RYDEN “Oh, so the Avengers have arrived.” Amelia looked at everyone, including Zarah, on the dining table. I took another slice of the steak and shoved it into my mouth, and I felt her gaze on me. “I’m starving. I wasn’t aware lying there like dead could starve me this much.” “Your body was recuperating, and you were lying there without food for three days. What do you expect?” Zarah said, grabbing some roasted asparagus. “Easy, Ryden. It would be too awful to die from choking. Headline: Alpha Ryden has lost his life to steak.” She did a little drama with her fingers. “Let him eat, Amelia. He needs the three-day meal he missed.” Sebastien watched me while he sipped his wine. “What matters is he made a full recovery.” “Thanks, Alpha King. Once this matter is over, we’ll be out of your hair.” “I’m not kicking you out. Take your time, Ryden. Your presence here takes Zarah away from her work. She has spent a lot of time here with me for the past three days.” “You make me look bad,
AMELIA “So what did you learn?” Zeph asked. I realized he wasn’t even surprised by Walker walking into the room. “You knew.” I glared at my brother. “You knew all this time, and you pretended and lied to my face.” “I agreed with Ryden when he brought me to his plan. What we did was to protect you, and the fewer people knowing what our plan was, the better. If it failed—” “No one else to blame? No one knows about your failure. Is that it, Zeph?” I turned to Theia and Ren. “How about you both?” “I didn’t know. Theia didn’t know either. I didn’t know until during the fight Zeph came to me to keep an eye on you.” “Bullshit.” I spat the vile out. “You know I would never do something behind your back, Amelia,” Ren said. “He’s right, Amelia, but I’d like very much to learn what Walker found out about Alec,” Theia carried on.I believed Ren and Theia, but why was I still angry with Ryden and Zeph? I loved them all dearly. I guess, this was what it felt like when the people you trusted
RYDEN I crushed my mouth into hers. Amelia had been teasing me all night after our meeting in the conference room. She knew I missed her, and she was already driving me crazy. I could involuntarily shift and run off if I couldn’t kiss her in the last five seconds. She tried to push me back, but I was also strong and had slowly regained my strength, and I could still fuck her hard as I promised her in her dream. So, I kissed her hard, savagely, and demanding. I wanted her to know that she was wanted, that I wanted to crawl into her soul to prove to her that I was not making another mistake of keeping her in the dark about my plans. I fisted her hair in my hand and held her steady as I drank her deep, slid my tongue into her mouth, and pressed my body against hers. I was fucking hard, so stiff, it hurt like hell. And she felt it, her legs voluntarily opened for me as if they had minds of their own. I pulled my head away and licked my lips. Hers were red and swollen. “Strip now or
AMELIA “Is everyone got their assignment?” Dane looked over his shoulder from the front seat. The estate was big, and it would take a while to search for something we didn’t have any idea what we were looking for, but Dane got the blueprints of the house and the schematics of the entire area spread earlier on the conference table. “Got it,” only Walker replied, and he looked at everyone. “Why am I the only one who responds?” “Silence means they understood their assignment, Walker.” I almost rolled my eyes. I still had doubts about his story. Who knew maybe he had Stockholm Syndrome already and would double-cross us once we got there. “Why did we have to drive to the estate when Zarah could just portal us? It was cool by the way.” He smiled. For a moment he was really happy. “We already did, Walker. Zarah needs her strength, and this is the plan. We’ll stick to it.” “Got it, Alpha.” I looked at Ren and wished we still had the link like how we used to have. So I talked to Ryden
RYDEN We barely made out alive before the huge explosion that came from the basement of the house. I stared in horror and shock as another explosion followed, debris flying everywhere, fire erupted from all windows, and dark smoke consumed the entire house. “What the fuck?” I patted Walker’s shirt on fire, and it didn’t stop. “Roll on the ground, Walker.” He did it right away which killed the fire. I instantly smelled of burned flesh. He got a small spot of his back burn. “Amelia!” My heart nearly stopped. She hadn’t come out, but I could feel her in my thoughts. She was scared, her heartbeat rising. With my mind jumbled, I couldn’t think straight if I should go inside the burning house or wait for her. But I was sure, I wouldn’t make it behind the door. Ren came out with Theia in his arms, coughing. “Where are the others?” “Amelia!” I called her again, and the house was already wrapped in fire. A thick smoke leaked from the door, and there was no way to get in. “Ren, give me
RYDEN I sighed as hope rose in my chest and followed him to the basement. “I hope you’re right, but it was not in the blueprints.” “Only the owner and the company that installed the panic room have the knowledge where it is placed, and I know where it could possibly be, a room near to the master bedroom.” “It doesn’t even feel hot, and I don’t inhale smoke anymore. Your power is pretty convenient.” We went downstairs. In just a few steps, we were standing before the thick door made of steel. I knocked on it, and Ren held my arm and pointed at the camera. “Just say something and tell them to get out of the door.” “Are you sure it’s not toasted?” “Look.” He was right, it was working. The red dot was blinking. “We might as well, expose ourselves to the enemy.” We were pretty confident the plan would work. Dane jammed all the cameras installed. What went wrong? I didn’t have a clue. Alec was again two steps ahead of us. I grabbed the phone from my pocket. “No service, Ryden.”
AMELIA Walker stirred in bed, stretched, and opened his eyes. He then saw me and smiled. “Hey. What are you doing here?” He was so calm as if nothing happened to us today, he almost got us all roasted alive. “What do you remember?” “Alpha?” His gaze shifted to Ryden, joining me before his bed. He looked confused, bouncing his gaze between Ryden, me, and then to the guys behind us. He sat on the bed and looked at himself and the entire room. “What’s going on? What happened? What happened to me?” “What’s the last thing you remember, Walker? This is very important.” My voice came out harsh and strong. “Why are you angry with me?” He looked taken aback and still confused. “Wait. What do I remember?” He stared at us one by one and his eyes widened as if he finally got us something. “Oh, Goddess. Alpha, I thought he’d kill you.” “You remember about the challenge?” “Yes. Yes.” He looked at me. “Oh, Goddess. Are you okay? How did you escape? How’s everyone?” “So the last thing you re
RYDEN “So, we’re dealing with Demon.” It still sounded strange that we were talking about Demon from hell. I knew demons, hell, and heaven existed, but fighting against a powerful entity, how were we going to do it? “You’re not safe anymore, ladybug.” “I’ve never been safe since I got the power. Sensei and Ren had warned me against people who took an interest in this kind of power I had, that was why they trained me, I was hoping to fight against big bad werewolves or wraiths, but if the demon was coming after me, that is something I have to be ready for.” I looked at her. She seemed so calm and collected about it, and it terrified me. “You’re not sacrificing yourself, Amelia. I know that look.” She smiled at me. “Maybe this is my mission, my fate, what foretold me to do, that I will save the world from demonic entities so the future generations will have a better place to live in.” I snorted. “Nirvana sacrificed herself to kill Cyrius for that very same reason, and when we thoug
AMELIA “Welcome back, Amelia.” Fawn was an agent of SEO. He was recruited at a young age. It was expected knowing that his father was one of the members before he retired. I glared at Fawn who drugged Ryden. “Was that really necessary?” “You know it is.” He punched the elevator button N11. I joined him. “I know you don’t trust him, but I do.” “Understood. He’s your mate, but that’s protocol. Are you sure the girl is one of you?” “Her name is Nora.” I rolled my eyes. He knew who Nora was, probably more than what I knew. The elevator took us down below the eleventh floor where they kept Ryden and Nora. I knew he was going to hate me for what I did, but he needed to train to fight against Lucius if they hadn’t assigned anyone yet. “I know who she is.” Well, you might as well know that I’m not one of them anymore. But I kept that thought in my head. “Be ready for briefing,” he said as the door opened. He could be tight and an asshole, but he was also reliable. He was one of the
RYDEN “You only agreed because you wanted to come back, did you?” I looked at her so beautiful, and for me, she was still the innocent girl I bullied. “Yes. I’m sure they got it covered for more veteran spies to do the job, which is paying.” I quoted in the air. “We still have a lot of work to do here.” “But—” I pressed my lips against hers to stop her from appealing her case to me because that was not going to work unless she planned on doing it behind my back or she got another assignment to infiltrate Lucius’ pack, but I would do my best as her alpha and mate to stop her from this suicide mission. I couldn’t lose her. Knowing what kind of werewolf Lucius was, he would not hesitate to kill Amelia if he knew he had been spying on him. “Let’s go on a date then.” She walked past me to the house. “I’ll see you at the pack house later.” I nodded at Ren and Theia and waved at Nora who gave us space. “Let us know if you need anything.” “I need to rest, that’s all. We’ll be there b
AMELIA After what we’d been through together in a short time, something beautiful happened. I stared at him in awe, wearing the same face the first time he saw me in my wolf form and wolf fire. Now he had in him. He just became one of the four, and the most powerful alpha with that power. “Amelia!” everyone was yelling at me, except Ren. I felt like he already knew when I lost my wolf, that it would take over someone. “Ryden,” I called his name and looked him in the eye. He looked shocked and began to panic as his clothes burned down to ashes and he was completely naked before us, engulfed in fire. “Guys, can someone grab the extinguisher, please?” “You know it won’t work!” Theia yelled. I turned to her and pointed at the wooden floor. “It will work on the floor before this house gets toasted.” I’ll go take it,” Alessandro volunteered and stormed out of the office. “Ryden, if you don’t calm down, you’re gonna burn us all. Trust me. I’ve been in your situation, done that.” “W
AMELIA “Alpha, stop it. You’re still healing.” Naughty Alpha was looking all cute as he started kissing me on the cheek first, licking my earlobe, then his hand moved to my abdomen, slipping it inside my shirt, tracing his fingers up, teasing my nipple from the bra. “I want you.” “No, you don’t.” I looked at him. His eyes darkened, his breathing was hot, and I could feel his growing erection pressed against my thigh. “Keep your dick under control until you’re fully healed or I will scream.” “I am. Trust me.” He kissed me on the nose. “I missed you. I miss being inside you.” “Really?” I pressed his wound, and he winced. “Right, you’re healed.” His hand was gone, and he chuckled, shaking his head. “Have patience there, buddy.” “Yes. Tell him that.” I faced him and kissed him on the lips. “When we go home, you can have me all you want. I will be yours all night.” He grinned at me. “Is that a promise?” “You know I won’t break it, Ryden. You can tie me to bed if you want.” He arc
RYDEN “Amelia, stop!” I crawled back to bed. My ears hurt, and that was killing me more than my wound. Then I felt a warm liquid rolling down my upper lip. I wiped it off and realized it was blood. “You’re killing me, please? Ladybug, you have to stop.” The shrilling sound abruptly stopped. The shaking ended. Her body went back to normal. “Oh, Goddess. Baby.” Her eyes were wide as she finally back to herself. She cupped my face and wiped off the blood dripping from my nostrils. “I did do that? I’m so sorry.” “Unless I have that kind of power.” I was still staring at her. What kind of power she had was both frightening and remarkable. “What the hell is going on?” The door slammed open, and Zarah came, furious. She scanned the room and shook her head. “She did it again, didn’t she?” Ren followed Zarah inside, looking at my bloody nose. Theia and Nora were tailing him. “If you can’t get control over your emotions, Amelia, we have to confine you. You can kill any being just with you
RYDEN “You knew all this time, and you didn’t warn us?” The way Victor averted his gaze and looked as ashamed and guilty as ever. He only proved to us that he knew all along, and what after all, powerful alphas there were out there that he called himself the Alpha King. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” Amelia was angrier than me. Despite losing her wolf, I could still feel her emotions, and my mark on her was still intact. “Whoever he is will come after every alpha who comes his way. Do you understand how deep the trouble you’re in? He will come after our allies, take control of the werewolf council, and take your position. But you don’t give a shit, do you? As long as you’re safe over there and sipping coffee and whiskey.” “Of course, I care.”I even rolled my eyes at his reply.“Cut the bullshit, Head Council. I know you’re scared, but we can protect you. Alpha Califf, Alpha Knight, and the rest of our allies can protect you, but you have to be honest with us.” “No, Amelia. N
AMELIA “You lost your wolf to save my life. I’m so sorry you have to choose between me and her.” “I can live as a human, but I can’t live without you. You said you loved me, did you mean it?” I lifted my gaze to see his reaction. He still looked handsome despite almost dying and still in pain. “I love you with every beat of my heart. I love you till my last breath, Amelia. I don’t care if you’re human or a tiger or a mouse.” “A mouse? Really.” I sniffled. He tried to hold his laugh, and he grimaced instead. “You should take pain meds.” “No. The bullet that shot me was not an ordinary bullet, was it?” “Yes. Sebastien said, it could be a high-grade military prototype silver bullet, and it should explode inside your body, but it didn’t. It was either intentional or faulty. We don’t know. None of us has seen that kind of bullet before, even at the Werewolf Council.” “How are you feeling?” “Why are you asking me when I’m not the one that has gotten shot?” “So you’re still feisty
RYDEN My eyes fluttered open. The first thing I saw was the white ceiling until everything came back to me like flashes of memories. I was in Hawaii and Amelia and I had a fight. Nora was talking me out of it. Then I got shot. I groaned as I tried to move. I was shirtless, a bandage on my upper left chest reminded me it indeed all happened. I should have been dead by now. How am I still alive? Then I heard a snore. I turned my head to my right. There she was. I didn’t even know she snored. I guess, that was first. “Amelia?” I tried to move to reach for her, but my wound was killing me. I might have lost a lot of blood, and I didn’t heal faster than my normal healing process. “Ladybug.” She gasped, jolting to sit on the chair. Her eyes grew big as she turned to me and saw me awake. “Alpha? Oh, Goddess!” She threw herself at me and hugged me tight. “Agh!” I groaned and hissed in pain as I tried to wrap one arm around her. “My wound.” “Shit. Sorry.” She slowly pulled away from me,
AMELIA The surgery was successful. I didn’t even know Sebastien was a corpsman until today. He, Zarah, and Shadow just saved my mate, and I owed them a lot. Ryden was still critical. Since the bullet was silver, it slowed down his recovery. He could be dead, though, but what kind of message our enemy was trying to send to us, and who were the people behind this? What would they want from us?” I was still grateful despite everything. Watching Ryden in bed, breathing, and alive, was the greatest feeling in the world. I still felt the dread crawling in my skin of almost losing him. “How do we find Margaret? “That’s a problem for another day. And it’s not your problem anymore. It’s mine.” I turned and faced Zarah. “Do you think she’s working with Alec now? I mean, why would she? She’s your leader. What did Alec have against her?” “I don’t know, and I’m exhausted, kid. You should get some rest, too.” “Are you avoiding my questions?” I rose from the chair and looked at Ryden one mor