MATED TO FATHER, FATED TO SONS-Chapter 34: IN HIS ROOM

RYKER

My loyalty is very volatile, once I get the tiny bit of hint that you are thinking of burning down a bridge, I will burn it down before you finish that thought and make sure you are on it.

I glanced around at the busy courtyard, people moving around haphazardly, sentinels lifting chairs to take it to the banquet hall, maids chattering with vases of flowers in their hands.

I have always detested any social gathering of all forms.

It wasn’t like I didn’t like to see the joy of others. Actually, I don’t.

I also hated all the pretense and fake ass kissing that came with it.

My eyes travelled around the hall hoping I would see Amaris but I didn’t, I only saw Nia who was obviously in her element, bossing people around and enjoying how they trembled at her wish.

"Looking for Amaris," a familiar voice drawled beside me and I didn’t have to turn to know who it was.

I was so distracted I had not heard his footsteps.

"No," I responded casually without looking at him.

"Come on Ryker, are you still angry?" Cole leaned against the open door frame of the yard. "You were the one who snitched on me. I should be the one angry here."

I glanced at him. "Snitched on you," I scoffed. "Don’t be ridiculous. You never told me you were fucking Lila in the first place. Take it as a lucky guess."

"I knew you knew," he responded without hesitation.

"Oh really," I huffed, standing straight to face him. "How on earth would I know when you always pretended to hate her?"

He didn’t respond immediately.

"I am sorry Ryker," he muttered and that wasn’t the response I had expected to hear. "I thought it would be so embarrassing that I got my ass dumped for Rowan and that was why I never said anything and instead pretended to hate her."

My shoulders relaxed and I chuckled. "Of course, I would have laughed at your sorry ass but you know it would never make me look down on you." I gave him a punch on his shoulder.

"So we cool?" He pushed up from the frame and I smirked, began pacing through the hallway leading to my room.

"Don’t be silly, we are. I only got back at you because you snitched my business to Nia."

"Oh that was it? You are as petty as fuck Ryker."

I chuckled. "You already knew that."

Then I halted some feet away from my brother’s room and veered around to face him.

"I only told her I saw Amaris coming out from your room," Cole defended.

"Yes, to Nia. I need to know who your loyalty is to. Is it to me Cole or any girl you are fucking at the time?"

He placed his hands on my shoulders. "What kind of question is that, I am loyal to you." He answered and certainty was written all over his face.

"Good, so whatever is my business stays as such." I replied in a low tone, placing my hand over his in agreement.

Then I turned around and immediately something or rather, someone slammed into my chest.

Hard.

My wolf immediately stirred up and I didn’t have to look down to know who it was.

Her.

My hands caught her on reflex, fingers digging into her waist before she could hit the ground. The momentum pushed me back a step and she grabbed onto my shirt, her chest pressed against mine while she gasped for air like she had been running from something.

Fuck.

Her scent wrapped around me before my brain could catch up, sweet and clean and making my wolf growl low in my chest. My hands tightened on her waist without asking permission and I could feel every breath she took, rapid and uneven.

My wolf was already kicking at me. The bastard had no control around her.

I looked down at her flushed face, at those wide amber eyes, at her mouth parted and trying to pull in air. Then my gaze snapped past her to the door she just came flying out of.

Rowan’s room.

Ice dropped into my stomach. What the fuck?

What was she doing in his room?

She straightened up, her hands pushing against my chest to get space between us. I let her go but I couldn’t stop staring at that fucking door, couldn’t stop my brain from putting together exactly what her being in there meant.

"Were you just in Rowan’s room?" The words came out of impulse before I could stop it.

She didn’t answer. Just looked at me with those eyes holding mine reading inbetween ’I owe you no explanation’ and ’fuck you’.

I waited for a response but she didn’t say a word.

Nothing.

"Amaris," I pressed, my jaw clenching so hard it hurt. "I asked you a question,"

She stepped back, smoothed down her dress like that would fix whatever the hell this was, then turned and walked away.

Actually walked away.

Like I wasn’t standing there asking her a direct fucking question.

"I am talking to you Amaris," I called after her, my voice louder now.

She kept walking. Didn’t even glance back. Just rounded the corner and disappeared like I meant nothing.

Cole laughed beside me.

I whipped around to glare at him. "What?"

He was grinning like this was the funniest thing he had seen all week. "Apparently you are not the only one she sneaks into rooms with. Now she does it in broad daylight."

"You are an idiot."

I didn’t wait for whatever smart ass comment he had lined up. I turned and stormed to Rowan’s door, my fist connecting with the wood hard enough to make it shake. I shoved it open without waiting for permission.

Rowan stood by his window with his back to me, shoulders tight like he knew exactly who just barged in. He didn’t turn around.

"What the fuck was Amaris doing in your room?"