Page 14

Chapter Fourteen

Ryder opened the door, and around the side of his body, I could see a dark gray wolf looking up at him. I pressed my lips together to stop myself from making any kind of noise.

“Give me a minute,” Ryder said, without turning to look at me. He stepped outside, pulling the door closed behind him.

The second they were out of sight, I scrambled to the window, pushing the curtain to the side just enough to peek through. Ryder and the wolf were walking toward a bunch of trees at the front of the house.

I pressed my ear against the glass, straining to hear their conversation, but they were too far away. All I could make out was the deep rumble of Ryder’s voice and the occasional sharp gesture of his hands.

The wolf stood tall, ears alert, completely focused on Ryder. I watched as if waiting for it to shift back into human form so they could talk, but it didn’t happen.

When I saw them turning back toward the house, I hurried to the couch, sat down, and crossed my legs in an attempt to put myself in a casual pose. My heart was racing when the front door opened and Ryder stepped back inside, his jaw tight.

“Everything okay?” I asked, trying to sound nonchalant as I looked at my fingernails.

Ryder ran a hand through his hair. “The pack crossed into our territory again.”

I leaned forward. “Kellan’s pack?”

His eyes met mine, and he nodded. “Yeah, but I don’t know why I’m telling you this.”

“Is it bad that he crossed into your territory?”

“Yes,” Ryder said, pacing the floor. “I guess Kellan doesn’t think the rules apply to him anymore. He’s throwing it all out the window. I can’t trust anything he says.”

A chill ran through me. “I’m not safe then? What does he want?”

“Everything.”

I cocked my head. “What does that mean?”

“First, he convinced Paul to leave our pack,” Ryder said, his voice hardening. “But he didn’t stop there. He tried to lure Trevor away, too.”

“Trevor from the truck?” I asked.

Ryder nodded. “Trevor is loyal. Paul was...” He paused, searching for the right word. “Paul was weak. Easily influenced. He never wanted to be like us.”

“Doesn’t Kellan have his own pack?” I asked, chewing my lip. “There were a lot of wolves that night.”

“He’s growing his forces,” Ryder said, his blue eyes intense.

“Why?”

Ryder lowered himself into the recliner, his hands clasped between his legs. “He’s telling them he’ll protect them and keep them safe in ways I can’t. He wants to challenge me. He wants it all. Pushing and pushing to see how far he can go before I react.”

“So you’re not just one of them… you’re a pack… leader?” I scooted forward, leaning toward him.

“Why am I talking to you about this?” he asked, pushing himself out of the chair. “We have rules, Everly.”

“Wait, so how far are you going to let him push you?” I asked, getting to my feet.

Ryder stepped up to the door. “Not much further.”

“What happens if he keeps pushing?” I asked, though I wasn’t sure I wanted to know the answer.

“You ask a lot of questions.”

I smiled at him. “You’re a very interesting man.”

“You didn’t seem to think so before all this,” Ryder said, smirking.

“To be fair, you did try to run me over,” I said, tilting my head.

He sighed. “I did not. Anyway, I should get going.”

“You’re going to leave me alone?” I asked, grabbing his muscular arm. “You said he wouldn’t come but?—”

“You’ll be protected,” he said, jerking his thumb to the window.

“This makes me all so uncomfortable. I didn’t do anything to him!” I said, looking into Ryder’s eyes.

Ryder shook his head. “You saw them shift. That puts you in a bit of danger, but I will do everything I can to keep you safe.”

“I thought you told me I was already safe?”

“You are because I’m protecting you,” Ryder said instantly, stiffening. “Fuck!”

I shook my head. “What?”

“I think when I told him to leave you alone—” Ryder grabbed my hands and looked into my eyes. “I can’t stay. Do not open the door for anyone, do you understand?”

My head bobbed, but I couldn’t speak.

His expression softened as he looked at me. He gently lifted his hand to my face, brushing his fingers against my cheek.

“I know this is a lot?—”

“A fucking shit ton?—”

“I promise I won’t let anything happen to you.” Ryder’s hand was like a heating pad against my skin.

I leaned into his touch without meaning to, my breath catching in my throat. For a moment, neither of us moved. His blue eyes held mine, and something electric passed between us. My heart pounded against my ribs, and this time I knew it was something more than fear.

Just as quickly as the moment happened, it popped like a bubble floating on the breeze on a hot summer day. Ryder dropped his hand and reached into his pocket. He handed me a business card.

“I’ll be in touch, but if you need me, call,” he said, opening the door. “Lock this behind me and remember, do not open it for anyone. I mean anybody. No matter what they say or how they try to convince you. The only person you let inside is me. Got it?”

“But…” I started to protest, panic rising in my chest.

“I’ll be back soon,” he cut me off. “Just stay inside.”

I nodded reluctantly, locking the door the second he was on the porch. Through the window, I watched his taillights disappear down the drive.

With him gone, the house felt enormous and far too quiet. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to remind myself I was okay, but it was impossible with what I now knew.

I paced the floor, freezing, when a wolf let out a soft howl from the nearby trees. It didn’t sound like a warning… it sounded as though it was supposed to be soothing.

I glanced at the windows, suddenly aware of how thin the glass was and how easily it could be broken. If Kellan wanted to get to me, he’d just have to get through whoever was outside my home.

“This is insane,” I whispered to the empty room. “Completely insane.”

But I knew what I’d seen. I couldn’t deny it anymore than I could deny that I was now completely alone in a house in the middle of nowhere, with only Ryder’s promise of keeping me safe.

I made sure every window and the back door were locked tight before finally accepting that I need to at least try to sleep. The bedroom felt safer somehow, probably because it was smaller and I could see the whole room from the bed.

Every creak and groan of the old house sent my pulse racing. As I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, I heard every sound the old house made, not to mention I could pinpoint the exact location of every cricket outside.

I rolled onto my side, tucking the blanket under my chin. Ryder’s face kept appearing in my mind — the intensity in his blue eyes, the gentle touch of his fingers against my cheek. It had been so long since I’d felt that kind of electricity with anyone. Of course, it would have to be with a werewolf, because my life wasn’t complicated enough already.

I wasn’t even sure why I was feeling anything at all. Ryder was… Ryder. It was probably only because everything had been so tense and overwhelming. He probably wasn’t feeling the same things I was. If he had been, he wouldn’t have rushed out of my house so quickly.

I must have finally fallen asleep, because the shrill ring of my phone jolted me awake. Sunlight streamed through the curtains as I fumbled for my phone on the nightstand.

“Hello?” I answered, oddly hopeful to hear Ryder’s voice.

But it wasn’t Ryder.