Chapter 4

Ryder's Pov

Two weeks Later...

I was barely holding on to the remnants of sleep when a persistent knocking echoed. I was a light sleeper and any slight noise I could hear from a mile away.

"Go away Ma Levine," I grumbled half asleep, as I already caught her familiar scent of freshly baked bread.

"I'm coming in," she announced from the other end and turned the doorknob.

"Ugh!" I grumbled in frustration, burying my head deeper into the pillow.

Ma Levine walked in and pulled the duvet I was wrapped in, off me.

"I just want to sleep some more," I protested and covered myself with the duvet again.

Ma Levine chuckled. "Who would believe that the almighty Lycan King, Ryder Nixon was such a big baby?" She teased and pulled the duvet off me again. This time around, she tossed it far away, and the only way I could get it back was by getting up from bed, which I was clearly not ready for. "Get up boy," she instructed as she made her way to my bathroom to prepare a warm bath water for me.

"Go have your bath, Ryder," Ma Levine tapped me as she got back from the bathroom.

"Why the rush?" I whined. "Just let me sleep for two more minutes, please," I said pleadingly and used the pillow to shield my face.

Ma Levine chuckled heartily. "That's not happening," she said sternly and collected the pillow. "Today's the coronation of Startling Pack's new Alpha, and it's important you show up."

"I don't care about their soon to be Alpha, I just want to sleep," I fussed. "Desiree can go in place of me."

Ma Levine didn't insist further, which I found quite odd. Maybe she probably decided to listen to me for once.

I sighed in relief, but before I knew it, droplets of cold water hit my face.

"Hey!" I protested, sitting up on the bed abruptly. "What was that for?"

"In case you've forgotten, you're the Lycan King," Ma Levine said and sprinkled more water on my face. "You have responsibilities, not just to yourself, but to the entire pack as well."

"Okay. Can you stop sprinkling water on me, it's cold you know?" I accepted defeat because the stern look on Ma Levine's face indicated she was not backing down. "I'll go take a bath now," I told her and got up from the bed.

"That's good," Ma Levine complimented, as she smiled widely at me. To her, I'll always be the little boy she's taken care of since he was born.

She was the only person I could bring my guard down and was permitted to relate with me like this with no honorifics.

"You're mean," I told her, my lips pursed as I rolled my eyes at her. "I hate you, Ma Levine."

Ma Levine chuckled. "I love you too Ryder," she told me. "Come down for breakfast when you're done," she said and left my room.

Ma Levine was the sweetest person I know, and I trust her wholeheartedly. So far she's the closest person to a family I've got left. She was my nanny, and according to my dad, no one genuinely cared for me like Ma Levine. If there's one thing I learned about my late Dad, it was the fact that he was a good judge of character.

As I stepped into the shower, my mind flashed back to that night at the pub with the blonde haired girl. I shook my head at those thoughts since I felt guilty with being with another woman apart from Samantha.

When I finished bathing, I got dressed and headed downstairs, the aroma of her cooking filled the air, and my stomach growled in response.

"Your meals are the best in the whole world," I complimented her, as she set the dining table.

Ma Levine blushed. "Nice try, but you're not sweet talking your way out of going to Startling Pack," she said.

"Pfft, accusing me of being cunning, huh?" I pouted playfully as I walked towards the dining table.

She chuckled. "Finish your breakfast in time, your car is packed out front," she informed.

I sighed and sat down to eat my breakfast which included crispy bacon, scrambled eggs, toast, and a cup of strong coffee.

"Your meals are the best," I said in between bites, as I tried sweet talking my way one last time.

"Flattery won't save you, Ryder," Ma Levine replied, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

After I was done with breakfast, I went to meet her in the kitchen.

"Thank you for the meal," I said and planted a kiss on her cheek.

"You're welcome, now go," she pushed me out of the kitchen. "It's rude to go late to an event," she scolded.

"Who's going to question me for coming late?" I asked.

"I will," she said firmly.

It's funny how one minute she's loving and the next she's completely strict.

"Fine," I replied, and went to my car, driving straight to Startling pack which was just an hour's drive from Moon Shadow pack.

"I have a good feeling about this pack," my wolf Otis said as soon as we arrived at Startling pack's ground.

"Don't start, Otis," I warned him. "I'm not interested."

"What are you talking about?" Otis asked coyly, feigning ignorance.

"You know what I'm talking about," I retorted. "Don't start talking about mate or anything related to that," I told him. "I've had enough already."

"Fine, you caught me," Otis admitted. "But believe me Ryder, just this once, this is different," he continued. "Besides, Samantha would want you to love, and be loved in return."

"Cut it out Otis," I snapped. Bringing up Samantha's name always brought a stab of pain to my heart.

Samantha and I have loved each other ever since we were kids. When we came of age and found out we were destined mates, our bond and love for each other grew stronger. Samantha was killed by a pack of rogue wolves on her way back from one of her charity visits. It was a well planned attack because up until this day, I could not even find a single lead to the rogues who killed her.

"Just–"

"I'm not interested, Otis," I cut him off, shutting down the whole conversation, and drove silently to the pack house.

As soon as I drove through the pack house gate, Otis paced around happily in my mind.

"Something interesting is definitely waiting for us here?" Otis started again, ignoring my earlier warning.

"You never learn, do you?" I shook my head in disbelief. This is actually not the first time Otis is going on about a supposed mate. I know he's just trying to help, but as a Lycan, I can only get one mate, and sadly I lost mine because I was too incompetent and couldn't protect mine.

"Relax Ryder," Otis said cheerfully. "This pack has something great."

"Pfft, what good can come out of Startling pack?" I scoffed, as I packed and got down from my car.

"You'll–"

"Welcome, Lycan King Ryder," a young lady who wore heavy makeup, and applied a nauseating perfume approached us, smiling sheepishly. "I'm Elsa Cruz, future Luna of startling pack," she introduced herself, bowing slightly, and then stretching out her hand for a handshake.

"I don't like her," Otis said disapprovingly.

"This is what you mean by the pack has something great, huh?" I taunted, but Otis ignored me.

I shook Elsa's hand which was still outstretched, and for some unknown reason she held on to my hand a little longer, and the overwhelming scent of her perfume made me dizzy.

Otis growled as Elsa held on to me a little, but I didn't let it escape my lips.

"This way please," Elsa said, the smile on her face getting wider as she ushered us into the pack house. "Here's your room, the crowning ceremony is starting in a few hours," she said. "I'll send over some ladies for your pleasure."

"That won't be necessary," I said firmly, declining her offer.

"Alright," she said and walked out. About two minutes after she left, I could finally breathe in some fresh air.

About two hours later after I arrived, the crowning ceremony began. Loud music blared from the speaker but I didn't bother going, and just stayed in my room instead.

"C'mon Ryder, loosen up," Otis whined. "Learn to have some proper fun for once."

"No thanks, I'll pass," I told him. I know this was just an excuse to get me to leave my room, and probably confuse a random girl as my mate like he's always done.

I plan on going to the dinner party, which has less noise, so once it's dinner time I'll go downstairs.

Dinner time came earlier than I had expected, and I headed downstairs. After having our meals, the new Alpha London stood up.

"Lycan king, Ryder Nixon, thank you for gracing my pack with your powerful presence," London said, lifting his glass of wine to me.

"My pleasure," I said, and raised my glasses to him too.

"Mate!" Otis growled in my mind, as he looked over to some ladies whom I suspected to be omega's standing by the door.

"Not now, Otis," I warned.

"As the new Alpha of Startling pack, I am asking you to make a request and it shall be granted," London said proudly.

"I don't need anything," I told him.

"Take your time," London said. "Startling pack has a lot of beautiful things, especially LADIES," he wiggled his brows and chuckled heartily. "The offer is always on the table," he told me. "Serve the wine!" He ordered, and the omega's who wore skimpy clothes filled in.

As they got closer, that's when the scent hit me. It was lavender, and the scent grew stronger as the omega's got closer.

"Mate!" Otis growled again, this time it almost slipped my lips.

"Hope this isn't one of your tricks?" I asked, but Otis ignored me, pacing happily in my mind.

I took a deep breath, trying to see if I could work my way around Otis's tricks. It's never happened before for Lycans to get a second mate, so why do I feel this way?

"MINE!" An overwhelming urge surged through me as I growled, grabbing the hands of the blonde haired omega who was about to pour me a glass of wine.

Something about her was familiar...