Violet's POV
He didn’t respond, simply carried me up the steps toward the front door of the pack house. My mind was spinning, trying to process what was happening. I hated this. I hated feeling so helpless. I hated the way my heart was betraying me, aching for something I couldn’t name.
The door opened before we reached it, and I saw a figure standing in the doorway. Ryker.
I froze, the weight of his gaze almost suffocating. I had no idea what to expect from him. I had no idea what this moment meant.
Ryker took a step forward, his arms opening wide. “Violet.”
Without thinking, I was in his arms, his embrace warm and familiar, a sharp contrast to the coldness that had plagued me for so long. He held me tight, as if he never wanted to let go, and for a brief, fleeting moment, I let myself believe in the comfort of his touch.
But it was fleeting. Reality settled back in. Ryker wasn’t my savior. He wasn’t the answer to all the pain I’d been through.
I pulled back slightly, looking up at him with suspicion. “Why did you tell Logan to get me out of there?” I demanded. “Why?”
Ryker’s gaze softened, and his voice was low, almost regretful. “Because I couldn’t stand seeing you there. I couldn’t stand seeing you hurt.”
My chest tightened at his words, but the anger still simmered beneath the surface. “You think this makes everything okay?” I spat. “You think rescuing me after all this time changes anything?”
Ryker’s expression faltered, the hardness in his eyes slipping for just a second. But he didn’t answer. Instead, he looked past me, his gaze shifting to Logan, who stood a few feet away, watching us with an unreadable expression.
I couldn’t help but feel like a pawn in some game I didn’t understand, and I hated it. I hated the way they both stood there, pretending like everything could be fixed with a few kind words and a rescue. But nothing could erase what had happened.
“I don’t need saving,” I muttered, my voice small, but the anger was still there.
“You see, she doesn't even appreciate your help,” Logan blurted out, slamming the door of his car shut with a loud thud. He brushed past me, his shoulder grazing mine, and I could feel the sting of his words like a slap. My glare followed him, burning with anger and resentment. I wanted to shout something, anything, to make him understand, but my throat felt tight, the words stuck.
The air was thick with tension as I turned away from Logan, my eyes flickering over the crowd of pack members that had gathered in front of the house. But just as I was about to step forward, a cold chill washed over me. My skin prickled, a familiar weight settling on my chest. I didn’t need to turn around to know who had entered the space behind me.
I could feel his presence before I saw him.
Alpha Xaden.
The one who had rejected me, the one who had cast me aside without a second thought. His scent, a mixture of pine and fire, filled the air as I turned, my body instinctively pulling away. He stood at the top of the stairs, watching me with his unreadable gaze. His posture was commanding, his presence demanding attention as if he was the entire world.
“Who brought her back?” Alpha Xaden's voice was a low growl, tinged with authority and something darker. He took a step forward, his eyes never leaving mine, like I was prey he wanted to devour.
I couldn’t help it. My feet moved, a sudden instinct taking over. I started to pass him, my body brushing past his without a word, my heart hammering in my chest. But before I could take another step, his hand shot out, gripping my arm with an iron-tight hold.
I froze, my heart skipping a beat, a shiver of fear running through me. “Let go of me!” I snapped, twisting in his grip, but his fingers only tightened.
Xaden’s gaze never wavered. He leaned closer, his breath hot against my ear. “Answer me, Violet,” he growled. “Who brought you back?”
I couldn’t look at him. I didn’t want to. My mind screamed at me to break free, to escape the suffocating grip he had on me, but all I could do was yank my arm free, finally breaking free of his hold.
Without saying a word, I stepped past him once more, refusing to meet his gaze. I didn’t owe him anything—not anymore. But even as I walked away, I could feel his eyes burning into the back of my neck, his presence haunting me.
I stepped into the grand hallway of the mansion, the polished marble floor glistening under the soft glow of chandeliers. As I passed, the maids—always so obedient, always so... eager—lined up, bowing their heads in unison. But I didn’t spare them a glance. Their respect, their reverence—it meant nothing to me. I’d seen it too many times before.
“Get me some fruit,” I said, my voice sharp as I motioned dismissively. “I need something to eat. Now.”
The maid nearest to me hesitated, her eyes wide, then quickly nodded. “Of course, Lady Violet. Right away.”
As she scurried off, I took the stairs two at a time, my heels clicking with a rhythmic echo that somehow made me feel even more powerful, more in control. But deep down, there was an emptiness gnawing at me, something I couldn’t quite place. It was as if something.
And then, just as I reached the top of the stairs, a voice shattered my thoughts.
“Violet.”
I froze. The world stopped moving for a brief moment. I didn’t even have to look to know who it was. I turned anyway, and there he was—Ryker. His gaze locked with mine, and for a second, it felt like everything around us faded into the background.
Without thinking, I ran to him. My heart leapt, and before I knew it, I had thrown my arms around him, burying my face in the familiar scent of his clothes.
"I... I missed you," I whispered, my voice betraying me.
His hands were hesitant at first, then they wrapped around me, holding me close. “I missed you too, Violet,” he murmured, his voice warm against my ear.
I pulled back just enough to look at him, my fingers lightly brushing his cheek. “ I'm sorry for acting angry.” My words were laced with vulnerability.
“When did you start a relationship in the pack house?” xaden's deep voice echoed through. I wasn't that weak lady he had always known, am not going to let him, intimidate me.