Prince Ryker

Chapter 2

My knees ached as I scrubbed at the granite flooring. This morning I was told not to bring any food or water to Ryker. It's not that unusual, sometimes they had me wait days before bringing him anything. But now that we had spoken and I knew his name it was harder to watch him suffer. But I don't dare question my orders, the last thing I want to do is make anyone angry. 

I wonder what they are doing to him, I hope he will be okay. Even though I shouldn't I did enjoy talking to him. Ryker's touch, even so, weak he was kind and gentle. More than any man I had ever met. 

Pushing away thoughts of him I continued scrubbing at the floor. It's now well into the evening, my back ached as I scooted across the floor, pulling the bucket of water to me. Nearly finished with the entryway I quickly got back to work to make sure I am done in time for dinner. Alpha would be angry if I wasn't finished by then and he will punish me. 

Just as I was ringing out my rag footsteps echoed down the hallway. Quickly I grabbed my bucket and scurried down the hall. Trying to make my way back to the kitchens unseen. That's when I heard it. The blood-curdling scream coming from the entryway. Since living here I have heard my fair share of screaming, crying, and begging. But this one shook me to my core. I moved even faster through the hall trying to stay as quiet and hidden as possible. 

Walking down the hall I kept my head down, and that was my mistake. I bumped right into a hardback. Bouncing back the bucket fell from my hands, water spilling all over me as well as the floor. "Well well, what do we have here?" The man stepped closer to me, I backed away hitting the wall behind me. Keeping my head down I watched his boots draw closer. "What a pretty little she-wolf you are." He pressed up against me his hand covering my mouth. I stared up at him, scars covered his face, as he bared his teeth at me I saw how yellow and stained they were. Squirming I tried to get away from him but he held me tight. 

"Oh, now we won't have any of that." The man said as he pressed his hand harder to my mouth. With his free hand, he grabbed my arms pinning them above my head. His knee pressed between my legs forcing them to spread. My heart raced in my chest I tried to buck him off but he was too strong. I screamed and screamed into his hand but it was too muffled for anyone to hear. The man leaned forward, pressing his nose into the side of my neck. I held perfectly still as I listened to him sniffing me. His grip around my wrists loosened slightly. 

Leaning back against the wall I gathered my strength and brought my knee up hard at the same time I pulled my arms free. The slob let out a high-pitched cry as he moved to cup himself. Bringing my knee up I slammed it into his head knocking him back.  Not waiting to see what he would do next I took off sprinting down the hall. Tears brimmed in the corners of my eyes as I blindly ran through the coredors. Not even thinking abour where I was going I stumbled to a hault when I found myself outside of the dungon. Why would I come here, there's no reason for me to be here. How did I even get past the guards?  

Footsteps sounded behind me, not bothering to wait I slipped inside the quiet room. Closing the door behind me silently I leaned against it for a moment, brushing the tears off my cheek. Once I was able to regain control of my emotions I looked around the dark room. That's when I felt it, something wrong. The usual quiet was now defening as I walked down the hall to the last cell. My footsteps even sounded muffled as I padded across the stone floor. Finally reaching Ryker's cell I glanced inside. Instantly my gut tightened and a bout of nausea ran through me.

His back was to me exposing the dark bloodied lashes that ran from his shoulder to waist. The wounds were deep and fresh, blood still streaming from them. A few looked so bad that I swore I could see bone. A muffled groan sounded from him, at the sound I fell to me knees in front of the bars. Unable to stop myself I slipped a shaking hand through the iron bars and ran the tips of my fingers across the curve of his shoulder making sure not to get near any of the laches. When my hand made contact with his skin he spun around so quickly I didn't have time to react. Ryker's eyes were black as he growled at me and barred his teeth. 

Finally my body unfroze and I leacrched back from the bars scrambling away from him on my hands and knees. His blazing eyes met mine and for a moment I could see a cloudiness in them. Ryker shook his head then looked back up to me. "Rose I'm sorry please don't look at me like that I'm not going to hurt you, you just suprised me. My wolf is already on edge because of my injuries. " He said.

Breaking away from his gaze I looked down and saw that I was shacking. I felt the wetness of tears sliding down my cheeks. Ryker tried to stand but fell to his knees pain covering his face. Pushing back my fear I pushed towards him, reaching through the bars to help hold him up. He slumped into my hold, his breathing was heavy and labored. Ryker's skin was hot against mine he's clearly running a fever. "You have to get our of here" I whispered as I pressed my hand against his damp and clammy cheek. 

"How? Theres no way out." His voice raspy with pain. "I don't know but you can't stay here any longer, they are going to kill you if the injuries you got tonight don't do it." 

"They won't kill me they need me to be alive." I pulled away from him looking over him once more. "Why do they need you? What do they get from you being here?" 

"Don't worry about it I will be fine." Ryker said. I know he was trying to make me feel better, but I have to help him. Theres no way he will last much longer. I know what I have to do. But first I have to make Ryker promise me something.  "I can get you out of here, but I need you to take me with you. I can't stay here anymore, and when they find you are gone it won't take them long to figure out I am the one who helped you escape. I'm not saying take me all the way back to wherever you are from but just get e away from here. Get me away from the rouges for good." I said pleading with him to believe me.

Ryker grasped my hand with his and looked into my eyes. His steel grey seemed to almost shimmer in the dim lighting. Squeezing my hand he nodded. "I will protect you, and you will be free of this pack for good." 

"Okay I will be back soon I have to go get a few things before we can go." Ryker grunted in response. Slowly I helped him lay on his chest on the floor. Meeting his gaze once more I once again saw the pain clouding his eyes. Standing quickly knowing I won't have much time I ran out of the dungeon to find the closest jail guard. 

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