Chapter 25


    A dark look crossed over his face when I mentioned the name and I held my breath as I watched him


    carefully wondering what he was going to say or do next.


    “I know of him,” he said finally, “Although if I’m not mistaken, he isn’t Alpha yet.”


    I nodded, “His father is Alpha but he practically leads already.”


    “He rejected you,” it wasn’t posed as a question but I knew he was expecting an answer so I nodded,


    “Then he’s a fucking idiot.”


    I wasn’t expecting that response and my eyes widened to the point of saucers. Ryker noticed and he


    laughed at my expression.


    We sat there at the bank of theke telling each other random facts about. ourselves. He told me that


    he wrote letters to his sister every week even though she never wrote back because she felt like he


    was smothering her too much.


    He told me that his favorite color used to be blue but as oftely, it has be a warm hazel and


    when I asked why, he didn’t respond. He also told me that when he was younger, he enjoyed to paint


    but ever since he became Alpha, he hasn’t had time to do it.


    It was fun just being able to sit and listen to each other talk. I didn’t realize howte it had gotten until


    my stomach grumbled loudly. I flushed a crimson color and Ryker justughed and led me to my feet.


    “It’s alright,” he assured me on our walk back, “I should have realized howte it was getting.”


    Despite his assurances, I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. Back at


    Tyson’s pack, I could go days without eating a decent meal but ever since. I got here, it is like my body


    has gotten so used to being taken care of that I cannot even fathom going back to the life I lived before.


    A part of me wondered how long this wouldst. But another part- a more hopeful part- wanted to


    believe Ryker when he said he wanted me and believe that he wouldn’t hurt me or delegate me to a life


    like the one Tyson and his father made me live.


    By the time we got to the house, Eve had already set the table for the both of us. I knew he must have


    mind linked her because there was no way she would have known that we were returning at that exact


    moment


    and have set the table in time for us to arrive.


    “How do you do that?” I asked before I could stop myself, “Mind link someone.”


    “You don’t know how?” he asked and I shook


    “I don’t have a wolf remember,”


    “Did you ever try?”


    my head.


    “I was never an official member of the pack. Alpha Jackson said he would. make me one after I shifted


    but I never did,” I tried to y it off as a casual thing, but the thought still hurt, “I was never able to try it


    out.”


    “I’m not that upset though,” I assured him, “if I was part of the pack then running away would have been


    a lot harder.”


    He opened his mouth to speak but closed it almost immediately. I saw him exhale sharply and he


    clenched his fists on the table until his knuckles turned white. After a second, his body rxed and he


    opened his eyes to look at me.


    He opened his mouth to speak but at that exact moment, Eve walked in with a huge jar of what smelled


    like fruit juice. She ced it in the centre. of the table then bowed to both of us and disappeared back


    the way she


    came.


    “It’s like talking only you do it in your head,” he made a sound that was a mixture between a sigh and a


    laugh. “I’ve never had to exin it to anyone before but it is like a bridge between your mind and


    everyone else’s. Just picture that bridge and whoever you want to talk to at the other end.”


    “I didn’t realize it was that easy.”


    “When you’re part of the pack you’ll be able to try it out for yourself.”


    “If I’m part of the pack,” I corrected but he shook his head.


    “It’s going to happen Cami,” he assured me, “The only thing that’s stopping it is your readiness. I


    have zero ns of letting you go. I think it’s time that you realized that.”.


    If someone else had said that, I would have probably been rmed and a little scared buting from


    Ryker, it had the exact opposite effect. It made me feel special and my lower belly clenched as the


    words left his lips. I cursed my body for being a traitor and I saw the corner of his lips. lift up as he


    watched my ears turn pink.


    I instantly turned away from him and shoved a forkful of eggs into my


    mouth in an attempt to wash away the previous conversation..


    After dinner, I thanked Ryker for taking me to theke and all but ran off to my room. Once I was safely


    behind my door I finally let out a breath I didn’t know that I was holding.


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    I stripped out of my clothes and after a long awaited and needed bath, I changed into a pale pink night


    gown. I was about to get into bed when I heard a knock on my door. I slowly and hesitantly made my


    way over to it and opened it to reveal Ryker.


    He was still in his clothes and I wondered what he was doing at my door.


    “We will resume training tomorrow,” he told me with an amused expression, “Unless of course, you


    don’t want to.”


    “I’ll be there.”


    “Well then, goodnight Cami.”


    “Goodnight,” the word was barely out of my mouth before I had shut the door.


    I knew it was a bit rude and I heard hisugh echo from the other side of the door so I knew he wasn’t


    upset. I waited until I heard his footsteps recede before I made my way over to my bed and buried my


    face into my pillows.


    The next morning, I was awake and waiting at the foot of the steps before Ryker even came down. Eve


    handed me the bottle of waters that we would need during training and I had just taken them from her


    hands when I felt Ryker’s presence behind me.


    He waspletely shirtless and I felt my mouth dry up as I drank him in. his wound- or what was left of


    his wound was now just a scar on his otherwise perfect skin. He walked over to me and took the bottles


    from my hand and I couldn’t even form a sentence as his entire presence threatened to overwhelm me.


    “Good morning,” he breathed by my ear and I felt an unfamiliar rush of wetness between my thighs,


    “Are you ready to train?”


    “I- yes,” I was thankful that my voice sounded stable even though I was anything but at the moment.


    He ced a hand on the small of my back and his fingers grazed my bare skin as he led me out of the


    kitchen and towards our training spot.


    I could barely concentrate on whatever he was teaching me. I don’t know


    why I was reacting like this but it had never happened to me before, not even with Tyson. My skin


    prickled once he was near and I was feeling things in ces I didn’t know I could feel things.


    In that moment, I was actually grateful that we didn’t have a mind link or else he might have been able


    to feel everything that I was feeling and that would have been very embarrassing for me.


    “I think we should take a break.” Ryker’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.


    I looked over at him and he was hunched over a tree. His hands were clenched and I could see the


    veins on his arms and neck bulging.


    “Are you okay?” I asked and I didn’t realize when I rushed over to his side and ced a hand on his


    arm.


    He let out a groan but nodded, “I shouldn’t strain myself because of-,” he trailed off, “Because of the


    injury.”


    I nodded in understanding, “I am so sorry, I didn’t even think about that. Do you want to sit down?”


    I ced a hand on his back to lead him away from the tree but he suddenly stood up straight and


    ced a hand over my shoulder and began to steer me in the direction of the house. I was so shocked


    by his change in behavior that I couldn’t do anything but allow him lead me in whatever direction he


    wished.


    “Why don’t we go freshen up ande back down for breakfast?” he asked as soon as we got in


    through the doors of the house and without waiting for a response from me, he disappeared up the


    stairs.


    I was shocked by his actions, usually I was the one avoiding him but I tried to calm my raging thoughts


    and instead focused on doing as he asked. I hoped that when we returned for breakfast, he would feel


    a little better. Maybe his side was hurting and a long soak in the bath would help.


    I got down for breakfast before him once again and this time I actually started to worry. I waited thirty


    minutes before he came down and he took a double take when he saw me. Eve had roped me into


    wearing a dress and I didn’t mind because it actually looked pretty.


    It wasn’t supposed to be a form fitted dress but barely anything isn’t form fitted when you have an array


    of curves. He swallowed deeply and took his usual seat the head of the table. Instead of taking the seat


    I usually would, I took the one right next to him.


    He was shocked but he didn’t say anything and instead chose to start eating. We ate for a while in


    silence before he broke it.


    “You look beautiful,” the words left his lips in a breath, almost like he wasn’t sure whether he should say


    them.


    “Thank you,” I felt my ears heat up and I knew they would have turned pink, “Does your scar still hurt?”


    He looked confused for a split second but then he shook his head, “I’m fine; it’s fine.”


    I opened my mouth to speak but was cut off by the door opening. A guard rushed into the house


    looking panicked and I could see traces of blood on his armor.


    “Alpha; there has been another rogue attack.”