chapter 9

~~~~~~~Layla~~~~~

The maid led me through a series of elegant corridors before stopping in front of an enormous room. The moment I stepped inside, my eyes widened slightly.

It was breathtaking.

Beautiful dresses of different colours and designs filled the wardrobes, while expensive decorations adorned the walls. Even the polished marble floor looked more luxurious than anything I had ever seen. Everything about the room screamed wealth and royalty.

I couldn't help but admire it.

For once, I wasn't thinking about Ryker. In fact, I was almost relieved that he seemed to have someone else in his heart. Perhaps that would make things easier for me. If he already loved another woman, there was a good chance he would eventually reject me. Our mate bond wasn't particularly strong yet, so perhaps there was still hope of escaping this unwanted connection.

However, I could feel Leah's sadness.

My wolf had been unusually quiet since everything happened. She hadn't said a single word, but I could sense the disappointment weighing heavily on her. I felt sorry for her, even though I couldn't understand why she was so attached to a man who clearly wanted nothing to do with me.

The maid gestured towards another door.

"Your bath is ready, Luna."

I followed her inside and immediately caught the sweet fragrance of roses. A large bathtub stood in the middle of the beautifully decorated bathroom, filled with warm water and rose petals.

A smile almost escaped my lips.

I missed taking baths in the comfort of my own home. At least this place had something I could appreciate.

"Enjoy your bath, Luna," the maid said before closing the door behind her.

I quickly removed my clothes, only to pause when I noticed my wounds.

They were gone.

I stared at my skin in disbelief, running my fingers over the places where the injuries had been.

How was that possible?

I remembered how badly I had been hurt, yet there wasn't even a scar left behind. I had heard stories about werewolves possessing healing abilities, but experiencing it myself was something entirely different.

Did that mean my wolf was responsible?

I shook my head, deciding not to waste my time thinking about it. I stepped into the bathtub and slowly lowered myself into the warm water.

"Oh, goodness..."

A satisfied sigh escaped my lips as I leaned back. The warmth soothed my tired muscles, and for a few precious minutes, I forgot that I was practically a prisoner in an unfamiliar pack.

Then Ryker's words suddenly came back to me.

I was supposed to accompany him to a meeting.

My peaceful expression disappeared.

What exactly did he want me to do there? Was he planning to humiliate me in front of the other Alphas? If that was his intention, he was in for a surprise. I had no plans of making things easy for him.

But another thought crossed my mind.

The food that woman had brought me earlier.

I had suspected something was wrong with it from the moment she offered it. There had been something strange about its scent, something I couldn't quite identify. I had wondered whether she had poisoned it, but now I was beginning to think the substance was meant to weaken the mate bond between Ryker and me.

Perhaps she wanted to help me escape him.

She had seemed unusually caring, which was why I had almost trusted her enough to eat the food. Unfortunately, Ryker had interrupted everything before I could find out more.

My stomach growled loudly, reminding me that I hadn't eaten properly.

I glanced at the bathtub before reluctantly getting up.

Maybe it was time to find the kitchen myself. I couldn't afford to trust everyone in this pack. If I wanted to survive until Ryker finally decided to reject me, I would have to be careful about everything I ate and drank.

I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around my body before stepping outside.

The maids were already waiting for me. One held a selection of dresses, while another carried what appeared to be accessories and shoes.

"Which one would you prefer, Luna?" one of them asked politely.

My eyes moved across the dresses before settling on a beautiful purple robe. Its delicate design and luxurious fabric immediately caught my attention.

"That one."

The maids exchanged a quick glance before helping me get dressed.

After what felt like an eternity of having them fuss over my hair, clothes, and accessories, I was finally ready.

I stood before the mirror, admiring my reflection.

The purple robe fitted beautifully, and my hair had been styled to perfection. I looked nothing like the miserable girl who had been dragged into this pack against her will.

I lifted my chin and admired myself once more.

If they expected me to walk around looking defeated, they were terribly mistaken.

I was still Layla Draven, and I had no intention of forgetting that.

With my head held high, I walked out of the room, carrying myself with all the confidence I could muster.

A guard was waiting outside to escort me.

"Follow me, Luna."

I didn't bother responding. I simply followed him through the corridors until we reached what appeared to be a private dining room.

The moment I entered, my attention was immediately drawn to the table.

Food!

There were several dishes arranged beautifully across it, including different kinds of meat, vegetables, and other delicacies. The delicious aroma made my stomach growl again.

Ryker was seated at the head of the table, looking as intimidating and unapproachable as ever.

I couldn't care less.

I hurried towards the table, lifted the edge of my robe slightly, and settled into one of the chairs. My eyes widened as I examined the variety of food before me.

There was so much of it!

I reached for a piece of meat with my bare hand, but something made me pause.

When I looked up, I realised everyone was staring at me.

The maids, the guards, and even Ryker.

I frowned.

What?

Was there something wrong with eating?

I hated being looked at as though I were some uneducated village girl who had never seen a proper dining table.

I reluctantly withdrew my hand and picked up a pair of chopsticks instead.

There.

Satisfied, I began eating with as much dignity as I could manage.

The food was delicious, and I was far too hungry to care about the awkward silence surrounding me. I had barely finished my fifth piece of meat when Ryker suddenly stood up.

"Let's go."

I ignored him.

He couldn't possibly expect me to abandon my food after barely getting the chance to eat.

"Let's go, Layla."

Still, I didn't answer. I simply picked up another piece of meat.

Who did he think he was? Just because he was an Alpha didn't mean he could order me around every second of the day.

Before I could take another bite, he approached me and grabbed my hair, pulling me away from the table.

"Ouch!"

A cry escaped my lips as pain shot through my scalp.

I immediately slapped his hand away.

"Get your hands off me! I'm not going anywhere!" I snapped, pushing against his chest.

His expression darkened, but instead of letting me return to my seat, he grabbed me again and began dragging me towards the door.

I could feel the maids watching us.

Absolutely not.

I refused to let them enjoy the sight of me being dragged around like some helpless prisoner. Whatever happened between Ryker and me, I wasn't going to give his servants a reason to look down on me.

I struggled against his grip, trying to free myself, but he was much stronger.

Then an outrageous idea crossed my mind.

If he wanted to drag me around, perhaps I should make things difficult for him.

Without warning, I threw my arms around his neck and pulled myself against him, pressing my entire weight onto his body. I even wrapped my legs tightly around his waist, refusing to let go.

For a moment, everything went silent.

I could practically feel the shock radiating from everyone in the room.

The maids immediately looked away, while the guards suddenly found the walls and floor incredibly interesting.

Good.

Let them look away.

I wasn't the least bit embarrassed.

However, something strange happened.

Ryker didn't immediately push me away.

He stood completely still, his hands hovering uncertainly as though he hadn't expected me to do something so ridiculous.

I tightened my hold, determined to make him regret trying to drag me away.

But then I noticed something.

My heart was beating unusually fast.

A strange warmth began spreading through my body, starting from my chest and travelling down to my stomach. It was unlike anything I had experienced before.

My breathing became uneven.

What was happening to me?

I suddenly became aware of how close we were. His scent surrounded me, and my body seemed to respond to his presence in a way I couldn't control.

I hated it.

Why was my heart racing like this?

Was Leah doing something?

Or was this some strange reaction to the mate bond?

I quickly loosened my grip and dropped my legs, landing on my feet.

The moment I stepped away, I felt strangely disappointed, but I immediately pushed the feeling aside.

No.

I couldn't afford to start developing feelings for Ryker. That would only make my situation worse.

Besides, wasn't he already interested in someone else?

Perhaps my wolf was simply going through some kind of mating phase. I had no idea how these things worked, but whatever was happening, I needed it to stop.

I turned around, intending to put some distance between us.

But before I could take another step, Ryker caught my wrist and pulled me back.

"Ryker, what are you—"

My words disappeared when he drew me closer and suddenly crushed his lips against mine.

My eyes widened.

For a moment, I couldn't move.

His lips were warm against mine, and an unfamiliar spark shot through my entire body. The strange heat I had been trying to suppress intensified instantly.

My heart hammered against my chest.

What the hell was happening?

Why was my body responding to him like this?

I wanted to push him away, to remind him that I wasn't someone he could simply take whenever he pleased.

But the sudden intensity of the mate bond left me completely stunned.