Lone Wolf Ryker

Lone Wolf Ryker Anika Skye Also by Anika Skye Alpha Wolf’s Secret Nanny Alpha Wolf’s Fated Mate Alpha Wolf’s Fated Bride Alpha Wolf’s Secret Mate Alpha Wolf’s Secret Baby LONE WOLF RYKER. Copyright © 2023 by Anika Skye. All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organization and events portrayed in this story are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. ISBN-13: 978-1-950405-62-6 (paperback) Printed in the United States of America. Contents Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Stay in Touch About the Publisher Get a Steamy Fae Romance for FREE! About Lone Wolf Ryker My lonely life as a mercenary werewolf shifter prepared me for violence, not love. But when I lay my eyes on her, an overwhelming fire ignites inside me--a consuming desire I can't deny. And with each beat of her heart, the answer becomes clear: Lauren is my fated mate. But the power that pulses through her veins makes her a target, and I'm the only one who can protect her. The line between duty and desire blurs with each passing moment. And I'm willing to risk everything--even my own life--to keep her alive. So, when an ancient feud threatens to tear us apart, there's no doubt left in my mind... No matter the cost, Hannah is mine. Chapter One Ryker Mason The blood-red gaze of a satisfied vampire stares at me. How the fuck did I get here? Fucking vampires and collecting my pay from the council. I ignore the hint of regret and stand. “Will I see you again, Ryker?” Valencia traces a pale finger down her cleavage, and it slips beneath the thin sheet. Her back arches, as she cups her heat with a sensual smile on her full, rosy lips. She moans and for a second her eyes close in pleasure. Such a sight used to guarantee another round, but not tonight. Being her bedmate has become more of a chore than anything else. The agreement’s terms have been met. I don't answer her and rise from the bed, the sheets pooling around my feet in a dark mass. I reach for my pants then my shirt. “I've been summoned to stand before the vampire council,” I say, fastening my belt. She turns away from me, her long dark hair cascading over her bare shoulders. I let my eyes watch her slender figure as she walks toward a wardrobe and opens it, revealing an array of lavish garments inside. “I know.” “Then why'd you ask?” “I haven’t heard a thank you.” Her eyes follow my movements. “I’m the reason they’re hiring you.” I gesture toward the bed. “This wasn’t enough?” Valencia stops, turning to catch my gaze. “Father wasn’t pleased with your last job. He said you were too ruthless, like a rabid dog.” She pulls out a sleek black dress and pulls it over her head. I can see a faint shimmer of her bare skin underneath the fabric. “The Vampire Lord himself is accusing me of ruthlessness? Well, I’ll be damned.” “I’m guessing this means I won't see you.” Her voice is flat. “It's not that I won't see you, Valencia,” I say, carefully choosing my words. “But I don't mix business with pleasure.” “Haven't you already?” She stands in front of me now, her hand clutching her hair. “I was told you were a man who liked to play with fire. I didn’t realize you liked it so cold.” “You're a fine one to talk,” I say. “Wasn't it you who told me the other night you liked to bite and fight with your lovers—a vampire queen who favors the hot-blooded cock of a wolf to a cold, cadaver-like lover.” Valencia rolls her eyes, turning away from me, but I grasp her wrist. “One thing you need to learn is that I'm a man of my word.” “And what word is that?” “I promised you a night, and you've had that.” “I'm done humoring you, Ryker.” She walks away from me, fastening a bracelet around her slender wrist. “Think of tonight as nothing but a moment of weakness. I’m a vampire but I’m still a woman who appreciates a hot-blooded cock every once in a while.” There’s a mischievous smile on her face and I prepare myself for what she’ll say next. Vampires are opportunists. Most don’t do business where they fuck, but Valencia is an exception. Her father, the Vampire Lord, does not know his precious daughter loves to entertain the likes of my kind. Valencia stops, looking me up then down one last time. “You’ve returned to my father’s good graces and his payroll. It's all business from here on out.” She laughs softly as she leaves the room, a laugh that signals this is far from over. “Business.” I say to fill the silence, walking over to the bar and pouring myself a drink. “That's right, Valencia. It is business, and it's time you learned that.” I take a long sip of the drink and notice my reflection in the mirror. There are dark circles beneath my eyes. Shit. I look terrible. But that happens when your social life consists of hunting down dangerous beings and being beckoned to bed by a vampire queen. I