Yanking the front door open, my annoyance only grew at the sight of the person on the other side. "Oh... It's you," I said flatly, unable to mask the disdain in my voice. Ryder stood there, his eyes narrowed, a clear accusation in his gaze. "Did you lose your phone?" he asked curtly, his tone sharp. "No, I just don't want to talk to you right now," I replied, my hand already on the door, ready to close it and end this unwanted encounter. But Ryder was too quick. He placed his hand against the door, holding it firmly open. "Well, I do want to talk. We need to work this out," he insisted, his voice steady and serious. His eyes blazed with a determination that told me he'd set his mind on this and he wasn't going to be easily dissuaded. I sighed and rolled my eyes with annoyance before reluctantly stepping outside, pulling the door shut behind me to afford us some privacy from Aunt Mara, who was no doubt watching curiously from the dining table. "So talk," I said sharply as I took a
As I stepped back inside, Aunt Mara's eyes met mine and she gave me a look that said 'I have questions'. "It was Ryder," I stated, as I headed back to the seat I had been occupying just before he'd arrived. "I figured it must have been one of the twins," Aunt Mara replied, gazing back at the door before she penciled in a number on her puzzle. "What did he want?" she asked curiously. I sighed. "We had a bit of an argument earlier. He came to clear the air," I replied, feeling a heaviness settle over me. "That's a good thing, right?" she asked, her eyes settling on me again now with a searching look. "Yeah, it's a good thing," I assured her, clearing my throat as I stared down at the wooden table in front of me. "So... If it's a good thing, why do you look so concerned?" Aunt Mara asked, taking a sip of her wine. "His parents have invited me for dinner tonight," I finally said, my voice tinted with worry. "And you don't want to go?" she probed gently, her brows knitting togeth
Time slipped by as I got lost in a fictional world of magic and politics. It was a welcome respite, but before I knew it, Ryder was messaging me to tell me he was on his way. My anxiety levels began to rise immediately. I was hopeful that dinner would be a pleasant affair, but my gut told me to be wary. Grabbing a jacket from my cupboard, I headed out to wait for Ryder in the quickly cooling evening. "Bye, Aunt Mara!" I called out as she got ready for her dinner date in her room. "Bye, hun!" she replied, her voice carrying down the hallway. "Make sure you're safe!" I teased, opening the front door. "You too!" she replied with a lighthearted chuckle from the other side of the house. Just as I was heading down the porch steps, holding the railing very carefully, as had become my new habit, Ryder pulled up in front of the house. "Hey," I greeted him as I climbed in. "Hey," he replied, flashing an uncertain smile. I gave him a curious look. "You okay?" I asked. "Nope," he repli
My eyes closed for a moment as I enjoyed the brief touch of his hand despite the chaos swirling in my mind. I wasn't about to argue with him. It wouldn't prove anything or get us anywhere, so I let it go. He wasn't entirely wrong anyway.When I opened my eyes, he was still looking at me, his eyes searching mine as if he were trying to read my mind.It felt like he wanted to say something, but he never did and the silence stretched out awkwardly until I couldn't take it anymore."So, tell me more about Tuesday," I ventured, needing a way to break through the mounting tension that the quiet between us seemed to be causing.Ryder retracted his hand from my cheek as if he'd been snapped out of a daze before he replied, "Uh... The gig is at a small club in Portland, pretty laid back. Ash’s band is decent, but I'm not sure you'll like their music," Ryder explained, his voice sounding uncertain."Why? What kind of music do they play?" I asked curiously.For some reason, I immediately thought
We'd all heard the noise, but no one made any move to investigate. Besides me, Shelly seemed to be the only one who looked worried and fearful that something was wrong. So maybe it was a door that had just slammed in the wind and the rest of the family was used to it?But as I turned my attention to Ryder, my gut told me it wasn't the wind. He was watching his parents through narrowed eyes, clearly suspicious as their shared looks of concern swept across the room to focus on the entrance.Heavy footfalls could be heard coming up the stairs and suddenly Tyler appeared in the entryway, a look of fury on his face. His hair was disheveled and he looked hot and sweaty, like he'd just finished a long run or something."Is there a reason I wasn't invited to this little family gathering?" he demanded, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on me. His expression softened momentarily, until his focus was turned back on his parents.Shelly quietly retreated from the room, probably figuring
Liz intervened, her voice calming but firm, "Tyler, nobody's trying to change your mind or your feelings. We're just concerned—" "Concerned?" Tyler cut her off, his tone sharp. "If you were concerned, you'd talk to me, not manipulate my schedule to try and keep me away from Kate." Under the table, Ryder squeezed my thigh gently, grounding me as the discussion escalated. Liz sighed, looking between David and Tyler, a hint of desperation in her eyes. "We're doing what we think is best for you, for the pack. We're not your enemies, Tyler." "But you're treating me like I'm incapable of making my own decisions," Tyler argued. "I'm the future Alpha. How can you expect me to lead if you're constantly undermining me?" David stood, his posture stiff as he faced Tyler. "Because sometimes, Tyler, you're too close to the situation to see it clearly. We're trying to help you see beyond this... infatuation." "Infatuation?" Tyler's laugh was bitter. "That's what you think this is?" My hand dro
I watched as Ryder led Kate back downstairs, feeling a mix of relief and regret. The anger that had surged through me just moments ago began to dissipate, leaving a deep sense of disappointment in its wake. I turned my attention back to my parents, searching their expressions for any kind of understanding. “Why can’t you just be happy for me?” I asked, wanting a real answer. “Kate is a good person. She makes me happy. Isn't that enough?” My mom looked down at the half-cleared table, covertly wiping a tear from her eye. I thought I saw a flicker of shame crossing her face. Dad, on the other hand, remained resolute. His expression only hardened as he met my gaze. "No," he said plainly, "It's good to hear that you're happy, but that's not enough. You need a strong partner at your side. If Ryder isn't going to stand with you, you need a mate that will." That was ridiculous and I told him as much. "What about you? You're the Alpha and you don't have your brother holding your hand eve
I stood frozen on the spot as Tyler took a step toward me, his confession hanging in the air between us. A whirlwind of emotions swirled within me. Fear... Hope... Relief... Understanding... "You don't have to say it back if you aren't ready," he said, brushing a loose strand of hair away from my face. "There's no rush." He didn't look upset or disappointed, rather he wore a thoughtful smile. His patience only deepened the feelings I knew I already felt. This was right. We were right. Of course, his parents couldn't see it, but who could blame them? It was like trying to describe the color blue to someone who was blind. They wouldn't get it. They couldn't. "I love you too," I whispered, the words radiating warmth through my chest as I looked into his eyes. I knew I meant it, which was kind of scary. It felt like I was exposing myself to him, laying bare all my vulnerabilities and hoping he wouldn't use them against me at some point in the future. But I trusted him. His