The Alpha’s Mate Who Cried Wolf

Chapter 9

We decide to watch some movies downstairs.

‘Can we make some popcorn first?’ | ask.

‘Sure, I’ll make it while you pick a movie.’ I flick through the list. There are so many to choose from that

I can’t decide. I close my eyes and press play on a random movie. Ryker sits close beside me, holding

a large bowl of salty, buttery popcorn.

‘What are we watching?’ He asks.

I’m not sure. I couldn’t decide, so I closed my eyes and picked a random movie.’

‘That’s cute,’ he smiles. I giggle. Then, the movie starts, turning out to be a scary horror film. I have my

face in Ryker’s shoulder halfway through it, too frightened to watch the spooky parts anymore.

‘You can hold my hand if you’re scared, he says. I laugh.

‘You wish!’I laugh.

‘I wish,’ he says, grinning. I smile back at his confidence and jump in fright when the monster appears

on the screen, out of nowhere, capturing and killing the human who tried to get away.

“Aww, baby. Did the monster scare you?’ Ryker asks as he Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

swings my legs over his to cuddle me like a baby. I swat him, laughing, and lay my head on his chest.

‘Shh, I can’t hear the movie, I whisper. Ryker laughs.

I don’t feel so afraid watching the movie in Ryker’s arms anymore. Seth, Mia, Kane and Hayley arrive

home just before the credits. They smile when they see me in Ryker’s lap. When the movie finishes, I

get up and go over to the others.

I’m sorry about running away this morning, guys. I didn’t mean to upset anyone.’

‘It’s fine, Luna. We didn’t realise how new you are to all this. Seth filled us in. We felt so bad for

upsetting you, Mia says. We exchange little smiles, and I hug Mia.

‘Ryker and I are going to watch another movie. You should join us, I tell them.

‘Sure, Hayley says.

‘Yep, sounds good! Mia says. The boys follow suit, making themselves comfortable. Ryker smiles and

pats his lap. He is happy we’re watching another movie, so I snuggle into him. I can’t refuse the offer if I

try. His powerful arms and masculine chest are a very comfortable place to be. The girls can’t decide

on a movie, so I take the remote from Mia before pressing play on something random again. Of course,

it’s another horror film, to all the boys’ delight. We girls are not great with horror films. We keep

screaming, jumping, and

flinching. Having our mates holding us closer makes it all worth it.

After the movie, right at dinner time, Alice still has a scowl on her face and tries to avoid me as much

as she can. Ryker takes my hand and leads me outside, where we wander through the garden in the

dark.

‘Sit here and close your eyes for me, he says. I sit down with my legs crossed and my eyes closed.

‘What are you doing?’ | ask.

I’m going to change into my wolf form. You can keep your eyes closed while you pat me, okay?’

Suddenly, I’m nervous, but I nod and close my eyes, trusting him. A moment later, Ryker, in his wolf

form, nuzzles his fury face into my hands affectionately. My hands are shaking. tears roll down my

cheeks. Flashbacks of my mother dying keep appearing in my mind. He whimpers to assure me it’s

okay. I’m too scared to open my eyes, but his fur is soft. I cautiously raise my hand and place it on his

smooth, furry face. He is panting happily like a dog, and his tail dusts the ground in excitement. I let the

fur glide between my fingers. I have both hands on the sides of his face. He steps closer and rubs his

wet nose on my cheek. I giggle.

‘It tickles!’ I laugh. I put my arms around his neck, and he rests his head on my shoulder. I rub my face

in his fur. It’s so soft and warm.

‘I think I’ll try to open my eyes. I want to see what you look like,’ I say. Ryker sits down in front of me,

waiting obediently. I slowly open my eyes, letting the moonlight adjust my eyesight. Exhaling in awe, he

is the most impressive wolf I have ever seen: his coat is long, black, and sleek. It shines and glistens in

the moonlight. There is a sense of greatness and power coming from him, his four-pawed stance is one

of pride. He nudges my face with his muzzle. I hold his face close to mine, enjoying the warmth and the

connection.

‘Thank you, Ryker,’ I say, tears rolling down my cheek. He whimpers and licks my cheek.

“Ryker! That’s so gross!’I laugh and push him back. I stand and run, and he happily chases me. My

long brown hair blows in the wind behind me as I run through the trees. I zigzag through the trees with

Ryker, and his tail wags like a puppy’s. After a while, I sit down to catch my breath. He nudges my

shoulder and gives my cheek another lick. I giggle and push him away with my hand-Ryker motions to

his back.

‘You want me to hop on your back?’ | ask. He nods.

He has to lie down so I can climb onto his back because he is so tall. Once I’m on his back, I grip onto

his fur, and he runs further into the woods. He runs at great speed. adrenaline courses through my

body. The breeze whips past my face, and I can’t help but smile, the feeling is exhilarating. I hold my

arms out and bask in the wind rushing past us.

Something out of the corner of my eye catches my attention and races toward us.

‘Ryker, there’s something-‘Before I can finish my sentence, someone has forcibly knocked me down

from Ryker’s back. I roll across the ground and plunge into a tree.

Growling and teeth-baring ensue in a fight. There is a rugged, small, brown wolf with a grey patch

snapping at Ryker from where I lie. I try to stand, but everything is spinning. I remain where I am

against the trunk of the tree.

Ryker and the other wolf encircle each other, snapping and growling in a stand-off. Ryker uses his

Alpha telepathy and orders her to shift. They both change into their human forms. Ryker and the

female wolf shift into human form. He is entirely naked with his back to me. A young woman stands

facing Ryker. She is beautiful and has long, blonde hair, brown eyes, a good sized-bust and a curvy,

toned figure.

Letting out a growl, I glare. She glares back at me and crosses her arms. Did I growl like a wolf?

‘Vanessa! You just hurt your Luna!’ Ryker yells.

I am your Luna! She snaps.

‘Vanessa, we will discuss this another time. First, I need to see if Astrid is okay, he says as he walks

over to me. My vision is blurry. My head hurts. I realise I must have bumped my head on the tree trunk.

Ryker grabs my arms to pull me up. He asks,

‘Are you okay?’

‘I think I hit my head. Everything is spinning,’ I say, rubbing my head with one hand and leaning onto

Ryker. Vanessa marches toward us.

‘Don’t you walk away from me, Ryker!’ She yells.

‘Go home, Vanessa! We will discuss this tomorrow!’ He yells back.

“I love you, Ryker! I know you love me too. We have already made the arrangements. I’m your mate

and Luna! She yells. Gasping at her words, I look up at Ryker.

‘Is this true, Ryker?’ | ask, praying that it isn’t. Ryker lets out a

sigh.

‘Yes, it’s true, but-‘I slap Ryker across the face before he can finish his sentence.

‘You made me come here. You convinced me to give you a chance, and all along, you already had a

mate and Luna?’ || yell. Ryker has his hand on his cheek where I had slapped him.

‘Astrid, you don’t understand. I can explain all this. You are my true mate, my fated mate. Vanessa was

just a chosen mate, it’s not the same! I didn’t want

‘Enough!’| say sternly. I look at Vanessa standing behind Ryker, smirking.

‘You can have him!’I yell, making her grin.

‘Astrid, please hear me out. You don’t understand!’ Ryker says as he tries to take my hand. I back

away from him.

‘You know, I thought we had something special and magical until your whore arrived!’ | yell. Vanessa

glares at my words.

Turning, I run toward the house. Ryker wants to chase after me, but Vanessa grabs his arm. I see

Vanessa trying to hug

Ryker, but Ryker is yelling at her and pushing her off him.

I love you, Ryker!

‘The feeling isn’t mutual, he growls.

I shove the front door to the packhouse open. Everyone inside the packhouse rushes towards me and

asks if I’m okay.

‘Why don’t you all ask Vanessa?’ I snap at them as I run upstairs and slam the door to my room closed.

I curl up on the same couch I slept on the night before.

I finally receive some happiness only for someone else to come along and ruin everything. Why can’t I

have some consistent happiness in my life for a change? Will lever know what it’s like to be loved, to

feel special and wanted?