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97 Ryker Rylan
97 Ryker Rylan
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CHAPTER 97
~Tempest’s POV~
From my window, I watched as Koda spoke to my sister in the courtyard with a serious expression on. They exchanged quiet words, and a pang of jealousy twisted in my chest.
The way he looked at her–it was the kind of look I had longed for. But it had never been for me. It never would be.
I saw her pull away most times and it broke his heart.
The words rang in my head. His heart.
What of mine? Did he ever bother how it affected me and broke my heart?
Tsk. I shook my head, ignoring Summer’s whining in my head.
Turning away from the window, I moved back into the room, my hands trembling as I gathered my things. It
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was time to go. Time to leave this house, this hurt, and the feelings I didn’t want to carry with me. The city would give me the space I needed.
I brought out some clothes and headed back into the closet for my box. As I reached for my bag, the door creaked open. My mother, Luna Star, entered, her eyes soft and warm as she took in the sight of my clothes and bag.
“Tempest,” she began, stepping into the room. “Were you planning on leaving without saying goodbye?”
I sighed, straightening up. “I need space, Mother. I need to get out of here…away from him, away from everything.”
She came closer, reaching out to take my hand, her fingers soft yet firm. “Running away from pain doesn’t make it disappear, sweetheart. It only buries it deeper.”
I swallowed, her words stinging because I knew they were true. “I just need time to clear my head,” I whispered, barely able to meet her gaze.
My mother gently guided me to sit on the edge of my bed, while flashing me her trade mark smile that eased my worries.
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“I understand, Tempest. And I won’t stop you if this is truly what you need. But remember…healing isn’t a journey you can take alone. Don’t shut us out. And certainly don’t shut out those who care for you.”
I felt my heart clench, but I gave her a small, wavering smile. “Thank you, Mother. I’ll… I’ll try.”
She reached up, brushing a stray hair behind my ear
with tenderness.
“Take all the time you need. But remember–your family is here for you. Always. Ignore what others have to say about us. The warring and subjugating time is over. You are a true daughter of the Ivory Crescent Pack. You are my Tempest and you are my strength.”
Tears spilt out from my eyes. No matter how sad I felt, listening to my mother speak was the balm that soothed my soul.
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With one last hug, she released me, and I finished packing my luggage. Once done, I took my handbag in one hand, pulling on my box with the other as we stepped out of the room together.
“Tempest.” I turned to her call. “I’ll have someone drop you off at the airport or drive you to the city if you
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wish.”
I smiled back at her. “A drive would be nice, Mum. I won’t go too far. I’ll leave not so far from Snow, so you can be rest assured.”
“Thank you.”
Before I could take my next step, she muttered
something with a light touch of her index finger to her
head.
Within two minutes, one of the pack warriors raced in my direction and my jaw suddenly fell open.
“My lady,” he greeted, bowing before my mother and then he looked at me, dipping his head. “Luna Star, you
called for me?”
“Yes, Ryker,” my mother responded, holding her hands in front of her and that was when I took note of his name–the warrior with whom I had shared my body on two different occasions. “You will take my daughter to the city and see to it that she arrives at her apartment safely before returning.”
My heartbeat sped up as I stared at him, watching his muscles through his all–black outfit to the point my lins parted in a drool–like state that I totally blocked
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out everyone.
It wasn’t until my mother’s voice rang in my head, shocking me back to reality that I realised what was going on.
“Tempest?”
“Uh, sorry, Mother.” I turned to face her. “You were saying?”
She chuckled and gave me the knowing eye. Judging my mother, I could say she knew I was checking him
out.
“I am saying he is ready to go, but to take you home and not to the stars.” I smiled back at her, gauging the meaning behind those words. 3
“Sure. I’ll try not to take my chances, Mum.” I moved in, hugged and kissed her before pulling away. Ryker took my box and together we headed for the Range Rover Jeep parked outside.
The ride was quiet, the trees blending into blurred shadows as we drove down the winding roads, leaving Ivory Crescent territory behind.
I stole glances at Ryker in the rearview mirror, his eyes
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firmly fixed on the road, his jaw set in that unreadable way that was beginning to drive me mad.
He was silent, stoic, but there was something about his presence that made the silence anything but peaceful. I cleared my throat, deciding I wasn’t going to spend the entire ride to the city in awkward, tense quiet.
“So… Ryker, huh?” I asked, leaning forward just enough to catch his reaction in the mirror.
He hesitated abit before answering and I coudl guess why. I never bothered
