Chapter 71 – Ryder
Seventy-One
RYDER
Xander’s wolf bursts into the clearing where I’m patrolling and jerks his head for me to follow. After a moment of ignoring him, waiting for him to explain, he huffs, shifts, and says one word. Three syllables that make the Earth finally rotate again.
“Carina.”
Feet jam into the ground as I streak through the forest in half the time I got out there, reaching the caves where Holly lingers as guard by the entrance. “She’s in your cave.”
Damn fucking right she is.
Why is she here? What does this mean? Questions without answers hammer through me, pushing my steps faster as I enter the slope, pass the recreation areas, and through the numerous halls of smaller caves where sleeping pack members rest, to the end, the largest one.
Mine.
Ever since bringing her here, her scent has lingered. This time, it’s stronger and I duck through the entrance to see that vision come alive. The one dreamed every single night of the past month.
Carina’s curled in my nest, asleep, her hair strewn on a makeshift pile she has formed while another pelt covers her. Asleep isn’t how I pictured our reunion. Pacing forward, I lower beside her and watch her sleep, her breathe. Watch her be here with me.
My wolf rumbles in contentment. He wants to mark her all over, to remind her who owns her. I want to mark her for my own reminder.
Whether or not she realizes that by coming here tonight, for whatever her reason, this is it. My wolf is in complete control, and I allow his thoughts and urges to consume mine. He needs to remind her why she’s stuck with us. Why neither he nor I will allow her to leave again.
No matter what bullshit she spouts about the safety and the issue Sloane will eventually pose, she has no reason to escape, and if it requires biting her every single day to remind her, so fucking be it.
She has her own personal monster guarding her now. One who’s off his leash and ready to rip the entire damn planet apart to keep her here and safe.
For now, he anticipates punishing her for her little attempt to be rid of him for good.
For now…he plans.