Chapter 6

The moment we stepped outside, the first thing I noticed was the car parked a few feet away.

I stopped walking. It was a massive black SUV with tinted windows, sleek lines, and a polished body that practically gleamed under the morning sun. It looked ridiculously expensive, the kind of car that probably cost more than everything I had ever owned put together.

I stared at it.Then I looked at Ryder. Then back at the car. “Are we riding that?” I asked, completely shocked.

“Yeah,” he said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “How did you think we were going to get there?”

I opened my mouth, then closed it. “Well, I thought you would—”

Ryder raised an eyebrow. “You’re not expecting me to carry you again like last time, are you?”

I froze. He looked me up and down, and the corner of his mouth twitched. “For a small person, you’re way too heavy, Madelyn. I wouldn’t want to hurt my old back.”

My mouth fell open.“I am not heavy.”

He turned toward the car.“You are.”

“I am not!” He ignored me and continued walking. I hurried after him. “You’re the one carried me through the entire forest!”

“And I nearly died.”

“You’re one hundred and twenty years old. Maybe you should have thought of that.” He stopped beside the car and slowly turned toward me.

I immediately shut my mouth. His gaze pinned me in place, dark and unyielding. “Careful.”

I smiled innocently. “What? I’m just worried about your old back, darling.”

His jaw tensed, but his expression remained unreadable.

I grinned. The car was even more impressive up close. The black paint was so polished I could practically see my reflection in it. The front grille was bold and intimidating, matching Ryder perfectly.

I walked around it slowly. “What kind of car is this?”

“Blackthorn is a Porsche Cayenne.”

I blinked. “You named your car?”

“Yes.”

I stared at him. “Typical Ryder.”

He opened the passenger door for me. “Get in.”

I hesitated. “Do you really have use Blackthorn?” I asked

“Why?.”

“That sounds like the name of a villain.”

He looked at me. “You married the villain. And nothing screams intimidating like Blackthorn.”

I paused.Then I smiled. “Fake marriage”

His eyes met mine.“For now.”

My smile slowly disappeared. “What?” He simply gestured toward the open door. “Get in, Mrs. Van Doren.”

I rolled my eyes and climbed inside. The interior was even more luxurious than the outside. Black leather seats, a polished dashboard, and enough space to stretch my legs comfortably.

I ran my fingers over the seat.“This is sick.”

Ryder closed my door and walked around to the driver’s side.I watched him through the windshield as he got inside.

“You know,” I said as he started the engine, “for someone who supposedly wants to rebuild his reputation, driving around in a car like this doesn’t exactly make you look nice.”

He glanced at me. “I don’t care for niceness.”

I laughed softly. He shifted the car into drive, and Blackthorn smoothly pulled away from the mansion.

I looked back at the enormous house disappearing behind us.For some reason, my chest tightened.

Yesterday, I had arrived there with nothing. Now I was leaving beside Ryder Van Doren as his fake wife, on our way to Ravenhill.

I looked at him. “This is really happening, isn’t it?”

His eyes remained on the road. “Yes.”

I swallowed and settled back into my seat. “Okay, husband.” His fingers tightened slightly around the steering wheel.

“Let’s have a quiet ride Madelyn.”

I smiled. “I’m just practicing.”

“Practice quietly.”

I laughed. Maybe this fake marriage wasn’t going to be as terrible as I’d thought. The road became smoother as we got farther away from the forest, and for the first time since I woke up, I allowed myself to relax.

I looked out the window, watching the trees slowly disappear behind us.

It felt strange. I had spent years dreaming about leaving Ravenhill, yet somehow I was heading back there willingly. And beside me was the last person I ever expected to be with.

Ryder. My fake husband.

I glanced at him.

He was focused on the road, one hand resting on the steering wheel while the other rested near the gear shift. He looked completely relaxed, as though driving into a town that feared him was just another ordinary morning. “How long have you been driving?”

He glanced at me. “Long enough.”

“That wasn’t an answer.”

“It was the answer you’re getting.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re so annoying.”

“And yet you married me.”

“Fake married.” I corrected.

“For now.”

I turned toward him. “You keep saying that.”

“Because it’s true.”

“Why do you keep saying it like you want it to be real?” The moment the words left my mouth, I wished I could take them back. Ryder’s eyes shifted toward me for a second.

Neither of us spoke. I quickly looked out the window.

“Forget I said that.”

“I will if that’s what you want.”

“Thank you .”Silence settled between us again. A few minutes later, I noticed the large stone walls of Ravenhill appearing in the distance.

My stomach tightened. I sat up straighter. Ryder noticed immediately. “Nervous?”

“No.” I lied He glanced at me. I sighed. “Maybe a little.”

“You don’t have to be.”

I looked at him. “Easy for you to say. Everyone in that town thinks you’re a psychopath. They fear and you that’s not the case for me. Try being the useless one for long and see where it gets you.”

“Your point is?”

“And now I’m about to walk into that town holding your hand.”

His lips curved slightly. “Exactly.”

I frowned. “Exactly what?”

“They’ll be too busy wondering how I managed to get a wife to worry about anything else. And if anyone try anything stupid I don’t mind taking a few heads down for you.”

I stared at him. “That’s your plan?”

“Yes.”

“That is a terrible plan.” I yelled.

“It will work if you allow it .”

I blinked. “What?”

He looked at me. “If you allow it, I don’t mind being the monster everyone thinks I am for you.”

I opened my mouth but couldn’t think of a response. He turned his attention back to the road. I muttered, “You have an answer for everything.”

“I can’t help it.”

I scoffed “Do you ever lose an argument?”

“Nah.”

I smiled. “You will to me.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Well I can’t wait.”

“We’ll see.” The car slowed as we approached the gates. Two guards stood on either side of the entrance, and the moment they saw the Porsche Cayenne, they immediately stepped aside.

But then one of them looked through the windshield.

His eyes widened. He quickly nudged the other guard. They both stared at Ryder. Then at me.

I swallowed. “Oh, this is going to be interesting.”

Ryder glanced at me. “Remember your role.”

I smiled and reached for his hand.

His fingers closed around mine. “My husband,” I said sweetly. His eyes flicked down to our joined hands before returning to the road. “That’s better.”

I leaned closer to him.

“Don’t worry, darling. I’ll make you look like the happiest man in Ravenhill.”

His jaw tightened. “I’m starting to regret this.”

I smiled. “Too late, baby.”

The gates opened.

And Blackthorn rolled into Ravenhill.

The moment we drove through the gates, I felt the atmosphere change. Ravenhill looked exactly the way I remembered it, the familiar streets, the shops and the people walking around like they owned the place, but everything felt different from inside Blackthorn. Maybe because I wasn’t alone this time.

I tightened my grip on Ryder’s hand.

He glanced at me. “What is it ?”

“Nothing.”

“You’re squeezing my hand tightly.” He said his voice low.

I immediately loosened my grip. “Sorry.”

“You’re nervous.”

“I told you I’m not.” I said quickly

He gave me a look.

“Fine,” I muttered. “Maybe a little.”

He turned the car onto the main street, and I immediately noticed people staring. Some seem to have recognized Ryder, others recognized me, and whispers followed us as we drove past. I could practically imagine what they were saying.

Wasn’t that Madelyn? What was she doing with that stranger?

I glanced at Ryder. He seemed completely unaffected by the attention.

“Everyone is staring,” I whispered.

“Good.”

I frowned. “Good?”

“The more the stare the better.”

I nodded slowly, reminding myself that this was the whole point of the fake marriage. I looked at him again, watching the way his hands rested calmly on the steering wheel as though nothing in the world could bother him.

I suddenly remembered what he had told me before we left. Act like you’re obsessed with me.

I smiled to myself.

“Why are you smiling now?” he asked.

“Nothing, husband.”

His eyes flicked toward me. I leaned closer and rested my head against his shoulder.

His body stiffened slightly. “Madelyn.”

“What?”

“You’re doing too much.”

“I thought you wanted them to believe we’re married.”

“I do.”

“Then let me do my job.” He went quiet, and I couldn’t help the small smile that appeared on my face. A few minutes later, Blackthorn pulled up in front of a large building in the center of town. I immediately sat up straighter when I saw the familiar sign above the entrance.

Ravenhill Town Hall. My stomach twisted. “Is this it?” I asked.

“Yes.”

I looked through the windshield. “Major Gomez is inside?”

“Mayor Gomez,” he corrected.

“Whatever that old douche bag is the last person I want to see.” He parked the car and turned off the engine before looking at me.

I swallowed. “Are you sure this is going to work?”

“Am not.”

I stared at him. “You could at least pretend to have confidence.”

“I said we’d make them believe us.” He opened his door, but I quickly grabbed his arm.

“Wait.”

He turned toward me. “What now ?” I hesitated, suddenly feeling all the confidence I had been pretending to have disappear. “I don’t know if I can do this.”

For a moment, he simply stared at me.nThen his expression softened slightly. “You can.”

“How do you know?”

“Because you’ve spent your entire life pretending not to be afraid. Have watched you hold your head high even when shit hits you. You’re going to be fine.”

I stared at him, caught off guard by his words. Before I could respond, he stepped out of the car.

I quickly followed him, and the moment my feet touched the ground, Ryder came around the car and held out his hand.

I looked at it, then at him.

“Remember,” he said quietly. “You’re my loving wife.”

I placed my hand in his. “And you’re loving my husband.” His fingers tightened around mine as we walked toward the town hall. The moment we stepped inside, several people turned to look at us, and the whispers started almost immediately.

Ryder didn’t react. Instead, he pulled me slightly closer to his side. My heart skipped.

“Smile,” he murmured.

I smiled brightly. “Like this?”

“Less terrifying.”

I elbowed him lightly. “Shut up, darling.”

The corner of his mouth twitched as we reached the receptionist’s desk, and Ryder spoke first. “I’m here to see Mayor Gomez.”

The woman behind the desk looked up. Selene Maclean. Total bitch. I had never liked her, and judging by the way she looked at Ryder, the feeling was probably mutual.

“Who is asking for him?” she asked.

“Tell him Ryder Van Doren from Hayon.”

“Hayon? Like the Hayon?”

“Yes,” Ryder said coldly, and her eyes widened the moment she recognized him.

“Alpha Ryder?”

He nodded. Her gaze immediately moved to me.

“And why is—”

“My wife,” Ryder said without hesitation.

Her mouth fell open.

I smiled sweetly. “Madelyn Van Doren.” Selene stared at us for a few seconds before quickly picking up the phone.

“Mayor Gomez? Alpha Ryder Van Doren is here.”

She paused, glancing at me again. “Yes, sir. He’s with his wife.”

I looked at Ryder and squeezed his hand. He glanced down at me. I gave him my sweetest smile. “I’m fine, honey.”

His eyes narrowed slightly. “Have fun with it while you can.”

“I plan to enjoy every moment.” Before he could say anything else, Selene hung up.

“He’ll see you now.”

Ryder nodded, then looked at me. “Ready?”

I took a deep breath. “I think so.”

A faint smirk appeared on his lips. “Good.”

He pulled me closer to his side, and then he leaned slightly toward me. “Let’s go, my love.”

I froze. My heart immediately started beating too fast, and for a second, I completely forgot how to breathe.

My eyes slowly lifted to his. He was already looking at me, and there was something different in his expression, something that made my stomach twist in a way I didn’t understand.

I swallowed and forced myself to smile.

“After you, husband.” His lips curved into the faintest smile as he led me toward Mayor Gomez’s office, while I tried desperately to convince myself that the pounding in my chest was only because I was nervous.