Chapter 82 Ryker Wraithe
RONAN
It wasn’t the fact that Ryker Wraithe had been the hunter during my overnight trial.
It wasn’t the fact that he was a wildcard unannounced, unchecked, and unreasonably powerful
It wasn’t even the fact <b>that </b>he was now one of my top challengers in the race for the Supreme Alpha throne.
No.
What had me clenching my jaw hard enough to ache<b>…</b>what had my wolf snarling just beneath the surface was the way Ryker Wraithe looked at <b>her</b>.
Seraphina.
That gaze of his: cold, unblinking, fixated.
Like she was his prey, aim, <b>and </b>the end. Like he was already peeling back heryers with his eyes and iming her with that single stare.
It didn’t matter that he was hierarchy. It <b>didn’t </b>matter that he moved like death and looked like <b>an </b>unsheathed knife.
He was a <b>threat </b>for <b>that </b>reason alone, because he had the audacity <b>to </b>set <b>his </b>eyes on her. He hadn’t looked away from Seraphina since <b>the </b>moment he stepped out here.
My wolf growled violently in my mind.
A newly joined Alpha Instructor <b>said </b>from the side. “Alpha Ryker Wraithe, you’ll need someone to show you around the Academy. If you would like, I will have an assistant…“
Ryker’s finger lifted and pointed directly at Seraphina. “That one would be fine.”
A still silence cracked through the hall like the prelude to a storm. Seraphina was taken <b>aback </b>while my jaw locked.
“Her?” My wolf mmed against my skin, howling <b>to </b>rip that word right out of Ryker’s throat.
He didn’t <b>even </b>know her name. Still, she was the one he wanted
“It’s set then. Everyone return to their dorm rooms,” the Alpha instructor ordered. The other Alphas also left but I stood there <b>my </b>wolf refusing <b>to </b>leave.
Before I could speak, Asher’s <b>voice </b>cut in, deceptively mild, “Why, Seth Darten?” he frowned at Ryker with a growl.
He sounded suspicious to the others <b>but </b>I could see there <b>was </b>something else beneath it. The protectiveness. It wasn’t lost on me Something deeper, coiled tighter.
Possession.
My head snapped toward <b>Asher</b>, eyes narrowing.
“I believe you are busy <b>Alpha </b><b>Asher</b>. The others <b>as </b>well. Moreover Alpha Seth is approachable <b>and </b><b>kind</b>. So let Alpha Seth handle it.” Alpha <b>instructor </b>stated and nced at <b>Seraphina</b>. “Alpha Seth, please <b>show </b><b>Alpha </b>Ryker-
“No” Interrupted, sharp, deliberate “Seth <b>Darven </b>has something else to do. Have someone che show him round”
silence in the ru
Then Ryker moved
For the hose time, his eyes pulled away from Seraphina and locked onto mune. <b>Unblinking </b>Dark blue and void of anything
ensions for myself,” he said, voice low. “no some che”
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Chapter 82 Ryker Wraithe
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else assist you.
Or better yet,
I slowly took a step forward, <b>matching </b>his stare. That goes for others as well. So have someone el roam the <b>halls </b>and figure out everything on your own
The room tensed. The Alphas leaving held their breaths pretending as if they had not seen or heard anything.
Finn stood by the door, arms crossed, watching silently, unmoving. Observing.
Then Ryker stepped off the tform without a word. His boots thudded softly against the stone floor as he walked, not toward the instructor or anyone.
Toward her.
Then you better talk to Alpha Gideon yourself. Because he told me I could choose anyone.”
He stopped directly in front of Seraphina and said in <b>a </b>smooth and cutting voice, “<b>And </b>I choose this one.”
My fists clenched, my eyes snapping to her face. That was tilted upward, blinking, confused. Staring at him
My blood <b>went </b>molten.
<b>She </b>wasn’t speaking. More like staring at him without blinking and <b>that </b>made it worse. Was it because of his face? Hist cursedly perfect jawline and ridiculous handsomeness?
Nonsense. As I was close to losing my mind when Asher’s low growl broke in. “Why is Seth Darven the only option?”
His eyes were narrowed now, a new tension unraveling in his posture.
Ryker didn’t flinch. He smiled.
That smile…
Looking deep into her eyes, he murmured, “This face is quite beautiful. And I’m a sucker for beautiful <b>faces</b>.”
That did it.
That did it.
I <b>shoved </b>myself between <b>him </b>and her, and the growl that tore out of me before I could contain it. “A sucker of <b>what</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>snarled, voice rising. “Go ahead. Say that <b>again</b><b>!</b><b>” </b>
We were face to face now. Inches apart. My wolf <b>shing </b>in my eyes <b>ready </b><b>to </b>consume him whole. Ryker didn’t back downH, instead he also stepped forward, “Sure, for you I will <b>say </b>it again,” he smiled. My fists clenched like a hammer ready to break his jaw <b>and </b><b>waiting </b>for him to say it <b>again</b>. I <b>was </b>seconds <b>away </b>from ending him right then and there when suddenly her voice <b>sliced </b><b>through </b>the tension like ice water.
“Okay, let’s go
What?
I turned towards her. She didn’t look at me. <b>She </b><b>looked </b><b>at </b>Ryker. “<b>Since </b>Alpha Ryker is a sucker for beauty, I don’t <b>want </b>to disappoint <b>him</b>”
A small smile appeared on Ryker’s lips that was <b>enough </b>to blow my mind.
Before I could take a step. Asher grabbed her wrist. “Seth, you don’t need to
She cor him off with a small, calm unile “It’s just a tour, Asher. I don’t <b>mind </b>
My jaw clenched
That smile, polite. That tour, petal Lake one of this mattered. And how she looked at Ryker as if he was a normal Alpha
mcuur with hidden mouver
She looked up and brielly met my gace, then turned to kyker
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Chapter 82 Ryker Wraithe
“Follow me,” she said evenly.
Then they walked.
Side by side..
My eyes followed every step she took.
My fists trembled at my sides.
My breath was sharp. Ragged.
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Because the only thing I could see as they disappeared through the doorway was her, walking next to <b>him</b>. Her face calm. Her eyes unreadable.
The only thing I could feel was the crushing certainty that <b>something </b>had shifted.
Ryker looked over his shoulder at me <b>and </b>as our eyes met I sensed something dark and evil within his gaze. When we had been fighting as hunter and prey, I had already found him strange but now he unsettled my wolf even more. Especially his interest in Seraphina
I knew one thing for certain, if Ryker Wraithe hadn’t already been my enemy before.
He sure as hell was now.