Chapter 192
Chapter 192
101 – Ryker
She’s alive. I’m holding her close, finally. The overwhelming panic that had gripped me is slowly ebbing away, but my entire body trembles with the weight of relief. Only now do I begin to understand what pushed my father to the brink of permanent injury when my mother was taken from us. Kennedy isn’t even marked yet, but the moment I found her, every other thought vanished. Fear consumed me completely. Nothing mattered except finding her, bringing her back, and making sure every last wolf responsible for her capture paid dearly.
I inhale deeply, savoring the warmth of her honeyed scent. I don’t care who’s watching. My men stand guard, making sure no one comes near us. She tries to pull away gently, but I refuse to let her go-not yet. I need this closeness. My wolf needs it too, to stay sharp and alert. He prowls around our position, listening for any sudden noises or shifts in the wind.
“Ryker… please,” she whispers, her voice trembling but steady. “I need you to hear me. Can you do that? There are innocent people here. We can’t just lash out at everyone. Not all of them deserve your fury. I promise I’ll make sure the ones who do are dealt with quickly. Can you listen to me p>
I bury my nose in the soft skin of her neck, feeling the tiny shivers that ripple from my touch. “No,” I manage to murmur, my breath warm against her collarbone.
She chuckles softly, thinking I’m teasing. But I have no intention of listening to the bastard who ordered her capture. “Ryker!” Her voice rises just above a whisper, firmer this time. “Baby, look at me. Please p>
Please.
Following her plea is a mistake. The sight of her battered face fuels my rage a hundredfold. Blood stains her cheeks, and she’s clearly been struck several times. Her hair is tangled and matted, and I stop myself from looking any further, afraid I might lose control if I see more wounds.
“Breathe, baby, please,” she urges. “Finn didn’t hit me. But one of the rogues and Amy did p>
That last name makes me snap to attention. “Amy? What does she have to do with this p>
“Are you going to listen p>
“Do I have to put you down?” I ask, my voice rough but controlled.
“I’d rather you didn’t,” she replies with a small smirk. “It’s actually helping my injuries heal faster. And honestly, I kind of like this position.” Damn, if she weren’t covered in bruises and blood, I’d find a secluded spot and show her exactly what that look
means.
“Fine. Talk fast. You need to see the healer p>
“Finn let me go once he realized what Amy’s plan was all along. He’s her given mate.” I glance past my mate cradled in my arms and see the rogue pack’s so- called alpha kneeling nearby, eyes cast downward.
“What the hell does that have to do with you?” Bennet’s voice cuts through from behind me, tense and close. He’s as near as he can get without risking a punch. He wants her comfort too, but not yet.
She gives us a brief rundown of Amy’s scheme, ending with a look that clearly says, *I told you so.* My mother and Greta will eventually say those words aloud. I was warned to banish Amy countless times, but no one could prove anything. She arrived with a group of others from a rough background. I thought she was just trying too hard, like many of the she-wolves.
“Finn doesn’t want to be alpha,” she explains. “He was just trying to prove himself to his mate. Once we catch Amy, we have to find proper shelter for these people. I don’t know if there are any kids here, but everyone needs care. Amy clearly hasn’t been providing that. For all her Luna talk, she only cared about winning you as a mate.” Her hands find my cheeks, steady and warm. “What she didn’t realize is that I’m hard to kill, and I’m not giving you up for anything p>