Chapter One

Do you ever have those thoughts that crawl their way from the back of your mind causing you to doubt yourself? Well, I sure do. I block them out by distracting myself with a good read or going out for a hunt. It may not be the healthiest way, but it's easier for me to do so than face the depths of my mind head-on. Maybe one day I'll have the courage to look within.

As the sun shines in through the crack in the cream curtains, it lands on Anastasia's face. She stirs and blinks her eyes, waking from her sleep. After she sits up to get out of her queen-sized bed dreading another early morning, she trudges to her small en suite on the left side of her room to start her morning routine. Her en suite wasn't grand, but enough to get the job done. The walls were a dark peach color with pictures adorning the wall. Small candles decorate the counter with a single sink bringing life to its simplicity. The shower had white subway tiles covering the perimeter from top to bottom with a splash of color from the gold shower curtain. Once she adjusted the water to her liking, she stripped off her clothes and stepped in allowing the water to glide down her face.

Once finished, Anastasia steps out with a pep in her step fully rejuvenated allowing the air to dry her skin. Walking out of her room and into the hall she starts towards the kitchen to have breakfast and settles on a bowl of cereal. After placing the bowl in the sink, she walks back to her room to pick out clothes from her closet on the right side of her room. Picking out high waisted black shorts she pairs them with a dark green v-neck crop top, and black combat boots. Teasing her hair to give it a kinky wave, feeling satisfied to start the day. She grabs her sketchbook and pencil off her dark stained desk near the bed and heads to her back door in the kitchen that leads into the small backyard.

She walks towards the woods, going a mile in, to her secret place to clear her mind to give in to nature's creativity. As she comes to a boulder near a river in the small clearing, sitting down, she leans back, feeling the cold grittiness it offers. While staring at the sky and trees for thirty minutes she spots something from the corner of her eye. Through the trees, she spots a deer causing her to stealthily open her sketchbook, before the opportunity for a drawing slips from her fingers. It scrapes its antlers against a tree, putting deep grooves into the bark, marking its scent and territory. After watching it for another forty-five minutes she realizes she was able to get a decent sketch, only missing the fine details.

Its ears perked up, suddenly hearing something further in the forest causing it to speed off, leaving her feeling disappointed. She pouts after not being able to get the details but pushes the thought aside to focus on something else. As she stands up, about to find new inspiration, a piercing growl comes from the opposite side of the river. Shocked by the sound her body tenses in fear, making it difficult for her to lay her eyes upon the beast. Horrified, she remains frozen while battling her instincts to face it head-on or run to safety.

She cautiously waits for the unknown beast to turn and walk away, but in turn, it releases another fierce growl. Not sure whether to move, she ponders on a plan to escape. Anastasia noticed it move from the corner of her eye sending her brain into a panic. As she turns her head to the right they lock eyes which causes her heart to race, but in an odd way, that she can't quite understand. Which causes a confused expression to make its way onto her face.

Ryker's POV:

Ryker woke up to a dreadful feeling in his gut and with the constant threats towards him and his pack, he felt more on edge. Climbing out of his king-sized bed he stomps his way towards his en suite and strips down to walk into his large walk-in shower. Glass walls surround it with tan tiles covering every inch and square shower heads spread evenly across the walls and ceiling. After standing there for thirty minutes letting the water cascade down his back, calming his mind, and steps out once the water shuts off.

Ryker strides over to his walk-in closet and pulls on dark-washed jeans, a gray v-neck t-shirt, and pairs it with black vans. Leaving his room with tension building back into his muscles, he decides to skip breakfast to go for a run. Stripping off his clothes near a tree, across the large yard, he morphs into his wolf form. After shaking his fur he stretches his legs, crouching down to build tension in his hindquarters, once released he dashes off at top speed. Pushing his legs to their limit, faster than ever before, causing the wind to blow his fur in every direction. Ryker hears the snap of a branch that catches him off guard, digging his claws into the ground, he comes to a halt.

Ryker lifts his nose to the sky as he smells traces of a deer and ponders on releasing some stress. After making a decision, he follows the scent while listening for any sudden sounds. He hears scraping against a tree, crouching down on his belly he begins to crawl in the direction of the sound. Waiting for the right moment to pounce, a new scent creeps into his nostrils. Ryker realizes the meaning of the scent as regret washes over him. He stands up giving his position away, causing the animal's head to snap up, and it darts off in fear.

Ryker becomes enraged and directs a growl towards the human across the river. Ryker never wanted a mate, especially a human. Since they're frowned upon and deemed to make you weak, he had hoped she had died or never existed. Coming back to his senses he growls louder towards the woman, stalking her as if she was prey.

Ryker watched as her head turned around, their eyes locking with one another. His heart rate speeds up and more regret takes over him. As he gets close to the river's edge, the dirt sinks in leaving trakes in his wake, slowly soaking his paws the closer he gets. It gets deeper as he gets halfway across, going up to his elbows. Growing impatient of walking he leaps the remainder of the way clearing the last half.

Ryker gets closer to Anastasia, towering over her, and ferociously growls in her face. He watches as she collapses to the ground and attempts to crawl backward. He bends his head towards her face, staring intently, watching as her body tenses up. Growing angry with the situation he bites into her shirt, scraping his sharp canines against her stomach, and lifts her into the air. Anastasia panics and struggles violently against him, revealing the fear in her eyes.

Ryker becomes enraged and he slams her to the ground making a pained groan to escape her mouth, causing her eyes to shut from the pain. He notices a minute later that she fainted from the action. Ryker lets out a frustrated growl then hears his wolf speak in the back of his mind "Why do you have to be so violent? We may not be happy with the outcome, but that doesn't mean we should mangle her. You know what will happen if we had killed her", Lefaun said.

"I don't care. I never wanted one to begin with. I know what will happen if I do, but I could care less. I don't have much of a choice only because I can't risk my sanity or pack for her", said Ryker. Ryker becomes agitated with his wolf and blocks him out. Debating on what to do with his mate, he grabs onto her torn shirt and drags her to the boulder. He leans her against the side and growls one last time at her limp body and begins the trek back home.