Ryan's Point of View
The morning sun streamed down the curtains, resting on my eyelids. I stretched and turned on the bed before I stood on my feet, the sheet wrapped at my waist. My eyes darted towards the corner of the room, my gaze falling on my reflection. I could see the black, bold ink on my chest—Kyle.
I had gotten a tattoo of her name on my chest just to prove how I loved her… or claimed to love her. Well, I was being foolish.
I frowned, my jaw straightening as my fingers brushed over the tattoo. The sight of it burned in my heart. I took a deep breath, shoving the thoughts aside. The morning was too promising to waste it on random thoughts.
I walked into the bathroom, the warm water cascading down my spine, giving me a soothing relief, washing away the exhaustion of the previous night. Today was the day I was going to appoint a Beta for my pack, which just got settled in the Asian continent. It was supposed to be a good day.
Yet, as the steam filled the bathtub, my thoughts drifted back to Kyle. It was impossible not to think about her, no matter how much I tried to resist. Her face, her scent, everything about her was the masterpiece I needed to get my revenge on whoever murdered my parents. Now, the task was more difficult than I could imagine.
I slipped into a black V-collar neck which gripped my torso. I stepped out of the room, my cologne hanging heavy in the air, announcing my presence as I stepped into the car. The ride to the park was a silent one, the humming of the engine the only sound which punctuated the air.
I stepped out of my car. The attention drawn on me—I could feel the cameras flickering, threatening to blind me. Yet I remained unfazed.
I straightened my sleeves, my expression calm and commanding.
I moved with a predatory grace to the podium, getting applauded by the crowd—the pack, rather.
Everything was going smoothly. The candidates stood in line, the loyalty evident in their posture. My grip was firm on the microphone. Just as I was about to announce Cheng as the Beta of the pack, my phone buzzed. Perfect timing!
I tried to ignore it, but the caller was persistent. With a low growl, I stepped off the stage, my footsteps quick and precise as I moved to answer the call. Klaus.
"What is it?" I snapped, a twinge of annoyance in my voice.
"I found her," he said, his voice calm.
I paused, my lips folding into a thin line.
"Who?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer.
"Kyle!" he voiced out.
I felt the world freeze for some seconds, my breathing hitched. My other hand clenched into a fist as anger coursed through my veins.
"You found her?" I asked, my tongue rolling off a cruel chuckle.
"She's here. With the pack," Klaus continued, his tone calm. "But there's more. A few days after she arrived, we were attacked. Everyone's blaming her, and they're demanding blood. They want her dead."
The words hit me like a punch to my gut. Killing her was useless. She was destined to suffer in my hands. If I wanted her dead, I'd have hired head hunters or hit men.
"I'll deal with it," I growled. "Don't make any decisions until I get there. Do you hear me, Klaus?"
"Yes, Alpha."
I ended the call without another word, the phone slipping back into my pocket. My hands trembled slightly, anger coursing through my veins.
Kyle.
I returned to the ceremony briefly, my steps calculated as I pointed to Cheng.
"You're Beta now," I announced in a hurry, not bothering with the ceremony.
Before anyone could react, I was gone.
The drive to the airport was a blur, my thoughts filled with rage; the best revenge I'd use to get back at her, how I'd watch her suffer for everything she'd done. I'd make her beg for death, and it'd be far from her.
I sat by the window, staring out at the clouds as the plane ascended. My mind replayed every moment with Kyle—the way she'd looked at me, the way she'd walked away like I meant nothing.
She doesn't deserve your thoughts, I told myself. But the more I tried to push her away, the more vividly she filled my mind. She lived rent-free in my head. No one rejects the Lycan Alpha and goes free.
At some point, exhaustion took over my body, and I drifted off to sleep. My dreams were fragmented—flashes of Kyle's face, her voice, her scent. My wolf stirred restlessly, clawing at the edges of my consciousness.
When I woke up, the plane was descending into Republic City. My home. My pack.
The city was quiet as I arrived, the streets bathed in moonlight. It was late, but I didn't care. I had orders to give, justice to exact.
The maids scurried to meet my demands, their faces pale as I commanded them to dress Kyle and bring her to my room. The air was thick with tension; the mansion held its breath, waiting for me to unleash my anger.
I sat on the edge of my bed, my leg tapping on the floor with an agitated rhythm as I waited. The minutes felt like hours, my anger boiling beneath the skin.
When the door finally creaked open, my gaze shifted to her.
Kyle.
Immediately, she stepped into the room. I felt my wolf leap in excitement. It clawed beneath my skin, threatening to overwhelm me as it screamed the word:
"Mate!"
I clenched my fists, trying to suppress the instinct. My wolf had rejected her before. Why this sudden shift? Why now?
She looked at me, her eyes wide and filled with fear. I liked the fear—I fed on it. It was the least she deserved after everything she'd put me through.
As she moved closer, something shifted. The anger that had consumed me moments ago began to dissolve, replaced by a weird emotion—lust. I could feel the beating of my heart increase as I inhaled, taking in her scent. It was different, yet I enjoyed it. Maybe her connection with humans changed her scent.
This wasn't supposed to be happening; it shouldn't. Get a grip on your emotions, Ryan.
I fought to keep my wolf in check, to maintain control. But it was a losing battle.
The first word that escaped my lips was low, weird, and commanding.
"Strip!"