CHAPTER 2 RYDER RESURFACES

She gasped for air, her lungs burning as the foul liquid splashed across her face and dripped on the icy floor. Alex's mocking laughter echoed against the walls, making her flesh crawl."Pathetic?" he said."You are the pathetic one, Alex. she said, her voice quivering with wrath and embarrassment. You are so blinded by your hatred and wrath that you cannot see the truth.”

Alex's laughter died down, and he took a step closer to her, his eyes blazing with contempt. "The truth?" he sneered. "You mean the truth about how you killed my mother?"

Nora's eyes welled up with tears as she felt a fresh wave of pain wash over her. "I didn't kill your mother, Alex," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I swear it. You have to believe me."

Alex's expression didn't change."I don't believe you," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "And even if I did, it wouldn't matter. You're still a murderer in my eyes."

Nora felt a stinging sensation in her eyes as tears began to fall, streaming down her face like rain. She felt a sob building in her chest, but she swallowed it down, refusing to give Alex the satisfaction of seeing her beast. Instead, she stood tall, her eyes locked on Alex's, and said, "You're making a mistake, Alex. A big one."

Alex raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "Oh? And what's that?"

Nora's voice was steady, her words dripping with conviction. "You're going to regret this, Alex. Regret the day you ever doubted me."

Alex's smirk faltered for a moment, and Nora saw a glimmer of uncertainty in his eyes. But it was quickly replaced by his usual arrogance.

"I doubt it," he said, turning to walk away. "You're nothing but a murderer, Nora. And you'll pay for what you've done.”

Another omega fisted her hand into Nora's 

Thick long red hair and yanked it. Nora let out a scream of agony. Another wave of laughter swept through the room. Nora sucked in the air; her wolf was threatening to explode. Unlike her, she didn't care about the consequences.“Piece of trash, your existence is worthless. Maybe that's why no one loves you.” She mocked.

At that, Nora's control snapped. She let out a rumbling growl as her irises turned dark with red rings around them. The laughter and mockery ceased immediately.

Alex, her mate and the Alpha of Zodak Pack growled, pushing away the ladies that surrounded him. His eyes flashed golden as he grabbed her.

“Return to her subconscious, wolf!” He gritted out, his dominance rippled through her body. Almost immediately, her eyes returned to their normal color and she let out an agonized cry. Grinning gleefully, Alex let her fall back to the ground, and the chair to which she was tied shattered under her weight.

“I thought I told you not to let your wolf exert control! Did what they said hurt you? They're right. You're useless and you'll forever be. That's why your father asked me to take you as a maid immediately, I rejected you as my Luna. He rather let me have you as a maid so you will never come back home, he knew how much of a waste you would be.”

Tears spilled out from Nora's eyes. She could take every form of pain, insult, and injury, but nothing hurt more than the reminder that she was truly useless and could never result in anything good. The words Alex was saying were nothing but the truth and now she wished someone could end her misery.

“Open your eyes,” he commanded, and she obeyed.

He gave her a dirty look and then knocked her off with his heel.

********

Her head throbbed as she managed to drag herself to the bathroom; she was forced to begin working as a maid in Alex and Eve's home. Every task seemed like a reminder of her humiliation. She cleaned floors, prepared meals, and put up with Eve's relentless taunting.

She sat in the corner of the tiny room assigned to her at Alex and Eve's home. It was nothing more than a thin storage room, with a flimsy mattress on the floor and a single candle flickering in the dark. She stared at her hands, her thoughts whirling. 

“I can't live like this,” I  would not. 

A faint knock on the door shocked her. Before she could react, the door cracked open, and Mary crept inside. Her eyes were filled with shame and sadness. 

"Nora," She muttered.

"I'm very sorry."I should have—" 

"Don't," she shouted abruptly, cutting her short. 

"Do not apologize. I understand why you didn't help me.

"The law is stronger than friendship." Her shoulders slumped. 

"I despise this pack and its laws. "What they've done to you is unfair.”

She turned away, unable to bear the pity in her gaze.

"What do you want, Mary?

"She paused before speaking."I believe Eve is hiding something.

I overheard her talking with someone in the forest yesterday. She mentioned a deal and your name.

Her heart skips a beat. "A deal?

"Yes," She replied, leaning closer.

"I don't know all the circumstances, but I believe it has something to do with Alex's mother.

Her fists clenched, her face turning crimson….”What might Eve possibly have to do with Alex's mother's passing”?

Then, the door cracked open, and Eve appeared in the doorway, a mischievous smirk on her face.

"Ah, Mary," she murmured, her voice full of bitterness.

"I see you are still attempting to protect Nora. How... quaint."

"Mary's eyes narrowed, and she took a step back as if preparing to protect herself before hurriedly leaving the room.

But, before she could say anything, Eve dropped a bombshell: "Nora, you have a visitor."Someone who has waited a long time to see you.

Visitor?..her heart fell, and she felt a shiver down her spine.

Who might it be? Eve stepped back, revealing a figure shrouded in shadow.

And as the figure stepped forward, she felt her world turn upside down.