Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

NOW YOU'LL BOTH HAVE TO FACE THE CONSEQUENCES.

A resigned weight settled on me as I realized I'd missed my chance. Looking down at Rhiot, I could see in his expression that he wouldn't let me go after Ryker. There wasn't anything I could say or do to persuade him to let me go. I didn't even try to resist as Rhiot scooped me into his arms as he stood. His large body dwarfed me... his body heat enveloped me as he pulled me against his hard chest.

"Parker, you can't chase after Ryker." His voice was firm yet gentle. "Not like this, but we'll find a way to fix this. Together."

My heart raced, not only from the fear of losing Ryker, but also from the closeness to Rhiot. I stared into his intense eyes, searching for any sign that he would relent. "I can't lose him."

As each hour passed since Ryker left, my heart ached more. I'd lost part of my soul when he left. Which was weird when I thought about it because I still barely knew any of them, but they already felt like part of me. So much so that the distance between us was crushing.

"Come on, let's go inside." Rhiot held me tight to his body, and I leaned my head against his chest.

As we entered the house, Kearan stood in the foyer, his face a mask of concern. Grayson was beside him, his look of obvious distress slicing through me. Trux leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest and a trace of worry etched on his features despite the furious fire burning in his eyes.

"Kearan, our mate tripped over a tree root." Rhiot grumbled as he set me in a chair that Trux pulled out for us. "She needs to be checked out."

Kearan's quiet, intense gaze met mine as he knelt in front of me, his slender fingers lightly touching my leg. His touch sent shivers of electricity up my spine, but I tried to focus on the situation at hand.

"Does this hurt?" his voice barely above a whisper.

I shook my head. "No, not really, it's just a little sore... but I deserve it for running through a forest in the middle of the night." My heart skipped at his touch, and I couldn't help but notice how Kearan's presence made everything around me seem insignificant.

"Don't talk like that," Kearan murmured as he examined me. His skilled hands moved over my body, ensuring no injury had been overlooked. Every gentle touch heightened my senses, making it hard to concentrate on anything else. "No serious injuries. Appears to be mildly sprained."

Kearan lingered on his knees before me, locking his fingers around mine in a fierce embrace that felt like fire amidst the icy chill of Ryker's absence. His grip was so secure and comforting that it felt as though he were trying to keep me from getting lost in the cold darkness around us.

"Parker," he said, his voice low and serious, "you are precious to all of us. Don't ever do anything that would risk yourself."

The intensity of his words stole my voice, leaving my throat too dry to speak. Kearan kissed both of my hands, sending waves of warmth through my body, before resting his head in my lap. The intimate gesture left me breathless, and I felt the weight of his vulnerability.

"Promise me," he whispered, his voice muffled against my thighs.

"I promise." My voice shook with emotion as I responded to his demand.

As we sat there, the room filled with an almost tangible tension. The others watched us closely, their faces reflecting a mix of concern and curiosity. In that moment, I wasn't sure if I should keep Ryker's destination secret from them. I didn't want to hurt them, but I couldn't leave Ryker hurting and raw.

When my gaze landed on Grayson, he spoke up. "Next time, talk to us instead of taking off on your own."

His words stung, even though I knew he meant well. "I want to," I said, "but if I did, Trux would just try to stop me."

Trux's eyes flashed, and he took a menacing step toward me. With that single gesture, I felt the weight of his alphaness bearing down on me as he tried to push his alpha of the pack will on me. "Damn right I would. You think I'd just let you run off after Ryker and have Ro, or whoever else the fuck wants to use you for your powers, take off with you again?"

I cringed at his harsh words, even as anger rose within me. He was right. My life would never be my own to live. It never had been... and I hated it. "I can't live my life locked away, protected from anything that might happen."

"You're our mate." Trux gripped my chin and tilted it until I was glaring at him. "Some days I'm tempted to lock you in a triple reinforced compound just to keep all the baddies away."

"Enough!" Kearan snapped, rising to his feet. The fierceness in his voice shocked us all into silence. Even Trux's face went lax.

Kearan stood before me, his eyes glowing with barely contained rage. "Ryker made his choice," he snarled, "and you made yours. Now you'll both have to face the consequences."

Before I could protest, Kearan grasped the back of my neck and crushed his mouth against mine. The kiss was hard and hungry, stealing my breath and my heart. I melted into him, my body turning molten as it responded to his touch. The room fell away, and all that existed was the feel of Kearan's lips on mine, his tongue teasing and commanding, drawing out a moan. I never expected him to kiss me like this.

When he finally pulled back, my heart raced, and my chest heaved with desperate breaths. Kearan's eyes bore into mine, unapologetic and possessive. "Don't you ever risk yourself like that again," he warned, his voice low and dangerous. "You belong with us."

"Kearan..." I whispered, unable to form a coherent thought or protest. I couldn't deny the surge of the mate bond or the potent allure of his protectiveness. But I also knew I couldn't try to claim any of them. It wouldn't work. "I just... I need to figure all this out."

For a long moment, Kearan regarded me silently, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he released me and stepped back. "You will," he conceded, his voice heavy with reluctance. "But with your Tsigos... never without."

As my fingers traced the place where Kearan's lips had just been, I couldn't help but feel torn. These men were everything to me, yet part of me wondered when I'd fallen so deeply for them. Seph and Ryker's absence weighed on me. I wanted all my mates together.

"Next time, talk to us," Grayson interjected, his voice gentle but firm. "You don't have to do everything alone."

I looked up at him and nodded, knowing he was right, but also knowing that if I had tried to talk to them, Trux would have stopped me. The thought made me angry.

"Trux would stop me, so what option did I have?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper, but the room went silent, and I knew they'd heard me. Grayson shifted uncomfortably, avoiding my gaze.

"Ryker needs space, Parker," Trux stated, his tone cold and authoritative. "Seph will calm him down. She always does."

"Space?" I snapped, reaching for the crumpled note Seph had left behind that I'd crammed in my pocket earlier. "Is this really giving him space?" With a flick of my wrist, I threw the paper at Trux, who caught it with ease, uncrumpling it before reading it out loud.

"'Ryker headed to the training facility. Stay away.' Sonofabitch." Trux cursed under his breath, his eyes narrowing as he glared at the paper like he could force it to change Seph's words because it displeased him.

"Wait, what? Why would he go there now?" Rhiot's eyes widened in concern. "Ryker hates that place."

Trux shook his head as he crumpled the paper up. "It doesn't make sense. Which means it can't be good."

Rhiot glanced at Trux before murmuring something about "the testing" only to be cut off by Trux's sharp glare. Rhiot opened his mouth to say more, but froze at the look Trux was sending him.

"Enough." Trux ordered, effectively silencing any further discussion. "Everyone get ready. We need to get there before Ryker does."

"Tell me what's going on!" I demanded, feeling panic rise within me. My mates were hiding something, and the tension in the air was suffocating. They exchanged glances, their expressions grim.

"Later," Trux promised, his voice strained. "Right now, we have to move."

As they filed out of the room, I knew deep in my gut that something was terribly wrong. The mate bond screamed at me to follow them. A shiver slid down my spine as I openly defied Trux... the alpha of the pack. There was some kind of inherent power with that... one I hadn't fully understood when I'd accepted him as my alpha.

Trux motioned for everyone to finish leaving the room, and I felt my resolve devolving into panic with each step they took. My mates were hiding something, and it was killing me not to know what.

The tension in the air was suffocating. Trux's expression was grim as he crossed his arms. "We don't have time to argue. So either give in and do as I say, or I'll throw you over my shoulder. What will it be, Parker?"