༺ SOMETHING IS COMING....

~RYDER~

༺༺♡♡༻༻

The slam of the door was so loud, it made my table shake and the half naked maiden beside me jump.

Ah- here we go again. I thought, wiping my mouth with a napkin.

There was only one person around this vicinity who could have so little respect for furniture.

I picked up the last slice of apple on the plate, popped it into my mouth and leaned back in the chair, anticipating the hell I was sure would break loose any moment from now.

“RYDER!!!”

The young maiden jumped again, and I had to gesture to her to leave.

Poor thing looks like she was about to jump out of her skin, and to be fair, no one deserves to be around Zephyr's temper rampage.

“RYDER!!!

“Calm your fucking wits, you idiot.” I grumbled as he marched into the dinning hall, his chest heaving and eyes burning in rage. A sight I so enjoy seeing.

His nostrils flared as he took angry steps towards me and slammed his fist loudly on the table.

Seriously…can't he see that he's just harming himself?

“I don't remember ever giving you the permit to walk into my house, and disturb my peace, Zephyr…you know how much I hate noise.”

Not that he cares.

“Look into my eyes, Ryder. Do these eyes look like they hold any care for your fucking peace?” He roared, and I chuckled, knowing that it would only enrage him more.

And never one to avoid baits, his brown eyes turned dangerously darker and his face red and flushed.

“You know that intimidating angry look would be scary to others, but I only find it funny and adorable, little brother. Now go ahead, and tell me what the hell you are here for, or take your fuming elsewhere. You are ruining my dinner.”

“Fine,” he huffed, flipping his long blonde hair, “I want to know why you came into my hut and took my maiden without my permission.”

I raised my brow because this dude couldn't be serious.

“Excuse me? So all these fuming, barking is because of a fucking maiden? Come on Zephyr. I knew you were a foolish wild dog, but not to this extent.” I plucked a berry into my mouth, relishing the rage in his eyes.

“I don't care what you say, you jerk face. You don't take what's mine. You don't just waltz into my….”

“Oh shut it Zephyr. It's just a maiden. I'm sure you don't give a damn about her, considering the way you treat them. You shouldn't treat the ladies like poor slaves.”

Zephyr rolled his eyes, reminding me so much of our father, “That's what they are_ poor slaves. And how I treat them is none of your concern, dude. You can have her, but consider this a warning. What's mine is mine, and you will do well to stay off it. Understood?”

I smiled, “How are you so sure that I was the one who took her?”

Of course, it wasn't me. But he knows he wouldn't dare go into Xander's place barking like that.

Xander would tear him apart and feed him to vultures.

With all his temper and rage, Zephyr never messes with Xander. None of us does.

And the truth is, the maiden isn't the sole reason behind his anger, although it provided him a pretty good excuse.

Zephyr would jump into any chance presented to him to show me just how much hatred he has for me.

A sentiment I shared.

“Because I know you, Ryder. You only set eyes on things that aren't yours…just like your stupid mother, who…"

I pushed my chair back, standing up before he could finish his sentence, and grabbed his neck, anger boiling in my blood.

“Keep my mother out of your mouth, or I'll rip your tongue out and feed it to Xander's hounds, Zephyr. Don't mistake my silence for weakness, and don't push beyond your boundaries.” I hissed.

Zephyr didn't flinch. Of course, he wouldn't. Fearless motherfucker.

“Let me go this instant, Ryder…or”

“Oh my gosh…” An exasperated sigh came from the door and my lips curved as I looked behind Zephyr's shoulders to see Mindy…our youngest sister, staring at us with her arms folded across her chest.

Her lips were drawn in a thin, angry line as she glared at me.

“Hey sissy,”

“Let go of him right now before I melt your brains.” She retorted, dropping her arms by her side and marching towards us with an angry look.

With a chuckle, I released Zephyrs shirt, patted his chest twice before stepping away from him.

“What are you doing here, Zephyr?” Mindy asked her.

For once, the anger in his eyes diminished as he turned to look at her.

“Just came to have a little chat with Ryder here. Now that I've made my point clear, I better be on my way.”

Mindy rolled her eyes but smiled, “Do behave yourself Zer.”

“Always,” he murmured, kissing her cheek before walking out of the hall.

The moment his back disappeared from my sight, I slumped on my chair, and flashed Mindy a grin.

She didn't look pleased at all as she gave me a glare.

“When will you boys ever learn?” She asked, sitting down beside me, “Why does it always have to be all noise and fights with you?”

“We are boys, after all,”

“Hmmmm” she picked up a strawberry and a bit into it, before turning to me, her purple eyes filled with worry and…fear.

I frowned and shifted uncomfortably.

I knew that look very well.

“What's wrong?”

Her eyes turned darker, and she sighed, “I don't know…well, I know. I saw something a few minutes ago, and I had to come see you.”

Another one of her visions. Like every first daughter of our family, Mindy is a hybrid, a werewolf, and a witch.

“What did you see this time?”

“Blood. Fights. Death. War. Between the three clans.” She shuddered, and I reached out to grab her hand.

This isn't new knowledge. My brothers and I have been clashing with each other over the throne for years now, and I wouldn't be surprised if it turns into a serious war one day.

“It's okay Mindy. You have seen this before."

“No Ryder, you don't understand… This is different. There's something more. Something is coming…I have no idea how, but this will be a force that will bring us all together and bring peace between the clans. Or, destroy us all.”

Well….

I frowned as she bit her lip, and I released her hand, leaning back in my chair.

“That's strange.”

Although the word strange is something that's well associated with my sister.

She nodded, “The visions only came broken. One after the other, and I don't know the connection yet. But I had to come see you, Ryder. Don't say a word of this, but you are one with the most functioning brain.”

I laughed, “Well aren't you sweet?”

“This is serious. And…this thing… The person is out there, Ryder. And you have to find them…now. Before it's too late.”

She bit her lip again, her face flushed as she looked at me pleasingly.

I had no idea what she was talking about, but I knew better than to wait for an explanation.

With Mindy, it's always: follow instructions first, get explanations later.

When she says jump… fucking jump.

“What do I have to do?" I snatched my dagger from the table.

“Whoever it is, is at the border. You will know once you get there. You have to reach before it's too late, Ryder.”

No more questions. I gave her a kiss on her forehead and stormed out of the hall.

*****

The last time I had come to the border had to be five years ago, and it's astonishing how nothing had changed.

The only different thing was the scent I was following.

“You will know when you get there…"

I guess this was what my sister meant.

The scent was a mixture of dried blood, flesh blood and death, and it made my skin crawl.

It kept getting stronger with each step I took, but beneath the strong smell was a light flower smell…so faint and almost unnoticeable but still, there.

I followed the scents until I got to a little cave and I noticed the faint trail of blood.

The stench grew stronger, and I listened attentively_and breathed a sigh of relief when I heard a thin heartbeat coming from the cave.

The death I smell might just be wound and weakness.

I bent and walked into the cave gripping my dagger tightly, but I stopped short at the sight that greeted me.

A woman.

Has to be the most beautiful I've ever seen, and my sister looks like a goddess.

She was covered in her blood and named except for the torn clothes barely covering her.

Feeling a strange pull, I walked closer to get a better look at her pale face, totally ignoring the stench of blood and death coming from her.

I could hear her heart beat, which means she was still alive. Although barely alive from the way her heart was beating.

She stirred a little, and that lavender scent hit my nostrils fully this time, filling my head and stomach with something I couldn't explain.

My stomach tightened, and it wasn't in a bad way.

I tilted my head, staring at her curiously. Her face was white.pale…too pale, and framed by long red hair, and her lips were pressed into a thin line.

Who is this woman? Where is she from?

Why did my sister see a vision about her?

Most importantly…what's this pull I feel towards her?

The lavender scent hit me again, stronger this time, and my head swirled and my stomach tightened.

My eyes raked over her body, to her bare legs and the blood dripping down her tight made me shudder in anger…l

There were wounds on her arms and looking at them made my stomach turn, not uh disgust but anger.

Red, simmering anger.

I have no idea where that rage was coming from.

I looked at her face again and crouched down, her scent hitting me stronger this time.

The beast in me woke instantly and howled in my head, almost jumped forward, but I know very much how to hold it at bay.

It kept struggling to break free as the girl winced, but I had to take deep breaths to control myself, the anger…the angry snarls in my head.

I took off my long coat and spread it over her body, still struggling to hold on to my senses and not give in to the anger threatening to consume Me as much as it confused me.

Mine!!. The beast hissed and I licked my lip.

She is mine …my woman…who dared to hurt her?

Oh, fucking hell…

I lifted her into my arms, carried her out of the cave and without waiting for a second, started running towards the pack house, all the while trying to distract myself from the scent, which only fueled my anger. Anger that seemed to appear out of nowhere.

The need to find whoever the fuck was responsible for this and tear them apart.

And the stench of death, which made me panic and fear that perhaps I'd be too late.

Just hang on a little more.

The moment I burst into the second gate, two guards blocked me with their hands on their swords.

“Move out of my way before I rip your heads off." I growled, but they didn't move.

Damn it to hell, Xander …

I am going to kill these guards, then I'd kill my brother next.

Before I could make a move, I saw my brother running towards us, wearing just a leather short, his usually cold face contorted in rage.

I got ready for a fight because he sure as hell won't stop me from going in.

I'd beg if need be, dammit…

But I had to save my mate, and the only one who could do that was Mindy…who lived in Xander's hut.

Xander never allows us into his place.

“Clear the way you dimwits,” he roared, and the guards moved out of the way.

“What the hell happened to her?” He hissed as he stared at the almost lifeless form in my hand.

I frowned at the look on his face.

Xander in a rage is an extremely rare sight because he's a control freak when it comes to his emotions.

But the anger in his eyes, the pain, the wounded expression…

The tone of his voice.

He moved forward, his arms extended, “Well are you gonna just stand there looking stupid? Hand her over.”

I brushed past him with a snarl of my own. I knew better than to challenge a Xander in rage, but no one was laying a finger on my mate.

This is my woman, and I have no idea why he was so affected.

As affected as I felt.

Unless….

“Ryder…" He hissed again in warning, and I shuddered.

“I need to get her in now for Mindy to look at…"

He blocked my path, “I need you to hand her over, Ryder. Get your fucking hands off my mate.”

I froze in shock, and he took her from my arms and turned, running towards Mindy's chamber

“Very rich…" Zephyr's voice drew me out of my state of shock.

I turned to see him leaning against the door frame, “I caught her scent the moment you stepped into the territory…" He chuckled and shook his head.

His eyes were darker, and I could tell that he was trying to hold down anger.

I could smell his rage, his pain.

The same anger and pain I was feeling. The same rage in Xander's eyes.

Rage that can only come from a wolf whose mare is in danger.

Zephyr took a deep breath, then threw his head back with a snarl.

“Fucking trust the moon goddess to mess us up by giving us the same mate.”

Oh, no.