Elena POV
“Why does Ryder hate me so much?” I asked Elise. “His cruelty is unbearable.”
“Elena, I’m afraid he truly believes you’re his enemy and he wants revenge on you. Oh, he can’t do that. He is your mate.” Elise said, her tone tinged with sadness.
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. “It’s ridiculous,” I said, my voice trembling. “He even suggested my mom was involved in the battle against the mad Lucian Hale. That’s impossible! My mom was the most peaceful, gentle person in the world. She wouldn’t hurt anyone, not even if they were truly evil. There has to be some mistake or some twisted version of the truth he’s clinging to.”
“Maybe Ryder knows something we don’t,” Elise suggested tentatively. “There could be some hidden truth in his words, something we haven’t u
