Chapter 7 Spanked!
As the words left her lips, Lyra was sure she'd touched a raw nerve.
Ryker's pain was so evident that his jaw clenched. “You have no idea what you're saying.”
But she snorted, folding her arms. “Oh, please, Ryker. Didn’t you pick that whore, Sierra, over me? Are you gonna deny that?”
“That was five years ago,” he whispered harshly, trying to keep it from the rest of the pack.
Lyra knew he'd have a hard time explaining what was happening to the rest of his men. How could she be a reborn of his late wife and still a halfbreed all at once? It was a complex explanation, but she wasn’t going to make it easy for him.
“Let’s go home and talk about this like grown-ups,” he offered softly, though she could see how he struggled to control his frustrations.
“What’s the point? Just let me go. After all, you can’t tell your pack that I’m a reborn half-breed freak.”
“Don’t do this here,” he murmured.
“No,” she snapped, voice trembling but strong. “You rejected me. You humiliated me in front of IronFangs. Everyone knows I’m not your mate anymore. You made sure of that.”
A flicker of pain flashed across his face and he sighed.
“I hoped you would let me explain. I never wanted to reject you. Not really.”
“But you did, Ryker. That’s the only thing that matters.”
She could see his jade-black eyes stare right into her soul, full of guilt and what could be remorse. He looked broken and exhausted.
She took a shaky step back, hugging herself. “Bring me his blood…”
That was the Blood King’s orders. She closed her eyes. She couldn’t look at Ryker. Not now. Not when he was trying to be kind. Not when she would soon have to either betray him or destroy herself.
It was a tough choice and she needed time to think. She couldn't stay in the IronFangs MC.
“I’m not going back,” she whispered. “Please, just go.”
But Ryker looked like he'd heard enough.
His gaze hardened and he sprang off the bike that was still rumbling, marching toward her. Lyra took another step back instinctively. It didn’t matter. He was faster.
In one swift movement, he marched to her and grabbed her by the waist.
“Ryker—wait!”
Before she could finish, he lifted her effortlessly and hurled her over his shoulder.
“PUT ME DOWN!” she shrieked, her voice high and furious. “Ryker! Stop! I’m not going back with you!”
She kicked. She punched. She clawed at his back. But it was the full moon. And he was an alpha werewolf. Despite her newfound strength, she didn’t stand a chance.
Her protests only made him tighten his grip on her thighs to keep her from slipping.
“Keep screaming,” he growled. “It won’t change anything.”
“RYKER!”
He ignored her completely, walking toward the bike in an infuriatingly calm manner. The IronFangs men were openly staring now, some smirking, some surprised. All seemed entertained at the display.
She felt heat crawl up her neck.
Ryker set her onto the bike, gripping her waist firmly. She tried to slide off the other side, but he caught her and swung his leg over, locking her between his arms and body.
“Stop wiggling,” he said in her ear, his breath hot against her neck. “You’re coming with me.”
“Ryker, I'm not your captive! You can’t keep me against my will!”
The engine roared, swallowing her words.
He turned the bike with a sharp, fluid motion and accelerated, the wind speeding after him.
The forest became a blur of black and silver as the rest of the wolves followed on their own bikes, forming an entourage behind them.
She kept struggling the whole way, but Ryker only pressed her back gently to keep her steady.
When they crossed IronFangs’s boundary, he didn’t slow down.
He didn’t stop until he reached the center of the pack house and the open yard where pack members had already gathered.
Ryker finally cut the engine, got off the bike, and grabbed her again. Lyra pushed at his chest, fighting him with weak, exhausted hands.
“Why don’t you stop wiggling?!”
“Don’t touch me, you big oaf! Let go!”
He didn’t.
Instead, he turned her around, pulled her close when she kept struggling, and then he spanked her.
Lyra froze.
She could hear a few of the wolves whistle suggestively and laugh at her shame.
“Ryker,” she rasped, horrified, and without thinking, she threw her fist at him.
But she didn’t hit the target when he grabbed her wrist and hissed, “I’m still your alpha.”
Without thinking, she spat on him.
Ryker looked down and for a second, she feared what his reaction would be. Then he did the unexpected.
He hoisted her over his shoulder again and allowed her to struggle helplessly against his tight hold.
“I know you all have questions, but I’ll address all of this tomorrow,” he announced to the pack. “And then we will discuss the bounty.”
Lyra listened as he thanked everyone who helped find her in the forest.
“But tonight,” he finished, carrying her toward the Alpha’s chambers, “I’ll teach you obedience.”