Chapter 55 Still in Lust
For a second, Ryker was frozen as her eyes roamed his body in ways he wasn't so comfortable with.
She stood there, her eyes wide as saucers as she looked at his scars.
Ryker didn’t wait for another second. He grabbed a shirt from the chair and yanked it on, the fabric sticking briefly to his damp skin before he buttoned it with impatient movements.
Lyra watched him, panicked.
“What happened to you?” she asked softly, taking a step closer.
He immediately stepped back, holding his hands up. “Don’t touch me.”
Without looking at her, he bent down, grabbed his boots, and shoved one foot inside with more force than necessary.
“What?” she asked, looking hurt at his words. “Something happened to you. Where did you get all these scars from?”
“It doesn’t matter. You’re back home and you’re safe. That’s all that matters.”
She tried coming to him again, but this time he sprang up, holding her hands back and stepping aside. “It’s just a scratch, Lyra. I’m not a baby that you have to fret over.”
She frowned. “Those scars are deep, Ryker. Deep enough to reach muscle. Who did that to you? What did you fight?”
He straightened, finally glancing at her, but his eyes were closed off and guarded. “Are you ready for the ceremony?”
Her breath caught. “What?”
“I’ve already assembled everyone for the rejection ceremony.”
“You’re changing the topic, Ryker. I want to know what’s with the injuries.”
“And I said don’t worry! What’s wrong with you?” he barked, and she jerked back, surprised at his tone.
“Oh,” she muttered, shocked.
“If you’re not comfortable with the ceremony, I’m sorry,” he continued flatly. “But it has to be done with you present. If there was a way to do it in your absence, I would. I’d save you the stress.”
“You’re really not speaking to me about what’s wrong?” she wondered. “You are hurt.”
“It doesn’t matter, Lyra,” he said coldly. “Let’s get this rejection thing done with.”
She stared at him as if he’d struck her.
Then, quietly, she said, “Rex was right.”
He paused.
“She said you crossed the river,” Lyra went on, her voice shaking now. “She said you went into vampire territory for me. I never believed her.”
Ryker looked at her, genuinely confused. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“Everything,” she whispered.
He scoffed. “You don’t need to feel guilty because I got a little scratch. You deserve the life you’re choosing, and that life is with Dax. I can’t stop you.”
“That’s not entirely true.” She moved closer. “Ryker, we need to talk.”
He shook his head and reached for his towel, tossing it aside. Lyra gasped and turned around instantly as he pulled on his leather trousers.
“What’s with the modesty?” he muttered. “You’ve seen all of me before.”
Her cheeks burned, and she didn’t turn back. She couldn’t.
Her body was already betraying her, reacting in ways she didn’t understand anymore. Every time she saw him like this, it felt worse. The attraction was getting even stronger despite how much she wanted to hold back.
“You can turn around,” he scoffed.
“I can’t,” she said breathlessly. “My body does this funny thing when you’re near.” Then she stopped herself before she could say more. “You know what, never mind. I want to know what happened across the river.”
“No,” he replied sharply. “This is pity. And I don’t want you to pity me.”
“It’s not pity,” she insisted. “I’m concerned. I think I’ve been believing a lie.”
He froze. “What lie?”
Lyra swallowed hard.
How could she say it without tearing open a wound that might never heal? Without turning brothers into enemies? Without destroying what little peace was left between them?
“I can’t tell you,” she admitted quietly. “But I thought—”
“Then don’t,” he interrupted. “If you can’t confide in me, don’t force it. I already know you want to be with Dax. I’m letting you do that. After this ceremony, you’ll be free.”
“Ryker, this is a huge misunderstanding, I swear.”
He laughed humorlessly. “Is it the misunderstanding where you’ve been in my brother’s arms since you returned? Or the one where you’re choosing him over me?”
She flinched.
“I’ve not made that choice,” she said softly, more to protect him than herself.
“And you don’t have to,” he replied immediately. “I’ll give you the liberty to be with him. You don’t have to leave the pack. I want you safe, and I want you happy.”
“I don’t know why you think I can’t be happy with you,” she said softly, looking away.
Ryker stared at her for a second, confused at this new part of her. She was an enigma. One second she was longing for him like he was oxygen, and the next she was kissing his brother so passionately and moaning.
What was he to believe?
“You are playing with me, Lyra. And it’s not funny.”
Lyra blinked. “I swear I’m not.”
“Tell that to Dax when he makes you come.”
Lyra gasped. “What?! He hasn’t!”
“I don’t believe you.”
She looked at him and was sure that whatever trust they shared was gone. He looked like a man who’d made up his mind.
“You’re really going through with this?”
“It’s the only way to keep you here, so you don’t run off like you threatened.”
“I never said I was running off.”
“Oh, but you made it clear that I’m controlling you, and I think you’re right. As long as you’re my mate and my wife, I will always want to be in control of your safety and your life. I want to possess you and own your soul and your body.” Then he sighed. “That’s not my duty anymore. Now, I’m just an Alpha keeping his pack member safe.”
Her throat tightened. “Ryker, wait.”
He pulled on his jacket and turned toward the door.
“See you at the ceremony, Lyra,” he said quietly. “Don’t be late.”
Then he walked out, and the door shut with a sad click.