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Chapter 97
~Tempest’s POV~
From my window, I watched as Koda spoke to my sister in the courtyard with a serious expression on. They exchanged quiet words, and a pang of jealousy twisted in my chest.
The way he looked at her—it was the kind of look I had longed for. But it had never been for . It never would be.
I saw her pull away most tis and it broke his heart.
The words rang in my head. His heart.
What of mine? Did he ever bother how it affected and broke my heart?
Tsk. I shook my head, ignoring Sumr’s whining in my head.
Turning away from the window, I moved back into the room, my hands trembling as I gathered my things. It was ti to go. Ti to leave this house, this hurt, and the feelings I didn’t want to carry with . The city would give the space I needed.
I brought out so clothes and headed back into the closet for my box. As I reached for my bag, the door creaked open. My mother, Luna Star, entered, her eyes soft and warm as she took in the sight of my clothes and bag.
"Tempest," she began, stepping into the room. "Were you planning on leaving without saying goodbye?"
I sighed, straightening up. "I need space, Mother. I need to get out of here...away from him, away from everything."
She ca closer, reaching out to take my hand, her fingers soft yet firm. "Running away from pain doesn’t make it disappear, sweetheart. It only buries it deeper."
I swallowed, her words stinging because I knew they were true. "I just need ti to clear my head," I whispered, barely able to et her gaze.
My mother gently guided to sit on the edge of my bed, while flashing her trade mark smile that eased my worries.
"I understand, Tempest. And I won’t stop you if this is truly what you need. But rember...healing isn’t a journey you can take alone. Don’t shut us out. And certainly don’t shut out those who care for you."
I felt my heart clench, but I gave her a small, wavering smile. "Thank you, Mother. I’ll... I’ll try."
She reached up, brushing a stray hair behind my ear with tenderness.
"Take all the ti you need. But rember—your family is here for you. Always. Ignore what others have to say about us. The warring and subjugating ti is over. You are a true daughter of the Ivory Crescent Pack. You are my Tempest and you are my strength."
Tears spilt out from my eyes. No matter how sad I felt, listening to my mother speak was the balm that soothed my soul.
With one last hug, she released , and I finished packing my luggage. Once done, I took my handbag in one hand, pulling on my box with the other as we stepped out of the room together.
"Tempest." I turned to her call. "I’ll have soone drop you off at the airport or drive you to the city if you wish."
I smiled back at her. "A drive would be nice, Mum. I won’t go too far. I’ll leave not so far from Snow, so you can be rest assured."
"Thank you."
Before I could take my next step, she muttered sothing with a light touch of her index finger to her head.
Within two minutes, one of the pack warriors raced in my direction and my jaw suddenly fell open.
"My lady," he greeted, bowing before my mother and then he looked at , dipping his head. "Luna Star, you called for ?"
"Yes, Ryker," my mother responded, holding her hands in front of her and that was when I took note of his na—the warrior with whom I had shared my body on two different occasions. "You will take my daughter to the city and see to it that she arrives at her apartnt safely before returning."
My heartbeat sped up as I stared at him, watching his muscles through his all-black outfit to the point my lips parted in a drool-like state that I totally blocked out everyone.
It wasn’t until my mother’s voice rang in my head, shocking back to reality that I realised what was going on.
"Tempest?"
"Uh, sorry, Mother." I turned to face her. "You were saying?"
She chuckled and gave the knowing eye. Judging my mother, I could say she knew I was checking him out.
"I am saying he is ready to go, but to take you ho and not to the stars." I smiled back at her, gauging the aning behind those words.
"Sure. I’ll try not to take my chances, Mum." I moved in, hugged and kissed her before pulling away. Ryker took my box and together we headed for the Range Rover Jeep parked outside.
The ride was quiet, the trees blending into blurred shadows as we drove down the winding roads, leaving Ivory Crescent territory behind.
I stole glances at Ryker in the rearview mirror, his eyes firmly fixed on the road, his jaw set in that unreadable way that was beginning to drive mad.
He was silent, stoic, but there was sothing about his presence that made the silence anything but peaceful. I cleared my throat, deciding I wasn’t going to spend the entire ride to the city in awkward, tense quiet.
"So... Ryker, huh?" I asked, leaning forward just enough to catch his reaction in the mirror.
He hesitated abit before answering and I coudl guess why. I never bothered to know his na even though he had seen all of .
"Yes, Lady Tempest," he replied, his tone polite and almost detached.
"Okay, is that your first na or last na?" I asked with a smirk, watching his eyes flick up to the mirror.
"Everyone calls Ryker," he replied simply, returning his focus to the road.
"Well, I don’t like following the crowd," I murmured, letting the smirk stretch wider as I leaned back. "So, what should I call you?"
He hesitated, glancing up again with an almost amused look that vanished before it fully took shape. "My na’s Ryker Rylan, ma’am," he said finally.
"Rylan," I repeated. "I’ll call you Rylan. It suits you."
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