Chapter 22

Chapter 22:

All hell broke loose.

“Sign the fucking contract while you can still breathe,” Ryder whispered. “I don’t have all day,” he hissed through gritted teeth, blue veins snaking down his taut arms.

“I was nice yesterday. Don’t think I’ll be that way today. Scheming under my nose and thinking you could get away so easily,” he snorted.

At his words, a flood of guilt washed over me. It was my fault—if not fully, then partially—and to think I’d allowed him to touch me… Shaking off the thoughts, I looked at my dad.

My poor father. My eyes felt misty, tears pooling in them, and soon they rolled down my cheeks. I knew I couldn’t help him. Mom had her hands over her face, her back shaking as she sobbed.

I felt like I’d been sold into slavery, my freedom taken away from me. I was trapped, and I didn’t know how to escape.

I stared at Ryder in horror, my heart pounding restlessly in my chest. Fuck! He was an entirely different person from the playful, carefree guy who sneaked into my room last night. His gaze was ruthless, consuming everything in its path.

“You fools,” Ryder spat, his voice low and menacing. “You think you can outsmart me p>

Through the corners of my eyes, I could see Jason clutching the white tablecloth, an attempt to control his anger. Thankfully, the knife was no longer in his hands.

I was about to look away when Jason, fueled by anger and a sense of protection, sprinted toward Ryder, lunging his body at him. But Ryder was too quick. With one hand, his sharp claws extended, long and thick, and his hand wrapped around Jason’s neck, pinning him to the wall.

A shrill scream escaped our lips—Mom’s, Stephanie’s, and mine. I couldn’t watch Jason die like that, especially when all of this was partially because of me. No matter how much I hated him, I couldn’t stand the sight of bloodshed. My body quivered, my shoulders slumping, and then I found myself begging.

“Please, Ryder… don’t hurt him, please,” I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. Jason, red in the face as he dangled in the air, was now at Ryder’s mercy. The sight of my brother and father at his mercy drained the color from my face, fear shadowing my senses. If Jason, who I thought was the strongest with his Alpha traits, was pinned down like a mere human, I could only imagine Ryder’s strength.

We could only watch helplessly, not daring to interfere in such a hopeless situation.

𝗙𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 — 𝖙𝖗𝖚𝖘𝖙 gⲁ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀﹐𝖼𝗈𝗺

My eyes swept over Ryder, blazing with anger. This was no fun. I hated him for this. He was enjoying our misery, bullying us with his power over us, making the whole Alpha obey his bidding. Right then, whatever little affection I had toward him died.

Dad’s hands were surprisingly firm as he hurriedly scribbled his signature and then passed the contract to Ryder, his gaze not meeting Ryder’s.

The tension within me eased a bit. At least he would release Jason since he’d obviously gotten what he wanted.

“You’re signing it as well,” he tipped his chin toward me. My pupils dilated as I raised my left brow.

“Here,” he slid the paper toward me. My eyes widened in horror as I scanned the contract.

“This is absurd,” I muttered, looking back at him. “You can’t be serious.” I let out a humorless chuckle. His terms were fully in his favor. I now knew I hated him; he was a bloody opportunist. My jaw tightened—what the hell! Who in their right mind would agree to such ridiculous terms?

My glare at Ryder was intense, my eyes filled with hatred as I scribbled down my signature. This was more than blackmail; it was as if he were ripping my soul from my body. I felt a wave of nausea wash over me as I thought about the implications of what I was signing away. My freedom, my autonomy, my identity—my very self.

I tossed the contract back at him, not caring what he would do to me, my anger taking over my senses. How could he do this to me? How could he be so cruel and heartless?