Chapter 9
Kaeleen's POV
"Fuck," I muttered, already sprinting towards the edge of the building where Astrid was currently at. The storm was raging now. It was in full force and I felt each drop of the rain biting into my skin but I didn't care. I could only imagine what was going on with Astrid right now. A part of me was annoyed. She should have listened to me and taken the opportunity when I proposed to her sleeping in my room. I refuse to believe that there are no more vacant rooms in the pack. It was more like they didn't want her to stay in any good room. They were isolating her and it irked me.
I reached the building in record time, my heart pounding in my chest. What I saw made my blood run cold. The roof had caved in, collapsing under the weight of the rain and wind. The walls were swaying precariously, threatening to crumble at any moment.
"Astrid!" I roared, my voice barely audible above the storm. I ran up to the building, tearing at the door. It was barely hanging on anyway.
"Astrid!" I screamed again, rushing into the building. The inside was a disaster. There was debris scattered everywhere. With each step I took, the floor creaked, it threatened to come apart with my weight.
"Astrid!" I yelled, my voice cracking with desperation.
Where could she be? Maybe she had found somewhere safe to stay? I disliked the thought that perhaps she had accepted help from someone else but at least it would mean she was safe. But then, I heard a voice.
"I'm here," a weak voice replied.
I followed the sound, my eyes scanning the darkness. I found her huddled in a corner, tucked away as far as possible from the collapsed roof. She had a blanket wrapped around her, but she was shivering uncontrollably.
"Fuck, Astrid," I breathed, relief flooding through me.
She was here. I was fighting my emotions right now. Maybe I wouldn't have minded after all if she had found someone else to stay with. Somewhere safe to protect her from this storm.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice trembling.
I ignored her question. There was no time for explanations and I wasn't sure if I would be able to control my emotions when I answered her. I scooped her up into my arms, careful not to jostle her too much.
"Put me down," she protested, her voice weak.
I ignored her. I wasn't going to let her stay in this death trap for another second.
"I can take care of myself," she said, hitting me weakly on the chest. Her voice broke, and I could hear the fear in her tone.
"Is that what you think?" I asked, my voice rough. "That you can take care of yourself in a place like this? This place is dangerous, Astrid. And I'm not going to let your life just pass by, especially when we've just met."
There was a connection between us and I wasn't going to let her die. This connection between Astrid and I was one I hadn't felt at all. I wasn't going to let this slip away.
She was silent for a moment, stunned by my words. I could feel her gaze on me, searching my face.
"Where are you taking me?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
I scoffed. "To my room, of course. Where else would I take you?"
"But it wouldn't sit well with the members of the pack," she protested, her voice gaining strength. "They'll talk. Associating yourself with me would give you a bad reputation."
"I don't give a damn what they say," I retorted. "I'm not going to sit by when I can help you out. And I don't care about my reputation, it was never good to begin with."
She finally relented, her body relaxing in my arms. "I'll only stay the night," she said, her voice firm.
I didn't argue. I knew I couldn't convince her to stay longer…at least not now. But if she thought she was going to come back here with how run down this building was, then she thought wrong.
The rain was still pouring down as I carried her back to the building where my room was located. There was no one outside. Everybody was in their homes shielded against the rain. Except her.
I reached my room and kicked the door shut behind me. I gently set Astrid down on her feet.
"Take a hot shower," I said, my voice gentle. "You're freezing."
She hesitated for a moment, her eyes searching my face. "I don't have any clothes," she said, her voice soft.
I grabbed one of my shirts from the closet and handed it to her. "Wear this," I said, my voice gruff. "It'll be too big, but it's better than nothing."
She took the shirt, her fingers brushing against mine. A jolt of electricity shot through me, making my Ryker stir restlessly.
"Thank you," she said, her voice barely audible.
I turned away, giving her some privacy. I paced the room, trying to control my racing heart. I couldn't deny the attraction I felt for her. She was beautiful, strong, and fiercely independent. And she had captured my attention in a way that no other woman ever had.
After what felt like an eternity, Astrid emerged from the bathroom. My breath caught in my throat. The shirt was huge on her, swallowing her small frame. The sleeves were rolled up, and the hem reached her mid-thigh, revealing long, slender legs. Her hair was damp and tousled, framing her face in a way that made her look even more vulnerable and beautiful.
Ryker growled low in my chest, demanding that I claim her, that I protect her.
I forced myself to take a deep breath, trying to regain control. I couldn't act on my impulses. Astrid was vulnerable, and she needed my help, not my advances.
"Are you alright?" I asked, my voice rough.
She nodded, avoiding my gaze. "I'm fine," she said, her voice soft.
I stepped closer, my eyes searching her face. "You're shivering," I said, reaching out to touch her cheek.
My first instinct was to put on the heater to help her warm up a bit but then I realised that my room didn't have one. It also did not have a television.
I released a sigh. How is it that a room that is supposed to be used for delegates doesn't even have those things? There was no air conditioner either, only a fan. And I had to do something to keep her warm.
"I'll be right back." I said to Astrid as I made my way to Alex and Rebecca's room.
Maybe they will have a blanket I could borrow. I hoped so.