A TAINTED MATE

Chapter 5:

Ria's POV

"What is going on here Ryder? What are you doing by snatching away from my home?" I threw questions at Ryder but he turned a deaf ear to all it. I remained chained in the car while the driver pulled into the space of Ryder's pack house.

My brows were furrowed in confusion as Ryder ordered to guards to take me out.

I was dragged out of the car and into the pack house, Ryder's grip on my wrist like a vice. I stumbled along beside him, my mind reeling with questions. Why had he taken me? What did he want from me?

My heart suddenly began to race in fear as I imagined the worse. Was he doing this now as payback to my father for the confrontation between the both of them? Of course not! Ryder was not going to do something as despicable as that, he loved me. At least I thought he did.

My mind suddenly drifted to a much more worse scenario, what if Ryder was going to forcefully abort the baby? He seemed like he hated the idea of me bearing a child for him. What if his plans were to take out the baby? I feared at just the imagination.

Ryder tossed me into a small room. I slumped to the floor in defeat as I watched Ryder slam the door shut behind me. I heard the sound of a lock clicking into place, and I knew I was trapped.

I groaned in agony, a small lantern was besides me as my only source of light. There was nonber which meant I was going to pass the night on the hard tiled floor.

As the hours ticked by, I could not ignore the feeling that Ryder had kept me in as a captive for reasons unknown to me, it felt like he was waiting for me to make a move. But I had no intention of trying to escape. I was tired, and I just wanted to rest.

As the night slowly faded away, my thoughts turned remained on Ryder. Why had he rejected me so utterly? And why had he taken me now? I could not shake the feeling that there was more to it than met the eye. Something big was at there waiting for me and I felt like it would reveal itself tomorrow.

I finally decided to shut my eyes close and allow the sleep take over me.

The next morning, I was woken up by a loud thud noise. I snapped my eyes open in alert and the rays coming from the sun had almost blinded my eyes. I rolled to the other side of the floor and all of a sudden, Ryder was standing by my door, his expression unreadable.

"Good morning Ria. I am sorry you had to sleep in here for the night. From now on, you will be staying with me," he said, his eyes flashing with a fierce intensity.

My heart skipped a beat as I processed his words. Did this mean he was accepting me as his mate again? I felt a surge of hope, and a smile spread across my face. Had he finally accepted me? I tried my best to hold back the grin that threatened to spread across my lips. I suddenly felt relieved again.

Ryder's expression softened, and for a moment, I thought I saw a glimmer of warmth in his eyes. But it was quickly extinguished, replaced by his usual cold, hard stare.

He cleared his throat and helped me up my feet. I missed the touch of his hands on me. "I have assigned a maid to you. She will help you clean up, show you to your room and help you feel comfortable too." Ryder said.

"Ryder--" I wanted to apologize for the way my father had barged into his pack house that day. I totally understood if he chose to hold a grudge for that.

"That is all Ria." He turned around and walked out of the small space, leaving me to rejoice.

As the day wore on, I found myself feeling more and more at ease. Ryder was distant, but at least he was not cruel. And I could not help but feel a sense of belonging, of being where I was meant to be.

But that night, as I was drifting off to sleep, Ryder's room was only a few walks away from mine. I walked past his room and I stumbled upon his conversation with his beta. They were talking in hushed tones, but I caught the gist of their conversation.

"...the Moon goddess's prophecy," his beta said, his voice low and serious. "You can not ignore it, no matter how much you try to Ryder. The fate of the pack is at stake."

The Moon goddess's prophecy? What was his beta talking about? I suddenly felt interested in their conversation so I leaned closer to the door to listen clearly.

Ryder's response suddenly sent a chill down my spine.

"I know," he growled. "That is why I have taken Ria. Apparently, she is carrying the key to our survival. And I will do whatever it takes to protect her, the baby.. and the pack."

My heart sank, my mind reeling with the implications. Ryder was not keeping me because he loved me or accepted me as his mate. Neither was it because he missed or because he was starting to care for our unborn child. Rather, He was keeping me because of a prophecy, because I was carrying a child who might be the key to the pack's survival.

I felt a wave of emotions wash over me - anger, hurt, betrayal. I ran back to my room and as i lay on my bed, staring up at the ceiling, I could not help but wonder... what did it mean for me? For my child? And for my future with Ryder?

How was i supposed to react to this sudden news?