Chapter 4

Zed's Pov

I opened my eyes and the first thing i saw was Ryder, sneaking into a room. It was obvious to me that he was trying not to make any noise. My eyes settled on him for a while until he looked at me and our eyes locked.

The last time i saw Ryder was back when he was a member of the Red Blade pack. He was one of the exceptional talents the pack had, so my father said. Ryder had been exceptionally talented and strong and it was good for a while. It was good until it wasn't.

As far as i could remember, I liked Ryder even when he was that young and innocent boy that would do anything to make sure everyone around him was alright. I, as an omega, pictured myself spending the rest of my life with someone like Ryder. With Ryder.

Then he just vanished. The same day Ryder left is the same day i almost lost my brother James. Unlike me, James was an alpha. The pride of the pack and the apple of my father's eyes. We found him a mile away from our pack territory. It took him days to recover and recount everything that had happened. It was Ryder that had hurt him. The same sweet boy i knew..that boy everyone loved turned into a villain overnight.

Nobody spoke of him again. Nobody was allowed to speak of him again but it was what happened the night before Ryder left that has been haunting me ever since. Everyday, i lived with a constant reminder of the decision i made that night. When i rejected Ryder, along with his disappearance, my wolf Hayden disappeared with him. Nothing. Not even a whisper. It was like he never existed in the first place.

I knew it though. I knew that the accusations they had leveled on Ryder were all fabricated. It was why i rejected him. Like i said, Ryder was exceptionally good, so good that he would make a really great leader. I'm not the only one who saw that, his praises were sung all throughout the pack. I heard of them. James heard of them. My father Alfredo, heard of them too. Ryder's presence didn't go along with what my father had planned. ' As long as Ryder's here, James will never be the Alpha of the Red Blades pack' he would say.

I knew something was bound to happen but i didn't think it would come in the form of my brother carried in half-dead. A perfect conspiracy and everyone bought it. I doubted Ryder survived. My wolf disappearing had been a sign that something had happened to Ryder. I just didn't expect him to be so alive. So healthy and a pack leader at that.

"What are you doing?" I asked as i attempted to shift to my side. The pain coursing through my back was so much that i sighed shakily.

Ryder closed the distance between us and gently placed his hand on the back of my neck. He pressed me down then slowly let go. "Do not get up.." he ordered.

I laid back down on the bed but tilted my head so i could look at him. Then i started looking at the room i was in. Ryder must've seen the confusion on my face.

"You're in my room. The doctor just treated your wounds. You need to rest" he said and i shook my head.

"I can't. Not while everyone is down there. They need me..."I started to say.

"They don't need you-" Ryder stated curtly.

"This isn't the Red Blades pack. It's the Silver moon. So if i tell you to stay here, you listen" he growled at me and my eyebrows knitted into a frown.

Ryder would never talk to me this way. He was always gentle and careful with his words. Not commanding. Not forceful.

I attempted to move again and this time, i cried out when i laid on my back. "Zed..." I heard Ryder call out my name but i was determined to get up.

"Why is nobody listening these days?" Ryder groaned and i suspected it wasn't just me he was referring to. When i was finally able to sit up, i looked down and my feet were bandaged too. I suspected as much from how much they were hurting.

"What will it take you to stay in bed? To stay here?" Ryder asked and i knew i had finally gotten the chance i had been looking for.

"Get them out of those cells. Some of them are just as hurt as i am, if not worse. If you do and feed them, i won't move" I replied. Quickly too.

Ryder looked at me, silent for a moment before he leaned into me. Both of his hands were on the bed on either side of my frame. I looked up at him and his face had drawn so close to mine that i could practically feel his hot breath against my skin.

"You really think you're in control,huh?" He asked and my eyes fluttered. I tilted my head back to move away from his face but he suddenly held the back of my neck and drew me in, even closer than i initially was.

"Ryder--" I called out his name softly. I watched as his eyes moved from my eyes down to my lips and i swallowed dryly.

"Do you know the kind of people who are allowed to sit on my bed and make demands?" He asked and i looked up into his eyes. His dazzling and dark brown eyes that seemed even more intense than they looked earlier.

"Ryder..." I called out to him again. He let me go, a little roughly and pulled away from me.

"I'll not make compromises with rogues. I got one better. For every time you defy me, someone from your withered pack pays..." Ryder declared and my eyes widened.

"Ryder!" I exclaimed. I seemed to be calling his name a lot.

"Would you like to start now?" He asked and i glared at him.

"No. Now get back in bed Zed. I do not like repeating myself" Ryder said and i fixed my glare at him.

"Zed.." Ryder called out to me, his voice low, a warning.

I got back on the bed and laid on my stomach.

"What happened to you?" I asked and Ryder smirked.

"I grew" he said right before he walked out of the door and i heard the lock click.