Winston dropped me at Luna Ainsley's insistence much to the irritation of Alpha Greg.
"Take Mrs Steele home, Madea" Ainsley told one of the omegas who served the Steeles.
Mrs Steele? Mrs Ryder Steele? What a joke!
Like I had a choice in becoming a Steele, I was simply a property bought and paid for, an object to serve at Ryder's pleasure, to attend to all his needs and to obey him till he was tired of me.
Well, he got tired of me, alright!
"Everyone leave!" Alpha Greg ordered and just like that every pack member scrambled like the ground beneath their feet was on fire.
Everyone except The Steeles, myself, Madea and Joshua, Ryder's best buddy and future beta.
"You've gone too far!" Ainsley screamed at Alpha Greg.
In response, he silenced her by raising a finger. "We will have this conversation at home…with family" Greg said and walked out with Luna Ainsley.
I tried to prop myself up, ignoring the pain that felt like a thousand snake bites, I saw Ryder move closer to help me but along the way he stopped.
"You are not even going to help her stand?" Joshua asked Ryder, he seemed angry, almost like he wanted to take Ryder's head for hurting me.
Sweet Josh! Stuck between playing his duty as future beta to Ryder Steele and being a good friend to me.
We grew up together. We are best friends…the three of us.
He got up in Ryder's face.
Joshua's eyes blazed but I know he was no match for Ryder, who wasn't the weakling he used to be all thanks to my blood.
Ryder was still Alpha and Joshua wasn't.
"You selfish, entitled—"
Ryder's eyes widened, but Joshua's fury silenced him.
"You rejected Kaida, knowing she'd die without your bond?"
Joshua's voice shook. His entire body shook.
Ryder remained silent.
"She's your wife! What's wrong with you? You're killing her!"
Ryder's face paled.
"Joshua, calm—" I tried to talk him down.
"Don't tell me to calm down!" Joshua roared and he moved closer to Ryder who was still quiet. "You're destroying the one person who cares for you unconditionally!"
Joshua's fists clenched.
"Kaida loves you, despite your flaws. And this is how you repay her? You are going to stand there and watch them drain her blood and discard her like she's nothing! Fuck you Ryder"
Tears streamed down my face. I blinked back in helplessness.
It happened very fast. Ryder slammed his fist into Joshua's face with enough force that he staggered and fell down.
Then he walked over to where I sat and even amidst my protest, he picked me up.
"Put me down" I demanded.
"No. I'm taking you home"
He started strolling towards the house and all I could think about was how strong the urge to burrow deeper into his chest and have him make all the pain disappear.
I didn't.
I didn't say a word to him either.
The Steele family mansion loomed before us as he walked us home…to my impending death.
Inside,Ryder dropped me on my feet and I walked inside our bedroom, he tried to follow but I slammed the door shut in his face.
He disappeared soon after.
I settled into our second-floor bedroom, the soft carpet muffling his retreating footsteps.
I curled up near the window fighting the urge to cry. I wanted to find a hole and crawl inside to hide out for the rest of my life.
But on second thought, I stood up. Walked towards the hub of hushed conversations. Luna's gentle voice mingled with Alpha Greg's low tones.
They were arguing about me and I simply strode inside.
"We are having a conversation, get out!" Alpha Greg said.
"I know" I nodded quietly "I just came to say goodbye, mom…Dad. I am leaving" I exhaled, wondering where my sudden boldness was coming from.
"I'm going home, back to Stormbreaker pack, out west of Lunaria county"
"Your mother sold you to us! You can't leave-" Alpha Greg started to say but Luna Ainsley interrupted him.
"Go. Good luck, Kaidaira" she said and smiled at me.
I chuckled out loud. "You finally got my name right. I mean it only took nineteen years but hey, you did"
I was interrupted by Greg
"Fine. Get out of my pack. Because if you survive this rejection, I wouldn't want you anywhere near my people. No one would not when you start to reek of that disgusting smell" Greg said spitefully.
I had no idea what he was talking about and I didn't stick around to find out.
I turned around to leave and I walked right in Ryder.
I ignored the pain that was hacking me apart and I grabbed his shirt.
"You are dead to me, Ryder Steele. I hope the next slave they purchase for you, kills you in the middle of the night!"
He froze. The son of a bitch, wasn't expecting it.
Was he expecting me to make him a pancake for breaking my freaking heart the same day he spent all night making love to me and finding new ways our body could fit?
Fool!
I stared at Ryder, my heart breaking further into a million pieces.
After a minute of staring at him,I tried to leave but I felt his arm pulling me back. What was he doing?
Wait! Was he trying to…to hug me?
I wanted to resist, punch him or bite his head off but I didn't. I felt myself allowing him to hug me.
It didn't take me long to figure out that he was crying too.
Are you in pain? I wanted to yell at him. Good!
I wanted to tell him that I hope he dies a horrible death.
His essence surrounded me, his pheromones and mine mingled together. He ran his hand through my curly hair and he brought his lips to my lips and he kissed me.
The kiss overwhelmed me, even my pain was reduced. My senses were temporarily limited as I tasted him.
I wanted to object, to reject him like he rejected me and I did!
God, I did it!
I summoned all the strength in me and I threw a punch at him… it landed on his nose breaking it, blood dropped down and he wiped it off. He looked so sad but then he smiled.
"You are going home, Kai. I finally got rid of you. I'm finally free of you"
Another fresh batch of tears emerged when I saw his face.
"I did the right thing, Kai. I hope I never see you again. Take your childless body away from here and never return"
I punched him right again in the nose. He didn't try to defend himself and I ended up drawing more blood.
"You are not noble, you fucker! You are just like your tyrant Father, Ryder Steele. So, go to hell!"
I watched as he turned into his wolf form and he ran.