Page 11 of Wicked Fate

When we reached the porch, Ryker’s breathing became labored and rapid. I tried to ignore his anger, because there was no reason for it. Reid had mated with someone else; there was no coming back from that. Ryker had nothing to fear.

Our footsteps creaked on the painted wood, and Ryker stalked at my side, his jaw tight and hands fisted. He hadn’t said a word since we’d shifted to human form, but the weight of his silence pressed against me harder than his words ever could.

I lifted my hand to knock, but the door opened before I could.

Sun.

Her eyes snapped fire, and her braid looked frizzed and wild, like she hadn’t slept in days. Her body blocked the doorway like a wall. “What the hell are you doing here?”

I froze, breath catching. The others stilled behind me, but no one moved forward.

“Jaren said Reid wanted me to come by so we could talk.” I didn’t understand why this was taking her by surprise. Surely Reid would’ve told her.

Sun’s lips thinned, and something flashed in her eyes. Not shock exactly. Not quite anger either. But something close to… unease.

“He’s not in any state to talk. Cassi sedated him.”

I blinked. “But—”

She stepped forward, expression hardening. “He’s not lucid, Ember. Not right now. You showing up like this, after everything… it’s not what he needs.”

Ryker’s growl rumbled low beside me, his energy pulsing hotter by the second. My hand brushed his clenched fist. He didn’t look at Sun—his gaze stayed locked on me, burning with something too raw to name.

The two of them made me feel as if I’d done something wrong by coming here. Fuck that. “I didn’t ask to come here. Reid sent for me. If you’ve got a problem with that, take it up with him.”

Sun flinched but covered it quickly. “Maybe hedidsend for you. Maybe hethinkshe needs to talk. But he’s severely injured, so I’m making the call right now.”

Her eyes flicked toward Ryker like she wanted to say something more—something aimed directly at him—but whatever it was, she bit it back.

The silence was deafening.

Briar took a small step forward. “We’ll come back later. When he’s stronger.”

Sun didn’t reply. She just crossed her arms and stood in the doorway, daring me to try again.

“Let’s go,” Ryker gritted out. He turned sharply and stepped off the porch before anyone else could react.

“Wait,” Cassi called from somewhere behind us.

I looked over my shoulder and saw her beyond the hedgerow, her long auburn hair tousled and wild like she’d run here. Her face was pale, her eyes wide.

“I need to talk to you,” she said, voice trembling. “I did something horrible.”

CHAPTERFOUR

My heart began to pound even harder than it already had been from the last thirty seconds of bullshit. Ryker’s entire body turned rigid, reminding me more of a vampire than a shifter.

Still, I could feel Sun’s eyes homed in on me. “It’ll have to wait,” she spat. “Reid is injured and clearly not thinking straight right now.”

“That’s the thing. He is.” Cassi winced. “That’s why we have to talknow. It’s important.”

Despite the desperate plea in Cassi’s voice, Sun didn’t turn her head. “Fine. Oncetheyleave.”

Cassi cleared her throat and jerked her head to the side slightly. “Ember and Ryker should be part of this conversation. Reid is your alpha, and hedidrequest them to come here.”

Gage snorted, and Sun’s head finally jerked toward the witch.

A vein pulsed in Sun’s neck. “He’s severely injured, his father died, and nearly half our pack just got slaughtered. He needs to rest before having discussions with anyone outside our pack, or make any decisions, especially regardingher.”

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