RYKER IS MINE

KELEIGH’S POV

I stared at the brothers, and they stared back at me. One face welcoming and pleasant, the other scowling and hateful. Two faces so identical, and yet so different. I wiped my cheeks and thought through my decision.

If I rejected the pleasant brother’s offer, I would be out on my own with nothing to my name, and no property of mine. Not to mention the risks of running into Jake and his henchmen out in the wild was very high. But if I stayed, then I could be protected—for six months, at least. I had no intention of accepting either of them as my mate, but at least I could use these months to plan out my next line of action, gather enough resources to take me even farther away from Jake than I already am. I would be free of all my shackles then.

“I accept,” I said, my voice hoarse from disuse. “I’ll stay here for six months.”

“Motherfucker,” muttered the unpleasant twin. He banged his hand on the table again, but this time I wasn’t caught off guard. I noticed that his brother ignored him completely, focusing only on me and smiling. I tried my best to smile back.

“That is great news,” he said. “I’m Ryker. My grumpy brother over here is Arnold. And we are happy to have you into our home.”

“Speak for yourself,” Arnold grumbled. “I didn’t agree to this.”

“I’m Keleigh,” I said, making it a point to look only at Ryker. Arnold wasn’t about to make my stay here easy for me, so I might as well begin to return the favour.

“Keleigh,” Ryker said slowly, testing the name on his lips. “That’s a beautiful name.”

Maybe a few days ago I would have smiled and blushed at the compliment. But a lot had changed since then. I just merely stared at him.

“Can I go?” I asked. “I need some time alone to attend to myself.”

“No.” Arnold stood up from his chair and stared down at me intimidatingly. “You’re not going anywhere until you tell me who the fuck you are.”

“For fuck’s sake, Arnold—”

“Zip it, man,” he cut his brother shut. “I’m trying to protect you here. You don’t know who this girl is. I don’t. You might be okay with just letting a total stranger waltz right in, but I’m not. I’m interrogating the scum and you’re not going to stop me.”

Ryker seemed like he was simmering with anger. But he kept his mouth shut and shot me an apologetic glance.

“So listen up, Keleigh.” He said my name like he was ingesting something vile. “If you’re thinking for one second that I’m gonna fall for you, that’s never going to happen. So don’t even try anything with me. You’re just a goddamn nobody. I mean, what wolf pack are you even from? Who is your father? Those questions so difficult to answer?”

My breath stitched involuntary as I felt a band of sadness and pain squeeze against my chest. The pain I had managed to held back this far, it came to the forefront, announcing itself. My vision went blurry with tears as the memories came back. Flashes of dismembered bodies, my father’s slashed throat, Jake’s bloodied grin. The screams, the smell. It all crashed into me at Arnold’s words. I bent my upper body over the table and allowed myself a few sobs against the tablecloth before coming back up, wiping my eyes and steadying my breath. These people will not see me broken. They will not see me at my lowest.

I looked directly into Arnold’s eyes, rage coursing through me. He seemed hesitant, like he hadn’t expected his words to hurt me as much as it had. “I’m just a nobody. That’s all that you should think of me. And I also promise that I’ll not fall for the both of you after these six months are done. And now I think I’ll be going to my room.”

I stood up from my chair to leave, but a guard coming into the hall made me pause.

“My Alphas,” he greeted, bowing. “The Beta and the Lady of the House are here.”

The beta and the Lady of the house. I wondered who they were. Curiosity pricked me, not just at the guard’s message but also at Arnold’s expression. His eyes had lost that spiteful bite in them and had morphed into something expectant, excited.

Well that was interesting.

“Maids!!” he called out. They rushed about, being directed by him on where they should place the food they had been making, what cutlery they should set. I gave Ryker a questioning glance.

“The Lady of the house is coming,” he said. “That means there should be a small feast. I think you should be part of it.”

He stood up from his chair and walked over to me, slowly, but purposefully. “I think you should sit... here.” He pointed at a chair opposite the one he stood up from.

He placed an arm around my back and guided me to the seat. I felt tingles and sparks radiate from his touch to the rest of my body. My heart beat a bit faster. He pulled out my chair and gave me a warm smile as I sat down in the chair.

“Thank you,” I said, smiling back a bit.

“It’s no problem,” he said, then winked, his smile still on his face.

That smile. I could get lost in that smile.

Jake also had a smile like that.

The thought came to me unbidden. My body went cold and all the tingles I had felt vanished. Jake had just taught me that nobody could be trusted, least of all the seemingly nice ones. Who knew what went on beyond that charming smile on Ryker’s face? Was he even more evil than Jake? At least Arnold didn’t hide his dislike for me. That I could appreciate. But this niceness from Ryker, it was too good to be true.

My smile morphed into a scowl and I turned away from him.

Almost simultaneously, the doors opened and a man and a woman, both looking very elegant in expensive outfits, walked in. Arnold, for the first time since I met him, smiled. He clapped the man on the shoulder as they chatted in greeting. Then he moved to the woman, whom he gave a very tender kiss on the cheek, hugging her tight.

The man’s eyes met mine and both our eyes widened simultaneously in shock. I hadn’t seen Roman since I was a child but I recognised him instantly. My, how he had grown. How did he get to this place? To this pack?

The moment lasted about two seconds before we broke eye contact, pretending like we didn’t know each other. My head buzzed with questions that needed answering.

Ryker greeted them in the same manner, albeit with a little less enthusiasm. Then he introduced me to them.

I saw the way the woman’s smile slipped from her face as she was told that I was their mate. Something in her eyes hardened as she looked me over. I felt extremely self-conscious and wanted to curl into myself away from her scrutinizing gaze. Her smile came back, but the hardness remained.

The woman’s name was Selene, I learned, and she was the woman that had been planned to mate with the twin Alphas. I guess I could understand why she hated me now. It didn’t make me like her any more though.

Throughout the dinner, Selene was so hyper focused on me she barely touched her food. She asked me question after question, probing harder and deeper into me till I felt like I was going to cry.

“Stop it, Selene,” Ryker said, sending a glare her way.

“What?” she said, feigning innocence. “I can’t help it if I’m curious about a stranger in our domain.”

“Same thing I told him,” said Arnold, “but the man is stubborn as a mule.”

“I mean, honey, I’m very worried for you,” she said to me, her tone saccharine. “You’re... not really looking your best after all. Or maybe this is how you always look like? Enlighten me, please.”

My face was so hot I feared it would catch fire.

“Selene, be quiet,” Ryker warned, a bit of steel creeping into his tone.

“Brother calm down. I think Selene’s questions are valid and she should be allowed to ask them. You wouldn’t want to be silenced, would you?”

“The two of you are just being unnecessarily spiteful,” Ryker responded.

“I can’t believe that you’re taking the stranger’s side over your brother and your mate’s.” Selene said ‘mate’ with a bit of emphasis.

And so the dinner went. Very awkward and hostile. I could only imagine how Roman felt. I lost my appetite and couldn’t finish my plate. Minutes later, the dinner thankfully came to a close.

The diners all exchanged thanks for the meal. Except me. Then Selene walked to me and put her arms around me.

“It’s been such a joy meeting you,” she said loudly for everyone to hear. Then, in a much quieter whisper meant for only me, she said, “You better back the fuck up, bitch. Ryker is mine.”

Then she stepped away from me, gave me another fake sweet smile and was gone.