CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN ROXANNEI gingerly collected the letter from the maid, Fabiola. “Thank you,” I said and closed the door behind me. I was puzzled. Hadn't Ryker told me there wouldn't be any letters and if he wanted to see me, he would come to my room?Or… was he trying to be romantic?I took my seat at the dressing table and a smile danced on my lips as I stared at the white envelope. My heart pounded loudly in my chest. Our last disagreement wasn't nice but I didn't think he would want to make up so soon.Well not everyone was like me who could hold a grudge till eternity.What if it was bad news that was in the letter? I twirled it as I battled with my instincts on whether to leave it or not.Deep down I wanted him to come here begging. Okay, perhaps I was being delusional. Ryker was too egoistic to beg in person so maybe his letter was the only way to reach out to me. And it wasn't everyday I got a letter— actually it was my first letter so, fuck it!I ripped open the seal and
CHAPTER FORTY EIGHTROXANNE The cuffs were released and I crawled to my feet, crying from the pain that consumed my existence. I slipped on my blood as they counted, “two.”In the darkness, I couldn't make it to the door of the halls, so I dragged myself to the window and stared at it for a while.“Three, run rabbit,” they jeered and I could hear their steps approach me.You can't let them win. They're close.I closed my eyes and with determination, I summoned every ounce of strength and smashed the window with a punch. I picked up my skirts and jumped out, tumbling in the process.I ran into the heart of the woods, ignoring the person who called my name. It wasn't Ryker. It was a woman and it wasn't one that I recognised. Fear gripped me and held me steady in its cold embrace. Her voice was full of mockery and bitterness. “If you had a wolf, you would have probably shifted by now, you know?”How did they know? I never told anyone I didn't have a wolf. Ryker figured it out by himse
CHAPTER FORTY NINE RYKER I sat in my office, the weight of regrets heavy on my shoulders. My heart ached with sorrow as I thought about the moments I had ignored Roxanne, consumed by the demands of the pack's work and our fight. If only I had been there for her, if only I had listened to my wolf, she wouldn't be in this dire state now.I wished I could go back in time to rectify it. I had one sole duty and that was to protect Roxanne, and in that, I had failed miserably. Whoever it was that had written that letter was someone who knew about our fight.I gulped down the glass of alcohol and flung the bottle across the room. As the somber atmosphere lingered thick in the air, a knock around the door startled me.Beta Miles entered with a grave expression on his face. He scrutinized the mess in my office and looked at me. His concerned voice broke the silence. “Alpha Ryker, the physician from White Moon is here.”I nodded solemnly and followed him to Roxanne's bedroom where she lay mot
CHAPTER FIFTY ROXANNEYou know that light head‐ ness that comes with being run over by a carriage and series of hooves of many horses. That's if you've ever been run over by a carriage. That dizzy feeling, like the world is swirling around you and then you feel yourself falling into a deep end— that was what best describes my situation the minute I opened my eyes.It was as though the world had shifted on its axis and everything seemed different. My vision was blurry and I could make out one color — blue. The constant beep in my ear was beginning to annoy me and the repugnant odor of antiseptic congested my nostrils and invaded my senses.I moaned and slowly forced my heavy eyelids wider apart till my vision became clear. I didn't recognise anything and I could barely lift my finger.Now I saw white and then— a pair of eyes.“You're awake!” someone squeaked.Was it now a thing if someone was awake?“Don't move please,” a man said in the calmest voice ever as he flashed a light in bo
CHAPTER FIFTY ONEROXANNE It's been three weeks since I woke up and returned to the pack house and I hated everything. I never left my room for once because I hated myself. I just couldn't bear the thought of going out and I still couldn't walk properly. My bones ached. It seemed as though in any minute, my bones were going to dismantle. And myself. I hated myself so much I wanted to hide myself from the world. I had smashed the mirror in my room again when I saw my reflection. I was bruised all over. Not the bruises Ryker's men gave me but new ones and I couldn't remember how I got them but they hurt and itched and I scratched till they bled. They were scars like something hot damaged my skin. They were scars from having my skin burnt and they were all over my arms, my legs, my chest and my stomach.These were scars that were going to be stuck with me for life and I hated them a lot. I cried myself to sleep every night and no matter how hard I tried to remember how I got these mar
CHAPTER FIFTY TWORYKERCaught up in organizing my cluttered table, I was completely oblivious to anyone's arrival until I felt her hand resting on my table's surface. When I looked up, I was taken aback by the sight of Roxanne's unexpected presence and her expression was devoid of emotion.“Roxanne,” I chirped. “I guess the bird decided to leave its nest, eh.”She shrugged. “ Nothing fun was happening.”“I thought you weren't supposed to be walking yet,” I said as I eyed her crutches.“Oh but I am,” she said and shot me a look that screamed ‘if looks could kill’ “What's with that face? Do you need something? Have you had anything to eat today?”“Yes,” she said coldly. “You look occupied.”“I really am occupied but I'm glad I came to see you and please stop giving me that look. It gives me the chills.”“Everyone in the house is busy, so I decided to help out since I feel useless staying in my bedroom. I mean I've been hearing them working and talking for days now and maybe I was wait
CHAPTER FIFTY THREE RYKER “I don't care about you enough to worry about that. How do I get this across that thick skull of yours? You mean nothing to me. Nothing at all.”I shook my head vigorously, trying to get her words out of my head. I had no idea why of all the words she said, my brain chose to pick the harsh ones.“I'm not mad about that. I'm mad that you're mating with someone else and I'm mad that I like you but you don't see it.”I sighed deeply as I slicked my hair back with a brush. I didn't want to think about her today but her words, like always, were imprinted in my brain.“I hate you Ryker. I hate that you like someone else and not me. I hate that you're cold to me.”Roxanne's confession left me speechless and confused. I didn't know if it was her courage but she definitely intrigued me with the way she took the lead. All the while I had thought she hated me more than she hated cheese but it turned out that she liked me.How long? Perhaps when we first kissed. But sh
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOURROXANNEThe evening air was cool but the tension between us was far from it. My heart raced as I tried to process the intense emotions swirling inside me. Ryker had a way of making me feel exhilarated and terrified at the same time.I didn't know if I could trust his words. This was Ryker being expressive and I was trying not to be nonchalant but I couldn't help it.I looked up at him, my resolve weakening under his earnest gaze. “I just don’t want to be someone you run to when things don’t go your way.”He reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from my face. “You’re not. You’re someone I want to be with because you make me feel whole. You make me forget about the pressure and the uncertainty.”I sighed. “I don't want to get hurt, Ryker. Make up your mind, okay?”He let out a low sigh. “I know what I want Roxanne, I'm not confused.”Yes, I was scared, I was too scared of falling deep– perhaps I had. But I was scared of being really into him and his mate appea