"What''s wrong with the dining room?" I can see him looking at me in my peripherals.


    "Among many things, certain people are not super pleasant.” I side eye him, not wanting to go into details about Amy being a b*tch. I move to the couch again, knowing she''s not letting me out of here without eating. “If you are going to force me, I want something small. A sandwich and chips is fine."


    "Of course." She flutters out like none of this is weird and awkward.


    “Humpf.” I can''t help the sound that leaves me when I flop down. I''m done talking. I have so many questions and so much to say and yet my mind is nk. I can''t think of a single thing I want to say to Ryker right now. Instead, Iy on the arm of the couch and curl up. I do finally feel better physically and my body wants to rest.


    Why am I so warm? I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. My body heat kicked in and I am sweating all of a sudden. What the hell? I might still be asleep, everything is dark, but my eyelids are heavy. I want to move. It all feels like slow motion.


    I gasp as something wet touches my face. "Wha...the?" I mumble feeling the wetness on my face again. I can''t move my arms to wipe my cheek and my heart starts to race with the trapped feeling.. "Mmm." I need my eyes to open, why won''t they open. Then a st of moist heat hits my face as I hear a huff and my eyes m open. I am looking at one ruby red eye inches from my face. "SH*T! Alpha! What the hell?" I screech.


    I wiggle some more, looking around and figure out I am not in my office anymore. I''m wrapped in a nket, on my bed with a massive wolf holding down the edges so I can''t get out. It is dark outside, the only light is the partial moon in the cloudless sky glowing just enough for me to make out Alpha''s silhouette and some of the silver highlights in his hair.


    “How did I get up here?" I know he can''t answer me, but I stupidly ask anyway.


    Alpha jumps down and heads towards my bathroom. Strange. Maybe he''s housetrained. I sit up adjusting so I can cool down. Before I can have any more moronic thoughts, Ryker walks back into my room with shorts on. Ah, they came prepared.


    "You know he likes that you named him." Ugh, his sleepy voice is sexy. He should not be allowed to look and sound like that when I just need to be angry with him.


    "What do you mean?" I have to stay on track, figure out why they are here and get back to sleep.


    "You called me ‘alpha'' twice and have referred to him as ''Alpha'' since we brought you here. He likes that you distinguish each of us differently."


    "Does he have a name? I never really thought to ask." I snuggle into my pillow since Ryker seems content to lean against the wall by the bathroom door across the room. "Some of the guys back home gave their wolves names. Or their wolves told us what they wanted to be called."


    "No. Even if he did, he would change it to ''Alpha'' just for you." He smiles my favorite little half smile again. 1


    "Why was he in my bed?"


    "You fell asleep almost as soon as you sat down, so I brought you up here. When I went to leave you told me to stay." The intensity on his eyes is almost too much. "We both know that you prefer his presence when you are sleeping. So..." He shrugs, like it''s that simple.


    "Are you going to leave?"


    "I don''t want to, but I will if you ask."


    "I don''t think I want you to go. But I''m still mad at you and I''m afraid."


    “Me too. I mean being afraid, not being mad." Why does he have to be adorable and shy like this?


    "Will you stay? In your human form, I mean." I know I can be by Alpha and not have a problem. It''s no different than being next to Jeremiah or Be. But Ryker is who


    I am drawn to physically. Can I just be next to him with nothing else happening? Will my dreams or nightmares or whatever be better or worse with him in his human form? I don''t want to need him and I really am not ready to forgive him, but I have no problem exploiting the fact that I feel better with him around. He owes me that much.


    I am practically shaking in anticipation of his answer. I might break if he says no. He said he''s been with other women while I''ve been here and that is the part that hurts the most. Does he even want me? I know we had our flirtation thest time I was here, but I thought I would never see him again so it didn''t matter. He never did tell me when he knew about me being his mate.


    "I will do whatever you want me to."