AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ryker doesn’t even make it past the threshold before he’s using his dominance against me. I feel it in the way the air goes heavy around him. I hear it in the guttural sound of the single syllable. No.
“Ryker, can we talk about this?”
“No.”
“Come on—”
“I said no, Gemma. Now drop it.”
I can’t.
Maybe if he hadn’t explicitly mentioned that, if I accept his invitation, I’ll get to come home with Trish, I could’ve. She accepted my invitation… yeah. Considering the amount of her blood we found in the pack garage where Barrow ambushed her, I don’t think she did so willingly.
For the last two weeks, I tried my hardest to pretend that this wasn’t my fault. That what happened to Trish was an unfortunate coincidence. Did I pull it off? Yeah… no. Not quite. I knew it, and my wolf knew it, too. She was nothing more than a pawn in a dangerous game where only the Wicked Wolf knew the rules—and the bastard cheated anyway.
I crumple the invitation in my fist.
There’s no denying it now. First, he sent one of his wolves into Muncie with the ruby. When that didn’t work, he sicced Shane on me, but I refused to rise to the bait. Not even when he tracked me downtown, allowing me to see him. My bio-dad was showing off, letting me know that he could find me. He made it obvious that he wouldn’t be satisfied until I showed up at the Wolf District, willfully heading to his territory, serving myself up on a silver platter for him.
Now, I’m stubborn. I’m the first to admit I can be reckless and impulsive, too. Hot-headed? Yup. But I’m not a moron. I refused to answer his summons, to play his stupid game, so he intruded on my territory, testing my mate, and messing with my pack.
That arrogant prick is behind Trish’s disappearance, just like we figured. No wonder he gave us the last two weeks to stew over what his next move could be. With Trish trapped across the country, a “guest” of the Western Pack, he doesn’t need one. Sending Patrick with this ridiculous invitation proves it.
Not to mention his lovely little postscript there.
Tell your mom I said hi...
He thinks snatching Trish was some kind of checkmate. And, Luna damn it, it kinda is.
“I have to go.”
“No.”
Does he think, if he keeps repeating it, I’m going to listen?
Silly Ryker.
I harden my jaw, utterly determined as I tell him, “We have to get her back.”
“Gemma—”
I ignore him. He’ll try to tell me that it isn’t worth risking me to save Trish. I’ve already heard it all before. Only, before, we didn’t have confirmation where Trish was, or even if she survived Barrow’s attack on her. Though a few scents are clinging to the invitation, my wolf knows Trish’s all too well. She was at least alive when the note was written, so at least that’s something.
The invitation is a promise. To a shifter, that means something. A pass in and out of the Wolf District, plus the chance to bring her home? I know Ryker is totally against it, but I don’t see how I have any other choice.
I have to try.
“She’s part of our pack. And, even if she wasn’t, I wouldn’t leave my worst enemy with my psycho sperm donor. We have to get her back.”
He searches my face. It’s not another no, and I take heart in that.
“He’ll kill her if I don’t.”
“And we’ll mourn the death of a packmate if he goes through with his threat.”
“Ryker—”
“I won’t lose you, Gem.”
