Six.

Present

Aria's POV

Exactly one hour later, I hear the turn of the key. I hadn’t moved from the spot where he had left me. My original plan was to escape, but when trying to figure out how to get out, it dawned on me that Ryan was expecting it. That's why he had locked me in, that’s why he had given me a time, he wanted to see what I would do.

He had a scent unlike anyone else, and it had already found its way into the room under the door. Before he had even got through the door.

His eyes settle on me, but in the same way as before, not quite looking at me. But I could see how annoyed he looked that I was still here. His wolf is a hunter and he had always enjoyed the thrill of the chase. I had ruined his fun!

“Get up!” 

When I don’t move, he rips me up to my feet. I try to keep myself from whimpering, but some squeals escape. My body ached and he was making it worse.

“You will listen to me Aria. Things will only get worse for you”

“Maybe you will listen to me when you find out that Seren has abandoned you!”

Knowing that my sister had so easily betrayed Moon Bay, broke my heart. Pack life was something that me and my siblings had been raised to love, to protect and she had given that up for a mate!

“If you are not going to listen to me, then we will do things my way!” He pulls me towards the bathroom, holding me fully clothed in the shower and turning the water on. He holds me still as I weakly try to fight him. 

My whimpers grow as he turns the temperature of the water up and I feel the change of the heat, soaking through my jumper, scolding my skin.

“I told you to clean yourself up” he growls at me, his hand around my throat as my fingers desperately claw at his hand. He knew the water would be close to burning me.

My eyes close, as his hand tightens around my throat and I stop fighting, death would be better than torture. 

“Fucking idiot” Ryan mutters as his hand lets go of my throat and I gasp for breathe. 

My body slides down to the shower floor as I hear him turn the water off, I didn’t care that I was soaked, I just wanted it to all be over.

******

Opening my eyes, the blood rushes to my head as I try to sit up. My soaking wet clothes had been removed, instead I was in white silk pyjamas. Reaching for my neck, I still feel the pressure that Ryan had put on me, almost like his hand was still there, gently squeezing. It was sore, my throat ached and as I looked in the mirror, I could see a deep purple bruise had formed on my neck. Why hadn’t he just killed me, what had made him stop? 

The door was locked, I only tried once before giving up, instead crossing the room and sitting in the bay window. Pulling my legs up to my chest, I watch people outside get on with their lives. People that I didn’t even recognise, move around the grounds, without a single care that they had destroyed an entire pack.

Seren was easy to spot, walking hand in hand with the guy that was her mate. I was disgusted that my sister had sold out so easily,  Kyle would feel the same. Wherever he was! 

Hearing the turn of the lock, I jump but force myself to remain still as the door swings open.

“I’m glad to see that you are awake,” the words roll off of his tongue. A voice that I used to hang on to, listening to every single world like he had been the Moon Goddess himself. Now, I couldn’t stand the sound of it.

I continue to look out the window, watching my sister laugh with her mate. I was trying to hide my annoyance, but deep down I had always known that Seren was a traitor. 

“Seren and Anton, not what I would have liked but it is what it is!”

I don’t say anything, still trying to hide my annoyance. I turn to look at Ryan, my jaw almost hitting the floor at his half naked body. I have to work extra hard to keep my mouth closed.

He had been muscly before, but he had become a lot more defined since. With perfect hip dips being revealed by his low slung joggers. His previously untouched skin, now covered in tattoos, tattoos that spread out across his chest and shoulders and probably all down his back.

“Wh…what happened to you?” I struggle to get my words out, and when they do come, they are all raspy from the strangulation.

“It doesn’t matter” Ryan’s low growl makes me turn my eyes away. 

“Now eat” he gestures to a plate of food.

I couldn’t deny how hungry I was, but if I ate, I knew I was giving in, giving in to his demands. When I don't move. Ryan grabs me by the wrist forcing me out of the window seat, across the room and into the chair at the small table. 

Staring at the food, I don’t move,my damp dark hair falls down over my face as I try to resist the smell. It was my favourite -Hunter’s chicken- and Ryan knew it. He had done this on purpose.

Annoyed with my stubbornness, he grabs another chair. Sitting next to me, he begins cutting up the food and holding it to my lips.

Turning my head away, I jam my lips shut. Wondering why Ryan was trying to keep me alive?!.

“Aria eat!” 

There was frustration in his voice. I could tell I was pulling on his every nerve. It was making him angry and he was going to snap if I didn’t start submitting to him.

Grabbing my jaw, Ryan forces his thumb into my mouth, leaving enough room to slip in a mouthful of food. He was going to make me eat whether I liked it or not.

I couldn’t resist, it was my favourite food and the small bite was making my mouth salivate. Reluctantly, I chew the small piece of food, staring at Ryan but he still wouldn’t meet my eyes. 

Swallowing the mouthful and accepting how hungry I really am, I take the fork from Ryan and continue eating, a satisfying smile appearing on Ryan’s lips.

I take my time eating, mostly because Ryan stayed to watch me, but partly because it was hurting. His grip on my throat had done some serious damage.I remain quiet when he asks me questions about the pack. Ryan appeared to have forgotten things about Moon Bay, it didn’t make sense, he had lived in the pack almost three years.

As I take my last mouthful, Ryan takes the empty plate and cutlery away. Kissing me on the cheek, he whispers in my ear, “Good girl”.