Malia’s POV
“You bitch,” Lila screeched from behind us.
I froze in alarm for a moment. To my dismay, Ryder didn’t let go of me. I dug my nails hard into his side and he instantly let me go.
I moved to stand behind him because she looked like she wanted to rip my heart out of its cage.
Ryder rubbed the back of his neck. “How are you doing, Lila? He asked.
She scoffed. “Are you kidding me right now?”
Her eyes had narrowed to slits and her hands were clenched into fists.
“This is well beneath you, Ryder. She’s nothing. How could you allow her to seduce you?” she demanded in fury.
I wanted to protest. If anyone was the seducer it was the Alpha and not me. But I remained silent. There was no need adding gasoline to fire.
“Lila, please stay calm,” he pleaded, walking slowly towards her.
She looked like she was going to explode.
Immediately he got close enough to her, she drew back her hand and landed a slap on his cheek.
I gasped.
“Hopefully that is enough to bring you back to your senses,” she snarled.
To my horror, she began walking towards me. I wasn’t in the mood for a cat fight but neither was I going to run away. I straightened and glared at her as she approached.
Before she got too close, Ryder stopped her. “It’s not her fault. I’m to blame,” he said.
She ignored him and tried to free her hand from his hold. His hand tightened on her wrist.
“Let me go,” she growled.
“I’m sorry, I can’t do that. You’re angry and I don’t want you doing something you’d end up regretting,” he said calmly.
When she struggled against his hold still, he exhaled sharply and in one swift motion, threw her over his shoulder.
He walked down the hallway as she shrieked and pounded her fists on his back.
I winced on his behalf and followed from a safe distance.
“You should tone it down,” he advised. “You wouldn’t want the servants thinking that the soon-to-be Luna has lost her mind.”
His statement seemed to enrage her even more. She screamed like a banshee.
I covered my ears with my hands and wondered how Ryder was coping with such a horrible sound so close to him.
We finally got to the hallway where our rooms were. Lila began pounding her fists with renewed vigour on his back as he opened his room door.
The noise became muffled immediately Ryder shut the door behind them. I hurried into my room and plopped on the bed.
Damn, Ryder. Now that bitch was going to make life hell for me.
I took off my ballet flats and Derek’s bracelet fell to the ground. I had somehow forgotten about it.
I visibly relaxed when I realized I had something I could use against Lila just in case she tried to harm me. I just needed to find a little more evidence.
I was curious about what was going on in Ryder’s room. I hoped he had found a way to get her to be calm.
I quietly opened my room door and tiptoed to Ryder’s. I placed my ear against the door and tried to listen for any sound.
I heard their muffled voices and I strained my ear to hear clearly.
“What are you doing?”
I nearly jumped out of my skin in shock.
I turned to find Ronan standing with his hands folded against his chest. The look in his eyes told me that he was not amused.
I shifted guiltily from side to side.
He remained silent so I felt compelled to say something.
“Ryder told me you had something urgent to attend to,” I whispered.
He gave me a look. “Why are you whispering?”
His voice was a little too loud for my liking so I pulled him inside my room and shut the door.
I turned towards my bed and nearly gasped out loud in horror. I had left Derek’s bracelet lying on the bed.
I hurried to the bed and sat down on the bracelet.
Thankfully, Ronan had not noticed it.
He regarded me with confusion. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Of course I am,” I answered with a nervous smile.
“Why were you eavesdropping on Ryder’s door?” He asked.
“Please sit. You’re making me nervous,” I said, stalling for time. I didn’t want to tell him what really happened so I willed my brain to come up with something.
He arched an eyebrow and to my surprise settled on the armchair instead of my bed.
“What urgent matter did you have to attend to?” I asked, thinking that the answer was absolutely none of my business. But I desperately wanted to make him forget his question.
Of course, it didn’t work.
“Malia, did something happen?” He asked.
“Don’t worry, it’s nothing you should concern yourself with,” I replied.
He breathed in deeply. “Well if you don’t start talking, I’m going to ask Ryder.”
He stood up and started walking towards the door.
“Stop,” I ordered a little too loud in panic.
He stopped and turned. “Are you going to tell me now?”
I nodded.
He walked to the chair and settled back down. “I’m listening, Malia.”
I took a deep breath. “Ryder and Lila are fighting.”
“And?” He prodded.
“That’s it. They’re fighting,” I said.
“Malia, if it was just that you’d have said so without any form of persuasion. So tell me what really happened,” he demanded.
I rubbed my forehead with my fingers and expelled a breath. “They’re indeed fighting and that’s because Lila saw Ryder and I in a compromising position earlier in the hallway,” I said in a rush.
Ronan was deadly silent for a moment.
“I didn’t do anything. In fact, I tried pushing him off,” I explained.
I didn’t even know why I felt I had to defend myself.
“I knew I shouldn’t have left you with him,” he said with deadly calm.
“Don’t worry, he didn’t do anything serious,” I said. I didn’t like the look in his eyes one bit. The last thing I needed was for him to go and confront his brother.
“If it wasn’t anything serious then why was Lila so mad?”