#####Chapter4:Another Stranger

The deed was done, even though it was unplanned and nothing else came into mind except it—shoot the rogue to death.

He died, not for the shot. But, he was struck blind and weak by the strange lightning.

Kenneth might be a cursed rogue.

I was diverted immediately, the wolf approaching me with quick steps, still holding Beta Jonathan very tightly. “I have seen you since…”

I hadn't seen his face yet. Maybe it was Beta Hunter Finn, my best older male wolf friend.

Or could it be Ryder?

“Seen me since…” I murmured, rubbing my face smoothly with my hands. “Do you even… recognize me at all?”

He got here.

Alpha Ryan.

My eyes blinked suddenly, making his face blurry to my view. I had to rub my own face again.

And, now he was glaring again—the Alpha King. “What are you doing with this corpse?”

I was mute.

What was he here for?

“Don't you have words to say?” Jonathan cut in, questioned me, as he stared at me with burning eyes. “The Alpha King is addressing you!”

“Well, Alpha Ryan…” I started, my mind calming down a bit. “Whoever sent that rogue to murder me was wrong. He rushed to fight me while you've already banished me. I know what I'll still face here!”

I was in pain.

My words said it all.

The pain was no one else's but mine. I never brought it into my life.

Fate did.

Alpha Ryan turned his face back against me instantly, noticing fresh tears washing my chin. And then, he was quiet.

“Won't you speak?” Jonathan pressed, raising his first two fingers at me. “Are you deaf, you bitch?”

“Of course.” I said, my head bent a little—to hide my painful cry. “I'm deaf to your words right now. Not even you, Jonathan. I'm talking to a still, sensible being. So, hold on…”

“Imagine!” Jonathan returned, his voice breathing fury. “Get down on your knees!”

“No!” Alpha Ryan objected, for the first time in a long while. “That's too rash of you, Jonathan. Are you even devoid of rationalization? The pack needed your advice and control over this lone wolf, but you keep pushing me to dictatorship!”

“I’m deeply sorry, my Alpha King…” Jonathan subjected instantly, “I’m not in any level to push you…”

“Enough!” Alpha Ryan commanded, his eyes now on me, getting close to wetness too.

Did he want to cry?

Or, was this a setup?

After a short while, I felt soft hands groping around my arms, smooth and slow, almost soothing. But, I was angered in my wolf deep down.

“Huh…” I signed, then, yawned. I didn't realized I had slept off.

“Won't you give me just one…?” Alpha Ryan requested, his words as blurry as a smoky area.

“One… what?” I asked, my eyes taken off him deliberately.

“Sleep with me here.” Alpha Ryan answered, shoving his head right to left.

“What?” I exclaimed, my heart suddenly feeling neutral for the earlier touch of his. “I should sleep with who? Wait, are you in your right sense?”

“Of course, I am.” Alpha Ryan asserted, blowing unpleasant air out of his mouth. He must have wandered with Jonathan in the woods.

Ryan had not only rejected me. He had banished me, sending me into the dangerous and often lonely world.

When he was Ryan, he desired me, but on the day of my coronation, his desire turned out to be a quick, heartless disgust—a blunt rejection.

How come he was here? I just hoped he didn't mean what he said—not here to even ask for forgiveness, but for sex.

Sex? Alpha Ryan?

From me?

I wondered, standing up to my feet and I discovered Jonathan was no longer with the both of us. “So, you came here with your wolf Beta all because of me? Is that it?”

“Exactly, Lara…” He muttered in agreement, seeming not to understand my plans.

“What a change of heart…” I murmured, staring into the grave, dead air. “And, do you even admit what you did to me wrongly?”

Slowly as I conversed with him, I tried to form an acknowledgement of his coming—even more, a gratitude—things totally not from my heart.

He turned, “I’m not here for that at all, Lara. Bygones is bygones.”

“Says who?” I returned, another strange coldness welling up inside me.

My wolf was reacting to his words and I smelled a false concern in the Alpha King.

“Do you know what?” Alpha Ryan added, adjusting to my side as he tapped my waist unawares. “Let's quickly do it here and leave.”

“Enough!” I screamed, nearly asking anyone nearby to help, if possible.

I felt in the wolf inside of me. I knew there had been a new strength in me. But, this Alpha King was stronger—rigid and so heartless.

“Get me the liquor.” Alpha Ryan said, turning back to signal to Jonathan, who however, was nowhere to be found. “I just… Wait, where…”

Slurs from a wicked, foolish and unintelligent Alpha King.

“Really?” I said, laughing out loudly. “I didn't notice too. Well, you're safe in the woods here, understood?”

I stood up, hissed, and walked away into another thick path which only the light of my eyes could take me. Then, Alpha Ryan held out his right hand, trying to perform a spell on him—all I thought.

“Get back here, Lara!” He commanded, his voice fading as I left him.

Another wolf was in my path, a male but his face? Unseen.

Suddenly, our heads collided and I nearly fell.

No growl.

No apologies from him, and so, I tapped him as he walked past me. He was masked, holding a thick rope in his hands, as he sighed all the way.

“Didn't you realize you almost pushed me to the ground?” I questioned him boldly, trying to also adjust myself and rub the remnant tears on my face. “I know you felt my feet around yours…”

“That's why I kept quiet, my Queen.” He responded clearly in a romantic way.

Stunned.

Who was he, again? The Alpha didn't follow me immediately. Then, I had never even shook hands with Jonathan.

Ryder? No.

I knew Alpha Ryder’s face from his eyes even if he wore a mask.

“And, who are you?”