The next morning there is a knock on my locked door. I ignore it.
‘Astrid, I know you’re there. Please unlock the door,’ Ryker pleads. I don’t want to hear his voice so I lock myself in the bathroom, run a bath and stay there for as long as I can.
I put on a pair of jeans and the biggest hoodie I can find; it almost touches my knees. I pull the hood over my head. I don’t know why, but it makes me feel invisible; like I’m able to hide from the world. It’s an enormous sense of comfort.
On the twelfth knock on my door, Ryker is frustrated, and enlists Mia’s help.
‘It’s Mia, Astrid,’ she says, through the door. As sweet and bubbly as she is, I just want to be left alone.
‘I brought you some lunch. I’ll just leave it at the door,’ she explains.
The last thing I want to do is eat food. I feel sick to the stomach thinking about how close I have become with Ryker. I don’t understand why he wants me. I get that I’m his mate but he arranged to be with Vanessa. Has he even meant anything he told me? Or has he been playing me and lying to me this whole time?
Exiting the bathroom via two gorgeous French doors, I sit on the balcony next to a large pot plant, hoping no one can see me. I keep hearing the odd door-knock for the rest of the day, and continue to ignore it. Sometimes it’s Ryker knocking, sometimes it’s other people. It hurts me every time to hear the pain and the regret in his voice when he speaks. Hayley knocks on the door when it’s dinner time.
‘I brought you some dinner Luna. I see your lunch is still here. Look, I know you’re upset, Astrid, and I understand why, but Ryker is so distressed, we’re struggling to keep him calm. We could really use your help to calm him down before he destroys the whole house.’
Feeling a little guilty hearing that Ryker is tearing the place apart, I let out a heavy sigh, walk to the door and unlock it. Hayley, holding a plate of food, smiles at me.
‘Luna. Thank you.’
‘Thank you, Hayley. I’m not hungry. Show me where he is.’ Hayley nods.
I follow her downstairs where Ryker is growling, and throwing a chair across the living room; the room is a complete mess. I stand there with my arms crossed; unimpressed with the mess he is making. He sniffs the air and spins around to see me. He races over to me, relieved. I look away not wanting to look at him.
‘Astrid! You’ve come out,’ he says, kneeling in front of me, clutching my hands. Everyone is watching us. Ryker has been crying. He looks up at me with big puppy dog eyes; it’s really endearing and I’m struggling to stay mad at him.
‘Astrid, I never wanted Vanessa to be my mate or Luna. I’m only just twenty-two. The elders told me they would have to choose a mate for me because I hadn’t found my true mate yet,’ he explains.
‘Why didn’t you tell me that before?’ I ask.
‘I tried to, but you were upset, and locked yourself in your room.’ He is looking down at the ground. I kneel on the ground facing him.
‘I’m sorry. I wouldn’t have locked myself in my room had I known.’ I’m feeling guilty.
‘It’s okay. You’re out now. That’s all that matters.’ He smiles, holding my face and patting my cheeks with his thumbs.
‘I’ve spoken to Vanessa. I told her the agreement is off; I never agreed to any of it. The elders put it all in place and I was shocked. I know she has always had a crush on me, but I never felt anything for her,’ he explains.
‘Vanessa will adjust to it in time,’ Hayley reassures me. I nod at Hayley.
‘How’s your head?’ He asks, both of us standing up.
‘My head feels fine now,’ I say.
‘Come join us for dinner,’ Ryker says.
‘I’m really tired. I’d rather sleep for the night,’ I say.
‘You haven’t eaten all day though. Eat, and then you can go to bed,’ he says, I nod, and we sit at the table where Alice has placed assorted platters of food from which we can serve ourselves.
Sitting down at the table, Vanessa walks in, smiling. She sits down at the table and starts scooping food onto an empty plate. My fork hasn’t even reached my mouth yet; I freeze with her presence, and everyone feels awkward.
‘What is she doing here, eating dinner with us?’ I ask Ryker.
‘Don’t you know? I live in this pack house too,’ Vanessa says, with a sour look. My fork drops from my hand at her words, and clutters noisily down onto my plate.
‘You have got to be kidding me,’ I say.
‘When the elders arranged for her to be Luna, she was expected to live here,’ Ryker explains.
‘I’m Luna now, Vanessa. You don’t need to be here anymore,’ I say, smiling at her.
Mia snorts at my confidence and Vanessa glares at her. Mia straightens and stops giggling.
‘I heard along the grapevine that you might not even want to become the Luna, or accept Alpha Ryker as your mate,’ she says. Ryker growls and glares at her; if looks could kill, his could.
‘That’s none of your business, is it?’ I snap at her.
‘Well, it is my business, because if you don’t accept Alpha Ryker within a certain time frame, the elders will still make Alpha Ryker mark me as his mate and initiate me as the Luna of Shadow Crest,’ she says, happily.
I growl at her words. Did I really just growl like a wolf again? Everyone turns to stare at me; surprised at my reaction.
‘Would they really make you do that?’ I ask him. Ryker thinks a moment.
‘There is a possibility, but I’m sure it won’t come to that, because you’re here now. I don’t see why we would have to rush anything,’ he says. Vanessa giggles.
‘I guess we’ll see what the elders prefer: your true mate who is weak, and hasn’t met her wolf yet, and apparently knows nothing about our world, or me: someone experienced and strong, and willing to bear your pups straight away,’ she smirks.
Ryker and I growl in unison at her words. I exhale sharply.
‘You’re nothing but a scruffy little dog from the woods!’ I snap. Mia, Hayley and Kane burst out laughing; Seth tries to keep his composure. Vanessa stands.
‘How dare you! I came from one of the strongest packs in the world. Shady Crest! We are known to be—’ I cut her off.
‘Shady,’ I say. The whole table is roaring with laughter.
‘At least I know what pack I come from,’ she snaps.
Everyone goes silent, bracing themselves for my reaction.
‘For all we know, you could be from one of the weakest packs. The Rabid Rebels pack or the Astral pack. I can assure you, when we meet your wolf, we’ll know, and if you’re from a weaker pack, the elders will intervene. You won’t be allowed as Luna; I’ll be chosen in your place!’
‘And what if I’m not? What if I’m from one of the strongest packs?’ I snap.
‘Well, the strongest pack used to be the Moonstone pack. They have pure white wolves, but they were wiped out around eighteen years ago, so keep dreaming! Shady Crest is the strongest now, and are grey, or brown-and-grey, and I have never seen you there. Shadow Crest comes next. Alphas are black, and pack members are golden-brown,’ Vanessa explains, smirking at me, feeling victorious.
‘So, you see, we already know you aren’t from a strong pack. So, until you’re officially initiated as Luna, I’m still in the running,’ she concludes.
Standing up from the table, I walk away.
‘Astrid, where are you going? You haven’t even touched your dinner,’ Ryker growls.
‘I lost my appetite. I’m not going to stay here and listen to this scruffy little mutt any longer!’ I storm off to my room and shut the door, locking it again.
If she thinks she can speak to me like that and treat me like that then she has another thing coming!
