Chapter 9

Ryker's wolf went into survival mode and took over, forcing him to fight. He struggled against the rushing water, carrying him further downstream. His wolf used all it's might and energy against the current, fighting towards the bank, finally after many struggles, he made it to the bank of the river, tired and exhausted. Ryker pushed the wolf back down in his mind and lay on the riverbank for a few moments catching his breath. As he lay on the bank, a million thought went through his head. 

He realized he wasn't ready to die. There was so much he needed to make amends for and so much he wanted to see and do. He wanted to get himself, his sister Rochelle and their mom away from his father, and he wanted his father to suffer for all the cruelty and abuse he has inflicted on everyone. He knew the attack at the Everwood's was his father's doing. His father wanted to get rid of the Everwood pack and make the Blackthorn pack more powerful and greater than it ever was. He also wanted to help protect the Everwood's from his father. He couldn't imagine what it would be like if anyone or anything ever hurt them. Especially his best friend Garrett and sweet Calypso, who for some reason he felt an overwhelming need to protect. She had a heart of gold but was stubborn as hell. She was so young and innocent, oblivious and protected from the cruelty of the world, he hoped and prayed to the Moon Goddess that she would never lose that sweet innocence she has, she was like a ray of sunshine to all who came across her path. Unburdened or hardened by the world. Completely unlike himself, who at the tender age of ten would get abused and beaten by his cruel father. He had to do something about his father, but what could he do at sixteen? Even his adopted brother Viktor was becoming more and more like their father. When he was younger him and his brother Viktor would get along, Viktor would help protect them, and help their mother make excuses for where he and Rochelle were when their father was on a rampage. Viktor would even feel bad and help take care of him when he couldn't hide from his father, helping tend to his wolfs-bane wounds. Ryker thought about what their father would say about the beatings, "it was to build character and prepare him for the world when he got older." Recently within the past two years Viktor has stopped caring, helping, and protecting him, especially since father started trying to groom Ryker for Alpha. Originally, Viktor was preparing to take over as the Alpha, but his father wanted his “own flesh and blood" as Alpha, not the adopted bastard son. Viktor still thinks that if he proves himself to their father and acts more like him, then he will let him take over. He can have it for all I care. I don't want to be Alpha.

Ryker sat up and started walking up the bank along the river to where he fell off the tree. He climbed over the boulders, following the river east for about two miles. He eventually saw the cascading waterfalls. All that he had to do was climb up to the top by following a narrow and barely discernible path through the rocks, and up the side of the cliff. Once he reached the top of the cliff there was another smaller waterfall, with a cave behind it that one could miss if they weren’t looking properly for it. Over the years, he and Rochelle have stashed many items in the cave. As of right now, there was a tripod for cooking, an old trunk filled with clothes and blankets, a couch, and many other odds and ends. All he wanted right now was to just be alone. He finally reached the upper waterfall and slipped behind it.