For the first time since the fight, I could feel Ryker’s presence. Sebastian stepped out of the way and I stared out into the woods. The last of our people came through the trees, yet I couldn’t focus on anyone but Ryker. He was so close. I took a step forward and then another, until I was at a full sprint. I couldn’t wait any longer. By the time he came into view, my heart felt like it burst out of my chest. His clothes were torn and he was covered in dirt and ash, but it was him.
Closing the distance, he scooped me into his arms. “I’ll explain everything. Just don’t hate me when I do.”
I squeezed him so hard my arms started to shake. “Shh . . . we have the rest of our lives for talking. Right now, I just want you to hold me.”
Holding me in his arms, he slowly knelt down on the ground and never once let me go. “I love you, angel.”
“I love you more.”
“Did he hurt you?” We’d been out in the woods for hours, without saying a word. I had hoped he wouldn’t ask that question. “Bailey?” He turned me around in his arms and made me look into his eyes. “Are you going to answer me?”
“It was nothing I couldn’t handle. I’m here and I’m alive.”
His jaw tensed. “Did he rape you?”
“No.”
“But he bit you. Before I killed him, he made sure to let me know in great detail.”
Swallowing hard, I averted my gaze. I felt ashamed and dirty for being so weak. “I wanted to fight him, but I couldn’t. Maret made sure of that. It was one of the worst feelings, not being able to protect myself. Hopefully, you made him suffer.”
He sighed. “I did more than that. It’s one of the reasons I shut my mind off from you. I know I hurt you, making you think I was dead, but I would rather you think that for a couple of days than see what I did. I didn’t think you were ready for that.”
“What did you do? It couldn’t be any worse than what I’ve already seen,” I said, furrowing my brows.
“Trust me, it was. The thought that I had to do it to my own brother made it even more difficult. At the beginning, I made him think he had the upper hand by letting him bite me. When I howled, that gave Cedric the cue to attack. When our wolves came through the wall, it gave you the chance to escape. The Yukons were more focused on defending their own lives than trying to keep you captive.”
“How many of our people were killed?” I really didn’t want to know. The last thing I wanted to do was face the packs when we got back and see the pain in their faces. It would all be there because of me.
He sighed. “We lost eight men in total. One from our pack, the rest from the others.” My eyes burned, but I was tired of crying. Ryker lifted my chin and I took a deep breath before looking at him. “They all knew the risks, angel. I didn’t force them to be here. With any battle, lives will be taken.”
“I know, but I didn’t want them to be because of me.”
We sat in silence for a few more minutes before he got to his feet and held his hand out. “I think it’s time we get back. I’ll tell you the rest on the way.”
Taking his hand, I didn’t let go when he helped me up. Very slowly, we made our way back to the cabins. We were still in Canada and I couldn’t wait to get back home. “So what did you do to Kade and his pack?” His body tensed and I could feel his reluctance. He was trying to hide the images from me, but flashes of Kade and blood replayed in his head. “Stop blocking your mind from me. I’m not going to think less of you, or be afraid of you if you tell me. If you could hear what I was thinking a few days ago, you’d be scared of me.”
He chuckled. “I’m shaking now.” I smacked him on the arm and that seemed to loosen him up. “After you left, all I could think about was you, my family, everything. I wanted to rip Kade apart and be done with it, but I couldn’t. I needed him to suffer. I knew he wouldn’t bow down to me, so I gave him a choice; submit, or I’d literally rip him apart, limb from limb.”
“He wasn’t the type to submit,” I stated the obvious.
He shook his head. “No, he wasn’t and I bet on that. I didn’t want him to submit. When he refused, I took out one of his eyes, and then the other when he refused again. It only went downhill from there, as I dismembered him piece by piece. His people watched and some ended up pledging their loyalty to me. Those who didn’t were killed on the spot. I wasn’t about to show them mercy when none was given to me.”
“What about the women and children?” I hadn’t seen any while I was there, but I knew there had to be some in their community.
“We let them go, with the understanding they would find new packs and not cause any trouble.” We were almost back at the cabin when he stopped and turned me to face him. “I was so angry at my brother for taking you from me. It was as if I was someone else. I know we’re violent creatures, but after what I did to Kade, the thought of you seeing me like that scared even myself. I tore him apart and enjoyed every minute of it. When he roared in agony, I smiled. I took satisfaction in his pain.”
He was ashamed and I could see it in his eyes. “If I was there, I would’ve smiled too. There’s nothing wrong with punishing an evil man—brother or not. Kade was soulless. He was filled with greed and a lust for power. Don’t ever feel ashamed of doing what you did.”
His lips turned up in a small smile. “So you don’t hate me for shutting you out?”
Lifting up on my toes, I kissed him gently. “No. You did what you had to do,” I murmured against his lips.
“I’ve missed you too fucking much.”
“I can think of something we could do to remedy that, but I don’t think we’ll have much privacy in the house. There are a ton of wolves everywhere.”
He bit my lip and grinned. “Then they’ll just have to mind their own business or get out.”
Bailey
“I see you didn’t kill him,” Sebastian teased.
Ryker chuckled and loaded up Seraphina and Tyla’s bags into the back of Micah’s SUV. “No, but I think I made up for it last night.”
I winked at him. “That you did.”
Tyla shook her head. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure we all got quite the visual with the noises coming out of your room.” She laughed. “I’m just glad this clusterfuck is all over.” She gave me a hug. “I’ll see you when you get back home.”
I hugged her tight. “Thank you for everything. You and Micah helped my mother save me.”
“She did most of it,” she murmured, letting me go.
Micah stepped in front of her and hugged me. “She was a brave woman. Be safe on your way back. As soon as you arrive in Wyoming, I’ll leave to get your sister.”
“Thanks, Micah. I can’t wait to see her again. It’s nice to have my memories back.”
“I bet it is. Now you remember how annoying my brother can be.”
Sebastian smacked him on the head and I burst out laughing. “Nothing’s changed in that respect.”
Tyla and Micah got in the truck, leaving Sebastian with me and Ryker. “Do you remember the times you asked me to have tea with you?” Sebastian asked.
Visions of those days played through my mind. Ryker tried to hold back his laugh, but he failed miserably. “Nice hair bows, Lyall. I never knew pink was your color.”
Sebastian snarled. “Fuck you, Whitemore.”
I put my arm around him. “Hey, you’re the one who brought it up. I can’t help it you fell for my joke. I used to love messing with you.”
“And you wonder why I was annoying. It was payback.”
“Well played,” I laughed.
He winked and headed toward the truck. “It’s good to have you back, B.”
Seraphina came by next. She kissed Ryker on the cheek and then I hugged her. “I’m sorry for losing my temper. You were just doing what Ryker wanted you to do. I know you’re loyal to him.”