93 - Ryker


    ude''s voice cuts through the room just as we storm in. "Well, well, Ryker. You''ve caught me at a rather inconvenient moment. Perhaps you should schedule an appointment with my secretary, and we can arrange a meeting soon."


    If I didn''t know better, I''d say he was trying to act like a pompous jerk on purpose. But beneath the surface, I can smell his nerves-he''s rattled.


    "I''d argue that now is just as good a time as any," I reply coolly. "After all, you dide to see me this morning. I was a bit distracted then, but my mate is generous enough to insist I check on you now."


    ude snorts, clearly unimpressed. "You really let your mate control your schedule? How very modern of you." He tries to roll his eyes, though his age makes the gesture awkward and forced.


    "Your Luna is remarkable," I say, watching him closely. "She''s survived multiple attacks without a scratch and managed to fight back hard enough to wound her assants."


    "Bullshit," he spits out. "She''s a weak human. The only reason she''s still standing is because she''s heavily guarded. I don''t understand why you keep her around. You should be with a she-wolf-someone who can bring you real power and strength."


    He feigns boredom, pretending to bury himself in his books again, but the twitch in his eye betrays him. He''s still watching me intently. His shaking hand gives him away too.


    "Is there something you want?" I ask, standing just inside the doorway, arms crossed. Josh moves to my left side, positioning himself near the other exit, ready.


    ude scoffs again, flipping a page with exaggerated disinterest. "What are you talking about, Ryker?"


    "You''ve been spotted near my pack house more times than I can count over the past month, yet you haven''te to see me directly." I lean in slightly. "That tells me you''re not here for me."


    "I have very little interest in your affairs, boy," he replies dismissively.


    "Exactly. So whye here at all? Why lurk in the forest stalking my mate?"


    "I''m tired of your nonsense, boy. Leave. I have real work to do and no time for your foolish questions. I don''t care about your weak, human mate."


    His words sting, but I press on, folding my arms tighter. "Yet you''ve tried to harm my Luna more than once.” His eyes flick to me, betraying his difort. Rick watches too-he''s never been good at hiding his emotions.


    "Leave her out of this," ude snaps.


    "She''s human, not a Luna. Certainly not mine. We both know that. So why pretend otherwise?” His tone is calm, but the hatred radiating off him is unmistakable.


    "She is my mate and my Luna. You will show her respect." My voice hardens, anger rising.


    "The same respect you show her? From what I hear, she''s neither marked nor mated and is something of a joke among your females. You should get rid of her. Clearly, you don''t want her, no matter how much the Moon Goddess insists." He gestures to Rick and then to himself. Rick pales at the suggestion. "That way, your hands stay clean, and everyone can continue thinking you''re some perfect little trophy son." He sneers at me.


    I step forward, ready to retort, but a firm hand mps down on my shoulder. Josh''s voice is low and steady. "Don''t let him get to you, boss. He knows she''s special- that''s why he keepsing after her."


    His words help me steady myself. I can''t afford to lose my temper now; that''s exactly what ude wants.


    Suddenly, a soothing warmth flows through me, like golden honey cascading from my head down to my toes. I inhale deeply, and her scent surrounds mepletely. My body rxes, my mind clears as if a fog has lifted. I nce up at ude, who clearly notices the change. Confusion shes across his face, and I can''t help but smile, sharp and fierce.


    "Your Luna doesn''t take kindly to your disrespect either,” I warn. “Don''te near her again. Don''t try to harm her again. If you do, I''ll make sure your death is the most painful and public spectacle imaginable."


    "Did you just threaten me, pup?" ude challenges, voice dripping with disdain.


    "As your Alpha, I will make any threat necessary to protect my pack and its members," I dere firmly. "You''re already on thin ice. My father is currently cleaning up the mess you made near the Nightwalker pack. You do realize these alliances and projects benefit the pack, right? They keep you in this house you neither work for nor maintain."


    ude raises an eyebrow, ncing briefly over his book. "It''s amusing that you threaten me when your father is the one doing all the real work." He closes the book with a snap. “As I said, I have things to attend to. You can show yourselves out.”