I struggled to understand what the doctor was saying. His words kept ringing in my head, but they didn't make any sense. Even Ryker seemed confused, judging by the questions he was asking."What do you mean by 'energy transfer'?" Ryker asked, his voice authoritative but laced with confusion.There was a pause, but I could feel eyes on me. "I'm not entirely sure, Alpha. I've never seen anything like this before. But from what I can gather, it seems that Arianna's energy has been transferred to you,” the doctor said.Ryker's voice became tighter. "What does that mean exactly?"The doctor paused as if collecting his thoughts before speaking. "It means that you two are...connected, in a way. I've only seen one case like this before, and it was in an ancient text. It's called a 'soul tie'."I thought I would hyperventilate. The words rang in my head, but I couldn't understand them. Ryker, as if reading my mind, asked the question that was on my lips."Do you mean mates?" he asked impatient
I scowled at Ryker, looking between his eyes the spoon in front of my lips with disdain. “I'm capable of feeding myself," I said, glaring daggers at him.But Ryker remained adamant, his hand holding the spoon in front of my mouth steadily. "Open your mouth and eat," he commanded, his voice low and husky.I tried to protest again, but Ryker's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing. "Don't make me force-feed you, Arianna," he warned icily.I glared at him, but I knew I was no match for him. I was too tired, too weak, and I was experiencing pain all over my body. I gave in, not because I was scared of him, but because I just didn't have the energy to fight.I opened my mouth, and Ryker spooned the soup into my mouth. I ate silently, trying to avoid his gaze, but Ryker seemed determined to meet my eyes. He fed me like a child, wiping whatever drop of liquid off my chin at intervals, even when I protested."Stop it," I muttered, trying to push his hand away. "I can do that myself."But a ghost o
_Ryker’s POV\I stood in the gym, the sound of my fists pounding against the punching bag echoing through the room. The bag swung back and forth, its leather surface worn and cracked from countless hours of use, and I knew it wouldn’t be long before it joined the pile of broken ones on the ground. I hit it again and again, the impact sending shockwaves through my arms and into my chest.My wolf was close to the surface, my fangs bared and my eyes glowing. I could feel its power coursing through me, urging me to let go, to surrender to its primal instincts and let it make control. But I couldn't give in. Not now, not when Arianna was around. I had to keep control, had to keep my emotions in check. My wolf could be wild when unleashed and I didn’t want to risk anything happening to her.As I punched the bag, my mind replayed the events of the previous night or the early hours of this morning, depending on what 4 am was to you.Arianna's face swam before my eyes, her big doe eyes filled
I ignored the lustful look in Ryker's eyes as I spoke, wondering how men could be so weird. One minute they're growling and snarling, the next they're looking at you like they want to devour you whole.I took his hand, trying to ignore the jolt of electricity that ran through me at the touch. He felt it too because he tensed a bit, but to my surprise, he didn’t try to pull away as I led him out of the gym. He followed silently behind me, his eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made my skin prickle.After that incident with Ryker early that morning, none of us had gone back to bed. We just sat side by side, staring at the television. “Staring” being the keyword because while the characters were moving, both our minds were miles away.Me, wondering what could be the problem with him. What could have hurt him so deeply to have tormented him in his dreams. Before now, I could have sworn Ryker didn’t have any problems, but my view of him had changed totally after last night. It made me
I was caught off guard when Ryker's lips captured mine. At first, I didn't react, my mind frozen in shock with my hands laying limp on his chest. But as his lips moved against mine, something inside me sparked to life. It was like a flame had been lit, and it was spreading rapidly, consuming me whole.I felt a rush of butterflies, flapping their wings ferociously in my stomach, and my heart began to pound in my chest. My lips, seemingly of their own accord, began to move against his. It was like I was melting into him, our lips molding together as one.That was my first, proper kiss. One where he wasn’t shoving his tongue down my throat to show me “show I belonged to”, and even though I tried to make it sound disgusting, I couldn’t help the way my body lit up at the thought of it.The world around us melted away, leaving only the two of us, lost in the moment. I felt like I was floating, like my feet had left the ground and I was soaring through the air.Ryker's lips were soft and gen
After kissing me, Ryker started to pepper kisses to my ear, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine and leaving me breathless. When he reached my ear, he whispered, his voice dropped to a mere whisper. "I'm going to teach you a lot more than just kissing, Arianna."From his husky voice, I could hear the dirtiness in his tone, and could paint a clear picture of what he meant, and my face turned beet red. I quickly shimmied out of his hold and ran away, leaving him chuckling deeply behind me.My face was still red when I got to the room, and my heart was beating rapidly too. I couldn't believe what had just happened. Ryker seemed to be in a good mood, and I had to admit, I liked this playful side of him. A lot.After spending a few more minutes in the room, trying to catch my breath, I walked out of the room and to the dining. It was already past 10 am, and time for breakfast. In the dining room, the maids served the food, and I saw Claire with a tray of food. “Hey, Claire,” I g
I looked up to see a strange face standing in the doorway. The man was huge and muscular, standing almost at the same height as Ryker. He was just as good-looking, with chiseled features, piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through me, and a head of curly brown hair. From his aura, I could tell he was the pack's beta.He lowered his neck in submission as he greeted Ryker. "Alpha," he said, his deep voice rumbling through the room.Ryker's response came out curt. "Jason. What brings you here?"Jason turned to me, and he smiled lightly. "You must be Arianna," he said, his eyes narrowed in slits as he smiled. "I've heard a lot about you."I nodded, feeling a blush rise to my cheeks. "Nice to meet you," I said, trying to sound polite, while wondering what this stranger might have heard about meJason's smile grew wider. "The pleasure is all mine," he said. "You're even more beautiful than I imagined."I felt my face grow hotter, and I looked away, trying to compose myself. But bef
His eyes were bleeding black, his shoulders were slightly hunched over, and his hands were clenched in fists so tight.My mouth ran dry, and I tried to come up with something to say. Claire had told me before that that room was totally off limits, but the seed of doubt she had planted in my mind had grown so rapidly I couldn’t wait till Ryker wasn’t around to check it out.Ryker, who was already fuming, closed the distance between us in long strides. “How dare you…..”My instincts kicked in when he thundered at me, and I immediately raised my hands up to shield my face, ready for him to strike.I knew what happened whenever men got angry. I had experienced it far too many times with Ryker not to know when to shield my face.But the strike I was waiting for never came, and I slowly lowered my hands, and was met with a confused-looking Ryker. Realization soon flashed in his eyes, and an emotion I couldn’t place filled them, but it was gone before I could even decide whether I’d imagine
Arianna’s POVWhen I woke up that morning, I couldn’t possibly have imagined my day like this, but it had done a complete 360 from that awkward breakfast.I whined again, the sound raw and helpless as it clawed up my throat.That was all it took.Ryker’s hand finally stopped stroking his member and my heart beat loudly in my chest.Then slowly and with his eyes gazing into my very soul, he removed his hand from his cock and reached forward, not to grab my hair, not to tug me closer, not even to shove his cock into my mouth like I was desperate for, but to curl his fingers beneath my chin again, tilting my head up until I had no choice but to meet his eyes.He looked unholy.His eyes were burning. His swollen lips were parted. His jaw tight like he was fighting something, restraint, maybe. Or control. Or the last shred of mercy he had left.I knew I didn’t look any better. Kneeling there with tears rolling down my cheeks and saliva down my chin with my hair disheveled from all of his t
AriannaStrip.The words echoed around the room and even louder in my ears, but somehow, they didn’t make sense to me. I blinked at him, sure I’d misheard. My brain tried to rationalize it, to offer a saner alternative. Surely he didn’t mean here. Surely not now…“W-What?” I asked, my voice small. “Here?”Ryker didn’t blink.The cold look in his eyes didn’t waver, neither did it soften. In fact, it sharpened, and the room around us suddenly felt colder. My skin prickled. The sound of rain beginning to tap against the window sent a chill down my spine.“Now?” I asked again, even more stupidly.Still, he didn’t speak.He just looked at me with that terrifying calmness, as though I hadn’t just questioned him. Like he was giving me one last chance to comprehend. One last chance to obey without resistance.Then he repeated himself, so calmly it made my stomach twist.“Strip.”I stood frozen. “Ryker… this is your art room.” My voice cracked with disbelief. “There’s paint everywhere, there’s
Arianna’s POVThe second Maya’s footsteps disappeared down the hallway, Ryker lunged for the door. Not calmly. Not silently. No, he slammed into it with enough force to make the walls tremble. I stood frozen, my arms wrapped around myself, watching him from where I stood. Maybe, just maybe, it would’ve opened if it had been a normal door. A simple slab of wood with a rusty knob. But it wasn’t.It was solid steel beneath the painted surface, reinforced with an electromagnetic lock. I remembered thinking back then that it looked excessive. Paranoid, even. But now… I understood. Ryker didn’t trust anyone. And now, it had turned into his own cage.“Fuck,” he growled, slamming his palm against the steel but it barely made a sound. “Fucking hell, Maya!”He tugged at the handle, shoved his shoulder against it, then stepped back and kicked it. Hard. His veins bulged and pulsed in his temple, his chest rising and falling as he threw himself at it again like a beast caged too long. The muscle
Ryker’s POVI needed out.The air in the house felt suffocating again, too warm, too full of things I couldn’t name. Too full of her. I could still smell her, still see the way she’d frozen when I sat beside her at the table this morning. Still feel the electricity that buzzed between us when our arms brushed. And still taste the regret I couldn’t shake when I walked away like none of it mattered. Like she didn’t matter.But she did.That was the problem.I slammed the door to my art room shut behind me and locked it before I leaned my weight into the heavy wood and let out a long, heavy breath that I hoped would dispel all of the tension building up inside of me. My shoulders sagged. My breath came out in a slow, rough sigh.Silence.That was what I needed.Silence, and maybe the quiet drag of a paintbrush across canvas.I turned, my eyes landing on the half-finished piece that had haunted me for weeks now. It stood tall where I left it seated on the easel like it was waiting for me.
Arianna’s POVThe morning light poured in through the wide kitchen windows like melted gold, warming the tiled floor and my heart and I could tell it was going to be a good day. Not.But for once, I wasn’t angry to be awake.It was…peaceful.Which, considering the usual chaotic storm that seemed to follow me ever since the last few weeks, felt like a miracle in itself.I was alone at the long dining table, the only sound in the room being the occasional clink of my fork against the plate. I took my time eating, savoring every bite, and not just because the food was the best I’d had in a while.The eggs were fluffy, cooked with what tasted like garlic and herbs. The toast was buttery and crisp, and there was a small dish of some kind of strawberry preserve that was so sweet and tart it made my eyes roll back in the best way.I didn’t need to ask who made it. I could practically taste the care in every bite.Maya.Of course.I let out a soft sigh and sank deeper into my chair, picking a
Arianna’s POVMy heart was pounding like crazy.For a second, all I could do was just lay there, trying to remember how to breathe.I was sprawled across Ryker’s chest, my hands gripping the fabric of his sweatshirt like it was the only thing keeping me from completely losing it. His scent, the same one that made my mouth water, wrapped around me in a way that made my head spin.It was too much. He was too close, and my heart was beating way too fast I knew he could feel it on his chest.I squeezed my eyes shut, willing my racing heart to calm the hell down, but it was useless. His arms were around me, his body was under mine, and it felt like no time had passed at all. Like nothing had changed. Like we were still… whatever it was we used to be.Slowly—so slowly—I opened my eyes.And there he was.Ryker.His face inches from mine.God, he was sinfully beautiful.All sharp jawlines, furrowed brows, and those deep, stormy eyes that had ruined me more times than I cared to admit. His dar
Ryker’s POVIt was getting harder to breathe lately.Not because of the workouts or the endless hours at the office, but because of her.Every damn day, it was the same. I’d wake up, go through the motions, drag myself to work where I barely got anything done, then come back here—where she was.So close.Yet so damn far.Arianna.I could feel her presence before I even opened the door most days. Her scent would hit me first, always soft and delicate and a little sweeter when she was nervous, and it would gut me every single time.My wolf wasn’t any help either. He made it worse, clawing and pacing and howling inside of me like an animal trapped in a cage. Every second we spent not touching her, not holding her, he punished me for it.But what was I supposed to do?Every time I looked into her eyes now, all I saw was that night.The way she stared at me like I had broken and betrayed her.She didn’t only call me a monster, but she saw me as one too. And that… that hurt more than anyth
Arianna’s POVEvery day after that felt the same. It was like we had fallen into a routine. Me trying to catch Ryker’s eyes, and Ryker pretending I didn’t exist.That was the absolute worst because it hurt way more than anything else he could have done. It hurt more than having him yell at me, and even more than if he punished me.The silence was worse, and nothing could have prepared me for the way I felt. It was almost like that private island never happened. Each time he just passed by me in the hallway like I wasn’t even there, it felt like I had imagined that week on that island, and none of it had been real.At first, I tried harder. I knew he was mad, but I felt it wouldn’t take long for the ice to thaw.I would walk a little slower in the hallways when I heard his footsteps and then I would pretend like I was just “coincidentally” going the same way as him.I timed him. I knew what time he left for work in the morning, and what time he went for a run on weekends. And at that t
Arianna’s POVHe didn’t even look back at me.I stood there, frozen on the stairs, staring at the door he’d just walked through. My heart thudded against my ribs, like it was trying to break free from the guilt that was already curling tighter around my lungs and just like it had been happening in the last few days, I couldn’t breathe.Did I really expect him to forgive me just like that?The question bit into my chest and I swallowed hard, willing myself not to cry again. I’d cried enough already. Three days locked in my room, no food, no sleep, just me and the fear of Claire’s death, but now, it was all amplified by every hateful word I’d said to him.Monster.Murderer.I hate you.God.He was right. I didn’t hesitate. I didn’t even try to ask for the truth. I let Claire draw the picture and I colored it in for her.And now he couldn’t even stand to look at me.I sank down onto the bottom step, my hands trembling in my lap. I felt raw. Like someone had peeled back every layer of me