All Chapters of Fated and Forsaken: A Mate's Redemption : Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

Eirlys walked hurriedly through the packhouse halls, the scent of fresh herbs clinging to her fingers as she clutched the bundle tightly against her chest. The infirmary had been quiet save for the hushed voices of the healers, but her mind had been anything but. Ryker's injuries weren't just injuries, they were deep. And she had gathered the best herbs she could find—ones to speed up the healing.Her heart pounded as she rounded the corner and her thoughts were so preoccupied that she barely noticed the figure in front of her until it was too late. She soon collided into someone, the impact jarring her and instantly, she instinctively reached out to steady her balance.“Well, well,” a familiar, saccharine voice crooned.Eirlys froze. It was Celeste.The blonde took a slow step back, her icy blue eyes flickering over the herbs in Eirlys's arms before settling on her with a knowing smirk. “Let me guess,” she mused, tilted her head slightly. “You're off to play nursemaid to my mate?”E

The past had a way of creeping in when she least expected it. No matter how much she tried to bury it, no matter how many times she convinced herself she had moved in, it still clung to her like a shadow, refusing to let go.Eirlys walked alone through the corridors of the packhouse, her fingers brushing against the cool stone walls as her mind drifted back—back to a time when she had nothing. No home. No freedoms. No name, only a whispered reminder of who she used to be before everything was stripped from her.She could still feel the cold chains around her wrists. She could still hear the laughter of her captors, their voices taunting her as they shoved her down into the dirt. The Tyrant's pack—The Dreadhowl pack had been ruthless, showing no mercy to those they deemed beneath them. She had been nothing to them—a prisoner, a slave, a thing to be used and discarded.For months, she endured it. The hard labor, the punishment, the endless cycle of torment designed to break her spirit.

The air was thick with tension before the first wounded guard even appeared at the edge of the clearing, approaching the main gate. A roar of noise erupted as several of Ryker's warriors stumbled into the pack grounds, their bodies battered and bleeding.Some clutched their sides, others leaned heavily on their comrades, their once-proud uniforms now stained with dirt and blood. Their ragged breathing and the scent of blood sent a ripple of unease through those who gathered.Ryker was already moving before he could process the shock. His heart pounded against his ribs as he pushed past the others, his gaze scanning the returning warriors, assessing the extent of their injuries. Beside him, Rowan's face darkened with concern and even Celeste—looked unsettled.“What happened?” Ryker's voice came sharp and commanding but none of the injured guards could answer immediately. Their exhaustion was too great and their wounds too severe.“I couldn't find any of you. But I'm glad you're back….”

The knock at the door was soft and almost uncertain. Ryker barely looked up from where he had frozen.“Come in,” he called, his voice rough and thick with exhaustion.The door creaked open, and when the figure finally came through the door, his heart fluttered slightly. It was Eirlys.She lingered in the doorway, the door yet to be shut behind her. And for a fleeting moment, neither of them spoke. They only stared at each other, caught in a silence so heavy.Ryker had not expected her as he was about to go see her. And yet, now that she was here, standing before him, his mind scrambled to find something to say.A question. An apology. Anything. But the words never came.Eirlys shifted her feet, her fingers curling slightly at her sides. Then, she cleared her throat, breaking the silence that hung in the room between them.“I came to check on your wounds,” she propelled her head forward, her eyes settling on his side.Ryker gave a slow nod. “I appreciate that,” a smile curled around th