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Word Count: 1808

~Dawn

For the first time in a long time, I was stunned speechless.

Kaden and Kace left as swiftly as they had come, leaving Lucy and I confused beyond belief. His words of warning took a few moments to fully develop in my mind, as I sink down to sit on the log. He wants me dead. Either that, or he wants me locked away forever in his Pack filled with sickening murderers.

Real murderers.

"I don't think we have a choice," I hear Lucy say from behind me. I hate that I had trusted Kace. It had been a detailed game for Kaden since that night two weeks ago.

What has he been doing since? Hanging around the Purity Pack watching me, or terrorizing the innocent members of this Pack.

"We aren't going," I growl, knowing what my sister wants.

It wouldn't be giving Rylan the satisfaction, he doesn't care about that. It would be surrendering, and as much as that seems tempting, it's not like me. If I were to walk into Rylan's territory, it wouldn't be for him. If I were to do so, I would be adamant on not being converted, nor tamed down into a 'perfect' Luna.

I wouldn't be tempted by him...

"How else are we going to have any chance to get away from Kaden?" Lucy questions, moving to sit beside me. "He's the Alpha of Vengeance. Even if you weren't sick, we wouldn't be able to get away from him in a day."

Sighing, I run my hands back through my hair. It's the only real way I can keep it somewhat manageable. It flies around in my face otherwise...Look at me trying to avoid the situation.

"You know that's what Kaden wants right? For us to go flocking to Rylan."

Shaking her head, Lucy is on her feet again. When she gets flustered in an argument, she can't keep still. The poor girl can't stop her hands trembling, as she tries to win me over. Her change of tact surprises me, but I know she is afraid. Who wouldn't be afraid of the Alpha of Vengeance? I know I am. But Rylan isn't her mate; she doesn't know what he is like.

"He wants you dead."

"It doesn't matter what he wants. Even if I do get caught, it's the Discipline Pack jury that decides."

She growls. "And what makes you think they would listen to a Desire Pack member? How do you know Kaden wouldn't coerce them into sending you to his Pack, where some might say you belong?"

"Don't know you know what Rylan will do? He's been killing people just to find me, Lucy. Something clicked in his head that no ten year old should ever have to deal with."

Lucy crosses her arms over her chest in defiance. I probably shouldn't have mentioned her age. "You know I'm eleven soon, right?"

I stand also, grabbing her shoulders. She looks too mature, as the shadows of the increasing night wrap around her shoulders, inching up to her face. There is so much life there that I refuse to let go to waste. She is too special to me, and as much as our parents hated that about her, I don't.

"I don't want Rylan to change you," I say hoarsely. Thinking about my sister being affected hurts me deep inside.

"He won't...Please."

Something in her eyes speaks to me. I know my sister. Now though, I can't tell if she truly wants this life with Rylan, or if she wants me to be safe, and rid of my sickness. With the latter, I'm flattered. However, if she truly wants his life, then that changes everything.

"And think, we can easily escape Rylan," Lucy reminds me, holding my hands that were on her shoulders. "We did it once, who's to say we can't do it again."

It was almost too easy to get away from Rylan. He didn't resist...No one did.

"Plus, great food," Lucy adds.

My jaw clenches. The cool of the night is beginning to attack my skin, lighting it up in shivers. We have little time left to discuss this. If I were to ignore everything my sister was saying to force her to make a break for it toward the Freedom Pack, we wouldn't make it very far. Darkness is dangerous, no matter where you are within the Pack Quarter.

"You're sure?" I question uneasily.

She nods. "Positive. I don't think I ever want to see Alpha Kaden's eyes ever again."

At least I can agree with her on that one. His eyes are soulless. It only makes me wonder if he turned his mate into something as bad as him.

"If I change my mind, we are leaving straight away."

***

His house is terrifying.

The last time I was here, I didn't take the time to truly assess the place. The beauty of the place had been absorbed by the night, but right now I could see the entire grandeur set in front of me. It's old, and it's impressive, and it is something that so terrifying I want to turn around and run back the way I came.

It hadn't been hard to get past any Guards patrolling the property. Most are out looking for me, and since it is the middle of the day, no one was really there to see us make our way over the wall. Had there not been a tree there, we wouldn't have had a chance to get over.

"We can still go," I remind Lucy, but she furrows her brows and shakes her head at me.

Honestly, I'm scared. Not of Kaden, right now. No, of Rylan. Seeing those eyes again seems like such a daunting concept. When I'm around him, I'm afraid everything I have built up against him will be torn down until i am left with no facade left to save me.

Lucy pushes my hand toward the building. If his estate wasn't so magnificent, this may have been less frightening. This place breathes its prosperity and wealth onto me, making me feel so insignificant compared to it. It makes me straighten my back, before fearlessly marching toward the main door.

"Do I just knock?"

I almost feel Lucy roll her eyes without even having to look at her.

Slowly, I raise my fist to the door. It takes a few deep breaths and a growl of irritation from Lucy before I actually feel contact between my fingers and the wood. As soon as I draw my hand away, there is a pregnant silence, as we both stare the door down, waiting for whatever may be on the other side of it.

When it opens, I first see the stony face of one of Rylan's Personal Guards. He stares at me, and I see the flash of disbelief through his eyes.

The male has probably been a part of this hunt for me for the past year or so, and probably hates me more than anything for it. So to see me standing on the doorstep, despite my prior retaliation must have shocked him for a moment. Then he takes a step forward toward me, hand ready to grab the thick whip attached to his hip.

Instantly I move Lucy behind me, holding my free up as a silent way to beg for mercy.

"Please, we aren't here to run," I tell him in a rush of words that might not be completely coherent. The Guard wants to come at me, to capture me to finally stop this once and for all.

"What's going on?"

His voice makes me quiver. The sound of it melts over me, having a calming effect almost instantly. Only one male can make me feel this way...

"It's your mate," the Guard says quickly over his shoulder. "It's Dawn."

Rylan was at the door instantly, his eyes wide in disbelief, as he drunk in the sight of me on the doorstep. It's hard to function properly when he is looking at me, or when I looked at him. He looks as sickly as me, with dark shadows under his eyes that contrasted against pasty skin. He's feeling this as much as I am.

Or maybe, it's the guilt of what he has done to try get me here.

There is only a split second where he takes a time to register for things. Then, he is moving toward me, before I put my hands up, warning him not to come closer.

"I'm not going to run," I say shakily, the silvery blue of his eyes pinning me down. "Just please, not any closer."

He listen, not taking another step through the door. Before I can let him come anywhere near him - let him touch me - I have to assert the rules, otherwise Rylan is going to whisk me away in the mate bond, and I can't have that. Just looking in his eyes is enough to weaken me at the knees, however, I am careful to keep my ground.

"I have so many questions," Rylan murmurs.

Taking a deep breath, I slowly pull Lucy out from behind me. Rylan instantly frowns, before a flash of recognition for the young girl crosses his features. Lucy and I look very alike, so it isn't hard for him to figure it out.

Lucy doesn't let go, as I look straight up at Rylan. "Can we come in?"

His mouth parts slightly in shock, obviously not expecting me to say that. Instead of throwing more questions my way, he steps back so Lucy and I could walk in through the front door.

I'm first enveloped with his familiar, calming scent. It made me relax involuntarily, but Lucy clinging to me was a painful reminder of why I am here. To protect her, and myself from the megalomaniac Alpha Kaden.

The door suddenly slams behind us. There's no escape now.

❤️••❤️

Want more and don't want to wait!? More of Rylan is available now on Radish!

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I want to first thank you all for 200k followers! That's so huge, thank you all (:

I'm excited because in a week or two I'll be releasing Asher onto Wattpad, and right now, it's been one of my most favourite books to write.

I might have to hold off the release of it until I have a decent amount of chapters between Wattpad and Radish.

Anyways, hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! (:

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