27. Ryder

27

RYDER

A fter our wild sex session, we brought Oria back to the pack house. Wyman and Samira had given us the house behind the main house. It was big enough for all of us, instead of being in just one room in the pack house. There was no way any of us would be split up and I didn't want us to be anyway.

Max carried a sleepy Oria into the main bedroom where we managed to put two mattresses together to fit all of us. It was a tight fit, but it felt good to be a pack and I couldn't complain at all..

"I need a shower," Oria murmured against Max's chest. "I've got dirt and cum all over me."

"You smell like us, Sol," he growled. "Dirty and full of our cum, it's intoxicating."

"Well, how about we put the cum on you and you can be cummy and dirty," she said with a smirk.

I laughed, pushing Max to the ensuite, which thankfully, was big enough for all of us to fit. The shower, though, could only fit three of us at a time. Max and Oria got in immediately while Soren ran in front of me to get in first.

Gray chuckled as he brought in clothes for Oria, setting them on the sink before grabbing the rest of our clothes. I stood there watching them get her washed up, but Soren got out, giving me time with her in the shower. Max did the same thing and Gray took his spot as we washed her body one more time making sure she was very clean.

Oria was content, letting us care for her, occasionally running her hands over our bodies or pushing her ass against us.

"Keep that up, Sunshine, and I'll get you dirty again," Gray growled in her ear.

She laughed, her eyes full of mirth.

"Ok, fine, I just like to touch you," she smirked. "It's weird because I still feel horny, but I don't think my lady bits and ass can take anymore, especially after Max."

I laughed, pressing myself against her and kissing her neck. "We can still please you," I whispered in her ear. "I could get on my knees for you and suck that sweet pussy and when I'm done, Gray could have you screaming again."

She shuddered in my arms as Gray pressed himself against her. I grew hard thinking about having her scream for me.

"Maybe an orgasm before bed?" She groaned. "I think we really need to talk about what to do with my mother."

Well, there went my boner.

"Way to get a man's dick to deflate quickly, Sunshine," Gray grumbled.

"Well, we need to talk about it," she said, growing serious. "I'm tired of worrying she might be around the corner. We all know what needs to be done and we need to start doing that now."

The room grew quiet as we worked on getting her out of the shower and changed. We worked together like we had been doing this for years instead of just weeks. Soren set Oria down in the middle of the mattresses as Max came in with some food. It was mostly just snacks, but it was perfect. The rest climbed onto the bed sitting in a circle close to each other.

"Anyone have any ideas?" Gray asked, knowing him, he had a plan in place, but wanted to hear our suggestions.

"We have to draw her out of hiding or find out where she is," Soren said first.

"I think we need to figure out how to subdue her magic first before we take her on," Oria said, popping a grape into her mouth.

"I agree, Laima is powerful," Max agreed.

"And she has only gotten more powerful as the years have gone by," Oria said, looking at Max.

"Isn't she dependent on you healing her though?" I looked at Oria. "If she isn't getting regular healings from you, then that should weaken her, no?"

"She can still take the vials, but I don't know how she would be with just the vials," she said thoughtfully. "She always told me she needed the power straight from me."

"How often did you have to heal her?" Gray asked.

"It wasn't often at first, but within the last twenty years, we had started doing it more frequently." She sucked her lower lip into her mouth. "I'm curious to see how she has fared without my abilities."

"How did she look in your dream or whatever she pulled you into?" I asked.

"She didn't look any different," she said, looking up at me.

"If it was a dream and she orchestrated it, she might have fashioned herself to look the same so she didn't give anything away," Gray stated. "But I think we have to assume that she is at full power, so we don't go in overconfident."

"I agree, I think?—"

"Wait!" Oria yelled, looking wide-eyed. "If we have any chance at winning, we need to disable her powers, and I think I just figured out how."

We stayed quiet, waiting for her to tell us.

"I need to make that potion I hit Tay with, but make it stronger." She chewed her lips as she was thinking. "I need to make it very strong."

"What ingredients do we need?" Gray asked, leaning over to grab his phone.

"Is there somewhere we can use someone's workshop? Like a witch or an?—"

"Alchemist?" I finished her sentence.

"Addie," we all said together.

"If I can use her workshop to make the potion and stock up on my necklace, this might work guys," she said, looking hopeful.

"Do we need to worry about Tay?" Soren asked Max.

"No, I will deal with Tay," Max growled. "Even if I have to kill him."

"Max—"

"No, Sol," Max interrupted Oria. "He was the downfall of our people. He took you from me and he manipulated you. He doesn't deserve to live"

"I think if you can capture him, that might be better," Gray said. "He's family, I don't know if I could kill Soren even if he did exactly what Tay did."

"I agree, Max," Oria said, cupping his cheek. "I can't ask you to do that."

"We've never been close and you're not asking," he said leaning into her hand. "I'm telling you, he needs to die."

"Just think about it, ok?" I looked at him. "You don't have to make the decision now, but just realize we don't expect you to kill him."

He clenched his jaw, turned away and looked out the window.

"Ok, tomorrow, let's get a hold of Addie," Gray said. "I think we need to look for supplies anyway, some artifacts, anything we can get our hands on to prepare."

"We also need to discuss a backup plan. If things get too hot, we need to be able to escape and possibly go into hiding for a while," Soren said. "I think we need to think of a place where we can set up the spell Addie made us."

Everyone stayed quiet because we couldn't fail.

"We could take her to the islands that Merrick had mentioned," Gray said softly. "She'd be safe there. No one goes there and it's close enough to a major port. We could buy whatever we needed or make potions to travel to cheaper places."

"We don't know if Merrick is on our side, for all we know he is working for Laima," I said, running a hand through my hair.

"I think it's our best bet," Soren said. "We can stay there while we find a permanent place for her."

"Am I… Am I going to be by myself?" Oria looked small and unsure of herself.

"Oh, Blondie," Soren said. "We won't keep you there like our prisoner."

"We all will go, or at least most of us, while we figure out how to get rid of Laima," I said, reassuring her.

Her body relaxed. "Please don't just lock me away while you try to keep me safe."

"We wouldn't dream of doing that," Max said, lifting her up until she sat on his lap. "We just want to keep you safe. That might mean some of us stay with you and some of us try to find a solution, but I promise we will always come back to you."

"Ok," she said, snuggling next to him.

"Let's get some sleep and we can start on our plan tomorrow," I said, grabbing the food off the bed while everyone fought over who was going to sleep next to Oria.

I chuckled when the twins elbowed each other trying to get to the side Max wasn't occupying.

"Fuck you," Soren snapped.

"Ya snooze, you lose fucker," Gray said, sliding behind Oria who had her head on Max's chest.

Soren grumbled, getting behind Gray and I made my way around Max. I knew he wasn't a true shifter, so I didn't know how he would feel with cuddling, so I laid away from Max facing Oria. She gave me a sleepy smile while mouthing, I love you.

I said it back as my chest warmed with affection. She held her hand out for me and I grabbed it as we laid our hands on Max. I glanced up at him, but he already had his eyes closed. If he didn't make a big deal, I sure as hell wouldn't. One more glance at my slice of Heaven and I closed my eyes, hoping this plan would work.

Samira and Wyman had insisted on breakfast before we went into town for some supplies. Max and Soren were going to go while Oria, Gray and I stayed. Once Max and Soren left, an uneasiness hit me. I knew that they needed to leave, but I hated the separation.

After breakfast, Samira took Oria out in the back where the kids of the pack were doing crafts. Gray watched her while I stayed in the house we were staying in. I had a perfect spot to watch her from the window and it warmed my heart to see Samira so welcoming. I had wondered what my parents would have said about Oria.

Seeing Samira with her made me think that my mom would have loved her too. I missed my parents every day. When they passed, we were no longer safe in our pack. I was too young to lead and some of the pack took that as an opportunity to gain control. We couldn't stay because I feared they would kill us to ensure I did not challenge them. Samira and Wyman took us in with no questions asked. Even if I had been a moody young wolf who had no idea how to raise his siblings, they were patient with all of us. I smiled as Oria lifted one of the kids onto her lap. One day.

I called Addie and it went straight to voicemail. It was nothing that hadn't happened before, but I had a feeling this was bad.

I immediately called Soren.

"Hey," he said, and I relaxed immediately.

"Are you guys almost done?" I asked.

"No, I want to check out two more places but… Ryder I got a bad feeling."

"Come back now," I said. "Something is not right, but I don't know what it is."

"We are close to a shop. Once I do a quick look, we'll come back," he said, as I heard Max saying something.

"No, Soren, come back now," I commanded.

The bad feeling was intensifying.

"Ok, we are leaving but Ryder, Max just noticed a sign for Oria's capture," he whispered. "And our picture is with hers."

"Now, Soren," I clipped.

"Ok, see you soon," he said, hanging up.

I looked out the window to see Oria helping a few kids out. My heart warmed, wanting to think about kids and our future, but also needing to keep her safe. The cold reality of "what if we are always on the run" hit me. If that was the case, we might never have kids because that would be no life for them and just because I selfishly wanted them, I couldn't put our kids through a life of what-ifs.

Goddess, please let us survive this, or if we don't, please let her survive, she deserves a life of peace.

My chest ached when the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I heard the boom and the blast broke the windows, throwing me up against the wall. Screams broke the daze I was in, pushing me into action.

"Heaven!" I yelled, running through smoke so thick it was hard to see anything.

No. No. No. This couldn't be the end.

The smoke started to dissipate when I noticed it was too quiet. That's when I noticed Samira and Oria, getting the kids up and pushing them toward the pack house quietly.

We need to get the kids into the bunker and Gray went to go see what happened.

Oria looked at me as she carried two small kids in her arms.

"We need to be quiet," Samira said to a few kids who started crying. "Ryder please help get the kids to safety."

"Of course." Guilt hit me hard.

This was my fault, I should have warned Samira and Wyman.

I grabbed three kids in my arms, quickly putting them in the house where one of the older kids was directing them down to the basement. Once all the kids were safe, I grabbed Samira's arms.

"I'm so sorry," I said quickly. "We were running, and I should have said something. I thought we had time."

She cupped my cheek. "I know you've never thought of me as your mother, but I would die defending you just like I would your brother and sister."

I clenched my jaw to keep my emotions from spilling over. "I just?—"

"I know, but you need to go to Wyman and tell him what we are dealing with while I wrangle up the rest of the women and children who can't fight."

"Ok," I said, pulling her in for a hug, kissing her on her forehead. "I don't deserve you, but thank you."

Another explosion happened in the distance and we both ran.

Gray. What are we dealing with? I said running to Oria.

Laima's lackey is here. He has an army. It's not good, Ryder. We need to get her out of here.

I can't leave them, come back and take her. I saw Oria come out of the house we were staying in with her necklace. I brought this on my family, I can't just leave them.

"Is she here?" Her eyes were big and the fear in them had me worried.

"No, but the man we met at the castle is," I said, grabbing her hand. "We need to get you out of here, in case she's coming here too."

"Ryder, we can't leave, they came because of me," she said, pulling my hand back.

"I'm staying, Gray is going to take you away from here and hopefully when they don't find you here, they will leave," I said, not even believing my own words.

"Ryder, that isn't going to work," she pulled back harder. "She will capture and kill everyone here just for any information."

"No, we?—"

I saw the man a second before I pulled Oria away, taking the brunt of his air magic. Oria kept me up as I shifted, but before I could do anything, Gray came in and snapped his head off.

"We need to go now," he said, pulling Oria towards him.

"No, I'm not leaving." She yanked her hand back.

"Sunshine, this isn't the time?—"

"The time for what, Gray," she snapped. "We brought them here, the least we could do is fucking help them."

"Heaven, I'm staying," I said, seeing another man run to us.

"Then I'm staying too," she said, pulling a stone off her necklace.

She whispered the incantation before throwing it behind me when Gray raced to the other man, disabling him quickly. Before we knew it, more men were coming for us. One of them threw something at the tree above Gray and Oria and one of the larger branches broke. They were too busy to notice when I threw my hands out instinctively and I was holding the tree above them.

My eyes widened, as did Oria's and Gray's, before they smiled.

"Fuck yes, Ryder!" Gray shouted, but it was short-lived when the men finally got to us.

I shifted into my wolf, biting into one man's neck and tearing out his throat before going to another one. Oria fell to the ground with a man on top of her when he started to scream. She pulled the knife out of a holder he had on his thigh before stabbing him in the shoulder.

There's my girl.

Pride grew in my chest as I ran to another man, biting his hand before he cast magic. Gray sliced his other arm off, twirling his scythe as the man fell to the ground howling in pain. Oria rushed over to us.

"I can feel their pain and suffering," she cried out, looking out into the field to the left of the house. "They're dying because of me."

I growled, running to the field. It was stupid and reckless, but I couldn't sit by and watch Laima kill my family with her men. She needed to be killed and I just hoped I was the one to do it.