Chapter 20 - Ryder
The fading sun threw long shadows over the trees as dusk fell over the forest. A chill breeze blew through the thick canopy, rustling the branches overhead and sending bursts of leaves tumbling to the earth around Ryder as he trudged through the undergrowth. Overhead, the dark shapes of birds wheeled through the sky, and he paused for a moment, watching them fly before disappearing over the tops of the nearby hills. He took a deep breath to clear his mind. Everything in his soul hurt, and he pushed it all back into the corner of his heart, locking up his emotions. There was no time to falter or question himself. This was the only way.
If Asher wanted revenge, Ryder was determined to give it to him. Anything to keep Elena and the baby safe. He would give anything, even his life, to guarantee that they were unharmed. There was no need for the rest of the pack to risk their lives either. He would settle this alone. No one else needed to get hurt.
Hopefully, that would be enough to satisfy the rogue wolf's thirst for vengeance. Hopefully, the rest of Bellefleur's population could continue living happily without needing to worry about renegades hunting them in their territory any longer. That was all that mattered. Nothing else.
He made his way across a small creek and followed the riverbank downstream, walking along a stretch of grass dotted with tall ferns and bushes. This time, he didn't try to hide or cover his trail. He strode confidently and loudly. If anyone was looking for him, they'd be sure to hear his footsteps cracking twigs beneath his feet or crushing fallen leaves with each step. A small animal scurried ahead of him, darting into a tangle of tree roots and disappearing into the undergrowth. He paid no attention. His focus was fixed on following the water, which trickled merrily along beside him, bubbling and burbling as it tumbled over rocks.
His path wound deep into the woods, leaving the small lodge far behind him as he followed the winding river through thick stands of pine and oak. By the time he drew close to the location he recognized from where he had been attacked a few days ago, the moon had risen high over his head. Stars twinkled brightly between the gaps in the branches above him, the light casting long shadows across the ground before him. The air was cold and humid, and a low fog crept in over the forest floor as he moved forward. He shivered as goosebumps rose along his arms. Despite his bravado, his instincts were screaming at him to run in the other direction. But there was no running away from this. All he could do was face it head-on and pray that whatever happened, it would be quick.
Next to a fallen log, Ryder came to a halt, sniffing at the air and listening intently. The forest was eerily silent tonight, almost unnaturally still, as if the entire ecosystem held its breath. There was no mistaking the smell of wolves permeating his surroundings. Recent and close by, at least a dozen of them, maybe more. Enough that there was no way he could take them all in a fight, no matter how good his skills were. For now, they remained out of sight, no doubt watching and waiting. He could almost feel dozens of eyes burning holes into his back, tracking his every move. Tension crackled like lightning through the darkness, and anticipation hung thick in the chilly night air. He kept going.
He found a small clearing where a rock formation jutted out over the stream. A large boulder stood in the center of the clearing, surrounded by patches of wildflowers. Under any other circumstances, it would be a tranquil scene. The moonlight reflected in ripples off the surface of the creek, illuminating the area in shades of silver and blue, and the flower petals swayed gracefully in the whistling breeze. However, under the current circumstances, it struck him that this was the perfect location for an ambush. He hadn't been in doubt, not really, but any small, lingering hope that this was anything other than exactly what he suspected disappeared into the blackness of the night. Asher's scent hung heavy over everything here, confirming Ryder's worst fears.
At the sound of the crunching leaves and shifting foliage behind him, Ryder froze in his tracks. He took a deep breath and steeled himself, shutting out everything that he felt and thought, burying the instinctual dread beneath icy determination. This was the reason he had come here, after all, and even if he wanted to, it was too late to turn back now.
Slowly and deliberately, he lifted both hands and turned around. Standing before him on the other side of the clearing was a bulky man with long black hair tied back behind his neck. His angular face was twisted into a vicious snarl, pure hatred oozing from his every pore. Sharp claws protruded from the tips of his fingers, flexing slightly as though itching to tear his prey to pieces. Asher Hayes looked the same as Ryder remembered, tall and imposing, but the amber eyes that had once been filled with mirth and kindness burned with nothing but fury and loathing now. Those eyes pierced the darkness of the night, glowing faintly as he stood unblinking and stared directly at his quarry.
In an instant, the memories Ryder had fought for years to suppress came flooding back into his consciousness. Iris' dying scream echoed in his ears as if he were still standing in that hallway, watching helplessly as Asher cradled his mate in his arms, desperately begging her to hold on. The pain in his chest when Asher had turned on him and lunged, claws extended, baring his fangs and promising to tear Ryder apart piece by piece, seared fresh. A new wave of shame and guilt washed over him, but he remained outwardly impassive, standing silently with his hands still raised at shoulder height. What good did regret do now? He deserved whatever was coming. Anything to end this nightmare once and for all.
“Ryder.” Asher spat the name like it was poison in his mouth. He curled his lip, exposing his canines, as he slowly closed the distance between them, stalking Ryder like a predator in the gloom. “You've finally shown up. We’ve been watching you for days. I was curious to see if you would finally find the courage to come face me like a man, but you’re still the same coward you always were. Surely, you didn’t really think you could hide from me? Or were you too busy playing house with a pretty girl to care about the consequences of your actions?”
“Didn't realize you were expecting me,” Ryder retorted coolly, his gaze level and steady despite the fear racing through his veins. “It's been years, Asher. Why now?”
He dared a glance around, taking stock of the situation. He could feel the presence of several shifters hovering out of sight, surrounding them on all sides. For now, they stayed just out of his line of vision. Waiting for their leader to strike first, undoubtedly. A little voice in the back of his brain reminded him that they wanted him to suffer. Killing him quickly wasn't the plan at all. They were confident enough to toy with their prey before finishing him off. Cold sweat trickled down the nape of his neck, and his hands twitched involuntarily in his pockets. If it were possible to keep Asher talking, perhaps the others would stay hidden long enough for him to figure out a plan. Not that he expected to make it out of this alive, but it couldn't hurt to try.
“Why now?” Asher repeated incredulously, arching one black eyebrow in amusement. “You know, I had no intention of returning to Bellefleur. Ever. All I planned to do was disappear with my pack and live my life out far away from this cursed town.” His voice was low and menacing, and he took a step closer to Ryder, golden eyes sizing him up warily. “Unfortunately, it seems your little pack doesn't know when to quit, does it? You've been sniffing around my territory, Pierce. I thought I could let the past go, but then I caught your scent, pup. Chasing us, messing with our operation. It reminded me of why I left this hellhole, and that you were never brought to justice. It’s time to set things right.”
“We had no idea you were involved with the rogues we were tracking,” Ryder argued evenly, clenching his teeth against the urge to lunge for the bastard. Asher had always been faster and stronger than just about every wolf around. If Ryder was at his full strength, he might be able to give the lumbering beast a run for his money, but he was still on the mend—and even if he could have taken down Asher, which was a long shot in itself, the other rogues would descend upon him instantly. “Anyway, your 'pack' has been killing innocent people all over the Midwest. We couldn't just ignore that.”
“Innocent people?” Asher sneered, rolling his eyes contemptuously. “We're protecting ourselves. Just because you let outsiders run roughshod over your territory doesn't mean everyone else wants to be puppets for humans. Those packs are a bunch of spineless cowards, too weak to defend themselves. Too afraid to stand up for themselves and take what belongs to us.” His last words were more growl than speech, dripping with disdain and accusation, and a flicker of rage flashed behind his eyes. “Don't act all righteous and talk about defending innocents. We all know what kind of person you really are. You're a selfish coward, and you should be rotting in the ground where you belong.”
“Is that why you're here?” Ryder asked as calmly as he could. “To kill me?”
A smirk curled Asher's lips. “Among other things,” he answered, closing the remaining distance between them until mere inches separated them. “But you knew that, didn't you? And still, you let the people of your precious town come to harm, hiding out in a cozy little cabin with a pretty girl while my wolves ran amok. Too afraid to face the consequences of your actions. Just like you always were.”
The mention of Elena brought the panic surging back to the surface. He swallowed hard against it, biting down hard on his tongue to keep his composure intact.
“So, you knew where I was this whole time?” he said, keeping his expression carefully neutral.
“Of course,” Asher responded, flashing a mocking smile. “Why, did you really think your little pack were the only ones who had figured out how to mask your trail? Please.” He chuckled derisively, shaking his head slightly. “I was curious to see if you were capable of handling your own mistakes for once. If you'd finally grown enough of a spine to confront me like a man. It seems you're still exactly as pathetic as I remember.” He reached out and grabbed Ryder roughly by the throat, digging his nails into the skin underneath his jawline, drawing blood. “Iris died because of you, and you go on with your life pretending nothing happened. Pretending it didn't matter.” His face contorted in fury. His breath was hot against Ryder's cheek.
“It was an accident,” he choked out, struggling to swallow under the pressure applied to his windpipe. “I never meant—”
“Can you imagine what it's like to watch your mate being murdered?” Asher continued with a vicious growl. “To stand there powerless while her body falls limp to the floor?” His free hand tightened into a fist, and his amber eyes blazed as they stared furiously into Ryder's soul. “All of a sudden, you've lost half your heart. The agony is suffocating. Your whole world shatters around you. And then, the rest of your so-called pack decides to side with the sniveling pup who got her killed.”
Asher shoved Ryder backward forcefully, causing him to stumble a few steps backward. He clenched his side automatically, still weak from his previous wounds.
“I never meant for Iris to get hurt,” he sputtered out hoarsely, gasping for air as he straightened himself out again. “Look, you've earned your revenge. I'm here. There's no point dragging anyone else into your vendetta anymore. Do what it is you're here to do and leave everyone else in peace.”
A harsh laugh escaped Asher's lips. “Oh, I intend to,” he growled dangerously, a twisted smile twisting his face into a macabre grimace. “I intend to make sure you suffer exactly like I have.” His eyes narrowed dangerously, leaving golden slits as claws began to extend from his fingertips, glinting in the moonlight filtering down from the canopy overhead. “Exactly like I have,” he repeated. “So, where did that little witch of yours go?”
Cold terror flooded through Ryder's veins like ice water. “Stay away from her,” he warned lowly, baring his teeth, unable to resist the snarl of threat that vibrated between them. “She's got nothing to do with this. She doesn't deserve—”
“Neither did Iris,” came the bellowing roar from across the clearing.
With supernatural speed that belied his enormous frame, Asher rushed forward, moving like a freight train as he plowed into Ryder's torso and knocked him off his feet. Tar-black fur sprang up all over the larger man as he shifted midair, launching himself at Ryder's chest and swiping at his ribs with wicked intent. The blow landed squarely, ripping open new gouges in the scarring that covered his ribcage. He gasped loudly and clutched reflexively at the source of the blinding pain, looking up at the black wolf towering above him.
“Asher, kill me if you must,” he choked out, clutching at his torso, “but let it be over. Leave Bellefleur. Let them live their lives, and we end this here and now.”
“I will,” the black wolf snarled, bearing down on Ryder with glowing yellow eyes and bared fangs dripping with drool. “But first, I'm going to show you what hell looks like.” A snarling sound tore its way from his throat as he crouched lower. “You'll be dead by morning, Pierce. But don't worry. I'll leave you alive long enough to watch her die.”
A piercing howl echoed through the trees, followed by a chorus of snarls and growls as a dozen shadowy figures emerged from the darkness beyond the clearing. The sound of snapping twigs and rustling leaves told of the approaching beasts as they crept forward slowly, circling around the edge of the clearing. Their eyes glowed eerie yellow in the moonlight, a dozen pairs of pinpricks in the darkness that surrounded them. Their paws thudded ominously over the fallen leaves and brambles, their shoulders hunched, muscles tensed, and fangs bared. In unison, they leaped toward their prey.