“We’re here,” Claire announced as we pulled up outside a huge shopping center.When we got out of the car, the guards immediately began to give us instructions. "Remember, you are to stay within our sight at all times," one of them growled, his eyes fixed sternly on me. "You are not to try and escape or make any sudden movements. Do you understand?"I rolled my eyes, feeling a surge of annoyance. Did they really think I was going to try and make a break for it? But I nodded anyway, wanting us to hurry along quickly. "Yes, I understand."The guard's expression didn't change, but he nodded curtly. "Good. We'll be walking a few feet behind you at all times. Don't try anything funny."What was actually funny was the fact that I wasn’t even planning on running. I I had somehow surrendered my fate to Ryker. Before coming here, I’d thought staying with him would be hell, but it wasn’t half as bad. Asides from his constant emotional torments, I could almost say I liked it there. Almost.Was t
_Ryker's POV_I glared hard at my computer, trying to focus on the reports in front of me. But my mind kept wandering back to Arianna. I had tried to work, I really had. But I couldn't concentrate. Not when Arianna plagued mh thoughts like a disease, and certainly not when I was mindlinking my guards almost every minute to get an update about Arianna."Anything?" I asked, my voice low and urgent."No, sir," one of the guards replied. "They're still shopping. Arianna seems to be enjoying herself."I nodded, relief rolling through me. At least she was safe.When she had requested to go out, my very first instinct was a big fat no. I had made it clear. I wasn't going to let her leave the house. I was scared, and I had to admit it to myself. I was scared she would leave me. I was scared she would realize I was truly a monster and eventually leave me.I shouldn't be bothered, but I was. Deeply. I had wanted to say no to her, but she pleaded and she gave me those eyes that had unexplainable
_Ryker's POV_The elevator ride to her room was the longest elevator ride I had ever been in. I felt like I was trapped, like time was moving in slow motion. For a moment, I regretted using the elevator. I would have been way faster on foot, sprinting up the stairs like a madman. But the deed was done. I was stuck in this metal box, waiting for the doors to open.As I waited, my wolf grew restless. He paced back and forth in my mind, his anxiety growing with each passing second. He was pacing relentlessly in my mind, and he could feel my fear. He could feel my heart racing, my palms growing sweaty, and my knees growing weak. He was just as scared as I was.Finally, the doors opened, and I jumped out, my feet pounding the ground as I ran down the hallway. My eyes scanned the room numbers, searching for 304. The hospital corridors blurred past my eyes, the stale white walls making everything seem sterile and cold. I hadn't been in a hospital in years, never having need for it because of
_Ryker's POV_I paced back and forth outside the ICU, my mind racing with thoughts of Arianna. Was she going to be okay? Was she going to make it through the surgery? She was as vulnerable as a human because she didn’t have a wolf. How would she survive this?My wolf was restless, pacing back and forth in my mind. He was so distracting and barely gave me time to control my thoughts, but I didn’t shut him down, knowing he was going through the motions just like me, and for some reason, hurting just as much as I was.Just as I was starting to lose hope, the doctor came out from the ICU. His shoulders were slumped and he wiped the beads that had formed in his forehead with the back of his palms. I rushed to him, bombarding him with questions."Is she okay? Did the surgery go well? Is she...is she going to make it?" I demanded, my words coming out hastily.The doctor took a deep breath, his eyes locked on mine, but the corners of his eyes were strained. "The surgery was successful, Alpha
I heard it before I felt it.The crack of the whip echoed through the backyard, slicing into the silence. I felt the sting of the lash on my back next, the searing pain licking me up like wildfire as I crumpled to the grass.My vision blurred, and for a moment, I saw stars dancing before my eyes. There was a bloodcurdling scream, and it took me a few seconds to realize it had come from my throat."No, Derrick, please! She’s just a child," my mother's voice pleaded as tears streamed down her cheeks. Her words were filled with raw fear, a fear that had become all too familiar in our household.I heard the sound of heavy footsteps as Derrick approached me. His breath reeked of cheap liquor and cigarettes, the stench making my stomach churn with nausea. "You're nothing but a worthless, wolf-less abomination," he spat, his words dripping with venom. His eyes gleamed with sadistic pleasure, his face twisted in a snarl.My mother's cries grew louder, but I knew she was powerless, just like m
I woke up to the sound of the pig pen door creaking open, and the sunlight that streamed in, momentarily blinded me. A maid stood in the entrance, her lips set in a thin line and her eyes filled with disgust. "Get out," she spat. "You're needed in the house."I stumbled to my feet, my body aching like I was doused in kerosene and lit up in flames. The maid didn't offer to help me, didn't even look at me with a hint of compassion. I was nothing to her, just a worthless mutt.I made my way to the bathroom, my legs trembling beneath me. The warm water of the bath trickled down my body and red water swirled around the floor before disappearing into the drain. I watched it go from red to pink till everything ran clear. I soaked for what felt like hours, trying to wash away the pain and dirt that clung to me.As I bathed, I couldn't help but think of my mother. Where was she? What was she doing? Was she okay? The thought of her with Derrick made my empty stomach churn.Finally, I emerged fr
As I landed on the stranger's chest, I felt a jolt of electricity run through my body. I looked up, trapped in the most beautiful blue-green eyes I had ever seen. The stranger's face was chiseled like they were sharpened from granite, his features so perfect they seemed almost ethereal. His skin was smooth, his jawline sharp, and his nose straight. He looked like an image of the gods themselves.He was so beautiful; but even that felt like an unworthy adjective to qualify him.As I gazed at him, sparks flew where our skins touched, a connection that seemed to crackle with energy. I felt my heart racing, my senses tingling. His scent, a mix of earthy woods and fresh rain, enveloped me, making my head spin.For a moment, we just stared at each other, the world around us melting away. I had never been this close to a man, and being pressed chest to chest with him, and his scent clouding my senses, all added to a tingling sensation I had never felt before.But all too quickly, the moment
_Ryker’s POV_I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my tie with precision. Today was the day I would collect my new bride, a pawn in my game. I had no illusions about love or romance; this was a business arrangement, nothing more.But as I smoothed out my jacket, my mind kept drifting back to the girl from yesterday. The damsel in distress who had literally fallen into my arms. I had been exploring the pack's territory when I caught her unique aroma. It was strong, yet subtle, in a way that made one want to bury their nose in her body.I had followed the scent, curiosity getting the better of me, and found her perched on the edge of the cliff, ready to take the leap. Something about her desperation had struck a chord within me. Maybe it was the irony of our situations - I was fighting to live, while she was eager to die.As I recalled the encounter, my gaze lingered on my reflection. My eyes, a piercing blue, seemed to bore into my own soul. I was a powerful man. Only three thing
_Ryker's POV_I paced back and forth outside the ICU, my mind racing with thoughts of Arianna. Was she going to be okay? Was she going to make it through the surgery? She was as vulnerable as a human because she didn’t have a wolf. How would she survive this?My wolf was restless, pacing back and forth in my mind. He was so distracting and barely gave me time to control my thoughts, but I didn’t shut him down, knowing he was going through the motions just like me, and for some reason, hurting just as much as I was.Just as I was starting to lose hope, the doctor came out from the ICU. His shoulders were slumped and he wiped the beads that had formed in his forehead with the back of his palms. I rushed to him, bombarding him with questions."Is she okay? Did the surgery go well? Is she...is she going to make it?" I demanded, my words coming out hastily.The doctor took a deep breath, his eyes locked on mine, but the corners of his eyes were strained. "The surgery was successful, Alpha
_Ryker's POV_The elevator ride to her room was the longest elevator ride I had ever been in. I felt like I was trapped, like time was moving in slow motion. For a moment, I regretted using the elevator. I would have been way faster on foot, sprinting up the stairs like a madman. But the deed was done. I was stuck in this metal box, waiting for the doors to open.As I waited, my wolf grew restless. He paced back and forth in my mind, his anxiety growing with each passing second. He was pacing relentlessly in my mind, and he could feel my fear. He could feel my heart racing, my palms growing sweaty, and my knees growing weak. He was just as scared as I was.Finally, the doors opened, and I jumped out, my feet pounding the ground as I ran down the hallway. My eyes scanned the room numbers, searching for 304. The hospital corridors blurred past my eyes, the stale white walls making everything seem sterile and cold. I hadn't been in a hospital in years, never having need for it because of
_Ryker's POV_I glared hard at my computer, trying to focus on the reports in front of me. But my mind kept wandering back to Arianna. I had tried to work, I really had. But I couldn't concentrate. Not when Arianna plagued mh thoughts like a disease, and certainly not when I was mindlinking my guards almost every minute to get an update about Arianna."Anything?" I asked, my voice low and urgent."No, sir," one of the guards replied. "They're still shopping. Arianna seems to be enjoying herself."I nodded, relief rolling through me. At least she was safe.When she had requested to go out, my very first instinct was a big fat no. I had made it clear. I wasn't going to let her leave the house. I was scared, and I had to admit it to myself. I was scared she would leave me. I was scared she would realize I was truly a monster and eventually leave me.I shouldn't be bothered, but I was. Deeply. I had wanted to say no to her, but she pleaded and she gave me those eyes that had unexplainable
“We’re here,” Claire announced as we pulled up outside a huge shopping center.When we got out of the car, the guards immediately began to give us instructions. "Remember, you are to stay within our sight at all times," one of them growled, his eyes fixed sternly on me. "You are not to try and escape or make any sudden movements. Do you understand?"I rolled my eyes, feeling a surge of annoyance. Did they really think I was going to try and make a break for it? But I nodded anyway, wanting us to hurry along quickly. "Yes, I understand."The guard's expression didn't change, but he nodded curtly. "Good. We'll be walking a few feet behind you at all times. Don't try anything funny."What was actually funny was the fact that I wasn’t even planning on running. I I had somehow surrendered my fate to Ryker. Before coming here, I’d thought staying with him would be hell, but it wasn’t half as bad. Asides from his constant emotional torments, I could almost say I liked it there. Almost.Was t
I walked out of the study, walking two times faster and not daring to look back because I had a feeling that if I did, Ryker would be there to drag me back to my room.When I got to the stairs, and I saw my fears had been for nothing, I took a moment to catch my breath, then my eyes fell on Claire at the bottom of the stairs, pacing frantically.I decided to pull her legs a bit, and I curled my lips downwards, trying to look as sad as I could manage.As soon as she heard me coming, she stopped pacing and rushed to my eyes, but the curiosity in her eyes soon turned to realization as she read the room."Oh no, Arianna, I'm so sorry," she said. "I knew I shouldn't have suggested it. I'm so sorry."She was fretting, and I couldn’t keep up the act anymore.I cracked a smile, and Claire's eyes widened in surprise. "Actually, I'm going out," I said with a wink.Claire's face transformed from concern to shock. "What? Really? How did you manage that?"I shrugged. "I convinced Ryker to let me g
I stood frozen in the doorway, my eyes fixed on the scene before me. I blinked severally to make it go away, but it wouldn’t leave. Ryker was sitting behind his desk, a woman perched on his lap. Her hands were all over him, her fingers tracing the lines of his face, her palms pressed against his chest. Ryker looked bored and his eyes were fixed on some point in front of him, but he didn't push her away. Which meant he wanted her.I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. The air was knocked out of me, and I couldn't breathe. I tried to process what I was seeing, but my mind was whirling with emotions. There was absolutely nothing going on between Ryker and I, but at the same time, there was so much going on for me to feel hurt.I hated how easily attached I’d gotten to him even when he showed all of his red flags right in my face. I hated how he could do whatever he wanted because he felt like he was untouchable, but most of all, I hated how my heart broke as I watched the man, who w
I sat in the dining room, staring blankly at the wide spread of breakfast in front of me. The aroma of freshly baked bread and sizzling bacon wafted through the air, making my stomach growl with hunger. But despite the tantalizing smells and even more mouthwatering sights, I couldn't bring myself to take a bite. My mind was elsewhere, my thoughts consumed by the events of the past two days.My eyes kept flickering towards the stairs, trying to see if Ryker would come downstairs. It had been two days since that explosive argument, but he had kept himself locked in his room. I knew he was around because I would occasionally hear the sound of shuffling, things being moved or something being broken. It was as if he was trying to avoid me, and I didn't blame him. I didn't want to face him either.The memory of our argument kept replaying in my mind no matter how hard I tried to block it out. I didn't want to relive that moment, didn't want to face the emotions that came with it. So I sat t
I watched as Arianna glared at me, her eyes flashing with anger and hurt. She was shaking, her small body trembling with rage, and for a moment, I felt a pang of guilt. But it was quickly replaced by anger, anger at Elijah, anger at the world, anger at everything.As I stood there, my mind was a jumble of conflicting emotions. I was angry, yes, but I was also hurt. Hurt that Elijah had come to my home, hurt that he had talked to Arianna, hurt that he had disrespected me in my own territory after everything he had done to me.I thought back to the moment I had seen Elijah standing in my living room, talking to Arianna. His eyes were so tender like the hypocrite he was, and Arianna, knowing how gullible and naive she was, I already knew she had fallen into his web. I had felt a surge of anger, a surge of possessiveness. Who did he think he was to show his face here, and why was he talking to my Arianna?But as I looked at Arianna now, I saw the fear in her eyes, the hurt. And I felt a p
I was still reeling from the emotional reunion with my uncle when a thunderous growl shook me to my core, jolting me back to reality. I looked up to see Ryker standing in front of me, his eyes blazing with fury. But it wasn't just his eyes that caught my attention - his entire body had transformed. His fangs were bared, his claws were out, and his skin was covered in a thick, black-blue fur that seemed to ripple with anger.He looked bigger, and his shirt shredded apart, making him look five times scarier than he normally would. He looked like his wolf was just a second way from bursting forth.My heart jumped into my throat as I took in the sight of him. I had never seen him like this before, and I couldn't help but feel a little intimidated, scared even. But as I looked into his eyes, I saw that his anger wasn't directed at me - it was directed at my uncle."What the fuck are you doing here?" Ryker snarled, his voice sending chills down my spine. He took a step closer to my uncle,