Chapter 6 Caved

★ RYKER

"No," Karl screamed within. I could feel the despair in his voice.

"She's an Omega, Karl. A slave."

Silence.

I heaved heavily, pushing him to the back of my mind.

I can't possibly accept a wolf-less wolf, almost equal to a human. A curse." I spat, tugging my teeth as I watched her face stained with tears.

"Please," she pleaded, rushing forward until her back slammed the foot of the sofa. "Please, I beg you!"

"Make it snappy," I muttered, shifting my eyes to the window. A white dove perched at the side of the window pane - spotless, pure, like the white witch beneath me right now, who's pale and still.

The handler who had brought her in earlier, along with another young man bundled her out of the room and into the carriage situated just at the foot of the thick forest.

Two pack members, Finn and Gerald, who had followed us here, quickly shifted into their wolves, holding the reins of the carriage in their mouths before gliding into the thick forest.

I took Valkyrie's vulnerable state in my arms.

My father's wolf swooshes beside us. The intensity of his anger could be felt in his wolf's loud snarl and large gallop. He'd refused to enter the carriage.

We arrived at the pack late, the shadows thicker with the half-moon casting a dull glow over the earth. Everywhere was quiet. Finn and Gerald shifted back, changing into a spare coat. I glanced behind, watching my father as he strode into the mansion.

My eyes settled on Valkyrie on my lap, her chest rising slowly. Her face looked serene, peaceful, with her freckles that seemed like galaxies in the sky. I traced my thumb over her supple lips, feeling the softness of them.

The primal urge to slam my lips on them overwhelmed me. To claim them, to know how they feel against mine.

"Alpha, we would be settling the carriage in the field." Finn pulled me out of my trance.

"Okay. Gerald, tell the head maid a guest will be using the guest room."

Carefully, I placed her over my shoulder, trudging up the stairs of the mansion.

"Welcome, Alpha," I heard Blaise's voice in my head. Whipping my head to the side, he lay on the door arms crossed.

"You couldn't even come down to welcome me properly," I said while he walked forward to open the door of the room.

" It's not a victory cause, so why should I welcome you properly?"

I didn't respond as I lay Valkyrie on the purple, smooth bed.

My gaze lingered on her small frame until the door creaked open and Hannah, the head maid, entered.

She bowed lightly, taking a thick blanket from the closet, covering Valkyrie's body.

"Clean her body with warm water and change her clothes," I ordered before leaving the room.

"You promised not to be like your father!" Blaise thundered, halting me in my steps.

"You don't talk to me in that manner."

I saw his eyes flicker, a strong resolve between anger and obedience, and I would rather he chose the latter.

"You're pathetic." He walked off, opening the door to my room and stepping inside like he owned it.

If not because of the years of our friendship from childhood, I would have broken his mouth until he'd prefer to be mute.

"She killed her mother."

"Was that why you bought her?"

I took my robe off, exhaling loudly from the freedom of the thick cloth.

"She's intriguing," I answered, moving my hands over my hair.

Blaise laughed mockingly. The kind do after killing a rogue.

My face contorted into something sinister but I masked it with a forced smile.

"Can you listen to yourself, Ryk? The same act that had made you almost leave the Alpha Academy years ago? The same act that your father picked a year after the death of your mother? Like she was of no value?"

Blaise's eyes cut through my skin, like fire- fierce.

"This same act that made you kill a man to save your father? This same act you swear you wouldn't partake-?"

"It's okay, Blaise." I walked to the window. Stars scattered over the moon, and the quietness loomed over the forest that only sang the songs of the crickets and owls. I stared blankly, briefly reminiscing about the moment I saw her on that stage.

"It wasn't possible." My voice drooled out unknowingly, and I didn't realise I had said it out loud. "It wasn't possible that I could leave without doing something." I turned to him.

"So you bought her?"

"Her name is Valkyrie. Valkyrie Nightborn." Even the name tasted ancient, pure.

"I can't believe you," Blaise muttered weakly, walking to the wine rack, pouring himself some drink, "that you would tell me you want to be different from your father only to start becoming the very thing you hate."

I closed my eyes, his words hitting a nerve.

"And do you realise you just graduated from the Alpha's academy? Is this how you intend to begin your reign?" He added.

"I have already done what I hate, Blaise! There's nothing I can do about it; it's not like there's a refund." He glared at me in disbelief. "But I won't reign like my father."

"A pleasure slave. That's what his reign is about."

"Don't make it seem like my father created this act. Let it be the last time we talk about this," I said sternly, heading to the bathroom.

"What about her? Noura?"

"Blaise, leave my room," I commanded and he did without a thought, slamming the door on his way out.

I walked into the bathroom, the day's activity weighing deeply on my shoulders. As the warm water hit my skin, I didn't realise how tired I was.

After the bath, I lay on the bed, without a single meal or dinner. I had mind-linked the staff not to bother.

I didn't sleep, I couldn't. With every toss and turn on the bed, her eyes kept me awake, like they had taken me in if I closed mine, and when I finally succumbed to the light palm of sleep, I woke up to the chirping sounds of birds outside my window.

"Alpha Ryker," Hannah's voice called in time. "Would you prefer I bring your breakfast now or-"

"Call the slave, Valkyrie. Bring her to my room."

I took a swift shower, then poured myself some drink before sitting casually on the sofa, Blaise's voice making my blood boil as the memories of yesterday came flooding back like waves.

The door opened at that moment. Valkyrie ducked her head, taking light steps inside and boldly looking around. I lay back, enjoying the obvious reaction on her pale face.

"For someone unconscious, you sure have thick guts to look around."