Chapter 26

After we round the corner I see so many people that I almost froze in place. Instead of freezing though my eyes bulged and I quickly went back around the corner to hide only to see even more people trying to get into the kitchen. My eyes bulge even bigger as I start to head down the hallway away from everyone. I turn a few corners to see the front door in sight. I smile and start to walk a little faster until a pair of strong arms wrap around my waist. My body froze in fear until I heard Ryder's voice whisper "You aren't getting away from me that quickly."

After I was able to calm down I asked "What am I suppose to do? I can't just go in there like I am apart of their life. They will instantly know I am a stranger and I can't even imagine what horrible things they could do to me by just not knowing me." Ryder turns me around and holds me closer to him.

"Trust me they would not dare try to hurt anyone that is associated with me without my permission. Now what you are going to do is walk hand-in-hand with me and I will announce that you are my mate."

I look up at him in horror. Before he could say anything I say "Wouldn't that ruin your life? I would just be an obstacle from now on. Once you announce that I am your mate then they would all just be cursing my existence."

Ryder's eyes flared with rage as he spoke "They wouldn't even dare and you aren't an obstacle. You are my angel that I have been waiting for. I love you with all my heart and wouldn't even think twice about ripping their throats out for bad mouthing you." I look at his eyes and I see truth. I sigh and nod my head in his silent question if I will go with him. He smiled and grabbed my hand while dragging me back towards the kitchen.

Right before we round the corner Ryder gave me a kiss on the cheek while wrapping his arm around my waist. Once we got through I saw 50 plus people grabbing drinks from the fridge, taking plates of food that were already set out and talking so loud I am amazed nobody was wearing a hearing aid. Ryder's mother along with 5 other women that were cooking large amounts of food. After Ryder and I walked everyone froze and stopped what they were doing. All the intense stares were scaring me a little. My eyes found the floor much more interesting than the faces of the people I am now going to have to live with.

Ryder began to speak in a voice that I never heard him use with me before. He said "Okay since you obviously have your undivided attention I have a miniature announcement to make. This beautiful women standing next to me," Jeez is he trying to enflame my cheeks, "is my mate. You were all warned about bad mouthing each other and their mates. If anyone and I mean anyone dares to make a bad comment, says something mean behind our backs, or looks at her the wrong way I will hurt you in ways that it would seem like being a slave is a skip through a flower field. Do I make myself clear?"

They all shouted yes and went back to what they were doing, which I was very thankful for. I saw Ryder's mother give me a soft smile as she went back to cooking. Ryder dragged me with him to get some food. I looked at the plate and felt my face turn white. I would never be able to eat that much food. There were 10 strips of bacon in the middle of the plate, half the plate was eggs, the other half are hash browns and finally there is a side of toast and butter on top. I turn to Ryder and whisper in his ear "I can't eat all the food on that plate and I don't want to insult your mom and the women who cooked for everyone. What should I do?" He smiled softly and stare at his mom. It is a little creepy until she came to us with a less filled up plate full of food. There was only 2 strips of bacon, one fourth was eggs and the other fourth has harsh browns, and finally a piece of toast with butter. I knew that that is the standard breakfast, but I have only been have bits and pieces of food that at the end of the month it would end up to be a full meal, barely.

I look at Ryder with a smile as he smiled back. He grabbed us drinks then lead me to the living room where there were a couple of people roaming around. All the girls were in their own guys lap cuddled up to them. I had a strong feeling that the couples were mates. There was a small spot on the couch that was open. I looked at Ryder and noticed what I did. He walked to the couch and simply said "Can you guys move over a little for me and my mate?" They immediately moved so there was more space for me and Ryder. I swear if that was me asking then they would sneer at me, move to cover all the space available and tell me to fuck off. I am just a waste of space to them. Well, now I am a burden because they have to be nice to me.

Ryder walks us over to the couch although there was enough room for the both of us I was forced to basically be half on top of him. I was able to eat all of the food on my plate, except for half of my eggs and hash browns that Ryder ate when he saw I didn't fully finish my meal, but I knew I would regret it later. After we finish eating Ryder walks aways to put our plates away and get his mom to go shopping. I was waiting for 5 minutes until I saw Ryder come back. I instantly bolted for him to get out of the room. It was so awkward that I think everyone felt. No one talked at all in the living room. They just stared at the TV as I looked at the floor. I heard them whispering to each other and even though I couldn't hear exactly what they were saying I had a strong idea that it was about me. I mean, what else to talk about except the new girl who got to be the Alpha's mate. I probably will be bad mouthed until I am gone for good. I guess that's what I get for getting noticed when I should be in the streets right now trying to figure out where my next meal will come from.

As Ryder's mother drives in the car Ryder and his mother are laughing hysterically at something. I look at both of them quickly then look down because of how happy they were. If I wasn't here then they would most likely be even happier. What am I, but a useless piece of trash to these wonderful people. I have no idea how many times the idea of me jumping out of the moving car appeared in my head. I didn't want to kill myself, but to run away from them so they wouldn't have to suffer with a lost cause like me in there beautiful car. Why should a dirty creature like me be in a clean amazing car like this?

The car stops moving alerting me that we are at the mall. I look out the window and see this huge ass mall that makes me look like a spec. I was about to get out when I realized that the doors were locked. My eyes look out the window again when I see Ryder and his mom walk away smiling. I guess they were to induced into their conversation that they didn't see that I didn't get out of the car yet. My eyes water at the realization of this situation. The least they could of done is let me out first, so I could go back to the alley that I live in. I take off my seatbelt and lie down in the back. Tears leak out of my eyes and my shoulders shake as sobs escape me. I can't believe I am stuck in here until they come back. Who knows, maybe they will never come back and will just let me rot in here. With that thought my mind drifts off into a deep slumber.

I woke up to someone shaking me and calling my name. I swear it felt like I got a full nights rest when in reality I got 5 minutes. My eyes roam up and I see Ryder looking at me with a worried look. He asks "Are you okay? Why didn't you get out?" I couldn't help, but smile at my words to him come to mind.

"I told you I was a burden," he was about to say something, but I had to get this out. "Don't give me bull crap about you saying I am not a burden when I am. You were so happy with your mother that by the time I wanted to get out of the car it was already locked and you were walking away with her laughing. If I wasn't here you could still be having a great time with your mother instead of being stuck here with me. I . . ." Before I could say anything else he growled which shut me up.

"Is it so wrong to think that I thought my mate would be with me? Even if I didn't notice it is a simple mistake that everyone makes. I can think of plenty of times when I was with my mom and I locked her in the car because I though she was right behind me. I am sorry that I made that mistake again, but I won't do it again, at least not on purpose. We got to go because my mom is at JCPenny picking out your clothes. We have an idea about your size because my mom was smart enough to check the sizes of the clothes you have on right now and seeing that everything fits means she knows exactly what sizes to get. Now it is up to you to get the style you want." I nod my head and get out of the car. Although Ryder stops me a second saying "Let me get rid of these stains on your cheeks." I don't remember what stains he was talking about until I remember that I was crying. My cheeks heat at the fact, but they heat even more when Ryder does his own way with getting rid of the stains. He whipped where the stain was then would kiss my cheek. He took his sweet time, but when he finished he smiled at me and dragged me out of the car.

We met his mom in the store and she already had a full cart with shoes, intimates, pants, jackets, shirts, and everything you could think of. I looked at the prices and I noticed that they were way up there. I was thinking of hitting the clearance section, but when I went to say something I got a look from both of them  that said let me do this before I give you an earful. I raised my hands in the air in an I surrender way. It didn't take that long for us to finish. There were only a few items that I got rid of because I didn't like the fashion. I felt bad about all the clothes I was getting, but they didn't seem to mind so I just got over it and we moved on. We headed to 3 more stores until I felt like I would have clothes to last me for life.

We headed home and by that time it was already dinner. Everyone was in the dining room and I had a bad feeling. I think it was just one of those stupid feeling you get when you aren't feeling like yourself. There were two plates because Ryder and I haven't entered the dining room yet. When we walk past it though I saw there was only one chair vacant at the head of the table. I knew it was meant for Ryder and I knew I wasn't eating with everyone tonight.

"Are you coming Rosa?" I heard Ryder ask.

I turn to him and reply "Yah, just a sec. Go on in without me."

"Just be warned that once you sit down you aren't allowed to get up until everyone has finished." I smiled as he walked away and then frowned at the fact I won't see Ryder until he and the rest of the pack finishes dinner.

I take my plate and quickly go up the stairs. I was lucky enough that there was a door, that moves like the ones you see in restaurants, that separated the dining room from the kitchen. As I enter Ryder's room  my eyes fill with tears at eating alone. I am always meant to eat alone, drink alone and live alone. I can hear everyone downstairs having a fun time . . . without me.

More tears fall from my eyes as I eat dinner. My tears mix with the meal in front of me until I finish about half and feel my stomach protest against any further food intrusion.

I lie down on the couch and curl up in a ball. I don't bother to change or do anything else as I cry myself to sleep.