Chereads / REBORN IN RUINS: Survival in an Apocalypse / Chapter 26 - †DOMINANCE†

Chapter 26 - †DOMINANCE†

Aria's face flushed with embarrassment as Samuel teased her about her injuries, his playful jabs striking a chord at her forehead.

"Stop," Aria whined with exasperation, her eyes playfully glaring at Samuel to cease his teasing.she thought back to the incident, it was her fault for underestimating that damned rabbit. Who would have thought it was a mutant? The memory of the rabbit razor sharp teeth and glowing red eyes sent a shiver down her spine.

Samuel chuckled, his deep voice rumbling through the room like thunder on a summer evening.(^^)

"Come on, it's just a little funny," Samuel said with amusement.

Aria's good hand instinctively went to her injured wrist, her slender fingers tracing the bandage wrapped tightly around it.

"You asked how I injured my leg and wrist," Aria said with a pout.

Samuel nodded,"I did," he admitted.

Aria sighed, her shoulders sagging."And I told you," she said.

Samuel grinned mischievously."Yes, you did," Aria's glare hardened.

"Then why are you teasing me?" she whispered shouted and Samuel shrugged.

"Because it's adorable," he said.

Aria rolled her eyes while Samuel just chuckled."Oh, it's adorable," he repeated.

Aria's face grew hotter as Samuel continued to tease her about her injuries and the bandage around her wrist was a constant reminder of her encounter with the fucked up mutant rabbit.

"I said stop, Samuel!" Aria whispered-shouted again louder, her patience was wearing thin.

"What... what is it?" Ryan, who had been sleeping peacefully on the bed beside Aria, suddenly woke up, sitting up with his gun prepared to shoot against any threat.

Aria sighed, her frustration evident in the subtle shake of her head and the tension in her shoulders. She hadn't wanted to wake Ryan up from his much needed sleep, but Samuel's relentless teasing had reached a boiling point.

Ryan's eyes that was still disoriented from sleep, settled on the stranger (Samuel) who was leaning against the opposite wall, his broad shoulders relaxed.

"The sleeping beauty is finally awake," Samuel said, taunting, a mischievous grin spreading across his chiseled face.

Ryan dropped his gun back to his side and rubbed his sleepy eyes,It's still the fool, Ryan thought. His dark hair was messed up from his sleep, and his jawline was shaded with stubble.

Ryan's mind was still foggy from sleep. He shook his head, trying to clear the haze.

"What was it?, Aria" Ryan asked, his voice laced with confusion and annoyance, his deep voice rough from sleep, why was she screaming before he woke up.

Aria's gaze softened as she looked at Ryan, her eyes filling with concern. Her long, curly brown hair was pulled in to a ponytail down her back, and her full lips were pursed.

"Samuel's just being annoying," Aria whispered, but now saying it out loud sounded dumb to her, a faint blush rising to her cheeks.

Ryan's disoriented eyes settled on Aria, his gaze squinting slightly as he tried to shake off the haze. "Samuel?" Ryan asked with confusion.

Aria nodded, her eyes drifting to the man leaning against the wall, his rugged features illuminated by the small torch light. "Oh, his name is Samuel," Aria clarified, pointing to Samuel, whose broad shoulders was relaxed against the wooden cabin wall.

Samuel pretending to be seemingly oblivious to the conversation, continued to observe them with a face of amusement and mischief.

Ryan's eyes rolled, his mind filling with annoyance as he looked at Samuel's smug expression. So the bastard's name is Samuel, he thought, "lame." Ryan stood up from the creaky bed, stretching his lean muscular body, his joints cracking with a soft pop and he rubbed the sleep from his eyes again.

He walked to where Samuel was leaning on the wall, his eyes scrutinizing Samuel's rugged features. Ryan's gaze lingered on Samuel's broad shoulders, his muscular build evident even in the dim light, this fucker has my build , Ryan thought.

"Checking out the competition?" Samuel asked, his voice laced with amusement as he also scrutinized Ryan.

Ryan turned back fluid and walked to the bed where Aria was sitting. Aria shook her head and rolled her eyes at Ryan's antics in showing dominance.

Ryan sat back on the bed, looking at Samuel with an unreadable expression. The small torch light highlighted Ryan face features.

"I thought your name was none of our business," Ryan said, his deep voice laced with sarcasm and a hint of irritation.

Samuel chuckled, ready to spill a taunt. "Well, your girlfriend there was lovely, and I graced her with my name," Samuel said, taunting and spiteful.

Aria's eyes flashed in annoyance, furrowing her face as she gazed at Samuel. "Ryan, don't engage with him," Aria warned, her thoughts going back to their brief introduction. Even though she had just met Samuel, she could see he was someone who derived pleasure from annoying people and people suffering. His smirk and body language radiated an air of superiority.

"Ryan, just let it go" Aria said as dhe quickly opened her backpack and pulled out a bottle of water, handing it to Ryan.

Ryan took the bottle, his eyes never leaving Samuel's smug face. His glare was intense and his jaw was clenched in frustration. "Thanks," Ryan said to Aria before unscrewing the cap and taking a long swig of water to cool his temperature. The water spilled on his lips as he wiped them with the back of his hand.

Aria's adorable eyes lingered on Ryan for a moment as she watched his action. She then shifted her attention back to Samuel, her expression hardening to a glare.

She could see the amusement dancing in Samuel's eyes, and it only added to her growing unease. His smirk and body language radiating power.

The cabin fell silent, the only sound was the wind blowing outside. The tension was high, and Aria could see that Samuel was waiting for a reaction from Ryan.

Ryan's eyes never left Samuel's face, his jaw clenched in frustration.

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