Tasting 262

262–Hurting Their Feelings

Nora:

I wanted to save Ryker at any cost.

“Even if he is the killer?” she inquired with a scoff.

“He is not,” I replied firmly

She nodded and continued, “You do realize you’re in all this mess because of them, don’t you?”

I tried to argue but paused, allowing her to finish her statement.

“They were supposed to take care of you, but instead, they welcomed your enemies. And look at

you now–you almost got humiliated yesterday.”

As she reminded me of yesterday, I realized I had been out all night.

“Have a seat; this is going to be a long talk,” she gestured for me to sit down, and I reluctantly took a

seat. As long as she offered me a way to save Ryker, I was willing to listen.

“Here’s what you will do. You will convince Lord Atwood that you’re scared of Ryker, so you want to

stay at Brody’s apartment until Ryker clears the test,” she instructed, making my heart skip a beat.

“He will be taking a test where his wolf will be subjected to torture to see if he is indeed capable of

killing someone. But if you want, I can stop it,” she offered, her intentions becoming clear. She was

using this opportunity to send me away.

But why send me to Brody’s apartment? I will eventually come back, and then what? What will she

do then?

“You want me to say I’m scared of Ryker?” I was shocked she was making me do this.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to. save Ryker,” she shrugged.

I’m just giving you an option to

“But how do you plan to save him?” I wasn’t going to trust her blindly. I needed to ensure she could

actually save him.

“Remember when they said there were no cameras outside, but there were inside? Even when they

claimed there were some faults, I managed to get my hands on some footage. It shows Ryker and

Cain heading to the rooms to rest,” the moment she said that, my heart revived.

In the end, I understood exactly what she wanted from me. It was going to be one heck of a thing,

but I was ready to do it.

“So?” she asked.

I lowered my head and then nodded,

“You’re right. The brothers have done the worst to me by welcoming my enemies to the mansion

and allowing them to mistreat me. Not only did they bring them in, but it seems like they’ve

unleashed them on me. I’m miserable. I want to do this one good thing and then cut ties with them.

It will be my way of repaying them for what their father has done for me,” it was decided, and I

wasn’t going to back out. I said all the right words that would ensure the girls wouldn’t dismiss the

plan.

If I told them I would stick around, they would never help Ryker. Even April, who loved him so much,

wanted to use this moment to kick me

out of the pack.

I nodded and left the room to find Lord Atwood. I didn’t want to delay this any longer.

He was in the living room with Nash, both looking worried. The minute I entered, they started to get

up.

“Are you okay?” Nash’s eyes were filled with sadness at what I had been through.

“I’m okay; I just wanted to speak to Lord Atwood,” I said, feeling the pressure on my nerves.

Between my happiness and my mate’s, I decided to choose my mate’s happiness and safety.

“What is it?” Lord Atwood made me sit close to him. He looked so concerned as he held my hand

with his trembling hands.

“Ryker is innocent, and before you say you know, there is a proof that Ryker was in the royal hall

that night,” I stated, watching them share a glance. Nash’s lips instantly curled into a smile, and Lord

Atwood sighed in relief.

“But–I want to say that-,” I looked up at Daphne, who was hiding behind a large pillar. If I mentioned

her name and didn’t say what else she wanted, she said she would deny everything and get me in

trouble again for giving them false hope.

“That I don’t want–to stay here. I mean, I don’t feel safe here, so if it’s possible, can I stay at the

apartment with Brody for a few days?” The moment I said that, I saw Nash’s frown appear on his

forehead.

“You don’t feel safe here? What do you mean by that?” he questioned, looking very disturbed.

me that footage, I had to do it.

“Because of Ryker. ”