"Ryder just linked me." Zane voice echoing in the silence. I just nodded, my eyes not leaving the window. "I told him we would be home soon; he sounds pissed, and I am pretty sure he's gonna eat me alive when we get back."
I turned to look at Zane, I could tell he was genuinely worried about defying not only Reid, but Ryder. Maybe I will have to deal with him, at least for Zane's sake.
"I won't let him touch you," I simply said. Zane seemed to calm down, and his grip on the steering wheel lessoned. His shoulder seemed to relax, and I could tell he was glad, I said something. I wasn't about to let Zane get hurt because of me. And I wasn't about to let Reid hurt his Beta, I could feel Ryder's burning rage as the Pack house came into view. Reid was standing out front pacing back and forth. The car pulled up, and I could see the tremble in Zane's hands as he put the car into park. Before I could even open my door, Reid was ripping it open. His glare was not his own but Ryder's. I could see his eyes flicking dangerously as Reid fought for control, Ryder was having none of that. Refusing to give in, I prayed Reid would regain control.
Zane got out of the car. He tried to sneak inside like a naughty kid caught doing something wrong, but his movements didn't go unnoticed by Ryder.
"Don't fucking move, Zane." Zane froze instantly under Ryder's command. I heard the front door open and could see Christine's horrified expression looking at her mate.
"Please don't let him hurt my mate." His voice came through the link, pleading desperately.
Standing up, I knew I had to get attention away from Zane. When I stood up, I met Ryder's angered eyes. "Leave Zane alone. He didn't want any part of it but wouldn't let me go alone," I stated. Ryder's eyes burned with anger, but he seemed to believe what I said. He looked at his Beta, they must have been mind-linking because he took off.
Christine's voice passed through my mind fluidly. "Thank you, good luck." When I turned to look at the Pack house. Christine had already run after her mate, leaving me with mine and his burning rage. Ryder's eyes fell down to meet mine.
His anger was so bad he couldn't even feel my emotions that were running all over the place. I didn't want to argue, I didn't want him to be mad. I just wanted to go to bed. I felt burnt out and exhausted.
Aria's POV
Moving past Ryder, I felt my arm brush against his, I went to walk inside, Ryder was directly behind me, his glare burning into my back. I walked inside and made my way to Lily's bedroom. Ryder smacking into my back at my sudden stopping. I gripped the handle and twisted, opening the door, I popped my head in and could see her laying in her bed fast asleep, her unicorn plushie tucked tightly under her arm as she cuddled into it. Closing the door gently, I headed up the stairs towards our bedroom. Behind me, I could feel Reid's entire body shaking violently. His anger so much he couldn't see that I was breaking, about to come apart at the seams. When the door opened, I felt his sudden shift. Shifting in such close quarters had me thrown through the door, making me land on the floor on my stomach. I have never seen them angry enough to see them shift out of anger so quickly.
Ryder's front paws were suddenly on both sides of my head, I could feel his hot breath on my neck and in my hair. I watched goosebumps rise all over my exposed arms. Yet I couldn't bring myself to feel fear. I felt nothing, rolling onto my back, I came face to face with Ryder's true form, and when he was angry like this, he really was a thing of nightmares, his teeth gleamed in the light sharp and fierce. The sort of teeth that could snap bones like they were toothpicks, his claws dug painfully into my shoulder when he raised his paw, bringing it down on my shoulder. I squirmed under his grip, but his anger was unrelenting. Blood started to trickle down into the crook of my neck pooling slowly. Ryder brought his nose down before licking at the blood that had pooled. I just watched without saying anything. When I tried to get up, though, I was shoved back down.
"Please Ryder, I don't want to fight with you right now." My voice breaking. I was done, so god damn done. I give up, I know he can't kill me but, in this moment, when my world just took a massive blow and was spinning out of control, I didn't really care if he did kill me. I not only have put two Packs in danger because of my existence, I put Lily at risk. I also find out Zoe and Marcus, or should I call him Dad, have been lying to me for years. My life was just thrown a curveball, and I didn't know how to react, how to deal with everything. Everything was falling apart, Hunters were after me, Ryder was out for blood. And I was falling apart. I didn't have the energy or willpower to argue right now.
"I fucking warned you Aria, and you disobeyed me anyway." Ryder's anger bubbling into his words as they boomed in my head. I flinched at the venom in them. Rolling to my side, I went to get up but only managed to scoot closer to the bed, propping my back against the leg I was able to sit up. Ryder watched me, his eyes burning with anger threatening to set me on fire. Tears brimmed in my eyes; I could feel them burn, as I tried to focus my vision back on Ryder but could only see my tears bubbling up before spilling over onto my cheeks. I squeezed them shut tightly and breathed out my mouth, trying to stop the feeling I was starting to feel flood me and drown me entirely.
"Just do it." My voice came out firm but soft. I really could use the sleep right now, he just needed to get it over with. I would do anything right now to be taken out of my own mind, sleep suddenly looked promising. I could feel Ryder's breath on my neck, and I squeezed my eyes tighter waiting for the pain of his savage bite, only it didn't come. I waited for it, braced myself for it, but no pain came. Instead I felt hands rub along my shoulders and up my neck. Opening my eyes, Reid was staring back at me completely naked, kneeling next to me. I threw my arms around him, making him stumble backwards, his arms wrapped firmly around me, holding me tight while I just cried into his chest. I felt his hand move into my hair, and he kissed my forehead.