Chapter 6 Keeping Promise
Ryker POV
My wolf was losing his mind.
I stood at my office window, watching Maya in the garden below. She sat on a bench with Zara, a sketchbook on her lap. Even from here, I could see how her hand shook as she drew.
It had been twenty-four hours since I'd brought her to Shadowpeak, and she was still so fragile.
'We should be with her,' my wolf snarled. 'Protecting her.'
'She's safe in our territory.'
'She's broken. Scared. She needs us.'
He wasn't wrong. She still flinched when anyone moved too quickly. She barely spoke above a whisper. She apologized for everything—breathing too loud, eating too much, taking up space.
It enraged me and broke my heart in equal measure.
When I'd first walked into that meeting room in Silvercrest and seen her cowering in the corner, something in me had recognized her. My wolf had gone completely still, focusing on her with an intensity I'd never experienced.
Then I'd caught her scent—wrong, all wrong, because her wolf was bound. But underneath the wrongness was something that called to both man and wolf.
Mine.
I'd had nine potential mates before Maya. Political arrangements, strategic alliances, women chosen for their bloodlines or pack positions. Not one of them had made my wolf react like this.
Not one of them had made me willing to risk everything.
A knock on my door pulled me from my thoughts.
"Come in."
Kade entered with Owen behind him. Both looked grim.
"We've got a problem," Kade said.
"What kind of problem?"
"Marcus is spreading rumors that you kidnapped his niece. He's telling other Alphas that you forced him to sign over an innocent girl."
I turned from the window, my hands clenching into fists. "Innocent. That's rich coming from a man who beat her for five years."
"He's claiming he was trying to protect the pack from her violent tendencies," Owen added. "Says she was bound for everyone's safety."
"And the other Alphas are believing this?"
"Some are skeptical," Kade said. "But Marcus is a good liar. He sounds convincing."
I paced across my office. This was exactly what I'd worried about. Marcus wouldn't go down without a fight, and his first move was to discredit me.
"We need to move up our timeline," I said. "The visit to Silvercrest happens tomorrow. Owen, I want you to gather every piece of information you can find about the deaths of Maya's parents. Medical records, investigation reports, everything."
"On it."
"Kade, reach out to your contacts in the Council. I want to know which Alphas are listening to Marcus and which ones might be sympathetic to our side."
"Consider it done."
They left, and I returned to watching Maya. She'd put down the sketchbook and was talking to Zara. A small smile crossed her face—the first real smile I'd seen from her.
'Pretty,' my wolf observed.
She was. Underneath the damage, underneath the fear and pain, Maya was beautiful. Delicate features, dark hair that caught the sunlight, eyes that held depths of strength she didn't recognize yet.
I wanted to protect her. I wanted to heal her. I wanted to destroy everyone who'd ever hurt her.
And I wanted her to be mine, truly mine, not just by contract but by choice.
'Patient,' my wolf warned. 'She's wounded. We must be careful.'
I knew that. I'd seen the panic in her eyes when I'd mentioned we'd share a bedroom. The way she'd assumed I'd demand immediate physical submission. The trauma ran deep.
But I was a patient man when I needed to be.
My phone buzzed. A text from Zara: She's asking about you. I think she's worried you're angry.
I sighed. Of course she was worried. She'd been conditioned to expect anger, to fear it.
I headed outside, crossing the lawn to where they sat. Maya's head shot up as I approached, her body tensing.
"Everything okay?" I asked, keeping my voice gentle.
"Fine," Maya said quickly. Too quickly.
"Zara said you were asking about me."
"I just... I wondered if I'd done something wrong. You seemed upset earlier."
"Not at you. Never at you." I sat down on the bench beside her. "I was angry about what your uncle is doing. He's spreading lies about you, about me. But we're going to prove him wrong."
"How?"
"By showing everyone exactly who you are." I nodded at her sketchbook. "Can I see?"
She hesitated, then handed it over. The page showed a rough sketch of the garden, with Zara sitting where she was now. The lines were uncertain but the composition was good.
"You're talented," I said.
"It's not very good."
"It's been five years since you've drawn. Give yourself credit." I handed it back. "Keep practicing. We'll get you better supplies."
"You don't have to do that."
"Maya." I waited until she looked at me. "Stop telling me what I don't have to do. I want to do these things. Let me."
She bit her lip, nodding slowly.
"Now, about tomorrow. We need to go over what to expect when we visit Silvercrest."
Her face went pale. "Do I really have to go?"
"I won't force you. But I think you need to do this. For yourself."
"I'm scared."
"I know. But I'll be with you every second. Your uncle won't be able to touch you." I leaned forward. "And Maya? This is your chance to face him. To show him that you're not afraid anymore."
"But I am afraid."
"Fear is natural. It's what you do with that fear that matters." I stood, offering her my hand. "Come on. Let's go inside and I'll tell you exactly what's going to happen tomorrow. Knowledge helps with fear."
She took my hand, letting me pull her to her feet. Zara gave me an approving nod and headed back to the house ahead of us.
Maya and I walked slowly across the lawn.
"Can I ask you something?" she said quietly.
"Anything."
"Why did you really bring me here? And don't say it was just about the alliance."
I stopped walking, turning to face her. "You want the truth?"
"Please."