Chapter 16. Alpha In Waiting

Ryder’s POV

It was quiet in the woods tonight.

Keeping low and moving swiftly, just as always, just as I had learned over the years,

I moved through the hidden path that only I knew. I could hardly hear my boots on the leaves. Not even Lila knew where I went after school. No one in school actually and I tend to keep it that way.

For how long though. Maybe for a little while longer. I paused close to the dense ivy wall.

I located the rough stone wall behind the branches by pushing them aside with my practiced fingers. Near the corner, still filled with those ivy, I pressed on a particular brick that my father had shown me as a child.

Click.

There was a groan from the stone as a secret door opened. As soon as I stepped thr