My stepfather turns his head to spot me stepping out of the woods, hand-in-hand with Ryker. A wicked grin twists his face as he begins to speak, his voice dripping with malicious intent.
'Astrid, I'm ashamed to find out you've been sneaking around with men,' he taunts, his gaze scanning the surroundings. 'But you've surprised me with how many men are here, waiting to have their turn with you. There must be at least fourteen. No, fifteen men,' he chuckles.
Ryker's eyes narrow, a low growl escaping his throat in response to my stepfather's words. The tension in the air is thick, but my stepfather only smirks.
'Oh, Astrid, you need to train your pet dog to behave,' he sneers. 'Otherwise, I'll have to put him down like the bad dog he is for touching my daughter!'
A shot rings out, the bullet whizzing past Ryker's feet as a clear warning, though it purposely misses its mark. My heart jumps at the sound, but Ryker remains remarkably composed, unflinching as he faces my stepfather.
Ryker cracks his neck menacingly. 'The only one around here who needs to keep their hands off Astrid is you! I am going to rip you to pieces,' Ryker declares.
Panicking, I grab Ryker's arm with both hands, my voice trembling as I plead with him. 'No, please, Ryker, you can't kill him! Please!' Tears blur my vision as I look into Ryker's eyes, my heart breaking.
With a begrudging sigh, Ryker relents. 'Fine, I won't kill him. I'll just hurt him badly like he hurt you,' he concedes before sprinting toward my stepfather with an unnatural speed.
My stepfather points the shotgun at Ryker and pulls the trigger. Horror floods through me, and I scream as Ryker slumps to the ground. Desperation drives me to run toward him, but a pair of strong arms grab me from behind, holding me back.
Looking up, I see it's Jim who's restraining me. Tears stream down my face as I struggle against his hold, and my voice chokes with fear and worry. 'He's been shot! I need to see if he's okay,' I plead with Jim, determined, but his grip remains strong.
Amidst the chaos, my stepfather's cruel laughter rings out, his eyes fixed on Ryker's seemingly lifeless body. But suddenly, Ryker stirs. Despite the pain and his audible groans, he manages to muster the strength to stand. With a determined sprint, he charges toward my stepfather once more, defying the imminent danger.
Another gunshot pierces the air, but my stepfather's aim is off as Ryker continues his relentless approach. In a bold maneuver, Ryker tackles my stepfather off the bonnet of his car, sending the two men crashing onto the ground.
Ryker grips the shotgun in a display of supernatural strength. He snaps the weapon in half with ease before tossing it aside. His left hand clamps around my stepfather's throat while his free hand lands a series of punishing blows on my stepfather's face.
Each strike draws forth sprays of blood. My stepfather's face rapidly becoming a gruesome sight. My stepfather's feeble attempts to punch back mostly miss their mark and the violence escalates as they roll on the ground. Ryker briefly releases his chokehold, ensuring that my stepfather doesn't lose consciousness just yet.
'I'm not ready for you to pass out,' Ryker sneers, his tone dripping with malice before distancing himself from my stepfather.
Struggling to his feet, my stepfather then sways unsteadily, only to be caught by Seth, who takes control by securing his arms behind his back. Meanwhile, Ryker resumes his brutal assault, delivering a barrage of punches to my stepfather's defenseless stomach and ribs. Blood trickles from my stepfather's mouth and nose, and I notice the gaping holes where Ryker's relentless blows have dislodged a few of his teeth.
Despite the near-death beating he's enduring, my stepfather maintains a sick, twisted grin as he gazes at me. His sinister words pierce the air, sent in my direction like venom. 'This isn't the last time you will see me, Astrid,' he jeers, his voice hard and cold. 'You're the reason your mother is dead, and I will make you pay for it!'
Overwhelmed by a torrent of tears, I collapse to the ground, my emotions in tatters. My stepfather cackles cruelly at my despair, fully aware that Ryker hungers for his blood. Torn between his fury and my pleas, Ryker casts an empathetic glance in my direction before delivering one final punch that renders my stepfather unconscious.
Seth releases my stepfather, and he crumples to the ground, dazed and defeated. Ryker approaches me. However, he staggers heavily, his body drenched in a grim combination of sweat and blood. His strength gives out, Ryker collapses to his knees before me, his breaths laboured and strained. He manages to utter, 'I tried my best not to kill him,' before slumping to the ground.
'Ryker!' I cry out in alarm. With frantic urgency, I lean over him and tear his shirt open to reveal the gunshot wound in his chest. My hands tremble as I press down on the wound to staunch the bleeding. Crimson stains my hands as his blood flows beneath them.
Jim, Seth, and the other pack members quickly gather around. Seth, filled with concern, shouts, 'Alpha! Can you hear me?' But there is no response. In a swift decision, he commands, 'Quickly carry him into the diner.'
Jim pulls me away from Ryker, and the pack members lift him gently and carry him into the diner.
Once inside, Seth clears one of the tables, sweeping away the condiments, and Ryker is carefully placed on it. Blood is everywhere, and I'm trembling uncontrollably, still in shock. I turn to Jim, my voice quivering with distress. 'He's going to be okay, isn't he?'
All eyes in the room shift to me as I seek reassurance. Seth, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder, replies, 'We will do everything in our power to save him, Luna. His healing won't start until we remove the bullet.'
Jim rushes to the kitchen and returns with a first-aid kit, sharp knives, and towels. He approaches me once more, his voice gentle. 'Astrid, maybe it's best if you don't watch. I can sit with you over here,' he offers.
Reluctantly, I tear my gaze away from Ryker, torn between wanting to stay by his side and not wanting to be in the way. I nod and sit with Jim, who wraps his arm around me and pulls me close. Tremors still wrack my body as I sob into Jim's shoulder.