I look up to see Ryker staring down into my eyes with sadness.
'There's more I need to explain to you, but it can wait till tomorrow,' he whispers. I nod and look at the clock. It's late! My father will kill me. I should have been home ages ago!
Pushing myself out of Ryker's arms, I bolt for the door to leave, impatiently turning the handle clockwise and counter-clockwise to no avail.
'Where's the key?' I ask.
'Astrid! You're not going anywhere yet, and you sure as hell aren't going back to that house!' Ryker argues.
'Ryker, you said you would unlock the door when I'm ready to leave! Please, you have to let me go. He will kill me if I'm late home,' I explain, trying to force the door open.
'Astrid, I won't let him lay a finger on you again. Do you hear me?' Ryker says sternly.
'He will hunt me down, Ryker. If I don't go home, he will kill me. He will look for me here,' I argue.
'Good. Let your Dad come. Because it's the last time he will ever see you,' Ryker says.
'What are you going to do to him? You can't. You can't kill him,' I say.
'Why not? You will never have to fear him again if I kill him now.'
'I know he has hurt me, Ryker, but my mother loved him. She died because of me. I don't want to be the reason the man she loved dies too!' I cry.
Ryker steadies my chin with his hand to make me look at him.
'I think you should tell me what happened that day, the day your mother died,' he says.
'The only person I told is Dad. I don't want to do it again.' I look away in shame.
'Maybe in time, you'll tell me.' I give him a slight nod.
The phone at the diner rings. We look at each other, knowing it's my Dad asking why I'm not home yet. Ryker nods to Jim to answer it.
'Yes, this is Jim's Diner. How may I help you?' Jim says.
'Yes, Astrid is here. But, no, she won't be coming to the phone. And no, she won't be coming home,' he says. 'Let me repeat myself. I don't think you got the message clear enough. Astrid is not coming back to your house again.' And after a few moments of Jim just listening, 'oh really? After what you've done to Astrid, my friends and I look forward to your arrival.' He slams the phone down and looks at Ryker. I look away. I don't know how to feel. My feelings are mixed. I feel happy and safe knowing Jim just stood up against Dad for me. Nobody has ever stood up against Dad for me. The feeling is liberating and daunting.
'He says he is on his way with his shotgun to come and take her home.' I freeze at his words.
'Ryker, I don't want anyone to get hurt. Just let me go back with him,' I whisper.
'No. If you go with your Dad, it will never end. I don't want you to get hurt again. Or worse, killed,' he says.
'What happens to me isn't your problem, Ryker. I can look after myself,' I say. Ryker lets out an angry growl.
'It is my problem because you're my mate!' He shouts. We glare at each other for a moment.
'I know you're going to tell me tomorrow, but I want to know what a mate is right now because there is more to it than just being your girlfriend,' I say. Ryker sighs.
'Promise you won't freak out.'
'I'm not promising anything, Ryker.'
'Maybe we should wait till tomorrow, then. You have enough on your mind to process at this stage,' Ryker says. I slam my fist on the table.
'I want you to tell me now, Ryker!' I yell as I sit down on the chair opposite him.
Ryker looks away before inhaling and exhaling sharply. He sits down on the chair and looks into my eyes. his eyes convey a thousand untold stories. Maybe Ryker doesn't know where to begin. He stretches his arms out and opens his hands.
'Give me your hands,' he says with a soft smile.
'Why?'
'It will make it easier for me to explain what a mate is and the mate bond,' he says.
'Okay...' I whisper as I place my hands in his. Subtle sparks of electricity ignite in our skin. It gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling. He holds my hands and gently massages their backs with his thumbs, shooting electricity through my body.
'On our eighteenth birthday, when our wolf awakens, we can sense our mate when they're near. Sometimes we find our mates straight away and sometimes it takes years. Your mate will have the most amazing scent you've ever smelled. It will trigger your wolf in ways you can't hide, deny, or contain. Your wolf will want to follow the scent. Once you make eye contact with your mate, your wolf will announce that person is your mate. We develop an instant connection: it feels like magic and fireworks exploding when we touch each other. A need to be near each other at all times develops along with a sense of great desire for each other. We accept each other as mates by marking each other on the neck with our fangs. We bite each other, leaving our marks to show others we are mates. The bond intensifies. We can feel each other's emotions and can sense each other at all times. Your mate is your life partner, your soulmate, the one you will spend the rest of your life with and have pups with. It's recommended to consummate the mateship as soon as possible to avoid attracting all the unmated males in the area who will want to mate with you. Oh, and I'm the Alpha, and you're my mate, so that makes you the Luna of the pack,' Ryker finishes. My reaction unsettles him.
I feel like a stunned deer in headlights. My mouth is agape, and I'm staring straight at Ryker. My mind goes into shock, registering all this new information. Then, slowly, I stand, inhaling and exhaling. I look at the back door through the kitchen. I'm as calm and as quiet as a mouse.
'Astrid? I--' he starts. I raise my index finger for him to be quiet. This is met with his confusion and a raised brow. All eyes are on me as I calmly walk toward the kitchen. I run like the wind as soon as I get to the back door.
He wants to bite me. Have sex with me. Make me carry his babies. Be his Luna. And stay with him forever? I only met him two days ago. This is not happening. They have all gone crazy! Or is it me going crazy? I don't even know anymore. If he thinks I'm going to go back home with him to be his lifelong mistress, he has another thing coming.
All these thoughts and questions envelop my mind as the pack chase after me. I run as fast as I can through the trees in the woods. But I don't get very far before being grabbed and pushed onto the ground by Ryker's quick arms.
He is as gentle as possible, but I'm in a lot of pain from the beatings. Ryker lets out a slight growl.
'Why did you do that? Why did you run from me?' He asks.
'If you think for one second, I'm going back home with you to be your lifelong mistress and let you bite me and carry your pups. Maybe I'm better off back home, with my Dad,' I say. Ryker flinches at my words.
'It's not like that at all. You'll understand it better when you turn eighteen,' Ryker explains.
'Get off me!' I yell. Ryker has pinned to the ground on my back, and his face and his breath are inches from mine. Our breath is misty in the cool night air.
'Will you run if I get off you?' He asks.
'Yes,' I mumble. Ryker lets out another low growl. The sound of a shotgun goes off in the diner's direction. Ryker stands and takes my hand to pull me up. Our skin-on-skin contact is magical. I never want to let go of his hand.
As we run back to the diner, I fear what is about to unfold, holding hands. My Dad is sitting on the bonnet of his car with his shotgun pointed at some of the pack members outside. He watches me step out from the concealment of the woods, holding Ryker's hand. 'How many men are here waiting to have their turn with you, Astrid? Fourteen? Fifteen?' He spits. Ryker lets out a growl. 'Astrid, you need to train your pet dog to behave. Otherwise, I'll have to put him down, like the dangerous dog he is for touching my daughter.' A warning shot fires toward Ryker's feet, purposely missing them but warning him. I jump at the gunshot. Ryker doesn't flinch. Instead, he maintains a steady resolve and holds my hand tighter. He glares at my father.'The only one around here who needs to keep their hands off Astrid is you! I'm going to rip you to pieces,' Ryker yells, letting go of my hand and tackling my father to the ground. I try to grab his arms, but I'm useless. The scuffling is too unpredict
It's around 1 am when we arrive at Shadow Crest. I wake up to Ryker carrying me in his arms. It's dark and quiet. 'Ryker, I can walk, you know?' 'I know, but I want to carry you,' he says with a grin. 'Put me down, Ryker.' He gently puts me down.We are at the mansion's front entrance. It's three stories high. A giant white staircase ascends to the second floor. The balconies on the second and third floors are to die for, and I admire the white French doors and windows. Manicured green hedges border the mansion, and flowers grace the garden sweetly. A giant water fountain sculpted in the shape of two wolves is a glamourous outdoor focal point.'This is where we live. This is the packhouse,' Ryker says proudly. 'It's a massive house for just two people,' I say.'Oh, many of us live in this house.' Ryker scratches the back of his head nervously. 'You never said I'd be living in a house with a bunch of werewolves,' I say.'It's normal for the Alpha and Luna to live in the packhouse
It's a beautiful town with lush trees and plenty of parks. I see a shopping strip and some cute cafes and clothing stores. There are plenty of people around who are most likely werewolves. I feel many unwelcome eyes on me. I perk up when I spot the watchtower and go there.After climbing hundreds of steps, I take in the view Shadow Crest sure is beautiful. A dense, green forest surrounds the town for miles, and I'm unsure which way to go. Finally, I sit down, defeated, and dangle my legs over the ledge, resting my head on the rail. What am I going to do? Turning into a werewolf scares me, but I can't run from that. It's going to happen no matter where I go. I reflect on last night: My dad shot Ryker, and he protected me from my father, and how my heart ached at almost losing him.Suddenly, I feel a presence behind me. Ryker lets out a heavy sigh and sits down next to me, dangling his legs over the ledge. 'Ryker, I'm sorry I ran off. I panicked and didn't know what to do.' I explain.
We decide to watch some movies downstairs. 'Can we make some popcorn first?' I ask. 'Sure, I'll make it while you pick a movie.' I flick through the list. There are so many to choose from that I can't decide. I close my eyes and press play on a random movie. Ryker sits close beside me, holding a large bowl of salty, buttery popcorn.'What are we watching?' He asks. 'I'm not sure. I couldn't decide, so I closed my eyes and picked a random movie.' 'That's cute,' he smiles. I giggle. Then, the movie starts, turning out to be a scary horror film. I have my face in Ryker's shoulder halfway through it, too frightened to watch the spooky parts anymore.'You can hold my hand if you're scared,' he says. I laugh. 'You wish!' I laugh. 'I wish,' he says, grinning. I smile back at his confidence and jump in fright when the monster appears on the screen, out of nowhere, capturing and killing the human who tried to get away.'Aww, baby. Did the monster scare you?' Ryker asks as he swings my le
The following day, there is a knock on my locked door. I ignore it. 'Astrid, I know you're there. Please unlock the door,' Ryker pleads. I don't want to hear his voice, so I lock myself in the bathroom, run a bath, and stay there for as long as possible.I put on a pair of jeans and the most oversized hoodie I can find. It almost touches my knees. I pull the hood over my head. It makes me feel invisible like I'm able to hide from the world. It's an enormous sense of comfort. On the twelfth knock on my door, Ryker is livid and enlists Mia's help. 'It's Mia, Astrid,' she says through the door. As sweet and bubbly as she is, I still want to be left alone.'I brought you some lunch. I'll leave it at the door,' she explains. The last thing I want to do is eat food. I feel sick to the stomach thinking about how close I have become with Ryker. He wants me, but I don't understand why. I get that I'm his mate, but he had already arranged to be mates with Vanessa. Have I ever meant anythi
Last night was awful. I wasn't able to get much sleep. I got up early before sunrise and headed downstairs to the kitchen to make myself breakfast. Entering, I freeze for a moment as Alice is there, cutting up fruit. Alice pauses and looks up to see me. She becomes angry, and the knife in her handshakes. 'Good morning, Alice,' I say politely. She growls in a warning.'I'm just going to get myself something to eat, and then I'll be gone,' I say. 'Permanently, I hope,' she mutters.'Alice, I get you're upset, but I planned none of this. I didn't even know werewolves existed until recently. Maybe if we get to know each other, we might come to tolerate each other. Maybe even be friends,' I say. I yelp when her knife flies past my face and into the wall. 'I will never be your friend, and you will never be my Luna! Mark my word, Vanessa will become the Luna of Shadow Crest! I suggest you save yourself from the hurt and leave now. Because I can assure you, you won't live to see your eight
We're in an underground car park. I follow Zenith to an elevator, step in and stand beside Zenith at the back. John stands in front of us. I feel under-dressed, wearing a hoodie and jeans while they wear expensive suits. After a few minutes, the elevator stops and the doors open with a ding. I step into a large, clean, classy foyer. I follow Zenith to a large door. 'This is the waiting room.' he says.The waiting room has luxurious couches and recliners, designer coffee tables, fancy vases and fresh flowers. There is a long u-shaped desk centred in the room, and an ample water feature another wall.'This will be your desk. You will greet the clients and offer them drinks. There is a kitchen with a coffee machine and a fridge behind you. Give my clients whatever they want,' he says. I nod.'This room behind your desk is my office. Don't let anyone in until you have told me they are here via call. I will tell you when I'm ready for them.' 'What if they refuse to wait and enter your of
I can barely sleep. Ryker is on my mind all night. I'm apprehensive and nervous about my first shift in four days. After a yawn and a stretch, I get dressed, make the bed, and go downstairs to the dining room for breakfast. A few members are already at the table eating, Amelia is one of them.'Good morning, Astrid,' she says. 'Good morning, everyone,' I say, sitting next to Amelia. The other ladies smile. 'You'll have to tell me all about Shady Crest,' I tell Amelia. 'Alpha Zenith is obviously our Alpha,' she giggles. 'Yep. I think I got that.' I chuckle.'We train here daily, including she-wolves. Alpha Zenith likes to keep our reputation intact. We're the strongest pack, and he wants us prepared if another pack becomes a threat so that we can take them out. His eldest son James hasn't found his mate yet. Alpha Zenith has one in mind. He won't say who just yet, but says he will only settle for the strongest she-wolf, as James will eventually take over as Alpha,' she explains.'Wh