled on mine but I refused to believe he felt nothing for me anymore.

“Say something, Ryder,” I whispered, my chest contrasting painfully as my heart shattered. “Call the guards off…Ryder…”

“Enough!” the stranger growled, knocking the couch off in his haste to stand. “Get your hands off her!”

The room fell silent and with a nod from Ryder, the guards released me and walked away.

“If you won't have her, then I'll take her off your hands.”

“You'll do no such thing!” Ryder growled in response, moving menacingly towards him.

“I don't take orders from you but if you want to stop me so badly, then we'll have a duel...just like the old ways!” The stranger’s laughter echoed across the room. “Whoever lives, get the girl.”