RYKER Her eyes become wide. She stumbles back, her jaw hanging low. I reach out and grab her hand again. She wanted to know. “ And while I do it, you must stand by me. That’s what being mates with me means. For you. Right? ” It comes out as a hiss, vicious and cruel. “ What are you saying? ” She blurts, her eyes watering up. “ You know I am at war with your pack. It’s because they have a connection with the attack on my pack. ” I disclose. Her mouth closes before she opens it again, trying to say something but unable to do so. A tear rolls down her cheek and the headache worsens for me. It’s all pain, not mine but Natalie’s. “ I wanted to let you have a little we—are—all—ignorant—people—party with your friends but you wanted to know so bad. Are you satisfied now? ” I take a step back, rubbing my face. “ I am not going to forgive anyone. Even for you. ” My voice lowers a few octaves. Natalie’s face turns pale, her eyes burning again. Pain and anger triggers her wolf to come o

NATALIE~A little while earlier…Ryker walked out on me again, without taking me seriously and without paying attention to what I was saying to him. Or more like threatening him with.It seems like, even to me, the rejection remains the only leverage I have against him when he acts like an asshole to me most of the times.How can he ask me to choose? On a honest note, I don’t harbour any great love for my family or anyone from that pack, but I despise war. I despise imagining myself seeing them all dead. Blood, agony, and seeing Ryker as a monster inflicting pain…that’s another thing I don’t want to witness — not when he is up against the people I once cared about and wanted to return to until recently.But when I don’t really love them, why do I keep thinking about how Emilie might be feeling after losing her mate? How are my parents faring with their heartbroken, pushed to the door of insanity daughter? I sigh, rubbing my burning eyes with the tips of my forefingers to ease the ac

NATALIEFor me, running away could never be an option when people I love are in danger. Therefore, instead of listening to Rhianna and running away as soon as I saw the men approaching us, I stayed there.I was not much help. I could tell by the way Rhianna, Giana and Anne immediately shifted and stood before me, trying to shield me from the enemies.How many were they? I couldn’t tell. I was too out of it. I had barely managed to get down from the car and I hardly made out what was happening around.Their injuries had healed instantly but mine were far from closing up on their own. My head was bleeding, my arm was bleeding, my neck was bleeding. Numerous shards of glass were stuck deep in my flesh.Still, I tried to shake off the dizziness and nausea and do something — anything. And anything meant trying to focus, blink away the wave of unconsciousness which threatened to fall over me and ignoring the howls of Rhianna who was fighting the shifted wolves harder than Anne and Giana.

NATALIE“ What is Alpha going to do with us? ” Giana murmurs, tears rolling down her cheeks.“ What he should have done long ago so you never got the chance to run away and bring shame to the pack. ” Dad grunts from behind me, his fingers digging in my shoulder to keep me on my knees.I grit my teeth, my heart hardening towards him. He felt ashamed — that’s all he has to say, that’s all he has ever said to me. “ If this list of things to be ashamed for runs so long…you should add one thing in it. Be ashamed of being such a horrible father to me. ” I whisper under my breath.“ It’s all your fault. If only you were not a weak wolf less child, everything would have been fine with our family! ” Mom shouts from somewhere behind me.My so—called hardened heart drowns to the pit of my stomach. I glance down at my hands. The shimmer under my skin pulses firmly.‘ Look up. ’ The sweet voice of a female purrs in my head.I throw my head back and look ahead. “ He came. I didn’t expect him to c

RYKER When her father’s shrieks become louder, I snap my gaze to his figure. The fire is now spreading towards his neck, fast and relentless. Curling my hands into fists, I move forth and reach him in a hurry. Fucking shit! I grip his neck, my hands burning in the fire as I throw him aside and follow him. My eyes glance back at the body which is now turning to ashes, the fire refusing to die until he has turned to coal. There is no heartbeat, no signs of life in him. Natalie killed Alpha fucking idiot accidentally. I shake my head. ‘ Come and save this one too. I am not going anywhere near him. ’ Zio gets the message and comes to Beta’s aid right away. I take this time and face the wolf. She is still helplessly standing in the distance, unable to step forward or backward, fearing the fire engulfing someone else. Her eyes are fixed at Alpha Wilson’s lifeless body. My heart aches. I want to reach out to her but even I can’t do that at this moment. The wounds inflicted by her f