PEOPLE WANT YOU DEAD

Chapter 6

Laura’s POV

The tires of the heavy black SUV crunched against the wet gravel of Moon River's outer gate, finally grinding to a complete halt. I sat glued to the leather seats, clenching Alpha Ryder's dark coat around my bare shoulders so tightly that my knuckles turned white.

Outside the tinted windows, massive iron gates swung open, revealing a towering estate built from dark river stones. It loomed against the ink-black night sky like a sleeping beast….silent, ancient, and imposing. My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird. My skin burned hot and cold in violet waves as the fever for my broken mate bond raged on inside me, a constant reminder of Ryan's cruelty on that auction stage.

Ryder didn't say a word, didn't offer a comforting look, nor did he ask if I was all right. He simply pushed open his door, stepping out into the crisp night air.

Through the open door, I watched the immediate, terrifying shift in the four guards stationed at the grand entrance the moment Ryder's boots hit the pavement. Every single one of them straightened into rigid attention, snapping their heads down in absolute respect. He rounded the back of the vehicle and opened my door. His towering 6'5" frame blocked out the faint moonlight, casting a massive, suffocating shadow over me in the back seat.

He didn't grab me roughly. He didn't sneer or make crude remarks about the stolen lingerie hiding under his heavy coat. He just stood there, his sharp jaw set, his gold-gray eyes locked onto mine in the dark.

"Out," he grunted, his voice a low, rough rumble that vibrated straight through the floorboards.

I swallowed hard, the sting of Sasha's slap still throbbing across my cheekbone. Slowly, nervously, I swung my bare foot out onto the wet, freezing stone. The moment my weight hit the ground, my knees buckled under the intense exertion racking my body.

Before I could collapse, Ryder's broad, scarred hand caught my upper arm. His grip was firm, unyielding, and completely solid, holding me upright without a single flicker of emotion passing over his harsh features.

"Walk," he muttered, releasing my arm the second I found my balance.

He turned his back on me and walked toward the grand double doors of the fortress, expecting me to follow. I had no choice. Wrapping the leather coat tighter around my hips to hide my body, I forced my trembling legs to move, stepping across the threshold into the dark, silent world of Moon River.

And at that moment, I couldn't help but wonder what awaited me behind those doors. Was I going to be chained up in a cell as usual?

I was still so deep in my thoughts when I noticed a few maids rushing toward us, most of them a bit frightened, but clearly doing their job. I stood awkwardly behind Ryder while he instructed them on what to do with me next. It seemed as if my fate was about to be decided at that moment, and I couldn't even breathe right.

"Escort her to the plush suite. Get her proper food and a hot bath," he commanded coldly, turning on his heel and leaving my presence.

I looked at them, stunned, not understanding what was going on. He wasn't going to chain me down. Instead, he wanted them to take good care of me.

One of the maids stepped forward.

" I am Mira, and I will be your personal maid. Please, let us escort you to your hot bath and get you fine clothes so you can change from this," she said to me, pointing to the jacket I still clung onto.

They all gave me full smiles and paved the way for me to move. I did not know how else to react but to nod nervously while they took me straight to a very luxurious suite.

"We were not expecting you now. We were not expecting Alpha Ryder to come with anybody, but this is one of our best rooms, and you will love it. It's the best suite in the building aside from Alpha Ryder's room," Mira continued, and all I could do was nod back.

I guess I was just too scared to say anything. I was already wondering in my head what could possibly go wrong now. What was going to be the next step?

"Thank you," I whispered.

She looked at me, confused, as all the maids began to prepare the hot bath for me right there in the bedroom while I still stood anxiously.

"You don't have to wrap yourself up that way. We're going to take care of you, and you don't have to feel nervous around us," she assured.

I smiled at her, even though I wasn't comfortable and still felt like Ryan was not yet done. He was clearly going to make a move or two on me, and I was trying to prepare myself for whatever might happen.

"Please come in," another of the maids said. The bath was now ready.

I quickly took off everything, and Mira did not flinch for a second despite her gaze being fixed on all the scars on my body. I soon entered the hot tub, and from that moment on, I knew what it felt like to not be a slave.

Ryder never actually said anything to me and didn't come back to check on me that night, but the maids made sure I was comfortable. And to top it all off, they were quiet, genuine, and very respectful. They were nothing compared to those of Silvercrest. Yeah, they did not whisper about how dirty I looked or how unkempt and nervous I was. Instead, they all smiled on and on, even though I was deeply unsettled and thought in my heart that their kindness was nothing more than a setup.

Mira made sure I was as comfortable as always. I lay on the bed as Mira cleared up some of the first aid essentials she had used to treat my wound and massage the cheek sting that refused to leave me.

"You'll be fine, okay? You should rest. Tomorrow we will do proper care for you, and we can take you to the physician if it's still burning," she insisted.

I pulled her back, this time giving her a genuine smile.

"Thank you. Thank you for the treatment and everything, and for being so nice to me." I couldn't help but acknowledge her for that.

She slowly pulled her hand from mine.

"Oh, Lady Laura, you shouldn't be thanking me for anything. And please don't thank me in the presence of Alpha Ryder. I would not want him to do anything to me because you thanked me. It's my duty to serve you, and you just have to accept it," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper.

I could see how frightened she was, and that placed me in a very confusing situation. I still could not understand why they were so scared of Alpha Ryder.

She quickly packed up everything she needed and left, leaving me alone in the room. I stood up, rushed to the window, and checked everywhere. There was nothing.

Why do I feel so unsettled? I thought to myself, trying to figure out if this was just another setup by Ryan. And after searching everywhere without finding anything, I had no choice but to rest. I needed it after all, but I remained on high alert every minute.

The next morning, they all rushed in and prepared my bath for me.

"You guys don't have to; I can actually do it myself," I tried explaining to them.

They all looked at each other and giggled, not in a mocking way, but in a light, pleasant way.

"Why would you prepare your bath yourself? You can't, mostly not now. We have to treat you well if we want to be on the good side of Alpha Ryder," Mira added as they all laughed softly.

I couldn't help but giggle with them while they sponged and scrubbed every part of my body.

I couldn't hold back my curiosity and asked Mira, "Can I ask you something? Why…."

She nodded immediately and moved closer to me in case it was something I did not want any of the other maids to hear.

"Do you know why Ryder brought me here? Why he brought a rejected, fat slave like me?"

I was not allowed to finish my sentence before Mira covered my mouth, looking around frantically.

"Don't! This is a warning to you. Ryder's word is law here, and he already warned us never to mention what happened to you. And as for you talking about yourself like that? You need to stop body shaming yourself. You are beautiful, and you should accept that," she pleaded.

I had no choice but to nod, even though her words made me even more confused.

The moment I was all dressed up, Mira came in excitedly again.

"Alpha Ryder wants you to join him for breakfast. Are you ready?" she said nervously.

"Uh, yes, yes," I responded, tying my hair back in a bun without waiting for the maids to do it.

After all, ever since Ryder had instructed Mira to take care of me, I had not set eyes on him.

I made my way to the dining hall, and there he was, quietly having breakfast. He noticed my presence and, without saying a word, gestured sharply toward the seat directly across from him. I hesitated for a second, but took my seat. As the maids arranged breakfast for me, I watched him. He remained silent, calmly eating his meal.

"Am I supposed to actually sit here? This seems like a place for Alphas and Lunas, not someone like me," I questioned softly.

He set his utensils down with a heavy thud, his cold gray eyes locking onto mine with a sharp glare. He wasn't yelling, but the sheer weight of his frustration made the air in the room feel heavy.

"Stop it," he growled bluntly. "You sit where I tell you to sit. You are an equal here."

He went right back to eating as if nothing had happened, then turned his stern gaze to the surrounding maids and guards, who all instantly tensed up.

"From today onward, no one in this estate uses the word 'slave' in reference to Laura. You are all sworn to protect her. Keep your eyes on her at all times….she does not cross the gates of this fortress without a full guard detail."

"Why?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

"Because people want you dead!" he snapped, his voice booming through the hall and dropping an instant, suffocating silence over the room.

Ryder didn't elaborate. He simply picked up his glass, leaving me frozen in my seat as his words echoed in my head like a death sentence. People want me dead. Was Ryan still coming for me to finish what he started, or had I stepped straight out of Silvercrest's cells and into the crosshairs of an entirely new nightmare?