Page 28 of Wicked Fate

“Ryker, please.” I jumped out of bed with my hands up. “Don’t do this.”

“I have to protect you.” He walked over and kissed my cheek. “I know you don’t agree, but I can’t just sit back and then have something happen to you, especially when he got away without a trace.”

The comment hit me in the chest because he was right. If even I couldn’t see the man, he could attack, and we’d never see it coming. But Iknewhe wouldn’t.

Someone just came into our bedroom and vanished. Not even Ember could see him once he disappeared, and he didn’t set off the perimeter alarm.Ryker took my hand and gently squeezed. “I don’t mean to upset you. I love you more than life itself, but I can’t risk something happening to you. What if he turned on me, or Briar?”

The walls seemed to close in on me. I hadn’t considered that, and I couldn’t argue.Let’s go.Still, I knew it would be futile.

Some of the tension melted from his face when he realized I wasn’t arguing. He took my hand, leading me out to the hallway. The wood creaked beneath our steps, and soon we entered the living room where the other four waited.

Gage sat up on the couch, his hand wrapped around the grip of his gun. “What’s wrong?”

Jaw tight, Xander stood. “Are we under attack?”

Emerging from the hallway with his shirt half on, Kendric flexed muscles that strained against the fabric.

Briar stood near the archway, her braid a mess but her eyes alert and already scanning for a threat.

“No one’s attacking yet.” Ryker stepped closer to me and continued, “But someone got inside this house while we slept.”

“How thefuckdid that happen?” Xander nabbed his gun from the couch.

I interjected, filling them in on the events from earlier.

Kendric nodded. “I agree with Ryker. He had to be taunting us. I can watch over Ember while we’re running around so you can stay focused, Ryker.” He stepped close to my other side.

“No.” Ryker snapped his head toward him. “She’s coming with me. There’s no way in hell I’m separating from her now. Briar can go with you.”

“What?” I blinked. “I thought you wanted me to stay here.”

“I want you to be safe,” he said, teeth clenched. “And you’re safest with me.”

The others stilled, but no one dared to argue.

“But Briar—” The thought of something happening to her made me nearly lose my mind.

“Will be fine since the man is fixated on you.” Ryker’s wolf surged forward as if he might use alpha will.

He linked,You think I’m going to leave you behind after that thing got that close?Frustration and anger constricted my chest from his emotions.I didn’t even feel him, Ember. He slipped past me. That’s not happening again.

Gage exchanged a glance with Xander, who gave a tight nod.

“We move quietly,” Ryker continued. “Briar, Kendric—flank us. Eyes sharp. Nothing gets near Ember unless it wants to die.”

Kendric nodded once, already pulling his knife from his belt and tucking it into his boot.

“Let me grab my boots. I thought we might be shifting.” Briar darted back down the hallway toward her room.

Ryker turned to me, his jaw still tight. “Get your shoes. I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

I didn’t argue. Not because I was afraid but because, deep down, I knew he was right. Whatever that man was, he’d seen something in me. Reached something I didn’t understand.

And I wasn’t ready to face that alone.

Gage bent down and produced three more guns. He handed one to Ryker and another to me. The cold metal bit into my hand, feeling foreign despite my history with it.

Briar came down the hall, boots laced, a knife strapped to her thigh. Her expression was grim, and the sharp lines on her face confirmed she felt similarly to me.

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