Don't Poke the Luna (Xena and Ryder)

Chapter 197

Xena's POV

"I'm fine," I tried to sit up, but my body refused to cooperate. Ryder Had to help me, gently shifting me to the middle seat. He wrapped his arms around me, burying his face in the crook of my neck for a moment before leaning back. I could feel the fear and rage in his breath-he had been terrified of losing me, and I couldn'offer enough comfort to ease that.

"Whenever you're ready," William said, pressing the record button on the device. He placed the recorder on the console, and I stared at it blankly, my mind replaying fragments of the nightmare I'd just scaped.

"I woke up strapped to that chair. Basically, Alpha Wiley and Tatum idnapped me. Tatum..." I closed my eyes, struggling to keep my voice steady as I recounted my experience. Just saying his name made my stomach churn, those predatory eyes still crawling over every inch of my skin in my memory.

"Anyway, I got slapped before they left. I'm not sure how much time passed, then some guard or warrior came in with a young girl. She couldn't have been more than a teenager, wearing clothes that looked like a sack. She helped me use the bathroom, but I took too long, and the guard came in and beat me."

Ryder's fists clenched, his expression hardening. I could feel his wolf howling inside him, hungry for revenge on my behalf.

"Later, I woke up with Alpha Wiley and Tatum there, along with the girl and the guard. When they found out what happened, Tatum shot the guard in the head."

bloodthirsty satisfaction in his

set up what I think was a camera. He wanted me to record a video. He said if I didn't do it right or deliberately messed up, he'd start shooting the girl from her feet up until I got it right. But because my face was swollen, they abandoned that plan." My voice was eerily calm, as if

was the video for?" William asked softly, his voice careful, as though

Ryder shouldn't come looking for me. Tatum wanted to wait, give me something to drink to help me recover. When he left to get drinks, Alpha Wiley said they had

them again, looking at me with sympathy and professional restraint. "Did he...

glanced quickly at Ryder, my voice louder

closer to me.

apologize for. He'll pay for it," I managed a weak smile. Ryder

so I don't know what would have happened next." William nodded and turned off the recorder again. I exkrated with

William said to

I get

1/2

Chapter 197

collapsed, I called Logan to tell him what happened. Some bee-like thing flew in front of

Logan called the office, and we immediately went to