Felt Different

Chapter 4 – Annie’s POV

Felt Different

After hearing Henry tell me about Riley's past, I couldn't stop thinking about him. I had unfairly judged him. All this time, I had assumed he was another alpha dominate who saw me as a tool. But now. I was no longer sure.

I needed to apologize.

But how?

Riley wasn't the type of guy you could just approach and say, Hey, sorry I was an asshole. No way. He was Alpha-strong, proud, and not the type of man who handed out his feelings on a silver platter. I had no idea what to do.

Part of me said, Just leave him be. Why did I even care what he believed about me? We were never friends. We weren't even supposed to meet.

But then there was that other part of me—the one I did not want to feel—the one which felt guilty. Riley hadn't done anything to deserve the criticism. I was being hard on him and this wasn't good.

I breathed and turned back toward Riley's house which had offered shelter to me.

The moment I entered, I could feel the silence weighing me down. It was quiet, too quietly. I hated it.

I had become used to being alone for years, and I had thought I had adapted. But for some strange reason, this silence felt heavier than before.

I sat on the couch by the window, staring out. The moon was far above the treetops, casting silver over the pack lands. My thoughts drifted back to Riley. Would he appear tonight?

The thinking made me nervous and I scolded myself.

Stop it, Annie. Do not be a fool.

I shook my head and let out a sigh. I had broken up with a terrible boyfriend. I had sworn I would not let any man in again, and yet here I was, wondering about Riley.

It didn't compute.

I hugged my arms around me and leaned on the couch. I assured myself I was waiting for an apology. That was all. Nothing else.

But as the hours passed and Riley did not show up, I was. disappointed? That wasn't quite it. I shouldn't be feeling that way. Maybe he was busy. Maybe he didn't mind whether I apologized or not.

I let out a sigh and hid my face in my hands. "I'm being daft."

Maybe I should just go to bed.

I stood up and went to the bedroom. The bed was soft and cozy, but regardless of how hard I rolled, I couldn't sleep.

My thoughts kept drifting back to Riley.

Was he still at the packhouse?

Was he with someone else?

The thought cut something sharp within my chest, and I balled my fists. Why do I care?

I told myself that I hadn't. I told myself it didn't count.

But as I listened for someone coming out of the house, I snapped awake at once.

My heart pounded and I listened closely. The steps had stopped just at my door.

"Riley? Riley?" I called softly, uncertain.

The door cracked open and he stood there.

Riley stood against the doorframe, arms folded, a smirking expression on his face. "Wow. You waited for me? Or dreaming about me, Annie?"

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't stop the tiny smile that curled my mouth. "Don't flatter yourself, Alpha."

He grinned and stepped inside, his eyes scanning me warily. "So, your health? Better? Feeling better?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Henry's treatments are working.".

Riley looked at me steadily, his eyes sweeping my face. "You sound different," he said at last.

"How?" I asked.

He gave a slight inclination of his head. "I don't know… the way you speak of me. It's not as cold as it was."

I looked away, not knowing what to say. He was not wrong. Something in me, deep within me, had shifted. Perhaps it was guilt. Perhaps it was something I was not ready to admit.

My wolf became agitated, restless inside of me.

Calm down, I told her, but she would not calm. She yearned to get closer to Riley, to talk to his wolf. But I suppressed her, keeping my emotions at bay.

Riley sensed my hesitation. "Something wrong?"

"No," I said quickly. "Just needing sleep."

He nodded, though he didn't believe me.

We remained in silence for a moment, both of us unsure of what to say next.

Then Riley sighed. "You don't have to be nice to me, you know."

I looked at him, astonished. "What?"

He shrugged, a little movement. "If you don't like me, it's all right. You don't have to do anything for me."

I frowned. "That's not—" I stopped myself and bit my lip. That's not true.

I did like him.

It hit me more forcefully than I had been ready.

Riley wasn't the self-absorbed Alpha that I thought he was. He was strong, yes, but he was also kind in his own fashion. He looked out for his pack. He looked out for me.

I tried to say something, anything, but my head went mush.

And then it happened.

I turned to look at him just as he moved closer, and before I could step away, our mouths touched each other.

A mistake.

An accident.

But the moment that our lips met, my whole body went rigid. My heart pounded against my chest.

The kiss lasted but a fraction of a second before we both jerked back, mouths agape and gawking.

Silence filled the room.

I could still sense the warmth of his lips against mine. My wolf growled inside me for more, but I held her back.

Riley blinked, his eyes still on me. "That. wasn't supposed to happen."

I swallowed. "Yeah."

Neither of us moved. Neither of us spoke.

The distance between us had changed.

And I had no idea what to do next.

But before I could stop myself, I spoke in a whisper, "I should get to bed."

Riley's expression altered, some unreadable thing in his eyes. He moved back, making space. "Right. Good night, Annie."

I nodded and beat a retreat to my room, shutting the door behind me.

The instant I was alone, I pressed my fingers to my lips.

I could still feel him there.

I had no idea what this was. I had no idea what to do.

All I knew was that, for the first time in a very long time, my heart no longer felt so cold.