Chapter 96 Predestined Danger
The front yard was already in chaos by the time Ryker, Lyra and Dax burst out of the library.
Motorbike engines roared, harsh and angry, the sound noisily filling the air as several of the IronFangs men mounted their bikes, revving them hard like they were itching to tear the road apart beneath their wheels.
Others stood in tight clusters, fists clenched and voices raised as they argued heatedly, faces twisted with rage.
“Those bastards shouldn't have left here alive!”
“We should’ve wiped them out when we had the chance!”
“Titanium Pack thinks we’re weak now? Let’s show them what weakness looks like!”
Lyra’s heart lurched violently in her chest when she stepped out.
The anger in the air was so obvious that she almost didn't want to face them, even when she knew that she wasn't the object of their wrath.
“What’s going on?” she shouted, but her voice was drowned out by the roar of engines and furious shouting.
Ryker stepped forward, his presence alone commanding attention.
He raised his hand sharply and yelled. “Enough!”
The word sounded through the noise loudly and one by one, the voices fell silent.
The loud engines slowly died down and dozens of eyes turned toward him.
Ryker scanned the crowd calmly. “Someone tell me exactly what happened.”
A man stepped forward from the edge of the group.
He was sweating heavily, blood streaking the side of his temple, his breathing uneven like he’d been riding hard for miles.
“Alpha,” he said, bowing his head slightly. “It’s the Titanium Pack. They showed up at our western border.”
Ryker nodded and listened carefully.
“They attacked our scouts,” the man continued. “Caught us off guard and we fought them back, but they were testing us. Testing how far they could go.”
Lyra felt the blood drain from her face.
“The Titanium Pack?” she whispered. “Darius?”
The man nodded. “Yes, the mad alpha."
Her breath hitched as realization slammed into her. “He wants me back.”
Ryker turned sharply toward her. “No.” He said firmly.
“He doesn’t care about you,” Ryker said coldly. “Not like that. This is retaliation. He’s here because we took you from him and humiliated his pack.”
Lyra swallowed hard.
“I knew this would happen,” Ryker went on, anger bleeding into his voice now. “I told the council we should strike first and take the fight to him. This would have helped us establish some form of dominance before he grew bold.”
A few men looked away, knowing quite well that he was right.
“But you all refused,” Ryker said. “You wanted peace and you wanted to wait.”
His jaw tightened. “Now he thinks we’re cowards.”
The crowd erupted again, louder this time.
“We’ll tear him apart!”
“Let us go now!”
“We'll show him we're not afraid of his machines and guns!"
“Death to the Titanium Pack!”
Ryker turned abruptly and stormed back toward the house.
“Ryker!” Lyra called, panic clawing at her chest.
Dax stepped forward quickly, throwing his arms out to calm the men. “Stand down!” he barked. “All of you! You’ll get your chance, but losing your heads right now won’t help anyone!”
Grumbling filled the air, but they listened.
Lyra didn’t wait. She ran after Ryker.
She found him in their room, already shoving weapons and clothes into a duffel bag with sharp, angry movements.
“What are you doing?” she demanded. “You can’t just leave right now!”
He didn’t look at her. “I’m doing exactly what I should have done a long time ago.”
“They need you here,” Lyra said. “The pack needs you.”
Ryker laughed bitterly. “They don’t need me. They need to be protected from Darius before he decides to come here himself and slaughter them for sport.”
She grabbed his arm, forcing him to face her. “I need you.”
That stopped him.
Slowly, Ryker turned toward her, his expression unreadable. “What do you think I’m doing, Lyra?”
She opened her mouth, then froze.
“Wherever I’m going,” he said quietly, “you’re coming with me.”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
He reached for another duffel and tossed it at her. “Pack. You have just ten minutes. Meet me outside.”
“Ryker—”
“This isn’t a discussion,” he cut in. “I won’t leave you behind. Not now and not ever.”
Then he was gone.
Lyra stared after him for a second, heart pounding, before forcing herself into motion.
Ten minutes later, the front yard was filled up with men dressed and mounting their bikes.
Ryker stood at the center, issuing commands loudly.
“You,” he pointed, “stay behind. Guard the perimeter.”
“You, you, and you will be on bikes. You ride with me.”
Lyra stood near him, bag slung over her shoulder, trying to steady her breathing.
Ryker turned to Rex. “The pack is in your care.”
Rex blinked. “Me?”
She glanced instinctively at Dax, clearly expecting Ryker to give the order to his brother instead.
Dax noticed and frowned slightly but said nothing.
“You’ll keep the elders calm,” Ryker told Rex. “If anything happens, you send word immediately.”
Rex nodded slowly. “I understand.”
Ryker turned to Dax. “You’re not staying. You're one of our strongest fighters and you're coming with me.”
Dax’s brows shot up, then he grinned faintly. “I didn’t plan to stay.”
“There’s no way I’d let you stay back during a war,” Ryker said.
Dax’s smile widened. “Good. Because there’s no way I’d stay behind while Lyra’s riding into danger.”
He glanced at Lyra. “I’ll be right back.”
Then he jogged toward the house to grab his things.
The engines roared to life and Lyra climbed onto her bike, adrenaline flooding her veins.
“Hold me," he said softly and she didn't have to be told twice as she wrapped her hands around his waist.
One by one, the IronFangs mounted their bikes, two at a time, until dozens of engines thundered in unison.
“Let's show Darius who's stronger!" Ryker roared and they all replied with war cries.
And then, like a dark tide, they rode out onto the Ashvale roads, carrying war with them into the noon.