บททั้งหมดของ Offered to the Cursed Alpha: บทที่ 71 - บทที่ 80

Ryker’s POVArianna lifted her chin, her grip tightening on the crutches beneath her hands. Her voice was steady, but I could see the hesitation flicker in her eyes before she even finished speaking.“I’m not going anywhere with you.”I stared blankly at her. If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t have even entertained the defiance to speak against me. Hell, their heads would’ve been rolling down the street faster than they could even blink. But with her, I found myself holding back.Instead of snapping, I leaned against the edge of the desk, arms loosely folded across my chest. “Oh?” My brow arched. “And why is that?”Arianna blinked, clearly thrown off by my reaction. She had probably expected me to snap at her, and not for me to indulge her like I was doing.Even my wolf perked his head up with interest.She recovered quickly, shifting her weight as if it would make her appear any more confident. “Because I don’t want to go,” she said, like that was supposed to be enough.I dragged my

Ryker’s POVArianna was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.I knew it the moment she stepped out of her room.Her hair was still slightly damp from her rushed shower, a few wet strands clinging to her neck. The jeans she wore fit snugly against her frame, and the light blouse she’d thrown on was very simple, but on her, it looked effortlessly elegant. Even without makeup, she still looked—I cut that thought off before it could fully form.I was not going there.Instead, I pulled my gaze away and glanced at my phone, checking the time. She was pushing it.“Ready?” I asked, keeping my voice even.She lifted a brow, her eyes flashing with defiance. “Do I have a choice?”My lips curved slightly. “Not at all.”She huffed, brushing past me, and I followed her down the stairs and out the door, where the car was already waiting. The driver opened the door, and Arianna slid inside first after flashing the driver one of her million watt smiles, her movements graceful, her scent lingering

Arianna’s POVI woke up to a steady sound coming from somewhere in the jet and the faintest shift in the air, the kind that told me we were still high above the clouds. For a moment, I wasn’t sure where I was. Then I stretched slightly, feeling the buttery-soft leather beneath me, and everything came rushing back.Ryker. His stupidly luxurious jet. The ridiculous amount of food.My eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim lighting. And that was when I saw him.Ryker sat across from me, his long legs stretched out, his arms crossed over his chest. His head was tilted slightly to the side, his dark lashes casting shadows against his sharp cheekbones. His breathing was deep, slow and controlled. His face—always set in some form of arrogance or irritation—was completely at peace.For a second, I just… stared.I wasn’t sure why. Maybe because I had never seen him look like this before.Peaceful.He was always so tightly wound, his body always rigid like a predator waiting to strike. But h

Arianna’s POVI needed a moment.Or maybe several.I stood there, frozen, still reeling from the past few minutes. My heart was pounding, my face burning, and I was fairly certain I had forgotten how to breathe.What the hell just happened?Ryker had gotten into my head. Again. The worst part? I let him. He had stood there, impossibly close, his voice smooth like honey, and I had practically melted on the spot. And for what? A brush of his fingers against my face? A few whispered words?Pathetic.I forced a deep breath in, straightening my shoulders and trying to regain some semblance of control. I was not—would not—fall for whatever mind games he was playing. No matter how good he smelled or how annoyingly attractive he looked standing there smirking at me like he owned the world.I exhaled sharply, willing the warmth on my face to fade before turning to face him.To my absolute horror, Ryker was still standing at the corner of the hallway, watching me with that same maddening amusem

Ryker’s POVThe waves rolled in slow, crashing against the shore with a steady rhythm. It was the only thing grounding me. The only thing keeping me from spiraling.I sat at the edge of the beach, my elbows resting on my knees, my fingers digging into the damp sand as I stared at the dark ocean. The moon’s reflection danced across the water, distorted every time a wave broke. I should’ve gone to bed, should’ve forced myself to sleep and pretend like everything was fine. But the truth was—it wasn’t.It had been too close tonight. Too damn close.I could still feel it in my bones, a slow-burning liquid fire crawling through my veins, threatening to consume me. It had started at dinner. Something about the exhaustion, the shift in environment, or maybe just Arianna’s presence had triggered it. My body had tensed, my senses had sharpened, and for a split second, I swore I could feel my wolf clawing at the surface, hungry, desperate, uncontrollable.I had barely kept it in check.That was