As I watched her, I couldn’t help but think about how different she was from anyone I had ever met. Isabella, my former mistress, had been polished and refined, always composed. But this one… she was a whirlwind of sass and snarky remarks, feisty and unpredictable-proving to be very stubborn. The only time, I mused, that I could find her calm and peaceful was when she was asleep.
I brushed a lock of her black hair away from her forehead, my fingers grazing her skin. She stirred softly, her hands curling into a loose fist, but didn’t wake. I sat there, drinking in her features, every curve and line creating a special place in my memory.
“This is so fucked up,” I whispered to myself as I rubbed my temples, realizing I had to be the guardian she needed, not the lover she wanted.
Just then, she murmured something incoherent in her sleep, and I chuckled. My vixen always had something to say, even when she was asleep.
“Why do you have to be so beautiful, vixen?” I whispered again, the words escaping my lips before I could stop them. Her lips, shut firmly against each other, formed the perfect shape as they stood proudly on her face-full and pouty. Kissable.
As I gazed at her, I couldn’t help but think about how much she had changed me. Her spark, her fire, her unwavering determination… it had all seeped into my soul, making me feel alive again.
Just as I was lost in thought, a sudden knock on the door broke the silence. Kade’s voice echoed in my mind through our mind link. Ryder, we need to talk.
Right.
I looked down at her, still sleeping peacefully, and then gently removed my hand from her head. I didn’t want to disturb her, so I headed outside to meet Kade. My hand was about to turn the knob when I stared back at her one last time.
Stepping into the quiet corridor, Kade approached me, his expression grim. “What is it?” I asked quickly, sensing something was wrong and slightly annoyed that he had interrupted me.
“The patrolmen just sent a message,” Kade began, his voice low and urgent. “The Rogues have returned, but this time they’re not alone. They’ve brought a greater force, and our men were overpowered.”
“How could they be so careless?” I growled, clenching my fists. I could feel my anger simmering like hot soup. “We knew the Rogues were a threat, but to let them catch us off guard like this…”
My words trailed off.
Kade’s expression mirrored my anger as his jaw squared, a flash of fury flickering in his deep brown eyes.
“We need to act fast. I can’t let them threaten my territory, my pack,” I mumbled, pacing in a straight line, my hands ruffling my hair.
Nodding, I pushed thoughts of Jasmine aside as my mind raced with strategies and plans.
“Assemble the warriors and soldiers. We’ll meet in an hour to discuss our next move. I want to know everything about the Rogues’ forces- their numbers, their weaknesses… everything. And most importantly, their method of combat.”
With a brief nod, Kade took off, leaving me to my thoughts. I had to do something quickly. My first responsibility was toward my pack.
“Ouch,” I winced, pressing the sides of my head with my palms, my thumbs making circular motions as my head sank deeper into the pillow, my brain throbbing like a drum. Groaning, I reluctantly pulled myself into a sitting position; my body felt like lead.
My eyes widened slowly as I rubbed them, and there was Ryder standing in front of me, his hands dipped into his pockets. Our eyes met, and I felt my face pull into a deep frown.
“What the fuck?” I croaked, my voice hoarse from sleep. “You’re such a creep.”
I shot him a furious look and pulled the blanket over my chest.
Ryder chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I’m not creeping; I’m just waiting for the perfect moment to make babies.”
My head snapped up, and I gave him a cold, hard stare that only made him more amused. My eyes widened slightly in shock. Was he seriously suggesting what I thought he was? Sex? I felt a flush rise to my cheeks and looked away. Ryder chuckled again, his voice low and husky. “Snap out of it, Jasmine. Don’t you have any sense of humor?”
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding, feeling a mix of relief and embarrassment.
“Very funny.” I rolled my eyes. If not for the throbbing pain in my head, I would have launched into one of my speeches about inappropriate jokes.
Ryder’s expression turned serious, his eyes locking on mine. “I’m here to check on you. How’s that headache?”
I shut my eyes tight, trying to subdue the pounding in my head.
“I’ve never been better. What time is it?” I groaned, my voice laced with sarcasm.
“It’s ten in the morning,” Ryder said, his voice gentle. “You slept for a few hours. Do you need some water and Tylenol?” His question surprised me, but I did my best to keep my expression blank. At this point, his behavior seemed bipolar. I nodded, my throat feeling like it had been stripped of all its saliva.
Ryder handed me a glass of water, and I took a large gulp, feeling the cool liquid soothe my parched throat before I swallowed the pain reliever.
“Thanks,” I said, my voice a little stronger now.
Ryder nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. “Anytime.”
I tried to stand up, but Ryder’s words stopped me. “You just arrived, Vixen, and you can’t afford to stay away from trouble, can you?”
Vixen? Were we really doing this today? I almost scoffed but blurted out, “Isabella?”
The perpetual amused look in his eyes vanished, and Ryder’s eyes widened as he stared at me, his expression unreadable. I knew I had hit a raw nerve.
“So, you’ve thought about it,” I continued, my mind racing. “Did Isabella fail at her job? Is that why you decided to kidnap me?”
Taking steady steps toward me, his gaze locked onto mine. I felt a shiver run down my spine, a small shudder escaping my lips as he approached. I moved backward and landed on the bed.
“You shouldn’t run faster than your shadow, baby Vixen,” he said, his voice low and even. “You need to tread carefully, or you’ll end up getting hurt.”
I felt a spark of defiance ignite within me. Was he threatening me? And why did he keep calling me that stupid name, baby Vixen?
“I can take care of myself,” I puffed out my chest, trying to sound confident.
Ryder’s expression turned skeptical as he raised an eyebrow, his blue eyes dead serious as he stared at me. “Really? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re diving headfirst into danger.”
Danger? Wasn’t he the danger itself? After all, I’d been safe at my pack. Feeling a surge of anger, I let out a sharp hiss. “What do you know about safety?” I snapped.
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