This takes place around the same time as when Kellian was being tortured in the previous chapter.
Ryder just got home with Liam.
Ryder and Liam were still mad at each other and avoided each other. Ryder was holding their dog Cookie as she slept.
"Ryder you're home!" A blonde werewolf woman greeted Ryder.
"What do you want Sheila?" Ryder asked annoyed.
"Would it kill you to call me mom once?" Sheila, Tyler Rhodes' wife and Ryder's stepmother.
"Yes. It would. I'd rather be cut into pieces and fed to wild animals than call you mother." Ryder said staring at her with disgust.
"Haha. What a funny joke. Your father is in his office. He wants to talk to you." She laughed awkwardly.
"It wasn't a joke. Of I had a choice I would have kicked you out a long time ago." Ryder said then left.
"Liam. Did you upset Ryder again!?"
"He upset himself. And besides, it's not like his feelings towards you would change if he wasn't upset."
"Why was I given such a weak, idiotic, disobedient child!? Ugh! At least you'll finally be a bit useful." Sheila complained.
"Huh?" Liam was confused.
"Dress nice tomorrow. You'll be meeting Amanda's little sister. If you two get along and start dating it might make Ryder want to marry Amanda." Sheila stated with a smirk.
"But I have school!" Liam yelled the first logical excuse he could think of.
"I already wrote a sick letter," Sheila replied smiling.
"Besides, I'm ten! I don't want to date anyone–"
"Now listen here you ungrateful little brat. You dating that child is crucial! You also need to apologize to Ryder for whatever the hell you did!" Sheila cut Liam off.
"I made principal Amelia Jones adopt a child for this. This needs to work or else she'll kill me!"
"What does your plan to make Ryder marry Amanda have to do with me?" Liam asked.
"It has everything to do with you! Do you think a weak, pathetic werewolf like you can survive without the wealth and power of the Rhodes family???" Sheila asked. "The answer is no. The deal was I get 50% of any financial gain they receive so we'll have more sources of income."
"This weak, pathetic werewolf is your son are you saying you wouldn't be taking care of me if Tyler Rhodes wasn't my father?" Liam asked.
"That is exactly what I'm saying. You wouldn't even be able to step into my house. I have no idea why Tyler loves you so much."
"It's good to know where you stand. Then what was the point of keeping a child like me around? I know you. If I wasn't useful to you, you would have killed me and made it look like an accident." Liam asked genuinely curious.
"Maybe you do have a few brain cells up there. Ryder's never liked me and his father can barely tell him what to do. So if I want his power and wealth when he grows up I need someone on the inside who can give part what he gives them to me in case I don't befriend him. Who better than a little sibling he'd shower with affection? So I had a baby." Sheila explained.
"Are you saying you only had me so I would aid you in your plan!?" Liam was shocked. How could a mother tell her child she only had them so she could mooch off of a rich family!?
"Right again. Although I hoped it would be successful too so I would get praised for being both a great mother and stepmother. But you did the opposite! Because you are nothing like your father and brother everyone is thinking I had you with some disgusting commoner! Like I'd ever touch those disgusting mongrels!" Sheila cringed at the thought.
"And what makes you think I'll help you after what you just told me?" Liam asked.
"You answered your question earlier. The moment you stop being useful I'll kill you. And then get a new child that Ryder would want to protect since they'd be a lot younger than him. It's a pretty good plan. So if you want to live... You better do what I say!" She smiled evilly.
"What makes you think Ryder will do what you want though? Ryder is extremely rebellious and listens to no one except his father and even then it's only on some occasions. I'll do what you say for now but I should let you know he isn't playing your game, you're playing him and he's just toying with you before he gets bored. That's the type of person Ryder truly is. You aren't significant in his life at all." Liam warned her.
"You really are an idiot. What do you know!? I've been planning this for years! There's no way a snot-nosed kid like him knows I'm up to something." Sheila stated angrily.
"That snot-nosed kid is the affluent, powerful genius you want to mooch off of," Liam stated.
"Shut up!" She yelled at him angrily.
Mr. Rhodes' office.
"What do you want?" Ryder asked sitting down.
"That isn't any way to greet your father," Tyler said looking up from his work to see Ryder sitting lazily in front of him.
"Whatever. Speak."
"I want you to go to this forest and get rid of the hunters," Tyler stated handing Ryder a map.
"... Why?"
"Because that's your mission."
"Not that."
"...To make you the perfect heir."
~Flashback~
A nine-year-old Ryder was sitting on the living room floor building Legos with a three-year-old Liam.
"What are you doing!?" An old man that was a part of Tyler's pack, the Bloodmoon Pride.
The boisterous voice frightened Liam causing him to run into his brother's arms for protection.
"Oh. Mr. Hall. I was just playing with my little brother." Ryder explained respectfully.
"Playing!? Aren't you supposed to be nine!? Playing is for children! Not at all suitable for heirs! How do you plan to run the Bloodmoon Pride!?" Mr. Hall scolded.
"But my brother..."
"Look, kid. Your brother is normal. Not an heir it can't even be considered a part of this pack. I mean look at how weak it is. You shouldn't even call it brother. It is just trash. At most, it can become a slave but even that is unlikely it is just not cut out for a werewolf society where strength is everything." Mr. Hall lectured.
"With all due respect, would be willing to repeat what you just said in front of Father?" Ryder asked.
The man's eye twitched. "You! What kind of heir talks to his elder like this!?" He yelled at the child. And dragged him over to his father by the ear. Ryder began to cry from the pain.
"Why did you bring him over?" Tyler asked confused.
"Is this brat really you heir?" Mr. Hall asked.
"He is. He has my blood running through his veins." Tyler replied taking a sip of his drink.
"I see. How disappointing. He just yelled at me for knocking over his toy." Mr. Hall acted extremely disappointed.
"Sigh. I guess I've been too lenient, he's becoming spoiled. I've changed my mind. I'll let you train him. But let me warn you... Do not go overboard with the punishments." Tyler permitted him to train his son.
"Father he's lying I would never!" Ryder yelled.
"Why would Mr. Hall lie to me son?" Tyler asked disappointed.
Mr. Hall took him to the living room and scolded him, "Quit crying! You big baby. Real men don't cry! I'll make you into the perfect heir by the time you're ten. We'll teach you by any means necessary."
After nine months of unbearable training Ryder still wasn't what they wanted him to be. They began adding punishment into the mix. For reasons unknown to Ryder, he was let out two months early.
~Flashback End~
'No one deserves to go through that I may be jealous of Liam's carefree life but I will protect that carefree life with my life. He is not allowed to be a part of my world. That is why I will keep him weak for as long as possible... I can't believe I momentarily forgot that. I was too upset he let Cookie get hurt. It wasn't his fault. It was mine like Blueberry said. I kept Liam weak and I didn't go looking for him immediately. Sigh.'
"Ryder. Are you listening?" Tyler asked.
"I... don't want to."
"What?"
"I don't want to do the mission. Sheila wants to make Liam do something I can feel it. I am going to protect him." Ryder stated.
"I'm glad you found your love for your brother again but your training is important." Tyler sighed.
"Why? Why is it more important that Liam!" Ryder yelled angrily.
"Because of what you are!"
"Huh?" Ryder was not expecting an answer like that.
Tyler got up and placed his chair in front of Ryder.
"I guess I can't hide it anymore... Son... I'm sorry for the way I've been treating you... I love you so much but I couldn't show it!!" He threw himself onto Ryder.
"Ew. Get off and explain."
"Do you remember how Laylah used to say you have special eyes?" Tyler asked.
"I do. Mom said it all the time." Ryder replied.
"You also know of the legend of the Ultima, right?" Tyler asked.
"Yes, of course. Every werewolf does." Ryder answered.
"Well, the Ultima isn't a monstrous demon-like creature... all the time."
"Why does that matter? It's just a myth. Besides what does this have to–"
"It's a curse. One passed down in a specific family of werewolves for many generations. That family is ours." Tyler cut Ryder off to finish the story.
"What? This isn't a very funny joke." Ryder was annoyed.
"Ryder. You. Are. An. Ultima." Tyler repeated word by word.
"No, it's just a myth... a fairytale," Ryder mumbled trying to convince himself.
"I assure you it's very real. It is what prevents you from living a normal life. And why I couldn't treat you normally. I had to make sure you grew up rational so you can keep your emotions under control."
"I don't believe you," Ryder stated regaining his composure.
"Sigh. Remember Mr. Hall?" Tyler asked.
"Yeah." Ryder was disgusted recall memories of that man.
"Do you remember how he died?" Tyler asked.
"He died?" Ryder asked confused.
"I warned them not to go overboard when punishing you. They didn't listen. You weren't as strong as they wanted so they punished you every day. Your hatred and anger grew and eventually you snapped. You let the curse take over and killed every single person in the facility. We found you passed out on the ground and brought you back." Tyler explained.
Suddenly memories of a bloody massacre came rushing back. Ryder was shocked.
"Looks like you remembered," Tyler said after observing his son's reaction.
"I-it's true..."
"Your emotions must never get too out of hand or you will lose control. When you lose control your eyes turn red and bear the mark of the Ultima. Those eyes are extremely dangerous. They can turn a werewolf into a human and a human into a werewolf but the process is extremely painful and has a high rate of fatality."
"No one must know... Not even Sheila."
"Is Liam an ultima?"
"No... But he's really smart and talented so I wouldn't mind if you told him but I don't think he's quite ready yet." Tyler stated.
"I won't tell him yet. I want to protect his childhood."
"Wait... Was the thing about this curse being in the Lycan family fake?"
"No. Someone thought they could end the curse by changing our last name. You can see how that turned out." Tyler answered.
After answering some of Ryder's questions Tyler change the subject, "Did you know Liam is getting bullied?"
"I know. I'm going to have to try and figure out a way to make him happy or stop the bullies permanently."
"Don't kill the children," Tyler stated.
"I'm not going to kill them! Maybe threaten but not kill!" Ryder yelled
"I'm so happy I don't have to hide my love for you anymore," Tyler said hugging his son.
"Get. Off. I can't just forgive you like that... But I'll try. I... love you too... Dad." Ryder replied pouting.
The next day.
"Morning."
"What the hell!? How did you get in my room? And why were you watching me sleep???" Ryder yelled at Sheila.
"I have the key to your room and I want to ask you something." She replied.
Ryder stared at her for five minutes the took up his phone and called his father, "Dad. Can we change the lock on my door? Yeah, it's... broken. I don't know how it's like completely destroyed. Thanks."
He hung up then walked over to the door and destroyed the doorknob. Then he went back to his bed and sat down, "Speak."
Her eye twitched in irritation. "Haha... Son, don't be so cold." She said trying to hide her frustration.
"You're not my mother." Ryder corrected.
"That bimbo has been dead for like ten years! Forget about her I'm you mom now!" She blurted out in frustration.
Ryder looked at her like she had gone insane then said two words, "... Get out."
"What?" She asked shocked at his response.
"Get own of my room. Disrespectful female dogs aren't allowed in my room." Ryder commanded pointing at the door.
"What did you just call me?" Sheila was enraged.
"I could have said the actual word. You came into my room and randomly decided to insult my mother. Get out." Ryder repeated.
"... At least let me ask my question." She realized being mad was getting
"One minute." Ryder decided to be nice.
"You spent more money than usual yesterday. This isn't the first time there have been some abnormalities starting about three weeks ago." She stated.
"Kay? Get out." Ryder commanded.
"No! What did you spend it on?" She was persistent.
"None of your business. Get out."
"You forget I have control of your bank account. I'll cut off Cookie's budget." Sheila threatened.
"Then I'll just not use my credit card. I'm not some spoiled brat. Get out."
"... I'll block your account completely." She really wanted an answer.
"Fine do that. I'll get money some other way. Just get out of my room."
"Good luck." She said mockingly as she left.
After she was gone Ryder called his father, "Yeah, dad can have another bank account? Going to be blocked soon. So this time I'd prefer it if Sheila doesn't know about it. Yeah, the pay from my missions will go there now... The pay from tomorrow's mission should be enough. Fine, I'll take it."
"...Thanks and... sorry for bothering you so much recently."
"Kay. Bye."
'I hate asking dad for things but at least Sheila won't be able to watch my every move anymore.'