Chapter 4 #2
But I also couldn’t deny that Rynn was almost single-handedly repairing the relationship between the Moroi and Velesians.
As much as it could be fixed anyways. The rumors were still circulating and the resentment was still there, but thanks to her quick thinking today, Rynn had now secured major trade deals between all three Orders and the Blood Sovereign, and people tended to be less angry when their bellies were full.
Neither Bastian nor I had been able to do that.
In fact, prior to Rynn arriving here, all our future planning was how we were going to make it without any trade from the Moroi.
I’d seen the reports of our food storages.
They weren’t great. Most of last year’s crops had been decimated by deer and other prey animals that were being driven farther south due to increased monster activity in the north.
Rynn would never truly be a part of our pack, but that didn’t mean we couldn’t all get something out of this arrangement.
It hadn’t escaped my notice the way Alexis had been hyperfixated on her during the meeting.
If she hadn’t been promised to us, she could have ended up with him or someone similar.
Her uncle was the Narchis Alpha. Rynn was always going to be a political pawn.
Better that she was our pawn.
“Think Ryker has found her yet?” I looked back outside, checking the progress of the sun.
There were maybe ten minutes until dark.
Tension-laced annoyance rose inside me as I scanned the tree line for any hint of movement.
If they weren’t back in the next five minutes, I’d go out there and drag Bastian with me.
Not that we stood much of a chance of finding her.
I was a shit tracker, and Bastian was good, but not good enough to find Rynn if she didn’t want to be found.
Ryker had the best chance out of all of us, although maybe he was just stalking her and maintaining distance in fear of Rynn ripping off his balls.
He’d come out a few minutes after Rynn had left and Bastian had still been on the ground, groaning and making increasingly creative threats about what he’d do to a certain lycan when he got his hands on her.
“If Ryker found her, we would have heard the sounds of their fight all the way from here.” Bastian snorted. “Pretty sure she hates him more than she hates any of us, and Ryker has zero chance of winning her over despite his little crush.”
“Is that what it is?” A flash of white caught my attention, and I narrowed my gaze, waiting. “I thought maybe it was just because she was another lycan and very dominant.”
Dominance was something all Velesians picked up on, but the lycanthropes were the most sensitive to it. They craved a pack and hierarchy more than the rest of us.
“You’re so bad at reading people,” he replied with a chuckle. “Our little Ryker is all grown up and has it bad. Unfortunately for him, he doesn’t know the first thing about wooing anyone.”
Rynn burst out of the trees, running at full speed. Her white coat blended in so perfectly, it was hard to keep track of her as she raced across the open space between the forest and our home.
She must have stuck out like a sore thumb with her pack growing up, I mused.
“I don’t think what you do can be considered wooing,” I commented.
A silver blur darted out from between two fallen trees, chasing after Rynn.
“I’ve never gotten any complaints.” Bastian moved to stand next to me. “Everyone loves me.”
“Except Rynn.” I grinned. “Your balls recovered yet?”
“Shut up,” he grumbled.
We observed Ryker close the distance between him and his quarry. Strange, I could have sworn Rynn was faster than him. Had she been injured? Ryker pulled up alongside her, and for a few seconds, they ran together.
Then Rynn shoulder-checked him. There must have been something sticking up through the snow, because Ryker stumbled and went down, rolling several times.
Rynn charged ahead, leaving him behind.
Yeah, Ryker should probably give up on the whole crush thing.
“I could do it, you know,” Bastian said lightly.
“Do what?”
I watched the silver wolf rise and shake himself off before sprinting after Rynn. Behind them, the sun fully sank beneath the horizon. A shadow seemed to stretch out from the forest as night claimed dominion. They’d cut it really close. Too damn close. I’d be lecturing the two of them about this.
Tomorrow.
When Rynn was less likely to come for my balls. I was smarter than Bastian or Ryker.
“Woo her.”
I gave him a skeptical look. Bastian was a charmer.
I was fairly certain he’d fucked half of the Velesian and Moroi realms. Probably a quarter of the Furie realm as well.
Sure, some of it was because of his looks, but he also just had a way about him.
The only time I’d seen it fail was with Warrick.
Although that was more complicated than an outright fail.
“Bet me.” Bastian turned to face me. “I’ll have Rynn eating out of my hand by the spring melt.”
It was mildly tempting, mostly because I was fairly certain Rynn would not be interested at all and watching Bastian get shut down would be highly entertaining. Though given what had gone down today, I didn’t want to make things with Rynn worse. Plus, we had no idea how Ryker would react.
I shook my head. “Find your amusement somewhere else.”
“You don’t think I can do it.” Bastian narrowed his eyes at me.
Shit, I knew that look. Bastian and I had grown up together. Behind all his charm and cleverness was a giant chip on his shoulder. He ran on spite. If you told him he couldn’t do something, he’d practically die trying to prove you wrong.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Rynn making it through the open gate of the stronghold. Ryker followed her a few seconds later. They were both officially safe for the night.
I thought about how to respond to Bastian. He was going to do it no matter what I said, so I might as well get something out of it. Rynn would likely shut his attempts down quickly, so as long as Ryker didn’t react poorly, this would all be over fast.
“Getting Rynn to sleep with you would be too easy because you’d just go for a hate fuck.
” I tilted my head thoughtfully. “I bet you can’t get Rynn to sleep in your bed.
” Bastian grinned and opened his mouth, but I cut him off.
“And getting a room with only one bed at an outpost doesn’t count.
It has to be your bed, and she has to be in it all night. Sleeping for at least half the night.”
Bas had never let anyone sleep in his bed after he’d had his fun with them. This was how I knew I’d win. He wasn’t going to break that rule for Rynn.
“Well, that’s hardly any fun,” he complained. “Fine, but when I win, you’re coming with me to the Moroi realm and we’re getting you laid. This celibacy thing you got going on isn’t healthy.”
I glared at him, but he just grinned. Alright, Bastian, you want to be like that? I crossed my arms. “And when you lose and Rynn amputates your balls, you’re going to tell Warrick the truth.”
“What truth?” he scoffed.
I leaned forward. “You know exactly what truth.”
Hesitation flickered in his eyes before he hid it and fixed that arrogant expression back onto his face.
“It’s a moot point because I’m not going to lose.
Now, I’m going to go check on Rynn.” He patted me on the shoulder before heading for the door.
“You should probably do the same for Ryker and make sure the boy has his head on straight. We’ll discuss the Selene situation tomorrow. ”
And then he was gone.
Warrick was going to be pissed when he found out about the new addition and the bet. “That’s what you get for not coming back, old friend.” I sighed and went to find Ryker.