Getting to Know Each Other

RYDER

I enjoyed her stares a little too much. I knew it would be a surprise, seeing me clean-shaven and, well . . . clean.

“What do you mean he’s your mate?” the young future Alpha asked as he stared at me before turning back to Adara.

“Is there some other kind of mate?” Adara asked her brother, attitude dripping off every word.

I chuckled and he turned to me. “So, who are you? You aren’t from our pack.”

This time it was Adara’s turn to laugh. “You don’t recognize him?”

He stared at me in confusion, his brow knotted as he tried to rack his brain.

“I’ll give you a hint . . . He has a cabin in the woods.” Adara smirked.

Austin stood from the table aggressively. “Does Dad know you let him out?! You can’t be serious, Adara—taking a rogue as a mate!”

Adara frowned. “Yes! He knows!! And we haven’t mated yet. You’re quick to judge someone you don’t know.”

I placed a calming hand on her arm, hoping it would have the same effect on her as it did me. She looked down at me as I stood.

“I have no desire to explain myself to you, little Alpha. Adara, let’s go for a walk.”

Adara glared before her face relaxed and she followed me outside, with Austin watching us leave with fury in his eyes.

I stood in front of the pack house and closed my eyes, feeling the sun on my face. It had been over three months since I had seen the outside world.

“So, where do you want to go?” she asked, breaking me out of my little world.

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I mostly was trying to get away from that fool.”

Adara let out a long breath. “It’s going to be interesting when my dad steps down and he becomes Alpha. He has too much of an ego.”

I began walking down the hill, watching the warriors spar. “Maybe he will be different as an Alpha.”

Adara laughed. It was quickly becoming my favorite sound. “A lot would have to be different . . . ” She smiled.

“So how did you get so good at fighting?” I asked. “You got me good when we first met.”

Adara smirked. “Before I became a nurse, I considered becoming a warrior. I trained with them every day, but I realized I liked healing people more than hurting them. So I got into nursing school.

“I graduate in a few weeks actually, then I’ll work full time at my uncle’s clinic.”

I nodded my head, liking that she wanted to heal and not hurt.

~See . . . She’s amazing. Can we mate her already?~ my wolf howled in my head. I shook him out of my thoughts, knowing things were too complicated.

I was an Alpha, there could only be one in a pack and this one had an Alpha. I didn’t have a pack to bring her to, to be the Luna she obviously deserved to be.

She broke me from my thoughts when she turned to me with a curious look on her face.

“So, Ryder, where are you from?”

I scowled. “Nowhere.”

She looked at me with a frown. “You must have come from somewhere. Where is your pack from?”

“I don’t want to talk about this,” I snapped, trying to get her to change the subject.

“Sorry, I was just curious . . .” she replied, looking away from me.

“Or you were just trying to get some information on me for your father,” I shot back, knowing it would have the effect I wanted.

She stood from the bench we were sitting on and gave me a glare. “You know, for a moment I almost forgot you were a total jerk.” She walked back up the hill, fuming from my comment.

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees.

~ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! ~my wolf yelled.

~I have nothing to give her, it’s better if she hates me.~

I could feel my wolf pacing, angry that I had pushed her away. I sat thinking about the hurt, angry look in her eyes when I accused her of being a spy for her father.

“Crap . . .” I muttered. I hung my head, trying to come up with a reason why I shouldn’t let her in.

~The past can’t be changed. Make her our Luna and rebuild our pack,~ my wolf whispered. I took a deep breath and stood from the bench.

“Hey!”

I turned to see Johnny, Austin, and a few other warrior wolves on the training grounds call to me. I gave them a nod but they walked toward me.

“How about you come out on the field and see how you do against some real wolves?” Austin goaded.

I smirked. “I don’t want to embarrass you, little Alpha.”

He scowled, clearly not enjoying the nickname I had given him. “Step up, rogue. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

I shrugged, knowing it would release some stress. I pulled my shirt over my head and walked toward the group of egotistical little wolves. They gawked at me as I walked forward.

Even though I lived alone in the woods, I still trained myself daily—and it showed. The hard, muscular shape of my body was intimidating, and I knew it would worry them as their eyes took in my tall, solid form.

“Me first,” Johnny said, removing his shirt.

I grinned. I would enjoy this one. The jerk had come on to my mate and practically poisoned me, and I was going to break his leg.

He took an aggressive stance before lunging toward me. I quickly overpowered him, kicking the back of his knee so that he fell to the ground before I punched him hard, knocking him out.

“Who’s next?” I asked with a smirk.

Two of the warriors walked forward, each beaten easily. A third stepped forward, shifting into his wolf and sprinting toward me. I was irritated, knowing I couldn’t shift.

I dodged his advance and kicked him, sending him flying into a tree with a whine. I imagined there were a few broken ribs—poor guy.

I stood tall and looked at the little Alpha. “Well, that was fun, I think I’m going to go find your sister.” I gave him a smirk and he furiously picked up on the innuendo.

“You bastard . . .” he growled, stepping forward. “Bring out your wolf. I’m going to beat you to a pulp.”

I shrugged. “Eh, my wolf doesn’t feel like coming out to play.” That was a lie. All my wolf wanted was to be let out. He was pushing against me, trying to gain control.

I began walking up the hill when I heard him shift with a growl and sprint toward me. I looked up the hill to see Alpha Mason watching us.

I turned around and lunged toward him, wrapping my arms around his neck. I threw him across the field and continued my walk up the hill.

I reached the house and gave the Alpha a nod before walking inside. He looked at me in awe as I walked past. I knew he was wondering how I had bested some of their best warriors and a future Alpha.

I walked up the stairs and took a deep breath before tapping on Adara’s door. She opened it with a smile. Her smile quickly disappeared when she saw me, and she slammed the door in my face.