The Scorned Luna Lives Again!

Chapter Sixteen

Ashlyn sat quietly in the passenger seat. Her eyes cast down as she curled up in the luxury sports car. It was oddly spacious given its sleek design and the seats were incredibly comfortable as she began to drift in and out. When she passed out from exhaustion Ryker pulled up to his pack house, he carried her gently to his room and set her on the bed. She was thin and looked so fragile.

"Jasper." He hissed through clenched teeth.

Materializing from the shadows stood a tall, lean man with steely blue eyes and short, shaggy black hair that framed his sharp face. He was pale as the moon and said nothing as he looked at the sleeping woman on this alpha's bed. Ryker covered her more instinctively before turning to Jasper.

"I want every detail about this woman, now."

Jasper nodded and slipped back into the shadows. Ryker watched to ensure they were alone before tending to Ashlyn, his hands instinctively caressing her head as she slept peacefully on his bed.

When she woke up hours later she found herself trapped in Ryker's strong embrace, his breath even as he slept beside her. As she tried to stir he held on more tightly, his heat seeping her very soul as he held onto her making it harder and harder to breath. She let out a soft whimper and he immediately released her, letting her breathe more easily.

Sitting up she knew this wasn't her home. Every inch of the massive room was marked with Ryker's scent which made her feel more at ease. The way they lived was vastly different. His room was more like a studio apartment. One one side there was a living area with a full couch, a love seat and even a leather recliner all circled around a coffee table facing a state of the line entertainment center. On the other side there was a fully functioning kitchenette perfect for cooking simple meals, it even had a fridge that was full of food and a glass stove top oven. In front of the bed was a door that led to a full en suite bathroom and beside it was a walk-in closet.

She got up from the bed, walking around his room carefully. His room was minimalistic in design but everything was the highest quality, a testament to his wealth. When she passed a shadow she felt the hair on the back of her neck prickle, she quickly turned around to see Jasper watching her. His eyes were wary but held no malice.

"H..Hello." she whispered softly.

Jasper simply modded before walking over to Ryker who was cuddling the pillow her head rested on. Without any warning he got Ryker awake who woke up with a roar though Jasper was unfazed.

Ryker clicked his tongue at Jasper, clearly annoyed but his mood softened when he saw Ashlyn. "Good morning, did you sleep well?" He asked gently.

Ashlyn nodded softly. "Y..yes. thank you." She looked down ashamed. He still helped her even if she had failed the task he entrusted with her.

He smiled warmly and stood from the bed, gliding to her so quietly she had no idea he was there until his pheromones were filling her head.

"Don't worry precious girl...this wasn't your folly." He pulled out a file with pictures of Lily flaunting the necklace in a ritzy club. She was seducing some unmated alphas, the necklace draped around her neck and nestled on her exposed cleavage.

Ashlyn was trembling with rage. Her fists clenched tight. "How brazen." She hissed as she looked through the photos.

Lily was enchanting people, passing off Ashlyn's hard work as her own. Just like in the past but this time she wasn't hiding behind any good intentions, this time she was just being blatantly selfish.

Tears of rage filled Ashlyn's eyes, she had let her guard down and Lily slithered in, ready to mess with her life again. Even unprovoked Lily couldn't just leave Ashlyn be.

Ryker looked at her teary eyes, he expected tears but burning in those lovely ruby eyes was a desire for justice and retribution. He smiled at the determination in her eyes and handed her a tablet with a video.

"I believe this will cheer you up." He said proudly as he got ready for the day, leaving her to watch it.

As he showered and dressed he was full of thoughts on how she might react to it but he didn't expect to see her laughing hysterically as he stepped back into the room.

She looked up at him with a wide smile, her eyes shimmering with joy. "Thank you" she said, her voice trembling with emotions.

It was a video taken from the club by a bystander. Ryker had recognized the necklace and confronted Lily. She tried desperately to lie it was her work but he had proof so she switched it to saying Ashlyn had let her borrow it but no one was buying it. He ripped it from her neck, calling her a few choice words before destroying the necklace himself before walking away. It also showed how everyone had turned on Lily for her audacity, no one wanted to get on Ryker's bad side. She was chastised and humiliated until everyone left, leaving Lily feeling alone and defeated.

Should it have excited her so much? Probably not. Normally it wouldn't have made her happy to see anyone suffering but after years of Lily taking everything from her and the events of Ashlyn's past life she couldn't help relishing the fact Lily faced some actual consequence.

Ryker smiled warmly as she watched it over and over again. He didn't need Jasper's Intel to know she had been mistreated and wronged, it just helped to know how deep it went though he'd only truly understand it from Ashlyn herself but he didn't want to pry just yet.

When things had calmed down more Ryker turned to her, he had a very business-like demeanor as he addressed her. "Miss. Rose. It seems we need to discuss the necklace."

Ashlyn felt a lump in her throat, the pain of her carelessness still fresh but she faced him with her head held high. "It was a mistake on my part, I will reimburse you for lost materials." It would be a heavy cut from her savings but it was only right, she'd find a way to recover the loss.

Ryker smirked at her, "no need, your brother will be paying me for the lost materials. What we need to discuss is you designing a new one."

Ashlyn was shocked. He was often not a forgiving man. If things weren't done correctly the first time he would often lose his temper and lash out. He'd been known to cancel contracts for trivial spelling errors or even being a minute late. She was shocked he was handling such a blunder so calmly.

"But...I failed to protect it... It's my responsibility." She said softly. She didn't want Jacob to pay for her negligence, especially since he'd only use it against her somehow.

Ryker nodded softly. "So you want to take responsibility?" When she nodded his smile grew, his voice becoming a low deep purr. "How about you help me with something, I have a charity event to attend and I need a date. Someone beautiful and charming. Think you can play the part Miss. Rose?"

She blushed a bit, feeling caught off guard for a moment. "I..I don't know..." She was still getting used to this new life.

Her past insecurities still lingered, festering deep in her subconscious. She couldn't afford to make a mistake, she could easily lose everything she had just barely managed to gain so far. She was afraid but when Ashlyn looked into his shimmering silver eyes she couldn't help but readily agree to his request.

He smiled genuinely as he offered her his hand, "come my dear. Let's get you ready." He said softly, kissing her hand gently in a way that made her face light up and her body tingle with warmth.

Could she really handle a night with him? The equal parts devilishly handsome and ruthless Alpha male that would one day fall into infamy as the most blood thirsty and cruel man in all werewolf history.

She gripped his hand tightly, determination burning in her eyes. Something about him made her want to protect him from a future filled with bloodshed and misery. If she could somehow change the dark fate he didn't know anything about, she most definitely would.