Chapter 7

My eyes fluttered closed when the towel hit my face. I didn't bother to grab it and instead, watched Ryder's back as he walked out to the bathroom.

His bitch? What did that even mean?

I didn't think there was so much hostility between me and Ryder. Not to this point where he'd insult me and degrade me just to feel better about himself. My fists were clenched when i thought about how Ryder had spoken to him.

I followed Ryder from the bathroom to his bedroom. He was cleaning after me. Seeing him do the opposite of what Ryder had just told me only angered me even more. When he straightened the sheets, i grabbed them and ripped them from the bed and tossed them on the floor. Ryder ignored me at first but i didn't make it easier for him, instead, i grabbed one of the pillows and hit him with it.

"Zed--" he called out, resigned and annoyed.

I wasn't having any of it. "You are a vile person Ryder. A heartless monster and one with a very filthy mouth-" I said and Ryder closed the distance between us in just one long stride.

"Say that again!" He commanded me and without so much as a flicker of fear, i looked at him squarely on his face.

"You're vile. A monster. You're unlikeable and--" i didn't get to finish before Ryder growled at me. He was angry. He was starting to shift.

"Go on. Follow that primal nature of yours. Are those hands what you used to hurt my family? Did you personally kill my father?" I asked, egged him on as his breath quickened. "Look at those eyes. I bet you wanted some kind of redemption from Alfredo. Knowing my father, he definitely didn't beg so now, like the coward that you are, you chose the weakest link to play with. Me..."

"Shut up..." Ryder warned as he stepped even close to me.

"No. Does it bruise your ego to know that i can read you? Everyone grovels at your feet but i'm the only one that can see right through you. A coward..."

"Shut the fuck up!" Ryder's voice was dangerously low. His growls were more animalistic than anything.

"So while your intention is to make me your bitch. I've just realized now what mine is. I want to rip your chest open and see what it is that you have in here..." I reached over and poked at his chest.

Ryder moved his hand and wrapped it around my wrist, holding it tightly. "I warned you not to mess with me. I told you i wasn't your friend. You had one job. One fucking job Zed. Keep your head down. I warned you-" he said before he yanked my hand away from his chest. Ryder was nodding his head while looking down at me. He despised me, i could see.

Ryder didn't say anything anymore. Instead, he turned around and walked out of the room. I sank onto the bed, my heart beating so loud that i could hear it ring in my ears. I knew i should have felt something. I knew with Ryder's temperament, he wouldn't just let it go. He'd find a way to punish me. Although i knew he wouldn't hurt me physically, at least not when i'm covered in bruises and wounds but still, i knew he wouldn't let it go.

I looked at the door Ryder had just walked out from. My hands balled up into fists, gripping at the sheets as a tear trickled down my face. It was just one. Despite everything i had been through, i wasn't willing to break. I couldn't break. Not when i had so many people looking up to me. A little longer. That's the only consolation i could give myself.

It took me a while to subdue my emotions. I walked back to the bathroom and closed the door behind me. With the wounds on my back, i could do as much as a sponge bath. I was pretty sure i did stink, after all, i had walked all day under the sun all sweaty.

By the time i was out of the bathroom, i found Ryder waiting for me in the bedroom. He looked at me, his eyes lingered on my body before he looked away. "Put those on" he commanded and i frowned. I didn't like it when he used that tone with me.

I looked at the clothes and grabbed the shirt first. It wasn't my size but i didn't have anything else. I slid it on. Ryder looked at me again. He was silently watching me like a predator watching his prey. Thankfully, the shorts were my size. After i was dressed, he stood up and walked towards me. His steps were deliberate, calculated.

"What? What do you want?" I asked as i took a step back each time he took one towards me.

When my back pressed against the wall, he had a sinister look on his face. He didn't stop and my eyes widened with every step he took. "Ryder..." I called out softly. He stopped only when he was a few inches away from me.

"You're coming with me-" he declared, his voice cold and calm. I didn't like it. I didn't like not being able to predict what Ryder was going to do. Before i could say anything, he leaned down and tossed me on his shoulder.

"What? Where are we going?" I asked softly. With my balled up fists, i hit Ryder on his back and with each step, he groaned from the impact. He was persistent. He didn't stop so i gave up. I allowed him to carry me out and for the first time since i arrived there, i got to see the Silver moon pack during the day. It was beautiful and even in the state i was in, i could smell flowers. There had to have been a garden there.

I didn't get to dwell on it much because Ryder shifted me and roughly tossed me down. I panicked, thinking i'd land on the ground but surprisingly, i fell back into something soft. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the lighting and when they did, my eyes widened in surprise.

Everyone was there. Everyone. I looked around before my eyes fell on everyone i came with. I frowned seeing them there and i started to suspect what Ryder wanted to do. It was why he was so calm.

Ryder was looking at me when my eyes moved to him. When my eyes bore into his, that sinister smirk he had earlier appeared again. I knew that look. At least i thought i knew now.

"Ladies and gentlemen. It's been a while since we've had any sort of entertainment. Today, however, because of someone very special, you get to have not just some, a full day of entertainment.." Ryder declared and his pack erupted into cheers and howls. Something hard dropped in my stomach and i started to really get worried.

"Now now now... It's not my decision when it'll stop," Ryder said and this time, he looked at me. He was telling me, making it clear that this is my fault.

"Just like what we've all been doing with any other rogues that step into our territory. The only way to survive and belong to the Silver Moon pack is to prove it" he continued and they all cheered. "We fight to belong here..."

"Fight? Most of them are children. Ryder you can't--" I cut him off and he turned to me with a glare.

"There are young alphas too. So much potential. You want to stay alive. You want those children to stay alive, they bloody fight. That or..."

"Or what?" I questioned and everyone went silent again. I preferred it when they howled like beasts. The silence and the tension in the air was so much worse.

"Or they all die. Everyone but you so when you wake up everyday, you'll look at yourself in the mirror and realize you're the reason everyone's dead," Ryder said. I couldn't say anything. My entire body was shaking, not with fear but with rage. My eyes were bloodshot red and the pleasure in Ryder's face only infuriated me even more.

Ryder took steps towards me and when he was close enough, he leaned into me, and pressed his lips against my ear. "For every time you defy me, i want you to remember today. I want this to be embedded deep in your memory Zed so the next time you think about disobedience, you'd tremble in fear," he whispered softly before he placed a soft kiss against my ear. When he pulled back, Ryder's eyes scanned the crowds. "Get that Alpha...i don't like his eyes," he growled as he gestured to Austin. My eyes widened in shock when i saw Austin being dragged from the crowd.

"Ryder please... i'll listen. I'll always listen, i promise" i begged softly. My eyes had welled up with unshed tears.

"For every win you make. Ten of your rogues get to live. Every victory means ten lives you're saving. Do you accept the challenge?" Ryder asked.

"No. Ryder. No. He's only 15. He's a child!" I pleaded but Ryder disregarded my please.

"I accept," Austin's voice drew me from Ryder and i shook my head while i watched the scene before me. Austin was only a child. Eager to protect, i knew he'd fall into Ryder's trap.

"No. Austin no--" i called out his name desperately.

"And now, an alpha from the silver moon-" Ryder declared and howls filled the arena again.

I sank to my knees, my eyes glued to the arena. Ryder walked over and crouched next to me. I cling to his shirt desperately. "Ryder. I'm sorry. I'll listen. I'll do better- "I pleaded. He brushed my hair back and shook his head.

"No sweetheart. You're only saying this out of desperation. I haven't seen what i need to see yet. Not yet-" he said in a soft, calming voice before he held onto my shaking body.

Unlikeable? I was wrong. I despised Ryder with everything i had in me.

"Let the fight begin!" Ryder declared and the cheers began. While everyone was celebrating, my heart had been ripped out of my chest and placed right in my palms.