Shunned By An Alpha, Cherised By A Lycan

Chapter 36:

With a brief nod, Kade took off, leaving me to my thoughts. I had to do something quickly. My first responsibility was toward my pack.

“Ouch,” I winced, pressing the sides of my head with my palms, my thumbs making circular motions as my head sank deeper into the pillow, my brain throbbing like a drum. Groaning, I reluctantly pulled myself into a sitting position; my body felt like lead.

My eyes widened slowly as I rubbed them, and there was Ryder standing in front of me, his hands dipped into his pockets. Our eyes met, and I felt my face pull into a deep frown.

“What the fuck?” I croaked, my voice hoarse from sleep. “You’re such a creep.”

I shot him a furious look and pulled the blanket over my chest.

Ryder chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I’m not creeping; I’m just waiting for the perfect moment to make babies.”

My head snapped up, and I gave him a cold, hard stare that only made him more amused. My eyes widened slightly in shock. Was he seriously suggesting what I thought he was? Sex? I felt a flush rise to my cheeks and looked away. Ryder chuckled again, his voice low and husky. “Snap out of it, Jasmine. Don’t you have any sense of humor?”

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding, feeling a mix of relief and embarrassment.

“Very funny.” I rolled my eyes. If not for the throbbing pain in my head, I would have launched into one of my speeches about inappropriate jokes.

Ryder’s expression turned serious, his eyes locking on mine. “I’m here to check on you. How’s that headache?”noveldrama

I shut my eyes tight, trying to subdue the pounding in my head.

“I’ve never been better. What time is it?” I groaned, my voice laced with sarcasm.

“It’s ten in the morning,” Ryder said, his voice gentle. “You slept for a few hours. Do you need some water and Tylenol?” His question surprised me, but I did my best to keep my expression blank. At this point, his behavior seemed bipolar. I nodded, my throat feeling like it had been stripped of all its saliva.

Ryder handed me a glass of water, and I took a large gulp, feeling the cool liquid soothe my parched throat before I swallowed the pain reliever.

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“Thanks,” I said, my voice a little stronger now.

Ryder nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. “Anytime.”

I tried to stand up, but Ryder’s words stopped me. “You just arrived, Vixen, and you can’t afford to stay away from trouble, can you?”

Vixen? Were we really doing this today? I almost scoffed but blurted out, “Isabella?”

The perpetual amused look in his eyes vanished, and Ryder’s eyes widened as he stared at me, his expression unreadable. I knew I had hit a raw nerve.

“So, you’ve thought about it,” I continued, my mind racing. “Did Isabella fail at her job? Is that why you decided to kidnap me?”

Taking steady steps toward me, his gaze locked onto mine. I felt a shiver run down my spine, a small shudder escaping my lips as he approached. I moved backward and landed on the bed.

“You shouldn’t run faster than your shadow, baby Vixen,” he said, his voice low and even. “You need to tread carefully, or you’ll end up getting hurt.”

I felt a spark of defiance ignite within me. Was he threatening me? And why did he keep calling me that stupid name, baby Vixen?

“I can take care of myself,” I puffed out my chest, trying to sound confident.

Ryder’s expression turned skeptical as he raised an eyebrow, his blue eyes dead serious as he stared at me. “Really? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re diving headfirst into danger.”

Danger? Wasn’t he the danger itself? After all, I’d been safe at my pack. Feeling a surge of anger, I let out a sharp hiss. “What do you know about safety?” I snapped.

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