Chapter 56: Chapter 56

CHAPTER FIFTY SIX

ROXANNE

Everything came back to me in a rush. The searing pain of the burner against my skin, the piercing agony of the arrows. Tears slipped out of my eyes as the memories flooded my mind. The voices, so cruel and taunting, belonged to people I didn't know. I was attacked for reasons that were still a mystery to me.

Gentle fingers caressed my face, brushing my tears away. My eyelids fluttered open slowly, and I found myself gazing up at Ryker. Worry etched deep lines in his handsome face.

"Hi," he whispered, his voice soft and soothing.

"Hi," I croaked back, my throat dry and scratchy.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, his eyes never leaving mine.

I tried to sit up, but my body felt heavy and weak. "Confused," I admitted. "I remembered something... something awful.”

Ryker nodded, his hand gently stroking my cheek. "Kara told me you fainted during archery practice. Do you want to talk about what you remembered?”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. "I was in the woods, running. Someone was chasing me. They shot me with arrows, and I fell. The pain... It was so real. And then I heard them laughing, saying they had always dreamed of doing that to me.”

Ryker's eyes darkened with anger, but his touch remained gentle. "Do you know who they were?”

I shook my head. "No. Their faces were hidden, and their voices were unfamiliar. But... the hair. The white hair. I remember it falling out of one of their helmets and brushing against my face.”

Ryker's jaw tightened. "White hair," he repeated, his voice low and dangerous.

"Yes," I whispered. "It was so vivid in my memory. Kara has white hair, but it can't be her. She's my friend.”

Ryker's expression shifted to one of shock. "Kara is your friend?" he asked, clearly puzzled.

"Yes," I said, a bit surprised by his reaction. "She’s always been there for me. I’ve been asking about her, but no one would tell me anything.”

Ryker frowned. "I've never seen you two together, though you were always asking about her.”

I sighed. “I got your letter that day Ryker and I was excited because I didn’t see you for days after the argument. Then I went to the hall of shadows and they had your voice and my voice. I thought it was you until they spoke in my voice.”

I touched his arm softly when he didn’t utter a word. “I don't blame you for it, okay? All you were doing was protect me.”

Ryker's expression softened slightly. "We'll figure it out, Roxanne. I promise. But right now, you need to rest.”

I nodded, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over me. "Okay," I whispered, closing my eyes.

Ryker kissed my forehead, his lips warm and comforting. "I'll be right here," he murmured. "You're safe."

I drifted back into a fitful sleep, knowing he was by my side.

***

When I opened my eyes, I slowly turned around, hoping to see Ryker. The last thing I remembered was his comforting presence beside me, his protective arms around me. But now, his side of the bed was empty and neat, like he hadn't slept in it at all.

My head felt foggy, exhaustion pulling at every muscle. I dragged myself out of bed and peeked out the window. Dusk was settling in, casting long shadows across the landscape. A sigh escaped my lips as I pulled myself away and stumbled into the bathroom.

Stripping off my clothes, I let the water run until steam filled the room. I added some essential oils, bath gel, and Epsom salt before sinking into the tub. Closing my eyes, I let the water soothe my nerves. But the calm couldn’t erase the vivid memories of earlier—arrows slicing through the air, the attack that had left me scarred both physically and mentally.

After bathing, I slipped on a robe I found hanging in the bathroom. It must have belonged to Ryker; it was three times my size. I had no clothes in his room, so it would have to do.

Ryker had instructed me not to leave the room, but his absence gnawed at me. Where could he be? My curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to take a stroll.

As I wandered down the passage, I noticed a door I hadn't seen before. It looked neglected, the paint peeling away. I turned the knob and found a flight of stairs leading down.

The walls were lined with pictures of past Alphas. "Ryker's ancestors," I thought, smiling at the stern faces in the portraits. As I moved further down, I noticed another passage. At the end was a door, slightly ajar, with a faint light spilling out.

Ignoring the eerie feeling seeping into my bones, I tiptoed toward the door. Inside, I saw a woman in a long, silky nightdress sitting on a stool, brushing the hair of a young girl.

"Your hair is very pretty," the woman said softly.

The girl beamed, admiring herself in the mirror. I stepped back, afraid of being caught spying, but the girl didn’t seem to notice me.

"Mom, do you think I'll do great at the dance today?" The girl asked, her voice tinged with sadness.

"Yes, sweetie. You've been practicing hard, and I'm sure you'll be the prettiest girl there," the mother assured, tying a ribbon in her daughter’s hair.

The girl turned and hugged her mother. "Mom, am I your favourite child? Do you love me like you love my brother?"

The question took me aback. The girl's eyes held a contradiction that puzzled me.

Before the mother could respond, a small boy brushed past me, oblivious to my presence, and rushed into the room. He seemed a little younger than the girl.

"Mom," he said, grabbing her arm. "Come and watch me read my speech.”

"But Mom is going to watch my dance," the girl said tearfully. "Right, Mommy?"

The mother sighed and stood up, kissing the girl on the forehead. "I'm sorry, but I have to be there for your brother. I'll ask the maid to go with you, okay? I promise I'll make it up to you."

Tears streamed down the girl's face. "But you always watch him read his speech. You’ve never come to watch me dance.”

"I'm sorry, I will make it up to you," the mother said, leaving with the boy without sparing me a glance.

“He takes my place all the time," the girl sobbed, tearing the ribbon from her hair. She crawled into a corner, her cries echoing in the room.

My heart ached for her. What kind of mother would do that? I was about to step in to comfort the girl when a rough hand grabbed my arm.

I screamed in fear and turned to see Selina glaring at me. "What are you doing in my room?" she demanded.

"I wanted to comfort the child whose mother had left her," I stammered.

Selina looked at me like I was insane. "What child? Have you finally lost it?”

“The little girl whose mother just left,” I said.

“ There's no one here, now please get out."

I turned back, and the room was empty. No girl, no ribbon. Just silence and shadows.

***

I was shaken as I left the eerie room. I didn't walk; I ran, my footsteps echoing through the empty passageway. My mind raced, struggling to understand the vivid scene I had witnessed with the empty room Selina had shown me.

I couldn't have imagined something like that, could I?

The experience terrified me. I needed the comfort of something familiar, something real.

As I reached Ryker’s bedroom, the scent of coffee, fresh bread, and other enticing foods filled the air. But there was another scent too—a minty aroma that soothed my soul.

My eyes lit up at the sight of the food tray laden with a feast. A smile tugged at my lips as I sensed Ryker's presence. Turning around, I saw him leaning against the bathroom door, water dripping from his hair down to his bare, chiselled chest, with a towel wrapped around his waist. Clearly, he had just finished his bath.

"Hey," he greeted, breaking my trance. I swallowed hard, tearing my eyes away from his well-built body. The memories of our night together flooded back, reminding me of just how large Ryker was. His towering frame made me feel almost childlike by comparison.

"Hi," I managed to reply, then added, "Sorry, I had to borrow your robe. My clothes... they were dirty, and I didn't have any others here.”

Ryker's lips curved into a slight smile. "It's fine," he said, striding to his closet. "I'll be right back.”

My heart pounded as he passed by me, the proximity making my pulse race. I sat on the bed, sighing deeply. Why did my heart beat so loudly whenever I thought of Ryker?

He stepped out of the closet, now dressed in casual clothes. "I got you food, so eat and make yourself comfortable. You can sleep here tonight since I have a night duty.”

I grinned and said, "Thank you." I glanced at the tray and added, "But I can't eat all this by myself.”

Ryker chuckled softly. "Just eat what you can. I'll take care of the rest.”

I swallowed hard when Ryker touched my face. His red eyes bore into my hazel ones as his thumb brushed across my lips. I shifted uncomfortably and whispered, "About that night, thank you. I was almost scared you'd be mad at me.”

Ryker's tone was teasing yet firm. "What night?”

My cheeks flushed a deep red, and I tried to move away from him. But he grabbed me by the waist, holding me in place. "Stop running from me and tell me what happened that night.”

I was sure I was going to pass out from embarrassment. My breaths quickened, and even without touching me further, Ryker made everything feel so intense. I swallowed and opened my mouth to speak, but he chimed in, "It's mutual understanding.”

He didn't pull away. Instead, he closed the space between us. A sigh escaped my lips as his lips brushed my neck, then my jaw, my cheek, and finally, hovered over my lips. Mine parted almost instinctively, inviting him in, but he didn't kiss me. Instead, he pulled back and whispered, "Goodnight, Roxanne.”

My heart pounded in my chest as he left the room. His presence lingered, a delicious mix of frustration and desire. The feel of his touch and the words he didn't say hung in the air, leaving me breathless and longing for more.