Wolves of the veil

CHAPTER2

SHADOWS OF THE PAST

The bright rays of the sun were almost completely gone; as if Moony had also calmed down, at this time there was only a layer of anticipated peace throughout town. Though the light from the kerosene lamps on the cobbled streets was warm and inviting, everything that lay in wait further away was alive—like the wood of a forest itself watching, waiting. Can’t the scent of pine mixed in with the earth was heavy on the breeze— but also something else, older? An indefinable sense that slumbered in the cracks between trees and the walls of Old Town.

Shuttering her small cottage, Lyla thereupon pressed against the door. She was short of breath; all day long her mind had been in turmoil, ideas of Samuel racing through it. The weight of their love caused her heart to ache, her mind cautioning against the dangers they ran, never letting her enjoy one moment of peace. She felt a chill up her spine A terrible thing was just about to come upon her, yet she could see it not and have no defense against it.

Running her fingers over the battered wooden furniture and every bit of thread on the faded mother-made fabrics, she strolled through her cottage. It was filled with memories of a simpler time when a secret would not weigh her down. Those days, however, were long gone. Now she was living a life never would have been imaginable by anyone.

But why did they have to turn out this way? Heartbreak vied with hope in her eyes. Wild red hair framed her face in tumbling curls, and against her six-foot window blinds the fear of worry was betrayed by shadowed green eyes. Lyla was everything human: a scattering of freckles on her light skin. She was still tied down to this world even though she felt herself drifting further away.

Lyla sighed, shut her eyes, and rested her forehead on the cold window. She knew she had to be strong for herself and Samuel. However, with each passing day, it seemed harder to do. The secrets she kept--about her nature, about her past, smothered her; and she lived in fear that one day they would come out, like a sword poised at any moment to block its target.

But she was not the only one afraid. Samuel had sacrificed everything to come to her, and the thought of what might happen to him if their affair was exposed sent shivers down her spine. For breaking the sacred laws, the pack would never forgive him for doing as he had done. And if the truth about her ever came out...

Lyla shook her head, trying to shake away the dark thoughts. What she needed to stay alert was to concentrate. Fear had no place here.

Then, a knock on the door caught her off guard, breaking her thoughts. Her heart jumped in her chest, but she forced herself to remain calm. Whomever it was could be anyone at all--a neighbor perhaps, or someone from town. But as she moved to open the door, there was something wrong about it that she wasn't able to put a finger on.

The door swung open with a creak, and standing in the shadows was a tall figure. The light from inside the cottage lit his face, and Lyla stopped breathing. It was Ryder.

Just like a shadow falling across her; dark, cold, and oppressive. The stare of his eyes, gray spears cast all the more menacingly at her. His slicked-back black hair, sparkling for just one brief moment in dim light, seemed to frame both frames with handsome together with handsome. All black. Like his soul. As always.

“Lyla,” Ryder said. His voice was low and smooth. “May I come in?”

Lyla hesitated, her fingers gripping the door handle. She did not like Ryder, had never liked him— Something about him was wrong, dangerous. But take him in? There was no turning down this formal request, and Lyla did not want to give herself away.

“Of course,” she agreed, moving back the door.

Ryder thrust himself into the cottage with a look of scorn on his face. “Nice place," he grunted when he spoke, but the way he said it was anything but. The room seemed where he looked with a vaguely contemptuous eye.

Lyla closed the door, trying to hold her voice steady. “What brings you here, Ryder?”

“I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d visit you. It’s been a while since we last spoke,” he said to her with a hint of warm humor.

“We don’t generally have much to say to one another,” Lyla replied, her unease deepening.

“That’s true,” Ryder answered, advancing a step toward her. “Perhaps we can change that tonight”. Lyla's jaw locked: It was all she could do to keep herself from bolting in terror. She held her ground, not letting him see how afraid she was. “What do you want with me, Ryder?”

His smile widened so that for a moment he looked almost amused. “You are direct. I admire that.”

Lyla kept her eyes narrowed, saying nothing.

Ryder sighed as if he were bored with this conversation. “You’re dating Samuel,” he stated flatly. And the words hit like a fist.

Lyla’s heart lurched, but she kept her face neutral. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t be silly, Lyla.” His voice turned suddenly cold. “I’ve seen the two of you together, sneaking around like a couple of kids. It is downright sad.”

Chills spread through Lyla’s veins; her mind was racing. How much did Ryder already know? How long had he been watching them?“ If you think you can use him to blackmail me—” she got out, but Ryder cut her off with a bark of laughter.

“Blackmail! Oh come, that’s too crude. I've come to offer you a deal.”

"A deal?" Lyla repeated, her voice skeptical and loaded with suspicion.

Ryder nodded, his eyes bright with mischief. "As long as you carry on doing this for me, I will not tell your little secret."

Lyla clenched her fists, every inch of her body taut with power. "And what are you asking me to do for you?"

Ryder's smile faded, replaced by a look full of pure hatred. "You will come with me, Lyla. You will give up Samuel and the Pack, and you will be mine.'

Lyla's breath caught in her chest, her mind spinning. Did he want her to bring Samuel down to leave everything together with him? It was so unappealing that she could barely think of it, but Ryder was pressing her hard.

'Never!' Lyla's voice was broken with anger.

Ryder took another step closer, locking his eyes on hers. "You will. Or I'll make sure everyone knows about you and Samuel. Believe me, neither of your lives will be easy."

Lyla felt a wave of fear wash over her, but she refused to let it show. She had to get out of this somehow, to protect Samuel and herself from Ryder's twisted designs.

However, before she had a chance to answer, Ryder was leaning closer to her, almost with a whisper in his voice. "There is one more thing, Lyla. A fact which your alpha dear to heart would die before disclosing to you.”

The beat of Lyla's heart quickened as she looked up at him, dreading her question could only be that much worse.

"What is it?" she asked in a voice that barely rose above a whisper.

The smile returned to Ryder's face as cold as before. "Ask him about Adora.