Page 58 of The Wolf's Pregnant Rejected Mate

Elin came back shortly after, and Hayden and Finn were with him.

Ryder groaned and closed his eyes.

“Fucking hell,” Finn hissed. “I’ve never seen a demon influence like this.”

Tess’s heart stopped. “Is he possessed?”

Finn dropped to one knee, studying Ryder as Hayden lingered nearby, his gaze sharp and hard.

“Is he possessed?” Tess screamed.

“I don’t think so,” Finn answered. His blue eyes narrowed in concentration. He put a hand on Ryder’s forehead. “No. No, he’s not. But there are strands of influence around him, like strings on a puppet.”

Tess opened her mouth to ask what it meant, but a shout came from outside before she could. Maverick came racing through the house.

“Alpha,” he bellowed, “the demons in the prison—they’ve broken free!”

Chapter 32 - Ryder

Tess scrambled off him, racing for the window. Hayden, Finn, and Maverick left the house quickly. Ryder’s heart thrummed. His wolf howled, but it was shaking so badly from the freezing cold that enveloped him that it had no strength left. He growled as he kicked his feet free from the hastily-tied jeans and squirmed his hands from the belt. Tess hadn’t tightened it enough—no doubt because she was afraid of hurting him.

His wolf growled, longing to go out and fight. But even as that desire washed through him, a bolt of frost echoed from his bones. It made him groan in pain as he stumbled to his feet.

Tess turned. Her eyes widened. “Ryder—"

“I can’t help them,” Ryder growled through gritted teeth. He couldn’t because it would be betraying Jace. “The only thing I can do is protect you. I can get you out of here. That’s all I can do.”

He loved her too much for even the oath to bind him from her. His limbs felt as though he was turning to ice, but he still lunged forward. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her toward the door. Tess protested, but her words didn’t pierce through the sound of his drumming heart. All he wanted was to get her out of there. Get her to safety.

The demons had the roadway blocked. He was certain he’d heard them talking about it before he left the cave. Which meant the only way they had out of town was over the mountain.

Outside, the sound of howling and fighting filled the town. The rain grew thicker, and thunder boomed overhead. Ryder grabbed Tess’s face in his hands, trying to be gentle despite the desperation flowing through him.

“Tess, you have to believe me,” he said.

“Ryder, you’re being influenced by the demons—”

“I know. I know, and I can’t stop it. But you have to get out of here. You have to come with me. Please. Please, it’s the only way. If we don’t get away, I’m a dead man.” It was the only way she’d agree. She wouldn’t leave for herself but for him.

Tess’s eyes were wide. She held onto his hand and pressed a kiss to his palm. The spark of warmth briefly drove back the ice in his veins, but it didn’t last long. She nodded. Relief washed through Ryder. He took her hand and led her through the last few houses before they reached the forest. There, Tess stripped quickly and shifted to her wolf form.

Ryder led the way from town. Taking her away from the fighting. Away from where Jace could get his hands on her. The further they got, the lighter Ryder felt. Lightning crashed overhead, the rainfall covering up any trace of their scent.

He lead her up the mountain. They reached a sheer, rocky incline—and Ryder froze. He knew this place. There was an almost-hidden cavity in the mountainside. Tess yipped in confusion, and Ryder padded into the cave, his limbs no longer listening to him.

Jace waited for them. The Demon Seed hung around his neck, and he smiled as Tess yelped in fear. The demons dodged behind them, blocking off her escape.

“Thank you, Ryder,” Jace drawled. “I knew I could count on you.”

All at once, Ryder understood. The demon influence on him. How he was able to lead Tess away from the town, even though taking her away and circumventing Jace’s plans would be a betrayal. He’d been so stupid. There was only so much ‘demon influence’ that could explain why he didn’t think this through.

Jace had been manipulating him all this time. The oath binding him played him like a puppet on its strings, bringing Tess to the bastard. And now it held him fast, not letting him move or growl as Jace smiled down at Tess.

“You might as well take your human form, both of you,” Jace said with a shrug. “It will make this less painful. And don’t worry, demons have no interest in the sexual nature of mortals except when it helps us manipulate you further.”

Ryder shifted to human form. It wasn’t a conscious choice. What the fuck was this? He didn’t swear he’d be obedient! Why did he not have full control over his own body? Was it a possession starting after all?

“Come now, Tess,” Jace said as he gazed down at her. “The easier you make this for me, the greater your chance of surviving this.”

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