The Alpha's Mate Who Cried Wolf novel Chapter 8

I look up to see Ryker staring down into my eyes with sadness. 

"There's more I need to explain to you, but it can wait till tomorrow," he whispers. I nod and look at the clock. It's late! My father will kill me. I should have been home ages ago!

Pushing myself out of Ryker's arms, I bolt for the door to leave, impatiently turning the handle clockwise and counter-clockwise to no avail. 

"Where's the key?" I ask. 

"Astrid! You're not going anywhere yet, and you aren't going back to that house!"Ryker argues.

"Ryker, you said you would unlock the door when I'm ready to leave! Please, you have to let me go. He will kill me if I'm late home," I explain, trying to force the door open. 

"Astrid, I won't let him lay a finger on you again. Do you hear me?" Ryker says sternly.

"He will hunt me down, Ryker. If I don't go home, he will kill me. He will look for me here," I argue. 

"Good. Let your dad come. Because it's the last time he will ever see you," Ryker says.

"What are you going to do to him? You can't. You can't kill him," I say. 

"Why not? You will never have to fear him again if I kill him now."  

"I know he has hurt me, Ryker, but my mother loved him. She died because of me. I don't want to be the reason the man she loved dies too!"I cry.

Ryker steadies my chin with his hand to make me look at him. 

"I think you should tell me what happened that day, the day your mother died," he says. 

"The only person I told is Dad. I don't want to do it again." I look away in shame. 

"Maybe in time, you'll tell me." I give him a slight nod.

The phone at the diner rings. We look at each other, knowing it's my dad asking why I'm not home yet. Ryker nods to Jim to answer it.