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“Then you kill her. An eye for an eye. You know how it is.”
Though Ryker says it sternly, I can tell he doesn’t want it to happen. It’s the way his eyes show the sadness his mouth doesn’t carry. I don’t know what happened with the two of them, but Lily hinted at something which definitely makes this all the more intriguing. I know Ryker has always been willing to do whatever it takes, but this might be a step too far.
Ryker’s gaze remains fixed on the table, his hands clenched into fists. “It won’t come to that, not if we plan meticulously. Alistair’s weakness lies in his arrogance, and we’ll exploit it.”
I exchange a knowing glance with Maddox, whose fingers drum a nervous rhythm against the side of his glass. “Ryker’s right,” he says, his voice a mix of determination and doubt. “But we can’t ignore the possibility that things might not go as smoothly as we hope.”
Ryker finally looks up, meeting each of our eyes in turn. “I know the risks. We all do. But this is our only shot, and like I keep saying, we can’t afford to back down now.”
Alistair’s name hangs in the air like a curse, a reminder of the darkness that has loomed over us for far too long. If we want to rule this place, and I know Ryker needs that as badly as he needs to breathe, then this is what we need to do. We need to make his dreams come true. As his pack, that’s our mission in life, and even I have to admit that life will be better with us on top.
With the conversation concluded and nothing more to discuss, I quietly extricate myself from the huddle of determined faces, leaving Maddox and Ryker to get another drink. I don’t want us to forget that we have a real human being locked away in that room. We have to care for her as best we can – not only to prevent an inevitable blood bath.
My thoughts wander as I scan the kitchen for the ingredients I need to make what might not be a lavish feast, but that I hope will keep Lily as content as she can possibly be. I need to show her some humanity in the chaos that surrounds us. We aren’t all monsters. It’s just this situation.
As I chop vegetables, my mind drifts back to the first moment I saw Lily getting out of that cab. I can’t imagine how terrifying this must be for her – snatched away from her life, thrust into a world of uncertainty and danger all because of her father. It must be just terrible. I feel that.
My heart aches as I remember the tearful pleas she’d made when we’d first confronted her. I’d like to believe that we’re doing the right thing, that there’s a purpose to all of this. But even purpose can’t erase the guilt that gnaws at me when I see her sitting there, a stark reminder of the lives we’re affecting. Especially because I was immediately struck by her shock of gorgeous red hair, and piercing blue eyes that filled out with fear very quickly. I couldn’t take my eyes off her lips, which I just know is oh so wrong considering she’s our hostage. This is all such a mess.
Finally, the meal comes together – a simple pasta dish with a make shift tomato sauce. I plate it and carry it over to her room, my steps hesitant. I don’t know how she will take this.
“I made you something to eat,” I say, as I lightly tap on the door, but she doesn’t immediately respond. “Lily, can I come in? I made you a plate of food.”
Again I get nothing, so I decide to take a brave step inside. Lily’s eyes lift up, warily meeting my own. The sadness ricocheting through her gaze hits me hard.
“I got you food,” I say once more, sounding a little silly now. God what is it about her that makes me feel like a total idiot? “In case you’re hungry.” I don’t know how she’s feeling.
“I’m starving,” she shoots back with laser like anger hitting me with each and every word. “I didn’t get anything to eat at the mall. I was planning on going to dinner later on.”
“Oh… well, I’m sorry about that,” I say quietly. “I hope this helps. It isn’t much, but…”
Lily takes the plate, her fingers brushing mine for the briefest moment. “Thank you,” she murmurs, a thread of vulnerability in her voice. “I really am starving.”
I sit across from her, watching her take a tentative bite. She chews slowly, her gaze never leaving the plate. The silence between us stretches, heavy and uncomfortable.
But then, something changes. Her eyes widen slightly, and she takes another bite, this time with more eagerness. It’s as if she has crossed an invisible threshold, a barrier that was preventing her from fully indulging in the simple pleasure of a meal. And once that barrier is breached, there’s no holding back. She knows now that I’m not trying to poison her, which is great. I hope this bridges the gap between us just a little bit.
As I watch, Lily’s initial caution seems to dissolve entirely. The fork moves almost mechanically from plate to mouth, and she eats with a fervor that speaks volumes. The food disappears rapidly, her focus solely on the nourishment in front of her. The sounds of her chewing and the clinking of utensils against the plate seem to echo through the room, a symphony of hunger and relief. She really must have been starving…
The tension in the room has given way to a sense of ease, a palpable shift in the atmosphere that makes conversation feel like a welcome respite. Lily’s gaze is no longer guarded; instead, her eyes hold a certain curiosity, as if she’s interested in me now. As I take her empty plate, I decide to take the opportunity to see if she wants to have a conversation with me, hoping to learn more about the person behind the apprehensive façade. Who knows, I might even be able to distract her from everything that’s going on around her.
“Do you know who you look like?” I click my fingers as I try to recall her name.
“Are you going to say Katie Knowls?” she asks a little bemused. “Because I get that a lot. Especially since that sci fi series she’s in got big.”
“Right, right, that’s it.” I laugh a little. “That’s a compliment though. It’s based on a book…”
“I know, I love it. It’s always been one of my favorites. The world building and the intricate politics in it are just fascinating to me and I love the character writing.”
We continue to talk, our conversation flowing effortlessly from one book to another as we share a love for something together. It’s a connection I wasn’t expecting. But soon, we edge on to deeper topics, led by Lily, who seems to have a lot on her mind. I guess being kidnapped will do that to a person. It’s an unexpected time to take stock of life.
Lily’s expression grows more contemplative, and she seems to hesitate before finally speaking. “You know, growing up, I always felt like a doormat for my father. He had this way of making me feel like my opinions didn’t matter, like I was always in the wrong.”
“Really? I didn’t know…” Mind you, I’ve never known much about the Crowe family. This is definitely something more that Ryker has researched.
“It’s not easy being the daughter of an alpha, you know?”
I listen attentively, my heart going out to her as she shares a piece of her past. “I’m sorry you had to go through that. That must be really hard.”
