The Internal Combustion

Ryker's POV.

I entered my room with a flurry of contradictory ideas and a tense atmosphere. I was restless pacing like an animal in a cage, my every move reflecting the chaos within. My room's torches flickered but it didn't make the pressure on my chest any less intense. 

Ivy and Eldrics conversation had been over for hours but my thoughts kept returning to the same thing: Emerald. She was in danger. From deep within my bones I sensed it. The nagging feeling of dread that had taken root inside of me was only strengthened by the time I spent considering it. 

Something icy and calculating about Ivy's remarks stuck with me. She would not only undermine Caden's plans to achieve her goals, she would demolish everything in her path. Emerald stood in the way as well. I needed to keep her safe. 

However, I couldn't deny the reality. If Caden wished to remain Alpha he had to mate with Ivy. It was customary and the rule. Ivy was supposed to be the Luna who would have to be by his side. The pack needed a strong Luna. However, that did not alter the fact that Caden didn't love her. His affection was for Emerald. 

I knew it. 

Every time he talked about her, I could see it in his eyes, and I knew that he was deeply hurt by the thought of what was at stake. Caden had no desire for this. It was understandable that he didn't want to be coerced into marrying a woman he didn't love. Though I had always supported him and been faithful to him I couldn't help but wonder if there was another option.

Should I tell him what I heard Ivy say? But what would happen next? How would he respond? Would it get worse? I couldn't take the chance of giving Ivy away until I knew more about the situation. I put an end to my pacing and ran my fingers through my hair feeling irritated once more. 

There had to be a way out of this. Emerald's future was on the line and I couldn't just sit here wringing my hands. I needed to take action. But how? How could I keep her safe without upsetting Caden, who was already caught between duty and his emotions, and I didn't want to add to his confusion? However, I was unable to resolve another issue.

Earlier that day I had noticed something strange about Emerald. There was something about her presence and the way she carried herself that triggered my warning instincts. Fragile, hesitant, and vulnerable, she had resembled an omega. However, my wolf had picked up on something stronger and more profound. 

She possessed strength and an unrealized potential that I was unable to fully identify. I had closely observed her attempting to read her and saw that her wolf was present. Despite this the aroma of an omega stuck to her like a parasite. It was illogical. Never before had my senses let me down. 

She had been overcome by her fear by the nagging apprehension that seemed to follow her everywhere. I could sense her nervousness and uncertainty radiating off of her. Something was concealed by her. What though? I paused my pacing once more and looked at the ground. 

There was a problem, something hidden beneath the surface, which is why she smelled like an omega and why her wolf, who was so powerful and wild, seemed to be buried under that scent. In an attempt to quiet my racing mind, I leaned against my room's stone wall and pressed my hands against the cool surface.

With a growl of frustration, my wolf pushed against my control barrier and urged me to follow the scent to figure it out. But the more I considered it the more perplexed I got. Emerald was buried beneath layers of vulnerability and fear but she possessed a great deal of power.

She had a faint nearly nonexistent scent similar to that of an omega—submissive and uncertain. Her wolf was unique though. I sensed it as soon as I saw her. The strength, power, and unadulterated energy that was capable of acting independently. 

My heart was racing, my mind was racing, and every second that went by made me feel more and more compelled to keep Emerald safe. I had to solve this. I couldn't let her be in danger. I wouldn't. However, until I understood her, I was unable to take action. until I realized what her wolf was up to. 

Was she repressing it? If so, why was it hidden? I couldn't allow my suspicions to control me. I had to find out. I looked out my room window at the silvery moonlight that spilled across the stone floor. The goddess of the moon had a talent for bringing things into the open and bringing to light hidden truths. 

I couldn't push her because she was already dealing with so much but what if Emerald had her own reasons for keeping her true self hidden? What if this truth wasn't something I was meant to discover? However, I had to shield her from whatever Ivy had planned. 

Too much was on the line. I could not afford to let her down. Additionally, I couldn't afford to let Caden down. I ran my fingers through my hair once more as I started to get frustrated. Caden's choice to mate with Ivy would determine his future as Alpha, but he had a soft spot for Emerald.

His gaze on her made it clear to me. He held her in his heart. That much was clear. But when the very pack he led depended on his decision, how could he choose between duty and love? I had to figure out how to make this work. I had to first comprehend Emeralds' situation though. If she was an omega she wasn't just any omega. 

She was more complex than she first appeared to be. And I was determined to discover what it was. With a renewed sense of resolve, I pushed away from the wall and resumed my pacing. There were too many unresolved issues and suspicions.

Ivy couldn't take over the story and I couldn't allow her to hurt Emerald. But I also couldn't do it by myself. I needed to be astute and always one step ahead of the competition. 

And no matter what I was going to discover the truth. I was just beginning to feel the storm inside of me.