MATED TO THE SECRET ALPHA
Chapter 185: The Threat

Chapter 185: The Threat

Instead, she leaned in, brushing her lips against his cheek, soft but filled with quiet understanding. "But not this time," she whispered. "This time, we will fight together."

Ryder’s eyes shook, like he couldn’t believe she said that. Then, his eyes closed for a brief moment, his breath shaking with the weight of her words.

Just then, a knock echoed on the door of the outer chamber, followed by the sound of the heavy door creaking open.

"Luna, the food is ready," an omega called out.

"Set it down and leave," she commanded, though her voice faltered slightly, not coming out quite as intended.

"Yes, Luna," the omega replied, their voice fading as footsteps retreated, and the door clicked shut.

Once she was certain they were gone, Reana pushed Ryder off her and sat up. Ryder, ever the clingy nuisance, refused to let go, his head resting against her shoulder, his messy red hair tumbling over his face like an unkempt halo.

"Have you forgiven me, My Luna?"

"For... which of the crimes?... Lying, freezing my room, or trying to mark me without consent?" Reana shot back, her tone sharp despite the softness in her touch as she brushed his hair from his face.

Ryder gave a sheepish smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "I wasn’t trying to mark you. I wouldn’t do that unless you want me to... maybe for hiding who I am, and for almost freezing your room?"

She rolled her eyes, "You’re lucky I haven’t set you on fire yet. Or maybe, the dungeon will serve you best. A slight cold and darkness might really do your brain some good."

He chuckled, leaning into her touch as she tucked his hair behind his ears. "You’ve forgiven me many times, why not this time?"

Reana’s gaze lingered on his face, her fingers still resting in his hair. Her voice lowered, calm but cutting. "Because this time... you deceived and played me. You made me look stupid."

Ryder’s smile faltered. "Reana—"

She pressed a finger to his lips. "No. Let me finish." Her eyes shimmered with emotion – anger, betrayal, and something softer buried beneath. "We sat together on this bed and talked about Alpha Snow. You planned with me, you felt my nervousness and fears in crossing that man... you know how worried I am about the delegation I sent to your territory. I’ve got no news of them, nothing to put their panicking families at ease..."

She hesitated, then whispered, "Nothing better happen to those people, or I swear, Ryder... Snow... I’ll lock you up in the dungeon all through the winter season and force you to watch how I mate and fuck another man." Her gaze narrowed as she added, "I swear on it."

Ryder’s mouth opened and closed but no words came out. The weight of her threat struck him deeper than any blade ever could.

He knew she would. She doesn’t swear unless she meant it.

The silence between them stretched, thick with tension and the echo of her promise. Reana’s hand lingered in his hair a moment longer before she pulled it away and rose from the bed.

"I’m starving. In case you’re too, join me. Otherwise, start reaching out to your people. Make sure none of mine are hurt – not even Karl."

Then, she paused, and leaned into his face. "I’ll wait until we return from the Alpha Council. If by then, there’s no news about them, I’ll assume the worst, and then..." she didn’t finish, before she strode out of the room.

Ryder blinked. What did she say? His brain had short-circuited. She was gone before he could say a word. The slam of the door echoed like a gavel sealing his sentence.

Ryder sat frozen, staring at the empty space she left behind, her scent still hanging in the air, a blend of burning cinnamon and clean frost. He exhaled sharply and shoved his hand through his hair, still tingling from her touch.

"She’s serious," he muttered.

Then louder, to himself, "She’ll actually do it."

Ryder chuckled darkly. He knew he wouldn’t let her mate with anyone. He’d kill whoever she picked, or destroy them from inside out, still he didn’t sleep on her threat. No, he couldn’t afford for her heart to reject and hate it. That was his worst nightmare.

He felt a chill rub down his spine. Ryder didn’t feel cold or feel hot like others did, but right now, goosebumps were lining his skin like they belonged there.

He didn’t even know what chilled him more. Her threat, or the hollow ache of knowing he deserved it.

He blinked again and shook his head. Ryder had no time to sulk.

Straightening his spine, he slammed open the mindlink, projecting his voice with the authority of an Alpha to every available Dark Snow member hiding in the Black Moon Pack.

Before now, he didn’t care what happened to those delegations she sent to his territory. He’d ordered that the prices be lowered to 50%, yes. He’d ordered that the Black Moon Pack be erased from their blacklisted packs, yes.

But after that, Ryder didn’t care anymore. It wasn’t his duty to make sure they arrived safely to their pack, but he’d made sure that none of his pack members would touch them, but there was no telling if the delegation wouldn’t be attacked on their way back, by others.

...

Far away in a wasteland...

The view stretched endlessly, a desolate expanse where the snow howled like a thousand lost souls, unlike the ’gentleness caress’ of the snow back in the Black Moon Pack,

The wind whipped furiously, carrying shards of ice and grit that stung the skin and cut through the layers of clothing, leaving a biting cold that seeped deep into the bones.

The terrain was jagged and uneven, filled with cracked earth and jagged rocks that were covered in snow.

Mountains loomed in the distance, their towering peaks shrouded in swirling mists of snow and mist, their silhouettes sharp and foreboding against the pale, overcast sky.

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