Stephanie was back while the match was about to start. I sat closer to Michelle, trying not to be too obvious in how I leaned away from her. Ryan had allegedly sent her to watch over me, I would have a talk with him about that, couldn't he have found someone who didn't have a major crush on him?
"I did not look at your message as promised, and Ryan really appreciated it," the stupid girl went on and on as if I would congratulate her. I let her voice become a meaningless thrum in the background as she bragged.
I was on the edge of my seat looking towards the stadium, where I should see Ryan appear.
"Stephanie," I turned to her, and her mouth shut for the first time in minutes. "What is the first round again?"
 
Ryan's POV"I want to be considered as an Alpha candidate," I had officially announced to the elders, claiming my prize, but ultimately, it was up to them. That was the way of Alexanders."Ryan is the winner!" The elders had announced my win, and it was still ringing in my head. I couldn't believe it, and I thought they had resisted, but they could not. I had thrown Jacob four times in the match, and he'd violated the rules by attacking me after it was called. If he hadn't done that, I was sure they might have reached a different verdict.I had held firm to the rules till that last strike after the match had been called. I had won two of the three rounds. After my claim, they would need to deliberate my worthiness to be an Alpha candidate.I had looked up towards Alyson in the stadium seats, trying not to be too obvious. I could smell my mate out of a crowd of a thousand. She had sent me blood twice under cover, a
Jennifer's POV"I would have killed him! They should have let me. I'm the Alpha." Jacob screamed as the doctors tended his wounds. His broad shoulders where uncharacteristically hunched. His lip was torn from his nose down to his blood-stained teeth. For the first time in our marriage, I even thought he looked a little hideous, but he only needed to heal."The elders surely won't deliberate against you," I reassured.He slammed his fist into the table, and it splintered the wood. He practically had daggers coming at me out of his eyes, and I grew quiet. My mate was in a terrible rage after he lost the match. I hung in the background, not wanting to risk that his aggression be pointed at me. I made sure he received the Clan Clark blood required to heal and regain his strength, but there was a lot on my mind."Someone is providing him blood, or he shouldn't have been able to beat me. Who is it?"
Alyson Stephanie couldn't help but brag that Ryan was staying at her neighbor's place for safe keeping. She offered a lot more information when I prompted her as casually as possible. Otherwise, I couldn't have known that he was no longer at his father's mansion.Unbeknownst to Stephanie, when she left Michelle and I for the night, I followed her. She was too oblivious to notice, swishing and swaying her way through the streets till she finally entered her grandfather's mansion. I glanced around, there were several possibilities to where Ryan was staying, but I took my chance that he was in the largest one. I let the fresh air fill my nostrils, but I still couldn't quite smell him. It seems the Moon Goddess might have taken it too seriously when she took away the capability that might be handy now if Ryan were a fated bond. Not that he
Dylan was in town, but I had not had the opportunity to see him yet. I was supposed to attend a party thrown by Clan Harris to celebrate the new trade of Blood's Bane, even if I would rather sneak off to see Ryan again. I could not get him out of my head for even one full minute. After last night especially. I was caught up in the moment yesterday, and I had forgot to ask about Stephanie since she seemed to feel important to him. I wanted some clarification. But he had said he would love me always, so that was reassuring. He couldn't possibly even like her, but I still wanted to hear it from him. A package arrived from Dylan with a note: This was made for you, Enjoy.Apparently, he'd ordered me a new dress, and it was the most luxurio
I remained at the party for a while, but then I excused myself to Dylan early, saying I didn't feel well. Every important Alexander and official in Crowalt Pack was still there, and preoccupied, so I figured it might be a good chance to sneak back to see Ryan. Michelle was staying to cover for me in case anyone asked about me, and then I traveled the night, the streets alone, wary and suspicious of every shadow. I was paranoid that Jennifer might have seen me leave and sent someone to spy on me.My insides felt jittery after that tense interaction with my sister. I wanted to cry, but I could not, I had wasted so many tears from her cruelty towards me. I truly hated her. But the night was quiet with the most important wolves at the party. After a few hesitations and wary glances, I approached an
Ryan's POV I woke up beside Alyson, and tried to remain calm. She had stayed the night, and I wanted to get her away from here as soon as possible. But her peaceful face during sleep was so beautiful I wished to start all days like this once it was safe. I kissed her cheek gently to rise her. Any tension from yesterday had dissipated over night, but her story was still strong in my mind. I could not believe what this she-wolf had gone through, but I understood her so much better now. "Alyson, we fell asleep." I said softly. "You should probably get going." Her purple ball gown in the morning would be a terrible thing to wear home. It would be too obvious that she was out all night. She stirred and her eyes shot open at my words, "S
Alyson's POV "What?" I exclaimed excitedly. Looking around a charming little apartment that Dylan has just presented to me. It had several rooms including a maid's quarter for Michelle. It would be perfect.Dylan was smiling, "You can stay here as my trade associate with your own salary and apartment of course.""That's amazing news!" I had wanted to stay under my new identity, especially after the elders announced that Ryan was an official Alexander and he had bought a mansion here. "You're the perfect choice for it." He said. "It was actually Ryan's idea, so I can't take full credit. The Blood Bane's supply is technically his after all." He finished the last part in a hushed tone. Clan Alexander did not know where Clan Harris derived their stash, and
Alyson's POVEven as some time passed, I struggled to move around Crowalt Pack's territory because there were many faces that I recognized. Everyone only knew me as Alyson, Clan Harris' goddaughter who ran the trade operations. I was still too hesitant to wander through my old neighborhood where I grew up, no matter how badly I wanted to find my mother, she should not recognize me if Jennifer had not.Michelle and I had discovered the paths to traverse on my way to Ryan's where we would be less likely to be noticed. I was glad that his mansion was on the outskirts of all the other Alexander mansions.On one particular day, I left Michelle at home to sneak to Ryan's myself. He was not expecting me, and I knew it was risky, but I was gaining enough confidence to feel sure I could get there unnoticed. My excitement might have put some blinders on as I did not realize that someone else was about to cross my path before it
Alyson The pain is insurmountable. I fight through it, thinking of the pups that need me, that are clinging to the hope that I will always fight for them, and I won't disappoint them now. I turn over, laid out on the floor of the bathroom, the healer working at the cramps in my spine. I grab the towels, grab my own shirt, desperate to get through this sooner than later. My wolf whines and my heart hurts. "RYAN!" I need him, I want him, and I fear I can't do this ordeal without him beside me. I lay out, exhausted from the agony, crying inconsolably until I hear heavy steps parading through the bedroom. Soon, they find the healer and I in the bathroom, my eyes dizzy as I spot Ryan, naked and drenched in rainwater. My breath catches, curious if I am dreaming. "Right here, Alpha, come help me with this," the healer grunts. I feel my mate hold my head, pushing deep into my spine as I straighten my back out in reflex, feeling th
Ryan "Damn this weather," I mutter. The storm has yet to let up and in fact, I believe it's started pouring down harder, with more vigor, and still shows no signs of slowing for my benefit. "Have you tried linking to the healer?" Olivera asks, his antsy attitude not helping my worried state right now. "I mean, if you can't reach through the link to her, she might just be asleep and everything is okay—that could be possible, right? I mean, if you think about—" "Hush," I beg. "You're rambling again." "I'm sorry that I'm flustered," he grovels. "I'm just trying to keep calm." I raise my brow, trying to stay focused on my mate but I can't seem to shake this infatuation Olivera has had for my mate. I should ignore it, as I have in the past weeks, but something about being stuck in this small cave with him has my mind tethering off too many emotions at once. "Enlighten me, please," I sigh, shaking my head out at the storm. "What is this weirdly possessive, sympathetic binding you thi
Ryan I fight through the winds, the rain cascading over my warriors and me. It wasn't the best idea coming out during this type of storm but we lacked one natural ingredient that grows just south of the waterfall trail and then the cure would be complete for the last facility of rogues. I have healed slowly in my weeks of developing the cure, but I could use a dose myself. Thankfully it hasn't affected my poorly mate, spending most of her days passed out in bed until I force her to get up and move around a bit. It's been exhausting for her, but she is the patriarchy of a new family, the strongest she-wolf I know who is capable of carrying these pups. "Dammit, lover boy! Where are you?!" I barge out of the mouth of the cave where my warriors have been taking shelter from the monsoon outside. I see that rogue alpha in the distance, throwing his hands up in a small fit of rage. It's almost amusing if he didn't also sport a petrified look of angst as well. "Over here," I call out. H
Alyson It's hard to feel not included in the cure development, but I watch Ryan and Olivera get along for many consecutive weeks. At least I have that peaceful energy around, watching them work with the palace pack healers to help the rogues locked up in the facilities, still sick. Thankfully there wasn't an enormous outbreak and everything seems to have worked out. I can't help the feeling of doom, though, thinking about every time things were perfect, something horrible happened. I thought once we defeated Jacob and sent away Jennifer, everything would have worked out forever. I was wrong, but if none of that bad stuff happened, I wouldn't be pregnant. I fear these pups won't be okay, the healer making a daily visit, sometimes twice a day, at least to check on my progress. I worry everyday he will say something bad has happened and they're hurt, or worse. I would give my life for these two pups but I hope I don't have to. "Morning, sweeth
Alyson "Relax," Ryan coos, brushing my hair back. He has finally come to my side, forcing my eyes to stay on his, even as he paces his attention back and forth between me and the healer. I squeeze my mate's hand, feeling pressure build in my abdomen. "There you go, he's done." The healer removes his gloves, my eyes catching a glimpse of Olivera in the hall, seeing him pace frantically fast back and forth in the hallway. I look at my mate now, glimmering with sadness as he peers down at me. I know he feels like I've grown feelings for the rogue Alpha, and I haven't, but I can be sympathetic to the wolf who lost everything; just like I had. "Are the pups okay?" I breathe. Ryan flinches. "More than—more than one?" He watches the healer as though waiting to hear so magical, good news. "What is going on? Are they okay? How many are there? I—" The healer settles his hands together before his body, like a man with bad news. "It's hard to tell
Alyson Whatever causes the fight, I'm not exactly sure, but it breaks out anyways. Every single wolf in the courtyard has shifted, the movements so fast that I don't even release that I've been thrown out of the hecticness, my side slamming against the brick wall and my head smacking right up against it until I feel the blood flow from a cut on my temple. I curl into a ball, my hands instinctively curling to my stomach, so dazed that instead of being able to see what has caused this fight to break out, I only spot wolves tearing into one another, biting into flesh and blood being poured. Ryan, I reach through the mind link, not capable of spotting him through the haze in my eyesight. What the hell is going on? Rouges came from the pack lands; they must have been waiting to ambush. Where are you, mate? Get out of here! Go inside, now! I aim to sit up, my head so discombobulated that I can't even dictate which direction would take me bac
Alyson It only takes a moment for me to catch my breath, and another for me to sprint across the hall, watching Olivera struggle to stand, instead melting to the floor where he slams his fist against the tile floor—it cracks instantly under his bold knuckles. I dare flinch, seeing him so angry almost a warning for me to be careful, but I instead charge forward anyways. I grab his cheek, forcing him to meet my eyes, and he relaxes ever so slightly. When he does, I drag my palm across his face in a single, sharp slap. He jolts upright, standing suddenly and staring me down with a pure look of surprise written across his face. "What the hell was that for?" "That's for doing something so stupid," I growl, my fists trembling at my sides. "You could have died from that cure, Olivera, how dare you try something that risky in my palace?" "You might be the Luna, but you're not my Luna," he says, snide. "I am free to make any decision I want if
Alyson I find myself sitting in the hallway between office and bedroom. In one, my mate suffers with an ill mark on his shoulder and back, and in the other sits an enigma of a wolf. He has kissed me, he has fondled me, and unknown to us both, he has poisoned me while I was newly pregnant. If anything, I should hate the rogue Alpha, but I don't have it in me to leave him completely. So I sit in the hall between them both, curled up with my hands resting on my stomach as if I have already blossomed outward, waiting for one of my favorite Alpha's to wake up. If I leave here to be with one, and the other wakes, I'll feel guilty forever. For now, I wait, hearing steps breach my silent mediation between Alphas. "My Luna, why are you out of bed?" I hear Fritz hum, my eyes watered and wide, shocked to see him here of all places. We didn't exactly part on the most amicable of terms. "You're still looking pale." I wave off his words and
Alyson I try to fight Olivera from going into the office, but he easily grabs my wrist, twists it, and nudges me out the doorway. He's too smart and too strong for me right now, my head blotted with the sleepiness that I can't seem to shake. I grab at his arm, at his shirt sleeve, and dig my heals against the ground. He drags me a few paces before finally stopping. "You're a persistent little bug," he snaps, releasing my hands off of his shirt and giving me a stern look. "We have to find out what this cure does to an Alpha and as it stands, I'm the one best capable here of verbalizing the aftermath of taking this cure. If it makes things worse, so be it." I feel my heart patter to a screeching halt. "What does worse contain?" He looks to the healer, the vial on the desk nearby, and then back to meet my eyes. "I could die, of course, or I could only loose my wolf. I'm happy to put both on the line to see if this stuff is worthy of fixing Ryan, fi