Losing Hope

Chapter 26 - The river

(Him - Ryder) Now ...

Hope did an amazing job raising Daniel. Dan as he prefers to be called. He's an amazing kid. Spending time with him is exactly what I need and we finally start to build our father/son relationship. Sharing our memories of Hope also made me realize how much I miss her. I like the person she became in what Dan tells me about her. Maybe she was always like that... Even if the feeling of betrayal is still strong, I love her. I can't help it.

Sam was right. I should've fought for her... Way before the day she was kicked out of the pack. I always looked at her, looked after her, making sure she was okay or never bullied. But I did it keeping my distance, from far. I was waiting for her to come to me. Which is stupid now that I think about it. She always stayed away from everyone, even her own family. She would've never come by herself... Even if she wanted to. I know she wanted it as much as I did. The way she reacted to me... How responsive and begging she was...

I'm going to bed thinking about what would have been our life if she had stayed, if I'd known about Dan, if I would've fought for her as a mate should. A big part of me hopes she's still alive. That we will still have a chance to patch things up, to have our happy ending. Please, give me something! A clue to find you, or to understand why you did what you did.

I never thought I would die like that so far away from my pack. How couldn't I be more careful. I walk directly through that trap. And now I need to face 16 rogues alone. Even if I'm stronger, I'm not that stronger. But I will die taking down as many rogues as I can!

"Let's kill that fucking rogues!" My wolf snarls while I shift and let him take control.

We fought the best we could and I'm able to take down 7 of them before feeling myself growing weaker. When I can't take it anymore, I shift back into my human form and collapse on the floor, my back on my car, breathing with difficulty. Both of my legs are broken and my left arm too. I know my end has come. Suddenly a thunderbolt touches the ground a few meters from me and an angel appears, my angel. In a few minutes, Hope killed all the rogues left. When she tries to touch me I growl at her. My anger rises suddenly when I think about the last time I saw her a few months ago. My wolf's pain because we're not enough for her when we would've mountain for her. I would have give up anything for her but not her!

"Don't touch me!" I snap.

"I just want to check your injuries." She explains with a surrender gesture.

I laugh, livid: " As if you care! Now you want to play my mate!"

"Ryder please. I'm here to help you."

"And then stab me on my back like you did last time." I snarl.

She sighs: " I only did the right thing."

"How choosing a dead filthy Tiger over you mate is the right thing?!"

"Because it could've been me..." She whines.Two people appear in her back. Phoebe and Enzo.

"How did you do it?" Phoebe asks Hope.

"I felt he was in danger and I needed to be here to protect him." Hope explains.

"The need to protect me! Let me laugh! You're so full of shit Hope!" I comment.

"Ryder, I love you but-"

I cut her " Save it for someone who cares. I hate you and I really wish it the last time I saw you."

I can see how she is hurt by my words. Good! Now she knows how I feel.

"It was a human being, not some emblem! If one day something like that happens to me I hope someone will free me!" She hiss.

"It was a fucking Tiger, Hope. You can't trust them. They don't deserve you respect and compassion. What kind of Luna betrays his pack like you did. How can you even look at yourself in a mirror? You're so disgusted!"