Ryder  sat at his desk, filling out documents that listed assets, fudging details to make the company look more profitable than it was. He looked at the clock. Almost 10. Soon he would be home, and he would pull Alecia into his arms and cherish the sweet strawberry smell of her hair. As he signed his father’s name to the document, he thought of buying Alecia some tulips since he hadn’t bought her any in a while. Hopefully, they’d put a smile on her face. It had been so long since he’d seen one. Something nudged in him - a feeling akin to regret, but he pushed it away. If he got distracted, he wouldn’t be able to accomplish what his father demanded of him. And nothing was more distracting than guilt. The door flew open. Sose rushed from behind it. A chill swept over Ryder as he took in the man's werewolf appearance, and his bared claws. What was going on? The man looked like a rage boiled in his eyes. “It's time. Let’s go.”He jumped to his feet - his body s

Only the slight rise of her chest showed she still lived. But not the life she’d once carried. If he had only known, he would have made a different decision last night and faced his father’s wrath. The man couldn’t have hurt him more than this.  She lay under layers of blankets, lost in a sedated sleep awaiting more tests before being sent home. Ryder ran two fingers down her pale cheek. “I’m so sorry. I’ll never let you be hurt again.” Tears brimmed in his eyes. “My love.” He buried his head in her chest, letting the tears pour forth. What would his child have looked like? Who would he have become? One decision. One poorly made decision had cost him so much. He gazed at her white face. And her.Chloe ran her hands through his hair. “It wasn’t your fault but hers for not telling you.” Ryder clenched the sheets. He hadn’t given her a chance. What must she have thought as he slipped the needle through her skin? Did she think he was going to kill her?

Alecia eyes popped open. Her hands flew to her mouth. All she could see was the face, a strong face, which neither smiled nor grinned, but looked at her as if it was complacent. She removed her hands and bit down on the tips of her fingers. The man held her down as Ryder pierced her skin with something. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her irregular quick breaths, but her heart would not stop pounding the blood through her, making her gasp. It must have been a dream. Just a dream.She tried to roll over and look at her husband, but he was right behind her, his arms wrapped around her in a firm hold. He would never physically hurt her. Doubt crept through her. She reached for his hands and tried to lift his arms; however, they grasped her tightly, and would not budge. She looked at the wall. The face filled her mind. “Ryder, wake up.”    Ryder sat up, and leaned over her face. “Are you okay?”“Let go of me.”

The soft clanging of bells filled her ears, making her eyes pop open. Ryder reached over her and pressed it off - his skin sliding over her bare body. A yawn escaped from her lips. She had barely slept last night. She rolled over on her side and focused on the wall - with her eyes trailing the lavender border at the top. This would be her last morning here. Ryder breathed deeply as he struggled to wake himself up. Last night was another late one. He pushed himself up and rolled out of the bed. “I should be used to this,” he said.She smiled and brushed his bangs out of his face. Best to keep up appearances.Their eyes connected and Alecia's heart jumped. His eyes glittered in the early morning light, making him look like a youth. Like the boy she had fallen in love with. Would a part of her always love him?   He kissed her head, sending the familiar tremors through her before leaving to wash up.She laid out his clothes, and made

Ryder held the pen over the document. She was not in her hometown, but her parents were, so where could she be? It had been two weeks and his men hadn’t been able to find one clue of the girl. He shook his head and turned to the document in front of him. He needed to keep reading this briefing report, making sure every detail aligned with their case. He should go to her hometown and force the details from her parents, but his father said to wait until they knew where she was. Wait and catch her off guard. Ryde looked up when his phone beeped. He pressed the intercom button.“Yes, Jacky.”“There is a Mr. Sose here to see you.”“Send him in,” Ryder said. He looked up as the door opened, and Jacky showed Sose in. Sullivan glared at her until she quickly slipped behind the door and shut it. He really could scare people with just a glance. Sose walked over to the desk, and dropped a brown envelope onto it. Ryder picked it up.