Well, I certainly am.
A giddy sensation starts to grow in my chest, and I fidget.
“What?” Zara exhales.
I shake my head. “Nothing.”
“Okay, well, I’m gonna check everything is okay with the guards. I’ll see you in a bit?”
“Sure.”
When she leaves, I force myself to shower and be productive. I spend the afternoon journaling and doing a small workout to keep myself distracted.
There’s nothing I want more than to mindlink Caleb and ask how everything is going, but he told me not to contact him unless there was an emergency. He needs to remain focused, and I wouldn’t break that.
Even if it’s hard not knowing what’s going on.
As it starts to get dark outside, I find myself sitting on the windowsill. I stare out at the moon, high in the sky, stars littering our atmosphere.
I release a soft sigh. “Please be okay,” I whisper. “Please.”
“I presume you’re talking about my son.”
The deep voice has me jumping out of my skin. I fall off the ledge, twist my head towards the sound, and stare in horror as I’m faced with Caleb’s father.
My entire body trembles as he stands by the closed door, his stature tall and his eyes lethal. I press my back firmly into the wall as my blood roars in my ears.
A shuddering breath leaves my lips as he stalks towards me with determined strides. There’s nowhere to go, and after the stories Caleb has told me about him, I know I’m in deep shit.
“Cat got your tongue?” he says with a sickening smirk.
I don’t say a word as my skin starts to heat and my throat closes up.
Why is he here?
The reason Caleb left was to take him out. And now, he’s standing in his son's bedroom, facing me.
“I didn’t believe it when I heard Caleb found his mate,” he says as he licks his decaying teeth. “And I certainly didn’t think it would be a weak Omega like you.”
My body freezes up as he moves closer, stopping only inches from me.
“I-I’m not his mate,” I murmur pathetically. “I’m just a friend.”
The lie tastes like ash on my tongue, but it’s the first thing I can think of.
Ryker scoffs. “Do you take me for a fool?”
My mouth parts, but nothing comes out. There would have been no time to say anything anyway, he flares his eyes at me, and I’m suddenly choking. His hand isn’t even around my throat as I start to suffocate, my legs coming off the floor.
I claw at my neck as his eyes darken, watching me squirm against the wall in panic.
“I can smell him all over you,” he spits. “So don’t fucking lie to me.”
My face burns as I attempt to breathe, but there isn’t a chance as he continues to strangle me with his powers.
“I need Caleb to give me an heir,” he seethes through his teeth. “And unfortunately, you can’t do that.”
I kick my feet, black spots starting to invade my vision. Seconds before I think I’m about to pass out, he releases me. My legs hit the floor, and I suck in as much air as I possibly can. My eyes flick to his as he swipes his hand, and I’m thrown across the room, crashing into Caleb’s desk, sending his drawings flying.
