chapter 7

~~~~Zoey ~~~~~~

After the guards dragged that foolish woman who called herself Ryker's Luna away to the dungeon, I finally felt some relief.

Thank goodness I had acted quickly.

I couldn't stand the thought of Ryker bringing another woman into his life, especially someone like Layla Draven. He should have rejected her the moment he discovered who she was. Instead, he had marked her and brought her into our pack.

An enemy's daughter as his Luna?

How ridiculous.

I had loved Ryker since childhood. Ever since my father, the former Beta of the Blood Moon Pack, helped save him when he was twelve after his family was attacked by their enemies, I had been by his side.

I remembered the boy he used to be, the pain he carried after losing his parents, and the years he spent growing into the powerful Alpha he was today.

I had watched him from a distance, hoping that one day he would finally see me as more than his childhood friend.

But fate had other plans.

And because of Ryker, I had even rejected my own mate.

I had convinced myself that it was worth it. After all, how could I accept another man when my heart had belonged to Ryker for so many years?

Yet now, Layla had appeared and taken the position I had always dreamed of.

I clenched my fists.

No. I wasn't going to let that happen.

Ryker led me back to my room, helping me sit on the chair before turning away.

I wanted to reach for his hand, perhaps even pull him closer, but he didn't give me the opportunity.

He walked towards the door without sparing me another glance.

"Ry..."

My voice trailed off as I watched his back disappear.

He didn't even turn around.

I stared at the doorway for a moment, my smile slowly fading.

What was happening to him?

Ryker had always been cold, but lately, something about his behaviour had changed. I couldn't understand why he was allowing that woman to affect him so much.

Perhaps he was only acting this way because of her.

That had to be it.

I stood up and walked towards the door. After confirming that Ryker was gone, I called for one of my maids.

"Aria!"

She appeared almost immediately.

"Yes, my lady?"

I glanced at her before speaking.

"Do we have any prepared food?"

"Yes, my lady."

A smile slowly spread across my face.

My mother had always been interested in poisons. Growing up, I had learned a few things from her, including how to prepare certain mixtures that could affect a wolf without immediately killing its human counterpart.

Fortunately, I still had a little of one such poison.

I had kept it hidden for emergencies.

And now, I finally had a reason to use it.

"Bring me a tray of food," I instructed.

Aria tilted her head slightly.

"Is there something special you would like me to do, my lady?"

I smiled at her.

"We have someone who needs to learn a lesson."

A knowing smile appeared on her face.

Aria had always been my favourite among the servants. She rarely questioned my instructions, and there was something about her personality that made her particularly suited to keeping secrets.

When she returned with the food, I dismissed her near the table and carefully took out the small container holding the poison.

I mixed it into the food, making sure it was properly concealed.

It wouldn't kill Layla.

At least, not immediately.

Its purpose was to weaken her wolf and interfere with the bond between her and Ryker. If the connection between their wolves became weak enough, perhaps Ryker would eventually lose his attachment to her.

And if he could no longer feel that connection, he might finally consider getting rid of her.

I covered the tray.

"Come with me," I told Aria.

She picked it up, and we left my room through the back corridor that led towards the dungeon.

The journey wasn't particularly long, but my excitement grew with every step.

I couldn't wait to see the expression on Layla's face when she realised that even being Ryker's mate wouldn't protect her from everyone in this pack.

When we finally arrived, the guards opened the entrance for us.

Layla was inside.

She looked surprised when she saw me, probably because she had expected Ryker to visit her instead.

I almost laughed.

Idiot.

I quickly arranged my expression into something softer and more welcoming before approaching her cell.

"Hello, Luna," I greeted sweetly.

Although I forced the words out, the title tasted bitter on my tongue.

Layla immediately moved closer to the small barred window.

"What the hell are you doing here after everything you've done?" she demanded.

I lowered my eyes slightly.

"I'm sorry about what happened earlier. Ryker has always been a good friend to me. We've known each other for years, and I never expected him to find his mate. But now that you're his Luna, I accept you. Even if Ryker doesn't seem to like you very much."

I pretended to wipe away a tear.

For a moment, she remained silent, staring at me as though she was trying to understand what I wanted.

Then she scoffed.

"So, you came here to lecture me about your relationship with him?"

I almost lost my smile.

What an unpleasant woman.

"No," I replied gently. "I came here because I want peace between us. I also brought you something to eat."

I reached for the tray and removed the covering.

A fresh serving of meat was revealed.

Layla's eyes widened slightly as she looked at it.

I noticed the way her gaze lingered on the food. Her wolf must have been hungry after spending so much time in that filthy dungeon.

She even licked her lips.

For a moment, I thought she would snatch the food from my hands.

But she seemed to be controlling herself.

How amusing.

"Go ahead," I encouraged her, extending the tray towards the opening.

She was just about to reach for it when the atmosphere suddenly changed.

A familiar presence filled the dungeon.

My smile disappeared for a fraction of a second.

I turned towards the entrance.

Ryker.

He walked into the dungeon with several guards behind him, his black Alpha robe flowing around his legs. His expression was frightening, and his eyes had turned red.

My heart skipped.

I immediately placed the tray down, pretending that I had simply been offering Layla some food.

"Ryker..." I began softly.

But he didn't look at me.

Not even once.

His gaze was fixed entirely on Layla.

I followed his eyes, then looked back at him.

Why was he looking at her like that?

I forced a small smile, hoping he would finally acknowledge my presence.

But he didn't.

His red eyes remained on the woman standing behind the bars.

And for the first time, I wondered whether there was something between them that I hadn't understood.

Something I might not be able to control.

I clenched my fingers under my sleeves.

No.

I had loved Ryker long before Layla Draven ever entered his life.

I wasn't going to lose him to her.