My heart stutters in my chest. His gaze feels heavy and doesn’t seem right. I look to Ryker, confused by the sudden tension in the room, but he won’t meet my eyes. His focus remains on the stranger, his body language screaming danger.
“This is Keith,” Ryker says finally, his voice tight. “I bought this resort from him. The original owner.”
Alarm bells ring in my head at the sight of Keith. I can’t figure out why.
“Nice to meet you,” I say.
Keith’s smile widens, revealing perfect white teeth. “The pleasure is all mine, I assure you. An omega on Wolf Isle and such a pretty one at that.” He stands, moving toward me with predatory grace. “I’m ready to collect her now.”
Collect her? What the fuck?I look between Keith and Ryker, my eyebrows raised in question. Ryker still refuses tolook at me, his focus entirely on Keith, his jaw working as if he’s holding back words he desperately wants to say.
“What do you mean?” I ask, taking an involuntary step back as Keith approaches.
Keith turns to Ryker, his expression amused. “You didn’t tell her?” He laughs, the sound sharp and unpleasant. “How interesting.”
“She’s mine,” Ryker growls, the words vibrating with barely contained fury.
“She’s an omega,” Keith corrects, his tone making it sound like Ryker has said something incredibly foolish. “And you made a promise, if I recall correctly. Any omegas found at Wolf Isle are to be handed over to me immediately. Did you forget that little detail?”
Ryker’s hands clench into fists at his sides. “I remember.”
“So, you’re willing to lose everything then?” Keith asks, his voice deceptively casual. “Your position here? Your pack’s home? All for one useless omega?”
I watch in horror as the color drains from Ryker’s face. Whatever Keith is threatening is serious enough to make a seven-foot werewolf look furious.
“Let me think about it,” Ryker says after a long pause. “I’ll get back to you.”
Keith considers this, his head tilting slightly as he studies Ryker’s face. Then he laughs again, the sound sending ice through my veins. “Fine. I have a pack waiting and ready for an omega—wealthy, powerful men who would pay a fortune for a chance at her. But I’ll give you until tomorrow afternoon to make a deal.”
With that, he strides past me and out the door, leaving a wake of stunned silence behind him. The front door closes with a definitive click that seems to echo through the mansion.
I turn to Ryker, my heart hammering against my ribs. “What the hell was that? What does he mean bycollecting me?”
Thirteen
ANYA
My heartbeat thunders in my ears as I stare at the closed door where Keith just disappeared. My skin crawls with the memory of his calculating gaze, the way he looked at me like I was an object instead of a person.
John was so right, oh my god.
I should never have come to this island. Something dangerous is happening here, and I don’t want any part of it. Not anymore.
“Anya, take a deep breath,” starts Ryker.
“Don’t tell me to take a breath!” I snap, my hands shaking at my sides. “I’m not here to be sold off to anyone! Who the fuck does he think he is?”
The room suddenly feels too small, too hot. I’m trapped again, just like at the marina, with nowhere to run.
“Nothing bad is going to happen to you,” Ryker says, his voice hard as he stands from his spot by the fireplace. “I swear it.”
His eyes won’t meet mine. Instead, they keep flickering to my chest, where my nipples are visible throughthe thin fabric of my tank top. The realization that he’s checking me out while I’m panicking makes my anger flare even hotter.
I turn to the rest of the alphas, who’ve been silently watching our exchange. Lorenzo and Marcus are perched on the leather sofa, while Rex and Alaric stand near the bar. All five of them look tense, their eyes dark with what I now recognize as arousal despite the seriousness of the situation.
I suddenly realize that my grape smell is thickening and rising from my body. Wow, I can’t even last two seconds out of the shower before my wolfy scent starts to attract them again.
“Did you know?” I demand. “Did all of you know that one day Ryker was going to send me off to that creep?”
