NATALIEThe bomb has been dropped. Alpha Wilson remains in shock for a while, staring at the phone while Ryker has hanged up long ago.I do feel the urge to explain why his son was killed but when I recall how Anne and Giana were attacked, and dragged mercilessly, the urge dies on its own.I want to see them. More than my fucking family, I care about them. I won’t be able to live if something has happened to any one of them because of me.“ Alpha…” I try to call him, to break him out of the trance.It takes him some more moments to process everything and when reality sinks, his eyes change colour and pin me down.“ Is this true? Did Ryker kill — kill Enzo? ” I have never been asked such a difficult question in my life before.The pained look in his eyes and the anger slowly taking over his features renders me speechless. I open my mouth and close it when I realise what he is going to do whether I answer him or not.And it does happen. As soon as my silence provides him with the answe
NATALIE“ What is Alpha going to do with us? ” Giana murmurs, tears rolling down her cheeks.“ What he should have done long ago so you never got the chance to run away and bring shame to the pack. ” Dad grunts from behind me, his fingers digging in my shoulder to keep me on my knees.I grit my teeth, my heart hardening towards him. He felt ashamed — that’s all he has to say, that’s all he has ever said to me. “ If this list of things to be ashamed for runs so long…you should add one thing in it. Be ashamed of being such a horrible father to me. ” I whisper under my breath.“ It’s all your fault. If only you were not a weak wolf less child, everything would have been fine with our family! ” Mom shouts from somewhere behind me.My so—called hardened heart drowns to the pit of my stomach. I glance down at my hands. The shimmer under my skin pulses firmly.‘ Look up. ’ The sweet voice of a female purrs in my head.I throw my head back and look ahead. “ He came. I didn’t expect him to c
RYKERIt was not enough. Caging her, keeping an eye on her all the time was not enough.Just one wrong move from Rhianna and she was in their clutches. I set out to find her as soon as panic surged through me and I sensed her pain. Zio got Rhianna’s phone location tracked and we reached the spot where they had the accident.Rhianna was there, injured but alive yet Natalie was not. I knew immediately where she must be but I refrained from calling Wilson on my own. Instead, I prepared for war. My heart was drumming in my ears all the while. I wanted to see her. I was angry at her but worry won over rage easily. I knew I would never be able to forgive myself if I lose her too. I didn’t ever feel so fucking scared even when my whole life I was on the verge of being executed myself. The moment I saw her good for nothing father holding her down on her knees, my rational thinking was thrown out the window.The monster which I have always tried to keep hidden, threatened to spring out. I
RYKER When her father’s shrieks become louder, I snap my gaze to his figure. The fire is now spreading towards his neck, fast and relentless. Curling my hands into fists, I move forth and reach him in a hurry. Fucking shit! I grip his neck, my hands burning in the fire as I throw him aside and follow him. My eyes glance back at the body which is now turning to ashes, the fire refusing to die until he has turned to coal. There is no heartbeat, no signs of life in him. Natalie killed Alpha fucking idiot accidentally. I shake my head. ‘ Come and save this one too. I am not going anywhere near him. ’ Zio gets the message and comes to Beta’s aid right away. I take this time and face the wolf. She is still helplessly standing in the distance, unable to step forward or backward, fearing the fire engulfing someone else. Her eyes are fixed at Alpha Wilson’s lifeless body. My heart aches. I want to reach out to her but even I can’t do that at this moment. The wounds inflicted by her f
NATALIEI jerk awake when something touches my face. My whole body is aching like some horse has trampled over it.“ Hey! ” His velvety voice falls on my ears.His fingers glide over my cheek. I stare at the familiar ceiling of my room in his home.Perhaps, I was dreaming. I never went out of here. “ Babylove? ” He calls me out, soft and careful.My gaze snaps to his face and calmness spreads throughout me.“ Ryker. ” I choke.“ I am here. ” He nods.Screams ring in my ears, making me close my eyes. It’s supposed to be a dream, a fucking nightmare. I can’t possibly burn someone to ashes. That’s not me.“ Don’t think about it. The more you do, the more it will haunt you. ” My eyes crack open, landing on his face once more. The shock phase is over for me. It’s time to come to terms with it.“ How can I not think about it? I killed him. ” I utter.My eyes squeeze shut, recalling the look on everyone’s faces when I managed to shift back. It was pure horror. Strangely, I could sense it h
NATALIE My heart trembles in my chest when I recall everything I learnt about them. I don’t fucking agree with these rules! It is not Ryker’s fault that he is a hybrid. It was his parent’s fault for doing something which is forbidden, then why must he be punished for it? “ The normal reaction would be to send me away and jump on the opportunity to reach out to the council while you still have time. Hybrids are dangerous and scary creatures, you know. ” I swear he doesn’t know when to shut the fuck up. “ Can you please try to close your mouth? It’s healthy sometimes. ” I retort, rubbing my nose against his shirt. “ It will be healthier for me to close my mouth around your lips. ” His suggestive voice says close to my ear. “ I murdered someone. I am dying from regret and there is another situation I need to understand right now while what are you doing? You want to have sex? ” I huff, tugging my head back and glaring up at him. A smirk curls his lips and the ocean darkens. “ I
NATALIE “ You mean they will do everything to get rid of me? ” I tilt my head, throwing him a curious look. Ryker shrugs his shoulders. “ They will say you don’t fit here. Leaving you in the open and unleashed can bring harm — some shit like this. And then they will take you away so they can use you as a weapon against others probably. ” I huff, dropping down on the pillow and pulling the duvet to my neck. My heart beat has slowed down considerably. “ And what will you do? You will let them take me? ” I utter, stealing a glance at his serious face. He narrows his eyes, the usual scary look overcoming the calm ocean. “ You expect me to protect you? ” He slumps down beside my waist, looking down at me. “ Isn’t this your duty as my mate? ” I smile at him sweetly. Ryker pokes the inside of his cheek with his tongue, his neck muscles stretching. My eyes trail down to his neck and then down to his heaving chest slowly as I drag the duvet to my chin. “ Get up. ” He speaks sternly, hi
RYKER“ Why am I here? ” She folds her arms over her chest, questioning.“ You don’t know? ” My brow lifts.Anne exhales, looking away. Her posture screams how tense she is, yet she acts all tough and big.I asked Zio to bring her here so we can finally have the long pending talk about Natalie and what she did.“ You called me here. You keep staring at me instead of telling me why I am here. How am I supposed to know what you want from me, Alpha Ryker? ” She looks back at me and sneers.“ Mind your tone. I will not warn you again. ” I let out, resting back in my chair.She closes her mouth. A frown makes its way up her forehead, making her seem even more killable to me.Silence ensues. My eyes observe every move of hers. She restlessly lets her eyes wander around my office. “ Is…Natalie…fine? ” She trails off, fixing her gaze at me finally.“ Why? You didn’t want her to be fine? ” The right corner of my lips curls up venomously.“ She is my friend. I… ” Her eyes lower to the desk as