Ava's thoughts were consumed by the revelation of her "marriage" to Ryker, but before she could process it further, a loud growl echoed through the den. The pack members' expressions turned serious, and Ryker's eyes narrowed.
"What is it?" Ava asked, her voice low.
Ryker's gaze locked onto hers. "It's Marcus," he said. "He's one of the pack members who disagrees with my leadership. He's been causing trouble and challenging my authority."
Ava's heart skipped a beat as Ryker's words were followed by the sound of footsteps approaching. A tall, muscular man with piercing blue eyes and a sneer on his face walked into the room.
"Ryker, you're getting soft," Marcus said, his voice dripping with disdain. "You're more concerned with your new mate than with leading the pack. You're not fit to be Alpha."
Ryker's eyes flashed with anger, and Ava could feel the tension between the two men. "You're not going to challenge me, Marcus," Ryker said, his voice low and menacing. "Not now, not ever."
Marcus sneered, but Ava saw a flicker of fear in his eyes. "We'll see about that," he said, before turning and walking away.
Ava felt a shiver run down her spine. She knew that Marcus was a threat, and she wondered what Ryker would do to address the situation.