ANMELDENChapter 37
My feet pounded the ground so hard the dirt flew up behind me.The white dress tangled around my legs, but I didn’t slow down one bit.The little boy’s cry still rang in my ears so damn loud. I could see the man’s back ahead. He wore a dark jacket, he has a fast legs, dragging the child like a sack.Every time the boy screamed, my heart squeezed tighter, and it pissed me off.“Stop!” I shouted, but only a weak sound came out. Still, I pushed harder. My lungsCHAPTER 59Cold water splashed across my face.I gasped and jerked awake, pulling in a sharp breath. My chest rose fast as I tried to catch my breath. My head hurt, and for a moment, everything around me spun.Then slowly… it stopped.I realized I was in Ryder’s arms.He held me tightly, one arm wrapped around my waist, the other supporting my head like he was afraid I might fall again.“Doris,” he said softly, his voice filled with worry. “You’re okay. I’ve got you, baby girl.”I blinked up at him. His eyes were fixed on mine, full of fear and concern.“I’m okay,” I said, though my voice came out weak.The room came back into focus.The Alphas and Lunas stared at me. Water dripped from my chin onto my gown. Someone obviously had poured water on me to wake me up.I slowly sat up. My body still felt a little weak, and my head wasn’t fully clear yet. My shoulder ached from earlier, but I forced myself to stay steady.I was awake.And
The car hummed quietly along the dark road, headlights cutting through the night. Ryder sat beside me in the back seat, his hand warm on my thigh. Ryder turned toward me, his dark eyes soft in the low light. He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to my temple, then my cheek, then the corner of my mouth.“I love everything about you ,” he murmured against my skin. I smiled and turned into him, my hand sliding up his chest. “You’re not so bad yourself, Alpha.”He chuckled low and pulled me closer, his arm wrapped around my waist. The kiss started slowly as his lips moved softly against mine, tasting like the mint he’d chewed earlier. Then it deepened. His hand slipped under the hem of my gown, his fingers tracing the bare skin of my thigh. I shivered, pressing closer, my fingers curling into his shirt.“We have a little time before we reach the hall,” he whispered against my lips. His voice was rough with want. “I could tell the driver to take the
The classroom door burst open with a loud bang.A guy rushed in, eyes wild, knife flashing in his hand. He ran straight at me, face twisted with rage. Students screamed immediately and chairs scraped back. The teacher shouted something I didn’t really catch.I didn’t think.I lifted my hand.The golden glow flared across my palm. I pushed forward with everything I had. The force slammed into the guy’s chest like an invisible wall. He flew backward, feet leaving the floor, and crashed hard against the back wall. The knife clattered to the ground. He slid down, gasping, trying to push himself up. Before he could stand, Blade was there.Blade moved faster than I had ever seen him. He grabbed the guy by the collar, slammed him back down, and pinned him to the floor with a knee on his chest. His hand came down hard on the side of the guy’s head, not enough to knock him out, but enough to make him groan.“Why?” Blade growled, voice low and dangerous.
Blade waited by the black SUV, leaning against the door with his arms crossed. He wore a simple black shirt and dark jeans, but he still looked every bit the Beta. When he saw me, he straightened and gave a small, respectful nod.“Morning, Luna,” he said, voice steady. “Ready?”I nodded, adjusting the strap of my school bag on my shoulder. Ryder had already kissed me goodbye inside, his hands lingering on my waist like he didn’t want to let go. “Be safe,” he had whispered. “Blade will stay with you the whole day.”Blade opened the back door for me. I slid in, and he took the driver’s seat. The engine purred to life, and we pulled away from the pack house, the tall gates closing behind us.The ride to school was quiet at first. The road wound through the pack territory, trees flashing past the windows. I watched the scenery, my mind still replaying last night and the mark on my neck that still tingled under my collar.Blade glanced at
Morning light slipped through the heavy curtains. I woke slowly, my body was heavy and sore in the best way. Every muscle ached from the fight, from the victory, and from the way Ryder had taken me last night until I couldn’t think of anything but him.I was still naked under the sheets, skin warm from his body heat. Ryder lay beside me, propped on one elbow, watching me with that soft, intense look that always made my stomach flutter. His hair was messy, his jaw shadowed with stubble, and the sheet had slipped low on his hips, showing the hard lines of his chest and the faint scratches I had left on his skin during our sweet night.I blushed just thinking about it.He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead.“Good morning, my beautiful Luna,” he murmured, voice still rough from sleep. He kissed my nose, then my cheek, then the corner of my mouth. “My strong, brave girl. My everything.”I smiled, still half-asleep, and turned into him. His
The car barely stopped before Ryder yanked the door open. He didn’t wait for the driver—he just scooped me up, my torn white gown bunched around my waist, my bare skin pressing against his half-open shirt. My legs wrapped around his hips instinctively, and his mouth was already on mine, hungry and rough, as he carried me up the front steps.Ms. D and two maids stood at the entrance, eyes wide, mouths open to greet us.“Welcome home, Luna—” One of the maids started.Ryder didn’t slow down. He didn’t even look at them. He kicked the door wider with his foot and carried me straight through the stairs, my back bumping the wall once as he turned toward the stairs.I heard Ms. D’s soft gasp and the maids’ surprised murmurs, but neither of us cared. Ryder’s hands gripped my ass hard, fingers digging in as he took the stairs two at a time. My fingers twisted in his hair, pulling his mouth back to mine. We kissed like we were starving, tongues sliding, teeth ni







