Tasting
Chapter 259

259–Like A Shield In Front Of Me

Nora:

Nobody believed their ears the first time. Even I was stunned, hoping it to be just a fault of my ears. I wouldn’t ever want Ryker to come out and lie about it and get himself in trouble.

“I killed Mia,” Ryker said again. This time, he mentioned her name and even shrugged. My heartbeat kept fluctuating wildly, and my head was getting dizzy

I knew Ryker was lying, but why? Didn’t he hate me now? Wasn’t he dating April? Why would he take the blame on himself for me then? What was I to him anymore?

“That’s a good try, son. But we all know she’s the culprit. You brothers are just doing this because you feel obligated to take her responsibility and keep her safe. Let me tell you something, you don’t need to do any of that. She’s a monster’s daughter. She’s not your family,” Yuki explained loudly, shaking his head in disbelief at Ryker lying so blatantly.

“I’m not lying. Whether you believe it or not, I’m standing here, admitting that I am the monster who killed Mia,” he said again. This time, Silas, who had helped his father regain consciousness, got up from the ground and watched his brother’s face intently.

“Brother!” Silas called out to him, shaking his head.

“It’s true, Silas. I did it. And if they don’t believe me, I can show them my truth in case they forgot.” Ryker stepped back and began taking off his shirt.

“No! Ryker! Stop!” his father yelled, making me tremble in my skin and gulp in shock. Was he really going for it?

I had heard the brothers had transitioned before the council and hardly ever before all the members of the packs because their wolves were indeed different.

But why was everyone watching Ryker with such shock? Had they not seen his wolf before?

“It’s all on your shoulders now. If I hurt someone, it’s on you because you didn’t believe me when I said-” Ryker went silent and then spoke while keeping his eyes down.

He took a brief pause, and when he lifted his head again, I heard everyone gasp. “I am the monster.”

With that, his skin started to turn black and scaly. His bones cracked, and his body dropped to the ground.

He began to wail and grunt while his body underwent a terrifying transformation. Watching him endure so much pain, combined with the stress I had faced just hours ago, overwhelmed me.

My eyes watered, and with trembling hands, I reached for Ryker’s back. The instant my hand made contact with his skin, his groaning quieted.

For a moment, everything calmed down. His pain seemed to subside.

It only lasted for a few seconds, but it felt like hours. Everything went back to chaos as I felt a strong grasp around my waist and my body being pulled away from Ryker.

It was Silas, trying to ensure I didn’t get too close to Ryker, who was now all black and scaly. His body resembled neither a lycan nor a werewolf.

He was in visible pain, and the way everyone looked at him only intensified his suffering.

He was some different kind of being. But others yelled the word “monster” at him. As he swung his massive limbs around, screams filled the air.

“Nora! Go back home,” Silas urged me, his hands gently holding my arms and making sure I was safe.

“No!” I shook my head as tears streamed down my face.

“Please! You need to go so that I can focus on my brother,” the worry in Silas‘ voice broke my heart.

“Go help him,” I insisted, but I wasn’t planning on leaving, even as my body shivered and I broke into a cold sweat.

“Not while you’re here. Please, free me and go back to the car. If you’re not safe, none of us will feel safe,” Silas cupped my face as he delivered the words to me with much affection.

I was able to look into his eyes and realized he still cared–they still cared. Then why were they acting so cold toward me?

“Take her to the car and make sure she stays protected,” Silas told one of the guards, handing me over to him like I was some doll this time.