Ryker, with a serious expression, leans toward me. 'Astrid, we need to discuss your living arrangements,' he declares, his voice steady.
I fidget with my fingers in discomfort. 'There's nothing to be discussed,' I reply quietly.
'Astrid, do you want to die?' Ryker questions bluntly, with an intense gaze. 'Because looking at your current state tells me that another beating before your eighteenth birthday, and you probably won't survive.'
His words leave me puzzled. I glance up at him with furrowed brows. 'Why, before my eighteenth, wouldn't I be able to survive another beating?' I ask, genuinely confused.
All the men watching us raise their eyebrows in surprise at my question.
Ryker shakes his head and clarifies, 'Astrid doesn't know about us, or at least she doesn't believe me yet,’ he says to them.
The men all silently glance at one another.
Jim reemerges from the kitchen, offering me a flat white coffee and a sandwich, and my stomach lurches with hunger. I attempt to eat the sandwich slowly, but it's challenging when I've barely had a proper meal in days.
Ryker frowns as I almost inhale the sandwich. 'Astrid, I'm going to explain everything to you. I know you won't believe me yet, but you need to know now so you can prepare for what's to come on your eighteenth birthday. No matter how unbelievable it sounds, try to stay calm because the world you know is about to change,' he informs me.
My fatigue and pain make arguing seem exhausting, so I sip my coffee and brace myself for his revelations. Ryker watches me intently, a faint smile of relief tugging at his lips as he observes my readiness to listen.
Ryker takes a deep breath, his gaze fixed on me as he delves further into his explanation. 'All right, I live in what's called a pack. Every wolf pack has an Alpha and a Luna, the pack's leaders. If you're not in a pack, then you're known as a rogue,' he says, his tone carrying a note of gravity.
My eyebrow arches, and I tilt my head slightly. 'So, because I'm not in a pack, I'm a rogue?' I seek confirmation.
'Yes, that's correct. But being a rogue isn't a good thing. It makes you weaker than the rest of us, and you can't just go anywhere. You need permission to enter a pack's territory; otherwise, you can be punished, even sentenced to death, by a member of that territory,' he explains matter-of-factly.
I scrunch my face in disapproval. 'That's not very nice, killing someone for passing through,' I scold, my morals taken back by such harsh consequences.
'Well, that's because rogues are generally seen as a threat and don't normally have good intentions when entering other territories. That's why such rules exist,' Ryker explains.
'Oh,' I trail off, grasping the reasons but still thinking it's barbaric.
Ryker continues, his tone is more serious. 'When we turn eighteen, something very special happens to us. Our inner wolf awakens! You'll be able to hear your wolf in your mind, heal very quickly, and, for the first time, shift into your wolf form that night,' he reveals, his words clashing with my earlier amusement.
I burst into laughter, glancing around at everyone's serious faces of those listening.
My attention shifts to Jim as he reaches across the table, placing his hand over mine and giving it a gentle squeeze. His voice is soft and reassuring. 'Astrid, I know this sounds like some kind of fairy tale to you, but Alpha Ryker is telling you the truth, and you know I would never lie to you,' Jim assures me.
I pull my hand away, a sceptical look on my face, and stand. Ryker and Jim rise cautiously from their seats. My gaze sweeps across the room, landing on each man. All of them maintaining a serious demeanour. 'I don't believe you. Either of you,' I assert, with doubt.
Ryker turns to Jim. 'Would you like to do the honours and show her?' He asks.
Jim nods in response, steps out from the table, and removes his clothing. His actions take me aback, and I quickly put my hands over my eyes, my voice rising in panic. 'Jim! What are you doing?' I demand, but there's no response. Instead, I hear gruesome sounds, like bones breaking.
I flinch as sparks emanate from Ryker's touch as he gently pulls my hands away from my face. I watch in astonishment as my jaw drops. Jim's body is covered in fur in a matter of seconds, and his form contorts and snaps in places, transforming into a large wolf.
My breathing intensifies as I go into shock from what I've just witnessed and from seeing my worst fear come to life.
The wolf howls and begins to approach me slowly, but my screams pierce the air. 'Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!' I cry out, grabbing anything within reach—a napkin holder, teaspoons, my empty coffee mug—and hurling them at the wolf.
Panicking, I continue to back away from the approaching creature while hyperventilating. Ryker's expression shifts to worry and concern as he swiftly stands between me and the wolf, shielding me from its view. 'It's okay, Astrid. Take some deep breaths. I know this is a shock to you, but you need to breathe. It's only Jim, and he isn't going to hurt you,' Ryker says, attempting to reassure me.
Tears stream down my face, and I sink to the floor in the diner's corner. Hugging my knees tightly, I cry hysterically, looking up at Ryker desperately. 'Ryker, please don't let it near me,' I beg him.
Ryker turns and gestures to the wolf, signalling it to back away. The large wolf obediently retreats into the kitchen, leaving us alone. Ryker moves closer, sitting as close to me as he can, his hands gently resting on my knees.
Once more, I peer up at him, my anger boiling over. I start hitting his chest repeatedly, tears still streaming down my face. 'I told you I never want to see a wolf again! Why would you do this to me? Why do you want me to relive my mother's death? Why?' I cry out, my voice trembling. Eventually, I collapse into Ryker's chest, sobbing uncontrollably.
Ryker holds me securely, his arms wrapped around me. His fingers glide through my long brown hair, soothing me. 'Astrid... I'm so sorry. I didn't know your mother died that day you encountered the wolf. Please forgive me,' he says, his voice filled with genuine remorse and emotion.