Chapter 9
I hung up the phone and rolled out of bed.
Right then, Bran’s video call came in again.
When the video call connected, Bran was leaning against the headboard, smoking. “Who was that?”
“Wrong number.”
At that moment, a text popped up.
“I’ll only wait for you five minutes.”
Glancing at the message, I asked casually, “Do you have something else to do later?”
Bran grunted an “Mhm.”
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I said, “Then take a break.”
Bran asked, “What are you gonna do?”
I told him, “Take a shower.”
“Keep the video on while you shower. I want to masturbate when you have a shower.”
Watching the seconds tick by, I finally steeled my heart and hung up.
I sent Bran a voice message saying I was going to shower, then muted my phone and pretended not to hear.
By the time I reached the mansion, I’d been running so hard that my chest was heaving violently.
The moment I raised my hand to ring the doorbell, I was filled with dread, fearing that
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Ryder had already lost patience and left.
Thankfully, the door opened quickly.
Ryder stepped aside to let me in, and I walked into the room.
“Speak quickly.”
Ryder was sitting on the sofa, lighting a cigarette.
He drawled, “Are you in a hurry?”
Before I could respond, he exhaled a puff of smoke and continued,
“Bran is with his new mate. He’s got no time to check up on you.”
My heart sank.
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Ryder held the cigarette in one hand and took out his phone with the other.
After unlocking it, he handed it to me.
I took the phone and saw the photos. In them, Bran was with a strange woman.
Compared to Bran’s rumored Vegas debauchery, these hand – holding pics cut deeper.
“This is Bran’s mother- chosen bride–to- be. You’re about to be yesterday’s news,” he snarled.
“He probably plans to tuck you away as his mistress.“.
Ryder, blind to my thoughts, seethed at my dazed look.
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“I warned you! Bran will never mate you.”
My mind raced: New girlfriend or not, would Bran still save my brother? Lost in thought, I stared blankly, a sight that pushed Ryder over the edge.
In a fury, he hurled his half – smoked cigar. “You think I’ll tell Bran how heartbroken you are? Wake up!”
“If I beg Bran not to leave me, will he listen?”
His eyes flashed, pupils shrinking to pinpricks.
“Are you out of your mind?”
Ryder roared.
“He goes whoring, and you don’t care. Now he’s got a fiancée lined up behind your back,
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and you still want to beg him to come back? You said you’d never be a mistress, but it seems you’d be his lackey!”
I looked at Ryder’s almost – twisted face, and
mind drifted back to years ago.
my
I was eighteen, and he was twenty–three, and we were head–over–heels in love.
Every time we fought, he’d just storm out for a while and come back when he cooled off.
But once, when he suspected I had something going on with the star quarterback of the school’s werewolf – blooded sports team, he flew into a rage, saying all sorts of hurtful things. I was so angry that I broke up with him. He groveled for a whole month before I forgave him.
Suddenly, these memories flooded back.
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“Speak!” he yelled angrily.
“Say what?“.
With a snarl, he lunged forward, his fingers digging into my arm. “So, you’d rather grovel at Bran’s feet like a pathetic mutt than hold your head high?”
“You don’t understand. Opportunities like Bran don’t come knocking every day. I’m running out of time, and I can’t afford to be picky.”
His grip tightened
“Let go of me, Ryder,”
“Are you afraid of a little pain, or are you more worried about Bran seeing the marks I’ll leave?” he taunted, his thumb digging into
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the tender flesh of my arm.
But before I could utter another word, he released my arm only to grab my shoulders and fling me onto the bed.
I landed with a thud.
Before I could even catch my breath, Ryder was on top of me.
His legs straddled mine.
My hands shot up to push him away, but he was too fast.
With one hand, he effortlessly captured both of my wrists, pinning them above my head.
His other hand cupped my chin, tilting my face up towards him.
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In a last–ditch effort to defend myself, I tried to bite him.
His thumb and forefinger pressed down on my jaw, forcing my mouth open.
As he leaned in, his breath hot against my face, I thought he was going to kiss me. But instead, his teeth sank into my bottom lip, hard enough to draw blood.
My body writhing in a desperate attempt to break free. But his hold was too strong.
I glared back at him, my eyes filled with defiance. “If you touch me, I’ll tell Bran everything,”
Without a word, his hand moved down from my chin, trailing a path of fire across my neck and collarbone.
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His fingers fumbled with the buttons of my coat, and then, he started to unbutton my pants.
“Ryder, no!”
“I’m sorry. I was wrong.”
His breath was hot against my neck.
“Do you love Bran?”
“I can’t let my brother rot in there!”
“Ryder, let me go. I have to save my brother.”
Suddenly, his strong arms wrapped around
- me.
“I can meet your any demand.” he vowed.
“Bran can’t help you. His new mate is the
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Starlight Pack alpha’s daughter. He won’t risk his pack’s future for you.”
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