Ryker's eyes never left Marcus's retreating back, his expression tense with anger. "Ava, I need to take care of this," he said, his voice low and serious. "Stay here with Lena, and don't leave the den until I come for you."
Ava nodded, feeling a sense of unease. She didn't know what was going on, but she knew that Ryker was determined to handle the situation.
As Ryker turned to leave, Ava caught his arm. "Be careful," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ryker's gaze softened, and he nodded. "I will," he said. "I promise."
With that, he turned and followed Marcus, leaving Ava to wonder what would happen next.
Lena placed a reassuring hand on Ava's shoulder. "Don't worry, he'll be fine," she said. "Ryker's a strong Alpha. He can handle Marcus."
But Ava couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. She looked at Lena and asked, "What's going on? What's at stake here?"
Lena's expression turned serious. "If Ryker loses the challenge, the pack could be torn apart," she said. "We need him to stay strong, for all our sakes."