Chapter 63 Tense
WESLEY
The office was tense, the air thick with Ryker’s frustration, he paced around like a claustrophobic predator in a small cage, his fists clenching the edge of the desk, knuckles whitening.
His eyes were dark and angry, and I stayed close, knowing better than to speak unless he actually spoke to me.
“She’s focused on him now,” he growled. “Lucas. A guard saw them yesterday. I expected her to be with her friend and the children especially after her outburst. I mean that's why I brought them here, to the pack, to be with her especially after her outburst. I thought if she saw familiar faces, it'd help her control her powers but instead, what's ahe doing? Gallivanting around with her ex!"
"Technically, he's not her ex..." I pointed out, earning a sharp glare from him.
"If you have nothing helpful to say, jujeep your mouth closed."
“I understand,” I said cautiously, trying not to provoke him. “But she’s been through..”
“Through what?!” he snapped, spinning toward me, eyes flashing with anger.
Why was he so bothered anyway? Did he say she was just his plaything an just wanted right punish her?"
"She’s mine, Wesley! She doesn’t belong to anyone else!” His voice dropped to a growl, almost animalistic, a bit of his Alpha power dripped into his voice, causing a shiver ran down my spine.
I was quiet. Nothing I say can help.
“What should I do, Wesley?” he asked suddenly, calmer, but the tension under his words was still very palpable.
"Do about?"
"The intruder, who else? Should I.. send him back to his creator? Should I..”
"You can't kill him!" I snapped at him.
“Wesley I need to find every information about him, what he does, who exactly he is. Get me everything you can find." He said earnestly.
I shrugged in response, "Okay."
"She's mine!" He started suddenly, "She's mine, my mate. She belongs to me! Not him, only me." His words grew guttural, almost a like chant, and then it hit me, his chest rose unnaturally, veins protruding, muscles knotting.
Before I could react, he convulsed, a low roar escaping his throat.
In seconds, Ryker was gone and he was replaced by the beast, his eyes glowed red in the office, claws scraping the floor, fangs bared in a snarl that promised death. He didn’t recognize me as usual and didn’t seem to care who was in the room.
“Ryker!” I shouted, but it was useless.
His massive body tore through the window, smashing the glass with a thunderous crash. I leapt after him instinctively.
The rampage started almost immediately. He ran through the pack, heading towards the western border, his limbs moving impossibly fast with his teeth sinking into anyone who was unfortunate enough to be in his path.
A guard at the boundary barely had time to react before Ryker’s claws ripped through his chest, blood spraying across the ground.
I winced but pressed forward, following his trail.
He didn’t slow down.
He tore through patrols, men and women alike falling under his fangs and claws.
At some point, he sat, just to admire his works.
Drank blood directly from its victims.
He'd managed to kill fifteen people in the space of forty minutes. Another mass burial to plan.
Then he continued.
Limbs were twisted unnaturally, screams cutting through the day, blood spattering trees and the sands. I kept a safe distance from him, my go to bag with me. I should have warned Marissa again.
I tried something else, I tried to redirect him to where less people were, but he wasn’t listening.
His beast was full of rage, oddly.
At the border, it just got worse. Outsiders trying to sneak in were caught unprepared.
One man tried to raise a weapon, but Ryker’s claws sliced through him with a sickening rip. I caught glimpses of other bodies with throat slashed. The ground was wet with people's blood.
His growls filled the air, scary abd terrifying.
And then, as suddenly as it began, it stopped.
The beast entered the bush, slowed down with ragged breath, chest heaving, and he collapsed to the ground, everything happened within three hours.
I have more bodies to bury that I have to this entire year.
Something impossible happened, he reverted to his human form, shaking, covered in blood. He looked at his hands, eyes wide.
“Oh sh!t.." he muttered, voice hoarse. “I turned again, didn’t I?”
I ran to him, my heart pounding, and stomach twisting at the sight.
"Yes...." I answered.
"How long this time?" He questioned.
"Three hours." I answered grimly.
His raised a perfectly arched brow.
"Exactly Ryker, this is way too soon, you turned just a few days ago! What’s happening? Is there something else going on with you, aside from this… jealousy over Lucas? Something you’re not telling me?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know, Wesley. I… I don’t know. I don't think anything is wrong. I'd have known."
"I'm not sure if we should celebrating these short turnings or not. But the death rate is increasing."
"How many did I kill this time?"
I winced, "Maybe a hundred?"
He went silent.
I helped him to his feet and gave him new clothes.
The forest was quiet now, apart from the faint dripping of blood and the rustle of leaves as we walked back.
We returned to the palace in tensed silence. Ryker’s expression was unreadable, jaw tight, eyes dark.
He didn’t speak as he made his way upstairs, presumably to clean up fully.
I followed reluctantly, knowing better than to say anything to him. He would need time to regain himself, his sanity.
A few minutes later, a guard knocked at the room door before pushing it open.
“Beta Wesley, Alpha Ryker,” he said, bowing slightly. “The council of elders are here and they request your presence immediately.”
I looked at Ryker, whose head appeared from the bathroom door, damp hair sticking to his forehead.
His brow furrowed. “The elders… now?”
“Yes, Alpha, they’ve been waiting,” the guard replied.
Ryker’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Fine,” he muttered, voice low. “I’ll deal with them, so when we get there, don't say anything.” he directed the last part at me.
I nodded with a frown, wondering what those elders were up to now.
RYKER
The hallway to my throne room was guard free, maybe a curtsy from Wesley.
.Wesley stayed a step behind me, silent as ever, but I could feel his unease radiating.
I didn’t need him to tell me, I already knew. The elders never came without announcing it prior, and when they did, it was never about pleasantries.
We entered the room and I immediately went to sit on my throne so as to bring a balance to the display of authority they showcased
Their eyes were sharp, calculating, and as soon as mine met theirs, I knew this wasn’t going to be a discussion, they were here to make demands.
“Alpha Ryker,” the eldest, a tall man with white hair began talking.
“We have waited long enough, you need a Luna to stabilize your pack. A mate who can balance your power and protect your people.”
I didn’t flinch, my voice was calm as I gave him a reply that I didn't need to think about “I have an unofficial Luna already, Zora is my mate.”
The man’s lips pressed into a thin line. “No, we cannot accept her as the Luna of this pack, ever since you brought her back to help heal your mother, she has brought nothing but misfortune, from your mother’s death to the growing reports of deaths and misfortunes within the pack, everything is all connected to her presence.”
I leaned forward slightly, voice low, almost a growl. “You’re saying she is the cause of misfortune?”
“Yes,” another elder spoke, her voice like steel.
“And we cannot allow it to continue, the balance of this pack depends on it, there is another, prepared, to become your Luna, to give you the power to control the pack and stop these deaths.”
I shook my head, frustration tightening my jaw. “I am not interested, there is only one I would accept and that's only Zora. I will not take in another woman.”
A younger elder slammed a hand against the armrest, his patience clearly worn thin. “This is not a matter of your desire! The deaths will continue unless action is taken, you must choose someone who can protect the pack. Zora is...”
“Evil?” I cut in, my voice hard. “Is that what you’re calling my mate?”
The eldest rose, shoulders straight, eyes cold. “She brings imbalance, Alpha, she is the source of the chaos, whether you acknowledge it or not, your attachment blinds you. The pack suffers while you insist on not doing what is necessary, she must be removed, exiled, or replaced.”
I clenched my fists, muscles coiling beneath my skin. “She is the only one I will accept, you will not dictate my heart, nor the bonds of this pack. I will not take another Luna, Zora is mine, and she'll be Luna of this pack whethers you lots wants it or not. I don't care about your thoughts!"
Silence fell heavily in the throne room.
Their faces hardened, anger simmering in the deep lines of their expressions.
“If you cannot accept our decision,” the eldest said finally, voice low and threatening,“then the council will act, we will find a Luna for you, whether you want it or not and you can't refuse, the people's well being is our priority.”
I leaned back, my tone icy. “Then do what you must, I will not be bending for what you want, Zora is my mate, and that will not change, she is the one I will accept, the one I will protect and that is all you will get from me concerning this matter.”
The elders’ eyes flared with fury, unspoken threats dancing in the air.
Had they expected compliance?? Did they forget who I am?
“Very well,” the eldest said finally, voice shaking with anger. “If you will not comply, we will find a way to remove this… this evil influence from the pack, your refusal cannot and will not stand. Zora will be exiled if necessary. The deaths must stop, Alpha, and if you cannot act, we will, you leave us no choice.”
"Exile?" I narrowed my eyes.
“Exile her?” I repeated, almost mockingly, but my voice was lethal. “You dare threaten me with the one I have chosen?"
"Are you dumb or is there something else that has you confident?"
He pressed his lips together.
I stood, "I believe we've come to the end of the discussion. See yourselves out of my pack."