Ryder stood quietly in his cell, back to the entrance. He’d been like that for two nights, not sitting, lying down, or eating. And the guards were beginning to worry if he intended to starve himself to death.
They didn’t know why the Luna sent him into the dungeon. In fact, they should be pleased that the servant who’d been making them restless had been thrown aside, but they couldn’t.
"It’s the second night. What should we do?"
"If I know, I won’t be this frustrated."
"Let’s ignore him."
"And if sothing happened to him? Will you be able to bear the consequences?"
The Luna was unpredictable. The last thing they wanted was to be blad for the servant’s actions.
"Hey!" One of them banged on the bar, the sound echoing through the cell. "Hey, Oga! You need to eat sothing. If you don’t, you’ll weaken yourself." The guard’s voice was firm but laced with concern.
Ryder didn’t respond, didn’t even flinch. He just stood there, his back to the entrance, his eyes shut.
Another guard sighed and tried again. "Co on. Don’t make us force-feed you. You know that won’t be pleasant for either of us."
Still, there was no response. The guards exchanged worried glances, unsure of what to do next.
As the hours ticked by, Ryder’s stillness began to unsettle the guards, who couldn’t help but wonder what was going through his mind.
Was he seeking redemption through suffering, or was he simply waiting for...sothing? Whatever the reason, Ryder’s quiet determination was starting to unnerve even the most hardened of the guards.
anwhile, Reana stood in front of a large window in her chambers, staring out at the stars. Her back was to the room, and her shoulders were stiff with tension. She seed lost in thought, her mind a thousand miles away.
Suddenly, the door to her room burst open but she didn’t turn around. Only Kira would enter her chambers with such familiarity and urgency.
Reana’s gaze remained fixed on the night sky, "What is it, Kira?" she asked, her voice calm and asured, betraying none of the turmoil that was brewing inside her.
The sound of Kira’s footsteps echoed through the room as she approached Reana, her voice low and serious. "Why are you doing this, Luna?"
Reana stayed silent. The news of Ryder’s imprisonnt must have circulated the pack. After all, it was the second night.
"You liked him, didn’t you?" she pressed. "He makes you happy."
Reana’s shoulders stiffened. She didn’t respond, didn’t even flinch, but Kira’s words struck a chord deep within her. The silence between them grew thick and heavy.
Finally, Reana spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "He lied to , Kira. He betrayed my trust." The words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the pain and hurt that Ryder’s actions had caused.
Kira stayed silent for a long ti. She knew how much the Luna hated betrayal. She knew she shouldn’t beg for Ryder as he’d broken her trust, but she couldn’t watch the Luna this sad, even though she was trying to act like her usual self. "He must have a reason."
She continued, "He’s different from Ryan. Different from Kael and your stepfamily. Luna, Ryder really cares for you," Kira said, her voice soft and gentle, as if trying to coax Reana into seeing things from a different perspective.
"I’ve seen the way he looks at you, the way he moves around you. He’s not like the others, Luna. He’s not trying to manipulate or use you. He’s...different." Kira’s words hung in the air, and for a mont, Reana’s mask slipped, revealing a glimr of the hurt and vulnerable person beneath.
But then, her expression hardened, and she turned to face Kira, her eyes cold. "You don’t understand, Kira," Reana said, her voice low and even. "You don’t know what he did."
She couldn’t tell her he killed Hale. She couldn’t expose Ryder’s cris. Despite her anger at his lack of genuine remorse, she couldn’t betray him.
Kira sighed. The Luna might be right, she couldn’t understand their relationship. Kira knew they weren’t mates, but they loved each other like mates did. And it was strange. But one thing she understood was that Ryder wouldn’t hurt her intentionally. Their trip back and forth the other packs had made her seen all she needed to know that Ryder wasn’t her enemy.
But she wouldn’t push it. The Luna was smart. If she didn’t want Ryder anymore, Kira would respect her decision. "The guards at the dungeon are worried. He’s still refusing to eat, and they’re afraid he’ll..." Kira’s words trailed off, leaving the unspoken concern hanging in the air.
Reana’s eyes t hers and for a fleeting mont, saw a flicker of panic. But it was gone as it ca. Her expression hardened, and she turned away, her voice cold and detached. "Let him starve. It’s his choice."
Kira didn’t speak. She just stood there, watching the Luna’s side for profile. She looked lonely and sad. Her night robe hung lazily on her shoulders. She didn’t even bother to fasten the ropes, as the robe barely covered her nipples.
Without thinking, Kira took a step forward, her hand reaching out to fasten the belt. Soone might seek her audience, or an ergency might make her forget that she wasn’t properly dressed.
Kira’s fingers brushed against Reana’s waist, and for a mont, their eyes t. Reana’s gaze was distant, her thoughts a thousand miles away, but she didn’t pull away. She let Kira fasten the belt, her expression softening ever so slightly.
The small, intimate gesture seed to bridge the gap between them, and for a mont, Kira felt like she was seeing the real Reana, not the Luna.
At the mont, Kira was like an older sister Reana didn’t have. "You should think about it more, Luna." With that, she pulled away after securing the rope.
"Where is Mirian? I’ve not seen her since we returned." Reana changed the topic. She rembered telling her to go rest, but didn’t rember telling her to resign.
Kira’s expression turned concerned, and she hesitated for a mont before speaking. "I’m not sure, Luna. I haven’t seen her either. But I can check on her for you."
"Hm," Reana replied. Perhaps, Mirian’s blabbering could help her get through another horrible night, she thought.
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