Ryker's POV
The east wing doesn't belong to the places you should wander around aimlessly, it's off limits, and that's final. No questioning on why it is so.
There should be no exceptions. Nothing to discuss. Not even curiosity should lead you to this place.
So naturally, I knew she wouldn't stay without poking her nose.
Of course, that's what she knew how best to do.
"Lucy," I called out sternly, my voice very cold, arms crossed, folded as I leaned against a door for support. "What did I tell you concerning this door?"
She spun to face me, like I was accusing her falsely, like she wasn't the one with her hands all over the keypad recently.
"Oh, please, stop that child's play. " She dramatically rolled her eyes. I was just strolling, familiarizing myself with my environment. You think I have the strength to memorize many of your creepy, outrageous floor plans?"
I stepped closer to her in fury, almost not giving her a breathing space. "That's not like other doors you see every day."
"Really? You want me to believe this crap of yours? Thought maybe, that's where you buried all your decency."
I squeezed my face, clenched my jaw, and still held in from throwing punches on her pretty face.
She smirked knowingly.
I hated it so much that all she did was get under my skin, annoy my life, and still pretend not to enjoy it. And funny enough, I love every bit of it.
"You should know your place, that you don't have any business with this part of the house," I issued sternly.
She folded her arms, like she was ready to challenge my orders, an Alpha's orders, and she did. "I am now part of those who live here, or have you forgotten so soon? You have the rules, the ring inclusive, then your damn child."
"And yet, all you did was test my limit."
She took a few steps closer, almost closing the gap between us. "Maybe because you are guilty of something. What could you have hidden inside there, Ryker? Dark secrets? Or perhaps, a second wife? Or maybe your torture chamber?"
"Don't push too hard."
"I have been pushed already," she snapped angrily. "Ever since I made my way into this place, it has been from one rule to the other, don't touch this or that, even to what I eat and where I sleep, and you thought I would take everything in like it's nothing?"
I pressed her against the wall, not even an inch of space. My wolf stirred furiously, and at this point, I cared not if she could see it.
"You signed the deal, and knew everything in there."
"And I don't intend backing out of it soon," she hissed. "But you should get it into your skull that I'm not your possession that you can comfortably boss around. I don't have the same features as your guards or be compared to your brainless pack minions."
"Never," I growled, still trying to hold myself. "You're even worse than any of them. You're good at being unpredictable. And worst of them all, very disrespectful."
"Oh, it would be so sweet if you cry me a river," she mocked. "Sorry you didn't get the soft and obedient surrogate bride you expected from your imagination. I am fierce."
My eyes narrowed to face her. "You think all of this has any connection to being obedient?"
She arched her chin dramatically. "No, that's all wrong. To me, this is all about being in control. And you detest it so much that I don't belong to the group that kneel and bow."
Whether I'm the Alpha or not, that got me really hard.
It was tough.
"I won't warn you, but it would be better if you watched how you talk to me," I said, though I was not convinced she would listen.
"Or what would happen? You won't waste time in growling dangerously at me again?" She mocked. "You should have known this by now, I'm not scared of you, Ryker. I've encountered monsters even worse than you think you are. Don't think so highly of yourself."
"You assumed you're untouchable just because you signed a contract with me?"
She nodded annoyingly. "Damn contract. And you know what? That same contract with you can't still subject me into doing things I don't want, especially things like apologizing to you when I'm damn right."
I glared so hard at her. "You are wrong for snooping."
"I did nothing wrong, I was just breathing freely in my house!" She said.
"This is not yours but mine!" I snapped at her.
"Not when you signed a contract with me, and married me traditionally according to your culture, so it wasn't just your house. And you should know this, I don't intend to sit down quietly and not know what is happening around me, not when I'm carrying your child. You deemed me fit to carry your heir, but not worthy to find out what is happening around me!"
There was silence everywhere.
I took a deep breath, not knowing what to do with her. Could this be pregnancy hormones? And whatever it was, my wolf isn't finding it funny again as it paced furiously within me.
"You're a handful to handle, very exhausting," I said finally, breaking the silence.
"And you, on the other hand, are insufferable."
We stood there like statues in staring competition, not blinking or breathing. Very stubborn to my liking.
She was the first to get tired and turned to leave, but not without causing a fuss.
"I am not going to apologize," she shouted over her shoulder.
"I won't even accept it," I snapped angrily. "Alphas are always right, no mistakes."
She let out a hilarious laugh. "That explains why your pack members tremble in fear when your name is mentioned. You're too arrogant, never ready to admit any wrongdoing, not even when it's clear how wrong you are."
"I lead with perfection. I don't need to explain to anyone."
She paused and glared so hard at me while still on the stairs.
Then, she smiled and walked away.
For a split second, I couldn't tell what was in my mind. Should I throw something at her for smiling so beautifully?
Or just follow her and break the rules…