When wolves Go to war
1204 Words
Chapter 11
When Wolves Go to War
Someone was going to die.
And judging by the look in Ryder Kane’s eyes…
It wasn’t going to be him.
Silence swallowed the kitchen.
Heavy, sharp and deadly.
Nobody moved.
Not me.
Not Mason.
Not the men gathering outside.
Not even the wind brushing against the windows.
Ryder’s hand remained beneath my chin…
But it wasn’t gentle anymore.
It was steady.
Grounding.
Like he knew my world was tilting and refused to let me shatter while his was turning into war.
His pale eyes locked onto mine.
“Look at me.”
My breath caught.
I obeyed before I even realized I was moving.
“Listen carefully, Ava.”
His voice was low.
Controlled.
And somehow…
That terrified me more than shouting ever could.
“Tonight…”
His thumb brushed slowly across my trembling jaw.
“…you lock every door.”
My pulse hammered.
“Ryder...”
“No.”
The single word stopped me cold.
His jaw flexed.
“Tonight, you do exactly what I say.”
I swallowed hard.
“And if I don’t?”
One corner of his mouth twitched.
Not amusement.
Something darker.
“Then I come back and punish you.”
Heat rushed straight into my face.
Mason made a choking sound behind us.
“Ohhh, damn.”
Ryder didn’t even blink.
“Mason.”
Mason immediately looked at the ceiling.
“I’m silent.”
I wanted to die.
Actually die.
Because somehow…
Even with Marcus threatening Daisy…
Even with war standing outside…
Ryder Kane still knew how to make my entire body betray me.
My voice came out breathless.
“You can’t say things like that.”
Ryder’s eyes darkened.
“Why?”
Because my knees stop working.
Because my brain stops working.
Because you stop working.
Instead I said...
“Because Daisy is upstairs.”
That dangerous half-smile appeared.
“Good answer.”
I hated him.
I really, really didn’t.
Outside...
Motorcycles roared louder.
More engines.
More voices.
More men.
The Iron Wolves were coming.
Mason’s phone buzzed.
He checked it.
Then looked at Ryder.
“All here.”
Ryder finally let go of my chin.
And suddenly…
The room felt colder.
He reached for his leather jacket hanging over the chair.
Pulled it on slowly.
Like a king putting on armor.
Like a man preparing for blood.
My throat tightened.
“You’re really going.”
He looked at me.
Straight through me.
“For Daisy?”
His voice was rough.
“For you?”
His jaw tightened.
“For me?”
He loaded his gun with calm precision.
“I’m already gone.”
My breath caught.
He slid the weapon behind his back.
Then turned toward the staircase.
“Daisy.”
Tiny footsteps answered almost immediately.
She appeared in unicorn pajamas.
Hair messy.
Stuffed toy in hand.
Sleepy eyes.
And somehow…
Still adorable enough to break my heart.
She looked at all of us.
Then frowned.
“Why do Uncle Mason and Daddy look murdery?”
Mason looked offended.
“Murdery?”
Ryder crouched.
And just like that...
The monster disappeared.
The biker king vanished.
And only a father remained.
“Come here.”
Daisy ran into his arms.
He lifted her easily.
Kissed her forehead.
Held her like she was the only soft thing left in his world.
My chest tightened painfully.
“Daddy going bye-bye?”
Ryder nodded once.
“Just for a little while.”
Daisy touched the cut above his eyebrow.
“Fight?”
Ryder smiled softly.
“Maybe.”
She studied him seriously.
Then looked at me.
Then back at him.
“Are you fighting because of Ava?”
My soul left my body.
Mason coughed violently.
I wanted the floor to open.
Ryder?
Ryder didn’t even flinch.
“Yes.”
Daisy nodded.
Like that made perfect sense.
Then she looked at me again.
And smiled.
“She’s pretty.”
My face burned.
Ryder’s eyes lifted to mine.
And held.
Dangerously.
“Yeah.”
My knees nearly gave out.
Again.
I hated everybody.
Especially him.
Daisy leaned close to Ryder’s ear.
Whispered something.
He actually laughed.
Low, rough and beautiful.
Then he set her down.
“Upstairs.”
She hugged his leg.
“Don’t die.”
Silence.
My heart stopped.
Even Mason looked away.
Because suddenly…
This wasn’t a game anymore.
This wasn’t flirting.
This wasn’t stolen kisses.
This was a little girl asking her father to come home.
Ryder knelt fully.
Until they were eye level.
Then he touched her nose.
And said quietly...
“Not tonight, baby wolf.”
Tears burned behind my eyes.
Daisy nodded once.
Satisfied.
Then she ran upstairs.
And somehow…
The house felt emptier the second she disappeared.
Ryder stood.
Club president again.
Ice again.
War again.
He looked at Mason.
“Everyone armed?”
Mason nodded.
“Twenty-two bikes.”
Ryder’s expression didn’t change.
“Marcus?”
“Shipyard.”
“Armed?”
“Definitely.”
Ryder smiled.
That cold.
Beautiful.
Terrifying smile.
“Good.”
My chest tightened.
I grabbed his wrist before I could stop myself.
The room froze.
Even Mason stopped breathing.
Ryder looked down at my hand.
Then slowly…
At me.
My voice came out softer than I wanted.
“Please.”
His expression changed.
Not softer.
Worse.
Rawer.
“Ava…”
“What if...”
My throat tightened.
“What if you don’t come back?”
Silence.
Ryder stepped closer.
So close I stopped breathing.
One hand slid into my hair.
Warm, heavy and possessive.
“Then who’s gonna finish kissing you properly?”
My entire body short-circuited.
“Mason,” Ryder said calmly.
“Yes, boss?”
“Turn around.”
“Already did.”
I heard boots turning.
I hated my life.
Ryder’s forehead touched mine.
And suddenly…
Nothing else existed.
Not Marcus.
Not guns.
Not war.
Just him.
Just us.
Just the terrifying realization that somewhere along the way…
I had stopped being scared of Ryder Kane…
And started being scared for him.
His voice dropped lower.
“Tell me not to go.”
My pulse thundered.
“What?”
His thumb brushed my lower lip.
“Say it.”
My chest hurt.
Because he looked serious.
Because he looked dangerous.
Because he looked like he’d actually stay.
And that terrified me almost as much as him leaving.
I swallowed hard.
Then whispered...
“Go.”
His eyes darkened.
“Good girl.”
My knees almost betrayed me.
Again.
Before I could recover...
He kissed me.
Hard, Deep and possessive
Like he was branding himself into my memory.
Like he needed me to remember exactly who I belonged to if he didn’t make it back.
By the time he pulled away…
I couldn’t breathe.
Couldn’t think.
Couldn’t stand.
His thumb wiped my swollen lip.
“Lock the doors.”
Then he turned.
Walked outside.
And every biker on the street stood straighter.
Engines roared.
Men nodded.
Wolves gathered.
Ryder climbed onto his bike.
Started the engine.
Then looked at me one last time.
And mouthed two words.
Stay alive.
Then...
The wolves rode into the night.
And for the first time in my life…
I wasn’t praying for myself.
I was praying for the man riding straight into war.
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