***
Two weeks had already passed since Gloria started training him. And it had been an exciting two weeks for Ryan. He’d grown to understand and love the being within him. He especially loved it when they went for runs. The feel of the earth pounding beneath his feet when he ran was just amazing. He felt free and happy whenever he ran. And Gloria had been tolerant and great with him throughout. Within just two weeks, she’d managed to teach him almost everything there was to know about werewolves. Becoming one with his wolf made Ryan appreciate supernatural beings better. Gloria had even taught him how to hunt for food like a wolf. And that had been so exciting.
Feeling that adrenaline rush during a chase… It was unbelievably thrilling. And Ryan always laughed with amusement at how content his wolf felt whenever he made a kill. Gloria accused him once of playing with his food. But Ryan loved it when he chased after the animals he hunted, play with them a bit before he finally pounced. He sometimes let them go when he was too full but other times, he caught and shared them with Gloria. He never thought raw meat could be that delicious. Gloria had quickly pointed out that he loved the taste because he was in his wolf form.
Ryan had one major worry, however. He both loved and hated his evenings. Jeremy made it a point to come to his room for a visit of sorts every evening. Ryan craved seeing the alpha but hated it at the same time. He hated how Jeremy made him feel. Asshole or not, Ryan wanted the mouthwateringly gorgeous alpha with a ferocity he couldn’t fight. But he just couldn’t let go of all the pain Jeremy had put him through. Ryan just couldn’t deal. As much as he looked forward to Jeremy’s evening visits, he wished he didn’t have to see him at all for fear of disgracing himself by letting Jeremy know just how much he wanted him. That would surely be humiliating. On most visits, Ryan remained quiet. Other times, he opened up and spoke passionately when Jeremy brought up his work. His love for his work couldn’t be masked and Jeremy began to take advantage of that telling reaction and talk more about Ryan’s work. Ryan didn’t even notice.
Jeremy had kept their mind-links connected…and Ryan had allowed it till he’d gotten irritated with Jeremy constantly checking up on him. Whenever he was out training with Gloria, Jeremy would ask him after every ten minutes, via their link, how he was doing. Ryan sometimes responded but most times, ignored him. He could always feel Jeremy’s sadness through the link when he ignored him but Ryan didn’t care. At a point, he’d gotten extremely irritated and asked Jeremy to get out of his head. Jeremy had done as he’d demanded without arguing. Immediately the link had been cut however, Gloria had noticed because Ryan had instantly lost concentration.
‘Let’s take a break.’ The elderly woman had said quietly through her link with Ryan.
Ryan had hated the pity he saw in Gloria’s wolf’s eye. But he didn’t blame the elder because he knew he didn’t just feel lost without Jeremy’s link, he looked lost. How could he hate someone so much and yet want him so fiercely, Ryan asked himself for the umpteenth time. The way werewolves were wired was shitty for sure.
So far, Gloria was the only other person he had a mind-link with. He was still trying to get the hang of it. Gloria had assured him that though it took some getting used to, he would eventually get to know how to keep his thoughts to himself even when he was linked with someone.
He went home sometimes…with a personal chauffeur and a bodyguard in tow thanks to Jeremy’s instance. He never slept there though. Ryan would never admit it aloud to anyone but he loved being in the packhouse. He suddenly felt so alone whenever he entered his home, which surprised him. From all the wolf-talk with Gloria, he’d come to know that wanting to be where the pack was, was a wolf thing. They always wanted to be around their own. For someone who had been a loner almost all his life, this sudden dislike for solitude shocked Ryan to no end.
‘Call it.’ Gloria’s wolf gasped as it dropped a deer in front of Ryan.
Ryan quickly looked to his side and chuckled. ‘Five forty-eight. Show off.’ But the look on Ryan’s face showed how impressed he was.
‘Tomorrow, you’ll have to make a bigger kill.’ Gloria chuckled.
‘What’s bigger than a deer in these woods?’ Ryan scoffed.
‘You’ll be surprised. Come on, let’s head back.’ Gloria said as she headed to where her clothes were neatly folded under a tree.
Gloria’s stuff was under a different tree so she and Ryan didn’t have to see each other naked. It wasn’t because the elderly woman wanted her privacy. It was rather because she’d noticed Ryan’s reluctance to get naked in front of her. She’d laughingly told him that a time would come when he wouldn’t care who was around. He would strip freely. Ryan sure as hell wasn’t going to bet on that.
“Looks like it’s going to rain,” Ryan observed as they set off from the woods. “The kill…”
“Kelvin will come for it,” Gloria said, looking up. “You’re right. I think it’s going to rain. Don’t you just love that fresh scent?” She moaned, taking a deep breath.
“I do,” Ryan responded absentmindedly, with a wistful look on his face.
“Miss him?” Gloria asked softly. Jeremy had traveled to Brazil on one of his numerous business meetings. He’d been gone for two days. And Ryan wasn’t taking the alpha’s absence too well.
“You know I do.” Ryan sighed. It was sickening how often he thought about the man and how badly he was missing him. “I’m so used to seeing and talking to him every evening that not seeing him for two days feels like a lifetime.”
“You don’t talk to him every evening Ryan.” Gloria scoffed.
“You know what I mean.” Ryan laughed.
“I know.” Gloria chuckled. Just being in the presence of one’s mate was enough for the soul. “He’ll be back tonight.”
“I know. He called to say he’ll get home around eleven p. m.” Ryan sighed.
Gloria smiled at how Ryan referred to her son’s home as home. “I bet you can’t wait to see him.” Gloria teased. “You have about five hours to go.”
“I’m going to get some sleep. I’m too full.”
“See you tomorrow, darling,” Gloria said, pulling Ryan’s face closer to kiss him on each cheek. “Call me if you need to talk.”
“I will. Thanks.” Ryan said and hurried towards Jeremy’s mansion.
At the huge glamorous foyer, which looked like a hotel’s lobby, Ryan waved at Clara, the pretty redhead who always engaged him in conversation whenever they met. He thought she was smart and witty and he liked her.
“Hey, Ryan,” Clara called out with her usual charming smile. “You’re back early today.”
“Looks like it’s going to rain.”
Clara looked outside. “Oh right. That’s some great weather. I’d better go get into bed for some cuddles, you know what I mean?” She drawled naughtily, making Ryan laugh.
“Well, good for…” But Ryan trailed off as his head suddenly snapped up. That scent… that unique scent that only his mate had. He did a quick scan of the foyer with his eyes but didn’t see Jeremy. “Ahh… I’ve gotta go, Clara,” Ryan said distractedly. “See you in the morning.” He made a beeline for the elevator, groaning when the scent grew stronger.