Xena''s PO


    "Hurry up, you''re meeting my mom in an hour." Ryder walked toward the


    bathroom, rolling his eyes.


    I jumped out of bed and followed him into the bathroom. I couldn''t believe my ears. "Meeting? Your mother?" My voice wavered slightly with nervousness as my mind started conjuring up all kinds of awkward scenarios.


    Ryder was turning on the shower, his naked body somehow failing to distract me at this moment.


    "Yes, my mother." He slid into the water, leaving the shower door slightly ajar for me to enter.


    "About what?" I only stuck my head in to ask. For some reason, meeting his parents made me more nervous than facing any danger.


    "Harris, you''re covered in oil and you smell like sex. Do you really want to meet my mother like that?*


    "It sounds weird when you call me Harris." I muttered, but climbed into the shower anyway.


    Ryder moved aside, giving me room to start washing.


    "What would you prefer I call you?"


    I actually loved when he called me "babe," but I wasn''t about to admit it. "Whatever your little heart desires." I mumbled, then steered the conversation back on track. "What''s this meeting about?


    "Your luna ceremony," Ryder answered while washing his hair.


    I had to blink several times to let the information settle. I grabbed the body wash and started cleaning the oil off my skin.


    Luna ceremony? I mean, I guess I knew I''d have one. But having it presented as a real thing created this strange mix of dread and anticipation. “Oh," was all I could manage, my voice nearly drowned by the sound of water.


    "It''s more of amitment ceremony. You''ll announce your separation from your father''s pack and join ours. When I be Alpha, we''ll have a joint ceremony."


    I was speechless. I would officially be free from Martha''s control. With everything that had happened recently, I''dpletely forgotten about breaking ties with my father. Part of me already felt like I didn''t belong there anymore, so it wasn''t really a big deal.


    Ryder''s hand grabbed my face, lifting it to meet his


    eyes.


    "Is that okay?"


    "Y-yeah. I forgot about that part. I guess when we bonded, I stopped feeling like I belonged there anyway, so it''s really not an issue."


    Ryder leaned down and gave me a gentle kiss. "You belong here now he said, his forehead pressed against mine. His eyes held something like a promise that melted my heart.


    "Yeah, you''re stuck with me." I gave him onest kiss before he stepped out to let me finish showering. I felt an odd sense of contentment, like life was finally heading in the right direction.


    "What else are we doing today?" I asked while drying myself with a towel.


    "I thought you might want to go to your shop, Ryder sighed.


    kat about the Rogues? I want to be there when you interrogate them."


    Ryder was silent for a moment "Why?" he finally asked, his eyes showing a mix of confusion and concern.


    "If this is about me, I have a right to know. Plus, I''ll cooperate better if I fully understand what''s going on."


    "Tell you what, Logan will be at the shop. If he agrees, then you can go." Ryder walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist.


    Great, just great. Logan never wanted me anywhere near those cells stood in front of the mirror, towel wrapped around me, and startedbing my hair. My mind raced, trying to figure out how to convince Logan to let me do this. Every possible argument shed through my head, each one rejected as I searched for the one most likely to seed.


    After applying a lightyer of makeup and taking time to blow-dry my hair, I straightened it and decided on a dress. When I emerged from the bathroom, Ryder was texting on his phone.


    "About ready?" Ryder asked without looking up.


    "Yes, let me get dressed. Who are you texting?" What rose in me wasn''t jealousy,


    but fear that he might talk to Logan first, eliminating any chance I had to plead my


    case.


    Chapter Comments


    LIKE


    PO