Page 49 of Fated Wolf's Destiny

“I don’t agree. It’s too exposed,” he says, his tone clipped as he starts up the stairs. “Anyone can access it from the outside if they’re determined enough. You’ll be upstairs.”

I don’t move. “You can’t just decide things for me, Ryder. I’m not one of your pack members.”

He pauses on the stairs, turning to look at me. There’s a flicker of something in his eyes—something raw and unguardedthat sends a shiver racing down my spine. “You’re in my house, Bella. That makes you my responsibility.”

The seriousness of his words lingers between us. While I should resist, his powerful presence and focused attention on me renders me speechless.

Realizing I’m not really capable of moving, Ryder comes back down the stairs and grabs me by the wrist before I can take another step back. His movements are swift and precise, leaving no room for argument. One second, I’m standing my ground, ready to fight, and the next I’m slung over his shoulder like I weigh nothing.

“Ryder!” I yell, my fists pounding his broad back. He doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t slow. “Put me down! This is insane!”

“Not until you stop being stubborn and start listening,” he growls, his voice low and commanding, rumbling through me like thunder.

I kick my legs, but his grip only tightens, his arm like an iron band around my thighs. “You can’t just throw me over your shoulder like I’m a sack of grain!”

“I’m pretty sure I can,” he laughs, his tone sharp and unyielding as he heads up the stairs.

“Ryder!” I shriek, my fists thumping against his back again. I don’t think he even notices until he lands one sharp slap to my backside, making me shriek again.

With everyone in the foyer looking on, he ascends the staircase with a steady and deliberate step.

“You’re wasting your energy,” he says, his tone maddeningly calm now, as if he’s enjoying my struggle. “Save it for something useful.”

“Like what?” I snap, twisting in his hold, but his grip is unrelenting.

“Like surviving,” he says darkly, his voice dropping lower. “Because the Crimson Claw won’t give a damn about your independence when they come for you.”

The words hit me hard, silencing me for a moment. I can hear the raw frustration in his tone, the anger barely masking something deeper. Something sharper. His muscles coil beneath my fists, every inch of him radiating power, authority, and an unwavering need to protect.

When we reach the landing, he turns down the hall, heading for the door at the far end. “This is ridiculous!” I shout, finding my voice again. “You don’t get to decide where I stay!”

He kicks open the door to his suite, stepping inside without missing a beat. “I think you’ll find I can and will do exactly that, especially when your safety is at stake,” he says firmly, setting me down on my feet with a decisive thud. He’s so close I can feel his heat, his imposing presence making the spacious room feel smaller.

I whirl to face him, my hair flying over my shoulder. “You’re out of your mind! I’m not some problem you can just...”

“You’re staying here,” he says, cutting me off with a tone that brooks no argument. “This room is the safest place in the house, and that’s where you’ll be.”

“Your room,” I say, my voice dripping with disbelief as I glance around. The heavy wood furniture, the rich, dark tones, and the faint, wild scent of him—it’s unmistakable. “Where will you be?”

“In here with you,” he says simply, stepping closer. His amber eyes burn into mine, the intensity in them making my breath catch. “I don’t trust anyone else to keep you safe.”

I take a step back, my spine brushing against the edge of the enormous bed. “I don’t need your protection, Ryder.”

His eyes narrow, his expression hardening. “Yes, you do. And until you figure out how to stop putting yourself in danger, I’m going to be the one protecting you.”

“I don’t want your protection!” I snap, my voice rising as the heat in my chest builds. “I want...”

“What?” he asks, closing the space between us in two quick strides. His hands grip the edge of the bed on either side of me, caging me in. “What do you want, Bella? Because all I see is someone who doesn’t know when to stop picking the wrong battles to fight.”

I freeze, my breath hitching as his words cut through me. The air between us is charged with something I don’t understand but can’t ignore. His scent surrounds me, wild and overwhelming, and his proximity sends a jolt of heat through my body.

“Why do you care so much?” I whisper, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to stay steady.

His gaze drops to my lips, his jaw tightening. “Because I don’t have a choice,” he says, his voice rough and raw. “Because every time you put yourself in danger, it tears me apart. You are my mate and after tonight, there will be no one who doubts it, not even you.”

The confession leaves me speechless, my chest tight as I stare up at him. His eyes are wild with a maelstrom of emotions I can’t untangle, and the intensity of his presence makes it impossible to look away.

“Ryder...” I start, but my voice falters as he leans closer, his lips so close I can feel the heat of his breath.

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