Chapter 65 Untamed Beast
Lyra gasped violently as she was drawn out of the lake.
Her head broke through the surface and air finally filled her lungs as she coughed and sputtered, her body convulsing.
“Cassian!” she cried hoarsely.
But the name died on her lips when she looked up.
It wasn’t Cassian’s face hovering above her. It was Ryker’s.
His eyes seemed to narrow and he frowned at the name she’d just mentioned.
Shocked, Lyra scrambled backward instinctively, palms sliding on wet sand.
“Hey, you’re going to hurt yourself!” he barked as she almost slammed against the tree trunk in her haste to get away from him.
“What are you doing here?” she coughed weakly, barely able to speak, shaking her head as he tried to grab her.
“Don’t,” he warned coldly.
It was just one word. But she could hear the command in his voice.
Her body froze before her mind could argue. She hated that his alpha power still worked on her, no matter how much she wanted to resist.
Without another word, Ryker scooped her up, holding her close to his chest. Her head lolled weakly against his shoulder as he carried her to his motorcycle. He sat her down gently, then stripped off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders, tugging it tight, trying to dry her hair, her arms, anything.
“What happened?” she asked weakly, looking up at him.
His jaw tightened. “I should be asking you that. I followed you when you drove out. You were very upset. I knew you wanted to be far from me.”
“You knew I didn’t want to see you?” Her eyes widened. “Yet you followed me?”
“Yes,” he blurted. “I don’t know how powerful you think you are, Lyra. But these roads aren’t safe anymore. Once you disappeared from the open desert road, I knew you’d come here.”
“You know this place?” she asked, stunned.
Ryker just nodded.
She stared at him, shocked. “You always knew about this lake?”
Ryker scoffed bitterly. “You’re my wife, Lyra. I know everything about you.”
“But you never came here,” she whispered. “You never said anything.”
“You came here with Cassian most of the time,” he replied quietly. “I figured it was your secret place with your best friend. I didn’t want to ruin that. But I always watched and made sure you were safe. You just didn’t know it.”
Her chest clenched painfully at the realization that her secret place hadn’t been so secret after all.
Had he been here the night she died? Or had he been too busy with Sierra?
The thought alone made her face darken.
“What’s that look?” he asked sharply.
“Nothing.” She tugged his jacket off and handed it back. “I’ll get going.”
He stared at her like she’d lost her mind. “Are you crazy? You came here and nearly drowned. You’re freezing, and you think you can just leave without saying anything?”
“So what?”
“I deserve an explanation, Lyra. What’s this about? Why did you risk your life in that lake just now?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“It’s my business if you’re trying to hurt yourself. I just freaking rescued you. I deserve an explanation at least.”
“Maybe I would’ve explained,” she snapped, “if you’d come after me that night instead of driving off with Sierra.”
“Lyra,” he said sharply. “She blackmailed me.”
She froze.
“What?” Her voice barely carried.
He dragged a hand through his hair, frustration written all over him. “I shouldn’t even be saying this. It sounds stupid. But it’s the truth. I never wanted Sierra. She had something I needed, and she used it as leverage.”
Lyra stared at him, then laughed. “Oh, fantastic. So a little girl blackmailed our big, scary alpha. That’s great.” She clapped mockingly and jumped off the bike, tossing his jacket onto the ground.
“Every time I say this, you don’t believe me. What’s the point of explaining then? Hate me all you want, Lyra. I’ve said sorry a billion times.”
“It’s not enough!” she snapped. “Your sorry can’t bring me back to life.”
“Lyra, it’s fine if you never forgive me. I can live with that. Just be safe and be happy. That’s all I ask.”
“As if you care,” she stormed off in her underwear.
Ryker growled low in his chest, grabbed her by the waist, hauled her over his shoulder, and dumped her back onto the bike again. This time, his hands stayed firm on her hips.
“You’re soaked and shaking,” he snapped. “Wait here and let me dry you off before you ride off angrily again.”
“I’m not angry,” she muttered.
“You’ve been angry since you came back,” he shot back. “I thought it was your vampire side. I was wrong. You just hate me.”
She looked up at him, stunned by the certainty in his eyes.
“I don’t hate you,” she said softly.
He scoffed. “You thought I cheated. And that same night, you died. How could you not hate me?”
Her throat tightened. “Then tell me what happened with Sierra. How did she destroy our marriage?”
“It doesn’t matter,” he said roughly.
“Oh, it matters!” she snapped. “Stop hiding things from me like I’m stupid!”
“I’m not hiding,” he hissed. “I just know you. You don’t handle the truth well. I messed up. I regret it every day. But my reasons sound foolish, and you’ll never forgive me.”
Before he could pull away, Lyra reached up and grabbed his face. Her fingers burned against his skin, startling them both.
“I never wanted to hate you,” she whispered fiercely. “I loved you more than anyone. What happened wasn’t because of me, so don’t try to pin this on me. You ruined us.”
His shoulders sagged, and a single tear slipped down his cheek.
That was enough. She couldn’t stand his tears any more than he could stand himself. She turned away quickly, rushing toward her clothes.
“Lyra,” he said quietly. “Please don’t walk away.”
For once, she stopped. It wasn’t his alpha tone. It wasn’t a command, but a plea.
When he turned, his gaze swept over her trembling form, clad only in lace, her skin covered with goosebumps from the cold.
“Can I hold you?” he asked softly.
She blinked, stunned.
“Just to warm you up,” he added. “Before you ride off.”
Her body shook violently now. She nodded.
Ryker sat on the ground and pulled her between his legs, wrapping his arms around her, covering her completely. Her head rested against his chest, his warmth slowly seeping into her.
At first, it helped.
Then she inhaled his scent, and the more she did, the less she was in control of her own body. Something primal woke within her.
Her breathing changed, and her skin heated unnaturally fast, feverish, her body pressing closer on instinct.
She groaned softly against his chest, hands sliding over his back.
“Lyra,” he warned quietly.
She didn’t stop.
He pulled her back just enough to look at her.
Her eyes were no longer their normal shade. They turned crimson, and her fangs had elongated.
“What the fuck, Lyra?!” he began—
But she didn’t let him finish.
She grabbed him and sank her fangs into his neck.