Escaping the Alpha, Claimed in the End novel Chapter 55

Chapter 55

Chapter 55

Amelia’s POV

Getting Ryder to drink my blood was like trying to tame a storm.

The first time I tried, he knocked the vial from my hand. It shattered again the wall, the precious drops wasted. The second time, he lunged at me, and I barely managed to dodge. His claws grazed any arm, leaving three shallow cuts

“Ryder, please,” I begged, pressing my bleeding palm toward his mouth. “Just drink. Please.”

He snarled, backing into the corner like a cornered animal. His eyes were wild, unfocused. But I didn’t give up.

I tried again. And again. Each attempt more desperate than the last.

Finally, on what felt like the hundredth try, I managed to catch him off guard pressed my bleeding wrist to his lips, and he bit down-hard. Pain shot through my arm, but I didn’t pull away.

“That’s it,” I whispered. “Drink.”

He did. His body went rigid as my blood entered his system. For a terrifying moment, nothing happened. Then his eyes cleared-just a little. The wild gold faded to a softer brown, and he blinked, looking at me like he was seeing me for the first time.

“Amelia?” His voice was hoarse, confused.

Relief flooded through me so strongly my knees almost gave out. “Yes. It’s me. I’m here.”

He stared at my wrist, at the blood still dripping from the bite mark. Horror crossed his face. “Did I-did I hurt you?”

“I’m fine,” I said quickly. “You’re okay. That’s all that matters.”

But even as I spoke, I could see the clarity fading. His eyes started to cloud again. The poison was still there, still fighting. My blood had only bought us time.

I turned to where Dr. Merrick stood outside the door, watching through the window. “Merrick!” I called. “Come in. I need your help.”

Merrick opened the door cautiously. “How is he?”

“Better, but not cured,” I said. “The blood helps, but it’s not enough. There has to be something else

We

can do.”

Merrick looked at Ryder, then back at me. “There is one thing. But it’s dangerous. Very dangerous.”

“Tell me.”

“The marking ritual,” he said quietly. “A complete bond between mates-soul and body. It might be strong enough to and his wolf, to pull him back from the edge.”

My heart skipped. “The marking ritual. You mean-

“Yes. The final bond.” Merrick’s expression was serious. “But Amelia, in his current state, Ryder might not be able to control himself during the ritual. He could hurt you. Badly.”

I looked back at Ryder. He was crouched in the corner again, trembling. Every few seconds, his body would convulse, and he’d let out a low growl of pain.

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“Amelia-

**Lit can save him, I do it

I’m not leaving him like this: Lsaid firmly. “Tell me what I need to do”

Merrick sighed, but he nodded. “We’ll need to prepare. The marking ritual requires specife conftions We’ll need witches help to stabilize the energy, and it has to be done under the full moveG

“When is the next full moon?”

“Tonight,” Merrick said. “In three hours.

I looked at Ryder again. Three hours felt like an eternity, but it was also barely enough time to prepare

“Let’s do it,” I said.

The next few hours passed in a blur. Merrick gathered the pack’s powerful witches Samantha and three of women who rarely left their cottage at the edge of the territory. They arrived with bags of herbs arid crystals, their faces grave as Merrick explained what we needed.

They set up in the clearing behind the pack house, drawing symbols on the ground with white powder. Candles were placed at each corner, their flames flickering in the evening breeze.

I stayed with Ryder the whole time. His condition got worse as the hours passed. He barely recognized me anymore. Sometimes he’d look at me with those brown eyes, and I’d see a flicker of the man I loved. But most of the time, there was nothing but rage and confusion.

“It’s going to be okay,” I kept whispering. “We’re going to fix this. I promise.”

When the moon finally rose, full and bright, Merrick came to get us. “It’s time.”

Getting Ryder to the clearing was a challenge. He fought every step, snarling and snapping at anyone who came close. But somehow, we managed.

The witches stood at the edge of the clearing, hands already clasped together. The moment we arrived, they began to chant. The words were old, in a language I didn’t understand. But I felt the power in them-felt it in the way the air grew heavy, the way the candle flames grew taller and brighter.

Ryder collapsed to his knees in the center of the circle, gasping. I knelt beside him, taking his hand.

“Ryder,” I said softly. “Can you hear me?”

His eyes

found mine. For once, they were clear. Completely clear.

“Amelia,” he breathed. “What’s happening?”

“We’re going to complete the bond,” I said. “The marking ritual. It’s the only way to save you.”

Fear flashed across his face. “No. I could hurt you. I can’t control-”

“I know,” I interrupted. “I know you might hurt me. But Ryder, I don’t care. I’m not leaving you. No matter what happens.”

“Baby–”

“Listen to me,” I said, squeezing his hand. “You can’t lose hope. We’re going to get through this together. I want this. I want

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Chapter 33

mark me want us to be bonded, completely. Forever”

His eyes searched nime, and I saw the longing there. The desperate want thzed with fear.

“I want that too,” he whispered. “I want to mark you. I want us to be together forec “You won’t,” I said firmly. “I trust you.”

Beet what

The witches’ chanting grew louder, more intense. The moon seemed to brighton, cading server lgft actors the

Dr. Merrick stepped forward. “It’s time. You both need to shift”

I looked at Ryder. His jaw was clenched, his body tense. But he nodded

“What do I do?” I asked.

“Relax.,” Ryder said, his voice strained. “Take off your clothes first. Then shift your

consciousness to be bark leb control. It’s going to hurt-the transformation always does. But it only lasts a minute. Once you state. Karen follow”

I stood, my hands trembling as I started to undress. The witches didn’t look. They kept their eyes on never faltering.

Ryder stepped back to give me space, his eyes never leaving mine.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. “Lyra,” I whispered. “I’m ready.”

She responded instantly. Power surged through me, hot and wild. Then came the pain.

It felt like my bones were breaking and reforming all at once. My skin burned, my muscles tore and rebaunir. I wanted to scream, but the sound that came out was a howl-high and piercing.

The transformation took exactly sixty seconds, just like Ryder said. When it was over, I stood on four legs instead of two

My vision was sharper, clearer. I could smell everything-the herbs, the candles, Ryder’s scent strongest of all.

A low rumble made me look up. Ryder was shifting too.

bøpes

His transformation was more violent than mine. His body convulsed, bønes cracking audibly as they reformed. Black fur sprouted across his skin, and when he finally stood on four legs, he was enormous. Bigger than any wolf I’d ever seen. Ha fur

P was pure black, so dark it seemed to absorb the moonlight. And his eyes-they glowed gold, but clearer now. Focused.

Kieran. His wolf.

He looked at me, and something passed between us. Recognition. Understanding. Need.

The witches’ chanting reached a crescendo. The air crackled with energy.

Kieran moved toward me slowly, deliberately. I stood still, letting him approach. When he was close enough, he lowe head, pressing his forehead against mine.

The bond snapped into place.

It wasn’t gentle. It was like lightning striking, like being hit by a wave. Every emotion Ryder had ever felt for me crashed into my mind all at once-love, fear, protectiveness, desire. And I felt myself pouring back into him-all my own feelings, my

devotion.

trust, my

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ging into something stronger than either of us alone

Then Kierm moved, bis teeth finding the junction between tay neck and shoulder. The bite was sharp, intense. But it didn’t hut the way Lexpected, Instead it felt right. Complete

1 fric Lyra responding, her teeth finding the some spot on Kieran’s neck. When we bit down, the bond exploded into

sing more–something permanent and unbreakable

The mark

The witches chanting stopped. The candles went out all at once. The clearing fell into silence, lit only by the moon.

neck

Slowly, Kieran and I separated. We shifted back to human form, both of us breathing hard. I could see the mark on Ryder’s a silver crescent moon that glowed faintly in the darkness. When I touched my own neck. I felt the same mark there.

But more importantly, Ryder looked different. His eyes were clear-completely clear. The pohon’s haze was gone. His breathing was steady, his posture strong.

“Ryder?” I whispered.

He looked at me, and this time, I saw everything. Recognition. Love. Relief.

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