Chapter 6

I stood frozen, my mind reeling from Ryker's words. Strip? Was he serious? My heart thudded in my chest, blood rushed to my ears, yet I couldn’t process it. It didn’t make sense, nothing did.

Growing up, I’d always imagined my first time to be with the love of my life, my fated mate, a man chosen for me by the moon goddess herself. But it looked like it would remain just that. An imagination that would never come to reality the longer I stared at the imposing man in front of me.

“What did you just say?” The words rolled out of my mouth so quietly as if being too loud would make it any more real.

He tilted his head to the side, his cold eyes bleeding into mine. “I don’t usually repeat myself, pretty face,” he snarled.

How could he be so cruel, so heartless? The thought of being at his mercy, of being forced to submit to his every whim, made my skin crawl, yet at the same time, there was this fuzziness in my stomach I couldn’t name, that made me dizzy.

But as I looked into his eyes, I saw something there that made my blood run cold. A spark of excitement, of anticipation. He was enjoying this, enjoying the power he had over me. His eyes seemed to bore into my soul, his gaze piercing. I felt like a small, helpless animal, trapped in the sights of a ruthless predator.

My initial shock began to wear off, replaced by a surge of adrenaline. I felt my anger boil over, my words spilling out in a rush. "I'll never do it," I spat, my voice trembling with rage. "I'll never give my body to a monster like you. I'd rather die than submit to you."

My voice was as loud as my breathing, echoing off the walls. Ryker's expression didn't change, but for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of emotion in his eyes. It was gone before I could process it, before I could even determine whether it had really been there or not.

“Oh, really?” He raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow as he took a step closer to me.

I gulped the fist-sized lump that had formed in my throat, forced myself to put on a brave face as I nodded, taking my own step back.

A cold smirk made its way to his lips. "We'll see about that," he said, his voice low and menacing. The sound sent shivers down my spine.

Everything about him was intimidating. His cold, piercing eyes, his towering frame that made me feel small, his overpowering scent, the powerful Alpha aura rolling out of him in waves. Everything.

The fear I felt with Derrick was child’s play compared to what I felt now as Ryker slowly closed the distance between us, and our little game of advance and retreat came to an end when my back hit against the wall.

My heart was literally in my throat at that point. I tried to stand my ground, but my legs felt like jelly. I was trapped, cornered by a monster. The room seemed to spin and shrink around me, suddenly too small . I felt like I was going to pass out.

Ryker's voice cut through the fog, his words dripping with malice. "Have you heard any rumors about me?" his voice was low. So low I could have missed it. But it carried every weight of intimidation I’d started to know him for.

I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. My throat was dry, my mouth parched. I felt like I was choking on my own fear. "Y-yes," I stuttered, my voice barely above a whisper.

Ryker's eyes seemed to bore into my soul, his gaze piercing. "And do you believe them?" he asked in the same low and husky voice that made chills run down my spine.

I hesitated. Was this a trick question? Was he going to snap my neck if I said what was on my mind? I wouldn’t put it past him.

There were so many rumors, so many stories about Ryker's cruelty and ruthlessness. How he killed at will. How he had hundreds of concubines. How he’d gotten four women to give birth for him and he’d killed all of them with the children in their wombs.

Each one was more terrifying than the last, and at some point, I’d believed every one of them. But at that moment, I couldn’t reconcile the monster that had been painted by word of mouth to the stranger that had stopped me from falling into my own death. Something didn’t add up.

But as I looked into his eyes, I saw something there that made my blood run cold. A spark of truth, of confirmation. He was a monster, and he was proud of it.

I felt a surge of fear, my heart racing with terror. I tried to speak, but my voice was frozen in my throat. Ryker's eyes, however cold, seemed to gleam with excitement, his gaze piercing. He was enjoying this, enjoying the power he had over me.

"Answer me," he growled lowly.

I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. "Y-yes," I stuttered. "I believe them."

Ryker's face split into a malicious grin. "Good," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "You're right to be afraid. And now, I'll show you what a monster would do to you."

He reached out and grabbed the sleeve of my dress, his fingers closing around the fabric like a vice. Raw fear like I’d never felt before, hit me like a ton of bricks, and I trembled violently. I tried to pull away, but he held me fast.

And then, he tore the sleeve, the fabric ripping apart with a loud rip. I screamed, a bloodcurdling sound that tore out of my throat. The sound was primal, raw, and full of fear.

And then, everything went black.