Chapter 16 Rylan

MARCUS POV

The moment I stepped out of the car, my whole body froze. Rylan let out a vicious snarl inside me, so loud it echoed through my skull.

There, right in front of the window of her parents’ house, a Rogue wolf was attacking Selena. For a second, my vision went completely red. No thought. No reasoning. Just rage.

“How dare he touch her,” Rylan growled, pushing forward so hard my bones cracked from the force of holding him back.

Selena stumbled backward, terror written all over her face. Her hands shaking as she tried to shield herself with her arms as the wolf lunged at her again, teeth bared, aiming to tear into her flesh. She was defenseless. Fragile. Humans. And the bastard wolf knew it. 

I didn’t even think.

I didn’t breathe.

My body moved before I even realized it.

I shifted mid-air.

One heartbeat I was in my clothes, the next I was in my full Lycan form, landing between Selena and the wolf with a roar so loud and powerful the ground vibrated beneath us.

The wolf skidded back, startled, but it was already too late. Rylan had taken full control.

“MINE TO PROTECT!” He roared

He slammed into the rogue with such force that sent the attacker rolling across the yard, whining pathetically. But Rylan wasn’t done. He was out for blood. He wanted to end him so brutally the entire rogue pack would feel it and know who they shouldn’t act against next time.

And I felt everything, every ounce of rage, fear, and desperation.

Fear that I almost lost her.

Fear something happened to her parents.

Fear that she could’ve been taken from us or killed before I even understood what she meant to me.

The rogue staggered up, baring his teeth, but one glare from us made him freeze.

He knew exactly who stood before him.

A Lycan royal prince.

And a furious one.

Selena’s scent hit me through the chaos, fearful, shaken, terrified, but alive.

That was the only thing that kept Rylan from ripping the wolf to pieces.

“Don’t kill him yet,” I growled inside. “We need to know who sent him.” Rylan snarled deeply but listened, barely.

I stepped forward, towering over the rogue wolf. His body trembled violently. Good. He should tremble. “Shift,” I ordered, my voice deep and dangerous. He hesitated.

Rylan bared his fangs, so aggressively that the wolf flinched and instantly shifted into a man, collapsing on the ground in his human form bloody, terrified.

Selena gasped behind me. I heard her heartbeat, fast, shaking, uneven. Everything in me wanted to turn around, lift her into my arms, to tell her I was here now and nothing would hurt her again. Also to check every inch of her skin, make sure she wasn’t hurt.

But first, I needed answers.

And this man was going to talk. “Who sent you?” I growled, my voice dangerous enough to make the air vibrate.

He stayed silent, staring at the ground. A very stupid, suicide choice. Rylan stepped forward, claws sliding out, hovering just inches from the rogue’s throat.

“Talk,” I snarled. “Or you won’t leave here alive.”

The man opened his mouth, but suddenly arched backward, choking on air, eyes bulging. He wasn’t shifting. He wasn’t resisting. He was dying.

His body twisted unnaturally, veins turning black, foam bubbling from his lips. Within seconds, he collapsed lifeless onto the ground. A death curse.

Someone had placed a spell or bond on him so he couldn’t speak. Whoever sent him wanted to make sure he died before revealing anything.

Who the hell could have done that?

Lyra came to mind immediately, and Rylan growled violently.

“I swear if it’s her,” he snarled, “I will tear her apart myself.”

I lifted my gaze. Selena stood there, trembling, staring at the dead body, then she looked away and slowly raised her eyes to meet mine. She was still afraid but her fear wasn’t of me. But of what had just happened.

She took a shaky step forward. Then another. Her eyes moved over my Lycan form from head to toe, confused, fascinated and cautious.

“Does she like us like this?” Rylan asked eagerly.

“I don’t know,” I answered.

To my surprise, she stepped even closer. Still scared, but she didn’t run. She swallowed hard.

She hesitated, then whispered, “Can I touch it?”

Rylan didn’t even let me answer.

He nodded instantly, too quickly and pushed forward, taking complete control before I could stop him.

Selena slowly reached out, her hand brushing the thick fur of my neck. Her touch was warm, gentle, and something inside us relaxed for a moment.

“Hi,” she whispered softly, still touching us.

“Hello, I'm Rylan” He replied, his voice deep, husky, and overly pleased with himself.

She blinked at him. “Are the two of you different? I mean, Marcus, but also one person?”

Rylan nodded proudly. “Yes. But we are one.”

She smiled a little, a small, shaken smile, but beautiful. “Thank you for saving me.”

“Don’t thank me,” Rylan replied instantly. “I like you.” I snapped inside. How dare he say that so easily? “Rylan” But he ignored me.

He continued, “I am sorry about Marcus. For speaking to you in a harsh way yesterday.”

What the hell was he doing apologizing on my damn behalf??

That was it. I fought him for control and after some struggle, I finally regained control, shifting instantly into human form, fully clothed. A gift only royal-blooded Lycans had.

Selena’s eyes flicked to mine, surprised. “How are you feeling?” I asked quietly, stepping closer. She looked down, twisting her fingers nervously. “I’m fine… sir,” she said softly.

She didn't speak to me the way she spoke to Rylan. With him she was soft and open. With me formal and distance. Why?

“That’s good.” I said. “But you have to be careful. Your scent has changed. I think you must have noticed it too.” Her eyes widened slightly.

“It can draw shifters to you because it’s intoxicating.” I continued. “Too intoxicating. So from now on be extra careful.” 

“Okay, sir.” she whispered. “Thank you,” I nodded. I hated this distance. Her calling me “sir” hurt in a way I didn’t expect.

I took a slow breath. The apology had been burning in my chest for hours.

“And I’m sorry.” I said and she looked up at me. “For the way I talked to you yesterday. I was upset about something unrelated and I took it out on you. That was wrong. I shouldn’t have. Can you forgive me? Can we start fresh, on a clean note and get to know each other properly?”

She didn’t answer. She opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something… then closed it again. She swallowed hard.

“I know I was rude,” I continued. “But I feel attracted to you. And as you can see, I’m a Lycan and one of the top leaders. I have to be careful. I’ve never felt anything like this before. That’s why I was afraid you might’ve been sent by our enemies. Let’s start fresh and forget everything that happened before. Let whatever we feel happen naturally without suppressing it.”

She looked happy for a moment, like she wanted to say yes. But then her expression changed completely.

“Sir… I forgive you,” she said softly. “But I will just do my best to be a good PA. Nothing more. I think you misunderstood me. I did not suppressed anything”

My mind went blank.

Her words hit me like a punch.

Nothing more?

That was a lie. I could see it in her eyes.

She liked me. She wanted me. She reacted to me the same way I reacted to her. So why was she stepping back? What’s holding her? Was she hiding something? Something was off. Very off. I have to find out.

“Alright,” I said quietly, even though nothing about this was alright.

I turned and walked back to my car.

As I drove away, my mind raced.

Why did she push me away? Was someone threatening her? Someone must have scared her, was it Lyra because she is the only one that can do that.

Did this rogue attack have something to do with her? And the biggest question, who sent the rogue?

I lied to her. It wasn’t her scent that drew the rogue. Something much darker was happening. And now I needed to find out what. Before someone else tried to take her from me.