Chapter 3 - Doubts

Ryder watched Zoe's taillights fade in the distance.  He'd found his mate, and she wasn't running from him.  In fact, she was the one that was pushing for them to see each other again.  He couldn't help feeling like he was pathetic.  What kind of alpha was tongue-tied around their mate?  What if, after she got home, she decided she didn't want to be around a man who acted like an idiot?

 

"You all right, man?"  Chase asked, walking over and slapping him on the shoulder.  He knew Ryder well and was sure he was kicking himself because of how he'd behaved in front of Zoe.  

 

"Yeah, but what am I going to do?  I can't exactly tell her I'm a werewolf and the alpha of The Dark Moon Guardians.  She'll think I'm crazy.  I'm even a virgin for crying out loud."  Ryder looked at the card she handed him and noticed her job title was Chief of Cardiac Surgery.  He knew she didn't get that title by being awkward around people.  She most likely had to fight for it.  

 

"Just be yourself.  I saw how she was with you.  It didn't seem to bother her that you were nervous around her.  She lives close, so take your time to get to know her.  You'll know when the time is right to tell her about you and the pack."  Chase loved Ryder like a brother.  They'd grown up together.  

 

Many from their pack weren't pleased with Ryder being alpha because he was adopted into the pack and not born.  The prior alpha and luna weren't able to have pups, so they adopted Ryder from a pack that was broken up by the king.  The Fire Pack he was born into was abusing the pups.  When he arrived at The Dark Moon Guardians, Ryder was young but remembered everything that had happened at Fire Pack.  

 

Chase knew both his birth parents had severely brutalized his friend.  It's why he still had difficulty being around some people or trusting anyone not to turn on him.  Ryder was full of doubt and self-loathing that his adoptive parents had tried to help him overcome.  Their love had worked wonders for him for a while, but he felt abandoned again when they died.  Chase hoped Zoe was the missing piece he needed to help him heal.  

 

"I can't believe how incredible she is,"  Ryder said with a dreamy look in his eyes.  They almost forgot there were still police on the scene investigating the accident until one walked over to them.  Once they answered all their questions, they got in their car and drove away.  Luckily, their vehicle only had minor damage.  They'd been on their way home after meeting with another pack regarding some rogues that were seen in the area.  The man in the other car came flying out of a side street right in front of them before they could stop, causing them to slam into him.  

 

"So what do you want to do about the rogues?  Should we have more guards assigned around the pack lands?"  Chase asked, glancing over at Ryder in the passenger seat. 

 

"Yeah, that's fine."  He answered while staring at the business card in his hand.  Chase could tell he was distracted and not listening to anything he said.  

 

"Should we join the rogues and terrorize Los Angeles until wolves rule all?"  Chase asked, chuckling to himself.  

 

"Yeah, that's fine."  He reached over and smacked Ryder's leg.

 

"What's eating at you?"  Chase asked him as they turned up the road to the pack house.

 

"What if I'm not good enough for her?  She's young and already well accomplished, and I'm nothing but an alpha of a pack that doesn't want me.  I don't want to be a disappointment to her."  Ryder answered truthfully.  He didn't have any friends other than Chase.  Everyone else still saw him as an outsider.  Sometimes he thought it would be better to leave the pack and hand it over to his beta.  

 

"Being an alpha is no small thing.  Why do you think the other alphas ask for your advice?  You have a good head on your shoulders.  You may not have experience with women and are uncomfortable around people, but you're a good man.  The other packs respect you.  Trust me.  Do you think she'd want to see you again if she wasn't interested?"  Ryder relaxed a little as they parked next to the pack house.  He thought about bringing Zoe and introducing her as his luna.  

 

"What do you think about the pack finding out my mate is human?"  He asked quietly.  They already hated he wasn't born one of them.  He couldn't imagine how they'd treat Zoe.  Especially the she-wolves, who wanted him to mark them.  He had no interest in women who weren't his mate.  

 

"They'll have to deal with it.  Besides, she seems like a little firecracker.  I bet she can handle herself and put them all in their place.   It's good she's so spunky, or you may never have the courage to see her again."  Ryder smiled.  He had to agree.  If it was up to him, he would have been too nervous to call her, and Zoe had caught on to it right away.

 

"Yeah, I like that about her.  She wasn't scared to touch me or even hug me.  I would have never been able to do that even though I wanted to."  Chase laughed.  Ryder may be the largest wolf in the pack, but sometimes he still seemed like the shy little pup that was brought to their pack over twenty years ago.

 

"Right now, you need to get cleaned up because I don't think it will be long before she calls you."  Ryder nodded before getting out of the car.  As soon as he shut the car door, he heard someone running toward him and groaned internally.  It was Crystal, one of the unmated she-wolves that couldn't take a hint.

 

"Ryder, what happened?  I've been waiting up for you."  She tried to put her arms around him, but he shoved her away while Axel growled.  Her scent repulsed him.  He tried to walk away without acknowledging her.

 

"What's wrong with you?  You need to pick a mate, or you're going to regret it."  She yelled at him angrily.   Ryder turned toward her, and she stepped back in shock from the look on his face.

 

"I will only mark my fated mate, and that is not you.  If you or anyone else threatens me, you'll be the ones to regret it.  Now get away from me, and don't come near me again."  Ryder turned and walked into the pack house, shutting the door loudly.  Crystal stared in disbelief.  He had never talked to her or anyone else like that.  She brushed her blonde hair out of her face as she turned to Chase.  

 

"I suggest you do what he says.  With how he's feeling, I wouldn't put it past him to throw your ass in the dungeon."  Chase said with a smirk.  Crystal glared at him.  

 

"He can try, but if he doesn't choose a mate from this pack, everyone will make sure he's no longer alpha.  I'm his best option, so he better mark me before it's too late."  Crystal tried to walk away, but Chase grabbed her arm.

 

"You can tell everyone if they have a problem with the alpha; they can speak with me.  He's the best alpha we've ever had, and when he marks his mate, they'll be incredible together."  Chase shoved her away hard, making her stumble backward.  

 

Chase frowned as he watched her walk away.  He would have to start sniffing around to see who was talking about taking Ryder's place.  He wasn't going to let that happen.   The king would get involved if he had to.  What will they do if they're attacked by their own pack?