Alethea
I let out a slow breath, trying to steady myself. His presence is overwhelming in a way I can’t explain.
His dark, thick hair is neatly pulled into a bun, and his captivating brown eyes seem to shift in color.
His lips, thin and pressed together, look smooth and soft, and his serious, brooding expression makes him almost too handsome to be real.
“Are you from here?” I ask, not finding better words after shamelessly ogling this dangerously sexy stranger.
He smirks and steps closer, his movements smooth and controlled. Too confident. Too sure of himself.
“I should be the one asking that question,” he says, tilting his head slightly.
“Hi, I’m Ryder. And you are?” He stretches out his hand for a handshake.
I narrow my eyes, instantly suspicious. No man should look this good. Built like a warrior. A jawline carved from stone. This is the kind of man who makes people sin and damn the consequences.
“Ally,” I say, hesitating before finally taking his hand.
Nothing.
No sparks. No tingles.
Not like Asher.
I shake my head, realizing I’m thinking about him again.
“You okay?” Ryder asks, his voice laced with concern. His eyes study me like he’s reading my soul.
I pull my hand away, suddenly uneasy. “I should go,” I mutter, turning to leave.
“Wait,” he calls out, jogging after me. “I’m just being nice. And I don’t think it’s a bad idea if I walk with you.”
I grit my teeth. I want to tell him to leave me the hell alone, that I’d rather be alone than around someone who reeks of trouble.
But I don’t.
Because there are only a few people in my life who get to see that side of me.
I let go of the thoughts swirling in my head and continued walking. But no matter how hard I try, the memory of what happened earlier with Shirley and Asher rushes back.
My chest tightens, and I clutch at it, feeling as if my heart might rip apart. I’m heartbroken.
I thought we could work things out now that he knows about Declan. But I was wrong.
“You worry too much,” Ryder’s voice rings out beside me, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“You know the Alpha loves you. Right now, he just has a lot on his plate, which is why he seems distant.”
My head jerks up as I stare at him sharply.
How the hell does he know all this about Asher?
And why did he pretend earlier like he didn’t know who I was?
“Don’t look at me like that,” he says, frowning slightly. “I just stated the obvious. And I hope I won’t be punished for telling you the truth.”
I narrow my eyes. “How do you know me so well when I don’t even know who you are?”
He chuckles. “I introduced myself earlier, remember? I’m Ryder.”
I groan, palming my face. “I know that. I mean, what’s your role in this pack?”
“Oh,” he says in realization. “I’m Alpha Asher’s Gamma. I was away for a while, but now I’m back since I’ve finally honored my mother’s request to become a lawyer.”
That piques my interest. “That explains why I haven’t met you before.”
We continue strolling through the pack, talking about so many things.
For the first time today, I feel a little lighter. Ryder has this easygoing charm, and somehow, he makes me forget, at least for a while, about what just happened.
I glance up at the sky, realizing it’s already evening.
Damn. We had talked so much that we completely lost track of time.
“I should get going before Kayla declares a search party,” I say with a chuckle.
At the mention of Kayla’s name, Ryder’s face softens.
And then I see it.
The way his eyes light up, the slight curve of his lips…
He has feelings for Kayla.
I make a mental note to tease Kayla about this later-if she’s even aware.
“Thanks for your time,” I say politely, offering Ryder a small smile.
“You’re welcome, Alethea,” he replies, but there’s hesitation in his voice. “There’s something…”
I tilt my head, as I notice the way he scratches the back of his neck, clearly struggling to find the right words.
“What is it?” I ask, crossing my arms.
“Well… next time you decide to take a walk like this… maybe you could, you know…” He pauses, shifting on his feet. “Tag Kayla along?”
My eyebrows lift slightly. There it is.
I smirk. “You like her, don’t you?”
His expression changes instantly-like a deer caught in headlights. He exhales and looks away for a second, rubbing his jaw before finally meeting my gaze again.
“In a way,” he admits. “She’s beautiful. Heads turn whenever she walks, but it’s not just that. She has this aura of grace and strength like she was born to stand above the rest. She’s phenomenal. And…”
He hesitates, his voice dropping slightly. “I want her. In every sense. And what I feel for her-it’s not something I can just ignore.”
I blink, a little surprised by the depth of his words.
“Wow,” I breathe. “That must be hard… feeling all of that and not having the chance to say it to her.”
He nods, his expression filled with something unreadable. “It is. It’s draining, Ally.” Then his eyes meet mine with a silent plea. “Just do this for me. Please.”
I hesitate for a moment. “I’m not promising anything,” I say honestly.
But Ryder smiles anyway like my answer is good enough. He suddenly reaches out, placing his hands gently on my shoulders with a warm and reassuring grip.
“Be good, Ally,” he says softly. “And don’t forget my request.”
I nod slowly, and he lets go, taking a step back before turning away.
I watched him go, I let out a deep breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
Kayla has no idea what’s coming.
I skip toward the pack house, but the moment I step inside, I feel everybody’s gaze on me.
Their eyes are with judgment, whispers rippling through the air like a storm ready to break.
What’s wrong? I wonder until I start catching pieces of their hushed conversations.
“She hurt Shirley.”
“Did you hear what she did?”
“Poor Shirley, she didn’t deserve that.”
My jaw tightens. I knew this would happen.
I slowly square my shoulders, lift my chin, and force myself to walk forward with my head held high. They won’t break me.
But their judgmental stares are suffocating.
My head starts to feel heavy, a dull ache forming behind my eyes. My vision blurs slightly, and I start feeling dizzy.
I need to get out of here.
Ignoring the whispers, I push forward, my legs trembling slightly as I reach my room.
My hands feel clammy as I grab the doorknob and yank the door open.
And then, I gasp.
Lying on my bed, completely at ease, without a care in the world…