CHAPTER 26. IN A DEEP SHITRYDER“Don't you get it, Tiffany? I'm gonna be out of town for a day or two. There's no way in hell I'm attending these meetings,“ I stared horribly at the hundred scheduled meetings she'd emailed me. How the fuck did my schedule become this jam-packed? And I'm just one person, My God. How am I expected to attend all these meetings?“But Sir, the meetings were confirmed and scheduled at the beginning of the month. It would be rude to cancel now. Can't you reschedule whatever it is you wanna go do out of town?““I'm visiting the flooded packs. There's no way in hell I'm canceling that.“ “But–““Cancel the meetings. I don't care if I come off as rude and inconsiderate. I'm not attending them. But feel free to reschedule…“The undertone sigh from her showed her damning frustration about everything. The meetings were over a hundred. Asking her to cancel and reschedule was a herculean task. But there was no other way.“Isn't there a possibility that you're gonn
CHAPTER 27. THE TRIPRYDER“Who did this, goddammit?!“ I grunted harshly, holding the newspaper in a crushing grip as I read all the printed lies. “This is fabricated,““So you didn't kill him?““I fucking did. But–“ “I can't believe you killed him, Ryder!“ Jason cut me off with his cry of despair.“Best believe it. He hurt Hara. Death was the consequence.“ I flicked through the pages and back to the front page. “This is bullshit!““You just admitted you killed him,““Yes, I did. But whoever wrote this is trying to make me look sinister and monstrous. They're insinuating that I've lost my mind!““Well, you have. You fucking have!“ Jason ruffled his hair in distress. “How do you not listen?!““I killed him for Hara. Not because I was in a blood rage, or because I'm beginning to lose my shit over the recent flood disaster. Whoever wrote this wants to make me look bad before my people!““And it worked!“ Jason flared up. “Listen to the chaos downstairs. Your Father will be up here any mi
CHAPTER 28. A WEIRD FEELING HARAI filled the lined-up shot glasses with a martini, attended to three orders at once, and filled up a bucket with bottles of beer on the rocks but I wasn't ready to take a break. I didn't want to.Anyone would say I was especially energetic today, seeing how I was all over the place, refusing to take as much as a two-minute worth break.Deep down, I knew I was getting exhausted. I could feel the tiredness slowly taking over me. I shut it out, forcing myself to exceed my limit.I had to be busy, so I wouldn't have the time to think. These churning thoughts wouldn't let me be and this was the only way I could keep them in check.Also, I was working a night shift. And for once, I welcomed its excessive buzz with an open heart. Keep the orders coming. I'd rather sink deep into work than into my misleading thoughts.“Can I get two bottles of tequila over here?“ A man asked, signaling with his hands.“Coming!“ I was already taking out the bottles from the ce
CHAPTER 29. HARAJason was taken aback by my question and I blamed it on how intense my tone was when I'd asked it.His brows were arched and the glass had stopped halfway into coming in contact with his lips.Slowly, he placed the glass on the counter and adjusted it on the stool.“Why do you ask?“ His voice was in a whisper. “Nope, no reason.“ I shrugged, trying so hard to be as nonchalant as I could. Although, I doubted he bought the act. His hooded gaze was still hard on me. “I mean, ever since he made the papers and the lady showed her firm support of him, they've been all everyone is talking about.““Uhmm…yeah. She's just like you heard, his fiancee. Except, there won't be any wedding, not with her,““Why not?“ “Because their relationship is missing the most important thing it should have,““What's that?““Love,“ he breathed out and downed the last of his drink. Love? That's silly. The lady had been so clear on how much they were a loving couple, blessed by the moon Goddess
CHAPTER 30. WATCHING YOU FOR ANOTHERHARAI let out another loud laugh and patted my chest, trying to soothe the hiccups.Jason handed me a glass of water and I quickly gulped it down.I dabbed at the water drops below my lips with a towel. Composed, I looked up to find him watching me with an amused look.“You don't have to laugh so loud. You're gonna choke on your saliva,“ He said, smiling at me.“Yeah, I know. What you said just cracked me up badly. I couldn't help it,“ I said in a low tone.“Has it been a while since you laughed this much?“ He asked, becoming serious all of a sudden.I nodded.He grinned, “So technically, I made you laugh after years of being sad. I can't help but feel proud of myself,“I chuckled. But I didn't say anymore words. My gaze was on the table which had our plates of chocolates.“Does that mean we're cool now?“ he asked. I looked up. “I brought you here without your permission. I'm asking if you've forgiven me for it.“ He added.Right. I almost forgot I
CHAPTER 31. I WANNA FUCK JUST HERRYDER.Staring out the windows, I watched the rain descend in a heavy tide. It was crashing against the small houses, and the violent wind was ripping off the rooftops.From up here on the top floor of the castle, I watched the rain destroy the home of the people. It was the saddest thing to witness. In the one week I've been out here, we've helped quite a good number of packs. I'd called Jason and informed him that I was staying a few more days. For some weird reason, he sounded rather happy about it. Like he didn't want me back, yet. But I brushed off the thought, deciding to concentrate on the issue at hand.These packs were poor. They needed a lot of help. As much as I was dying to see Hara, I knew I was gonna die from the guilt if I left without offering my help.“Ryder,“ it was Darius.“Yes, Darius.“ I turned. My arms were wrapped around my chest. “Tell me what happened. Are they gonna be okay?“ “Yes, they will be. Just a few bruises, and some
CHAPTER 32. HER VOICERYDERThe approaching footsteps got me waking from my post-coital sleep. Turning to my side, I was still tangled with naked, female bodies. Staring straight at me were the erect nipples I'd badly dealt with last night. Right now, they don't seem any bit appealing. All I felt was a surge of disgust. “Get the fuck out of here!“ I growled, and they were all forced out of their sleep, hurrying down the bed and hastily picking up their clothes and panties.The door burst open and Darius halted in his tracks, stepped aside and the girls ran past him.My hands covered my face as I puffed exasperatedly into my palms. With my erection gone and my hunger to fuck dwindled, I realized just what I'd done last night. Dammit!I looked up and was shot by the blinding lights from the window.“Shit, dude! Get a fucking grip,“ I winced, squinting my eyes. He struggled with the cord and quickly drew the blinds, “Sorry, man. I thought that's what your Beta does every morning,““You
CHAPTER 33. UNREQUITED LOVE?RYDERI checked again and the line hasn't disconnected. But neither of us said a word. Just our breaths caressed each other, and it's been over a minute!I was fighting for the right words to say. I badly wanted to confirm that it was her, it felt too good to be true. But then again, I needed no confirmation. The flurry sound of her heartbeats was like a melody in my ears. They soothed me in the most surreal way and made me yearn for her all over again, more than I ever did.Like a child who just got reunited with his parents, I wanted to break into tears. Vent to her all the pains and agony I've been through since the last time we spoke. I wanted to explain the ugly incident that had made the papers. So badly do I wanna explain my side of the story, just in case she believed the papers and thought of me as some cold-blooded psycho. A trillion things needed to be said, but I couldn't bring myself to say them. Maybe Darius was right after all. Maybe she wa