“I don’t negotiate, I take. But just this once… name it.” Ryker’s voice was low, commanding. “Whatever you want, it’s yours.” Serena’s heart pounded. He had taken everything from her, her freedom, her choices, her life. And now, he was acting like he could grant her a wish? “Huh?” “Yes, speak your desire and I will make it a command.” “Anything?” He nodded, his grip firm around her waist, his golden eyes locked on her. “Then I want your life. I want you dead!” Silence filled the room. Serena braced herself for his anger. But instead, Ryker smiled. “Alright.” Before she could react, he turned and said, “Bring me a knife.” The blade was cold in her hands, her fingers shaking as she clutched it. This was her chance, her revenge. The moment she had dreamed of. She didn’t hesitate. The knife plunged into his chest. His body fell. His blood spilled. And yet, moments later… he was standing right in front of her. Serena’s breath caught in her throat. She looked down, his lifeless body was still on the floor. But he… he was alive. Watching her. Smirking. “You got what you wanted,” he said. “Now, it’s my turn.” She had tried to kill the monster who killed her father right in front of her. But monsters don’t die so easily. And now, she was his. “Welcome to my world.”
Lihat lebih banyakChapter 1
The Man Who Wasn’t Human “He ripped him apart like an animal!” My voice shook as it echoed through the courtroom, but I didn’t care. Let them hear it. Let them all hear the truth. I gripped the wooden railing in front of me, my nails digging into the polished surface. My chest heaved with every breath, my heart hammering against my ribs. Dozens of eyes were on me, watching, waiting. Some were filled with pity. Others with doubt. But I knew what I saw. “My dad…” My throat tightened, but I forced the words out. “He didn’t just die. He suffered.” The memories crashed over me, raw and unrelenting. The sound of flesh tearing. The way his body convulsed. His screams turning into weak, gurgling gasps before fading into silence. I squeezed my eyes shut, shoving the images away. Focus, Serena. I turned my head slowly, my stomach twisting. The man who had done it sat just a few feet away. Calm. At ease. Like this was nothing more than a minor inconvenience. I forced myself to meet his gaze. He was too perfect. Broad shoulders, dark hair that fell into place without effort, sharp cheekbones that made him look almost elegant. The kind of face people trusted. But his eyes… His eyes were wrong. Even under the bright courtroom lights, they looked unnatural. Too light. Too cold. They held no guilt, no remorse. And worst of all—he was amused. A smirk played on his lips as he watched me. Like I was nothing but entertainment. A fresh wave of anger burned through me. “I might be fifteen,” I said, my voice steadier this time, “but I know what I saw.” The room was silent for a moment. Then someone chuckled near the back. Heat crawled up my neck. “They think I’m lying,” I muttered under my breath. Then, louder, “I know what I saw.” I pointed at him. “One second, he was across from my dad. The next, he was there. Too fast. Too smooth. No human moves like that.” The defense lawyer sighed dramatically, adjusting his tie. “Your Honor, she’s a child. It’s not unusual for a teenager to exaggerate after witnessing something traumatic.” My hands clenched into fists. “I am not making this up!” My voice cracked with frustration. “His eyes glowed! His nails, they turned into claws! He wasn’t human!” A few murmurs spread through the room. Someone whispered something about horror movies. No one believed me. I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat nearly choking me. My hands trembled, but I stood my ground. The judge sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. She glanced at the papers in front of her, then back at him. And that’s when I knew. I knew exactly what she was about to say. “Given the lack of evidence and the witness’s age, the court finds the defendant,” she hesitated, just for a second, “not guilty.” Not guilty. The words barely settled before I heard it, the slow scrape of a chair against the floor. My entire body tensed. He was moving. Toward me. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as his shadow loomed over me. I forced myself to stay still. To not flinch. He was taller than I thought. His presence swallowed the space between us, his movements slow and measured. Like everything he did was planned long before he did it. A predator in the skin of a man. He leaned in, his breath ghosting over my cheek. “Run, little girl,” he murmured. His voice was quiet. Too quiet. A warning. A promise. “Stay hidden. Because I’m coming for you soon.” I choked on a breath. He smiled. Not kind. Not gentle. Just cruel. Then he turned and walked away, as if none of this mattered. As if I didn’t matter. I stood there, frozen. My fingers dug into the railing, my legs refusing to move. Then I ran. I didn’t remember leaving the courtroom. I didn’t remember bursting through the heavy doors or stumbling into the street. But when I finally stopped, I was home. My lungs burned. My hands shook so badly I could barely grab the closet handle. I ripped the door open, shoving things aside until I found it. A visa. My dad had given it to me last week. Pressed it into my palm with urgency. “Serena, if anything ever happens, if I start acting strange… run.” I didn’t listen. I should have. I grabbed the visa and bolted out the door. No bags. No clothes. Just the desperate, choking panic that told me I had to leave. I ran down the street and flagged the first taxi I saw. “The airport,” I gasped. “Fast.” The driver gave me a strange look but nodded, speeding off. I barely breathed. My hands still trembled. My mind raced, trying to make sense of everything. Then I looked into the side mirror, and froze. A sleek black car followed behind us, keeping a careful distance. My stomach lurched. My fingers curled into the seat. I leaned forward, heart pounding, and peered through the window. I felt sick. He was in the car, watching me, his lips curved into a smirk. I turned to the driver, my throat tight. “Go faster.” The car sped up,So did his. By the time we reached the airport, my legs barely held me up as I stumbled out. My fingers fumbled with my boarding pass. I rushed through security, moving as fast as my body would allow. I just needed to get on that plane. The waiting area felt suffocating. I clenched my ticket so hard my knuckles turned white. Then, finally, they called my number. I stepped forward, my chest loosening and then, I saw him. Standing near the terminal. Watching me. I froze. His eyes locked onto mine. He didn’t move. Didn’t chase me. He just smiled. Then, with terrifying ease, he lifted a hand and made a “see you later” gesture. A chill spread through my entire body.Ryker's POVI slammed my bedroom door shut and leaned against it, my chest heaving like I'd just run a marathon. Alec's words kept playing in my head like a broken record. *Do you really think she'll accept you when she finds out what you did to her father?*Of course she wouldn’t. I walked to my window and stared out at the woods beyond. The truth was eating me alive. Deep down, I knew Alec was right. Serena would never forgive me. How could she? I had killed her father. Even though I couldn’t remember who exactly her father is. I couldn't stay in this room. I couldn't think about this anymore.—-Twenty minutes later, I was sitting in a bar downtown. The place was dark and loud, exactly what I needed. I ordered whiskey and kept ordering until the bartender stopped asking what I wanted and just kept refilling my glass.The alcohol burned going down, but it wasn't enough to burn away Alec's words. Or the look on Serena's face when she'd brought me that sandwich. "Hey there, hands
Ryker's POV"You know," Alec said, his voice deceptively casual, "I've been wondering something." He leaned back against the couch, but his posture was anything but relaxed. "Do you really think Serena will accept you when she finds out what you did to her father?"The words hit me like a physical blow. My entire body went rigid, every muscle coiling tight as a spring."That's right," Alec continued, his lips curving into a cold smile that looked wrong on his usually warm face. "Did you really think I wouldn't figure it out?"I kept my expression carefully blank, but inside, my wolf was snarling with rage and something that felt dangerously close to panic. "I don't know what you're talking about." I forced the words out. "Don't you?" He tilted his head, studying me like I was a particularly interesting specimen. "Serena's father." His smile widened. "The one you hunted down and killed."My hands clenched into fists at my sides. "Careful, Alec. You're walking into dangerous territory.
Ryker's POVI forced myself to take a deep breath, pushing down the rage that threatened to consume me. Losing control now would only make things worse—and I needed to understand exactly what game was being played here.I cleared my throat deliberately, the sound cutting through their laughter like a blade.Both of them turned toward me, their intimate bubble bursting in an instant. Serena's eyes widened, a flush creeping up her neck that had nothing to do with Alec's attention. Alec, on the other hand, had the audacity to smile at me—that easy, brotherly smile he'd worn since we were children.He nodded at me, his expression shifting to one of concern. It was our silent language, developed over years of being brothers. He was asking if I was alright, if I needed anything.I nodded back curtly, telling him I was fine. But fine was the last thing I felt.Without breaking eye contact with Alec, I strode across the room to where Serena sat frozen on the couch. Her scent hit me immediate
Author's POVSerena practically floated back to her room after lunch, her heart pounding with satisfaction. She closed the door behind her and let out a quiet laugh, covering her mouth with her hand as if someone might hear her victory.It had been almost too easy. During their meal, Alec had hung on her every word, his eyes following the movement of her lips as she spoke, the way she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. When she'd laughed at his jokes—some genuinely funny, others forced—his chest had puffed with pride like a peacock showing off its feathers.The poor fool had no idea he was being played.She moved to her mirror, studying her reflection with newfound confidence. For the first time since arriving at this place, she felt like she had some control. Some power.Ryker thought he could manipulate her with his hot and cold treatment, his possessive touches and vulnerable confessions. But two could play that game, and she'd just proven she was better at it than he was.Me
Serena’s POVThe moment I stepped into my room, the facade I’d worn in front of Ryker crumbled. My back pressed against the closed door, and I let out a shaky breath that I’d been holding since his lips touched my neck.What was wrong with me?I pushed away from the door and began pacing across the room, my bare feet silent against the cold floor. My mind raced, torn between the memory of his gentle touch and the image that haunted my nightmares Ryker’s hands covered in my father’s blood.He’d almost convinced me. Almost made me believe he could change, that there was something real between us beyond this twisted bond. But I couldn’t forget. I wouldn’t forget.My father’s lifeless eyes flashed in my memory, and rage burned through my chest like wildfire. Ryker had taken everything from me—my only family, my freedom, my choices. And now he wanted my trust?I stopped pacing, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. Trust. As if I could ever trust the man who destroyed my life.But then why did
Ryker’s POV The elders wrinkled their faces and twisted with disapproval. Their voices clashed as they spoke over one another, throwing accusations at Serena like daggers. “Disrespectful!” “Mannerless!” “A disgrace to the pack!” Serena stood in the center of the room, her shoulders squared, her chin high. She didn’t flinch. If anything, the fire in her eyes burned brighter with each insult. I leaned back against my chair, my arms crossed, watching. I wanted to see how she would handle them, how she would fight back. But then, what Elder Marcus said penetrate into my ear and I feel my anger growing each seconds. “You dress like a whore, parading in something meant for the bedroom!” The words re-echoed in my ear. My body went rigid. A deep growl ripped from my chest before I could stop it. The sound was low, deadly, vibrating through the room like a warning. Elder Marcus flinched but quickly masked his fear with a sneer. “Watch your tongue,” I said to him, my voice
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