Chapter 5 - Elena
“Why is he like this all the time?” Elena whined, burying her head in her folded arms dramatically. “Why do I even bother?”
Throughout almost the entirety of the thirty minutes since their arrival, her gaze had been fixed on Ryder from across the bar. Although she didn't know what he was saying to the woman he had approached, whatever it was must have been terribly entertaining, judging by how loudly they were laughing and how closely they were pressed together.
That was one of the most infuriating things about him. Over the years, he had charmed the pants off half the town's female population. Elena herself, however? Invisible. Pathetically obsessed with him and barely able to manage a coherent sentence whenever he was around, yet completely invisible to him.
“What happened to 'I don't care about Ryder?” Hayley teased, bumping her with one shoulder and grinning slyly as she sipped her wine. “Because right now, it sounds like you care a whole lot.”
A rush of warm embarrassment rushed to Elena's face, and she groaned pitifully into her forearms.
“I don't!” she protested half-heartedly, peeking upward just enough to flash a stubborn glare at her friend. “Okay, maybe I do, but only because I hate him. Like, genuinely despise the living daylights out of him, actually. That's all. I don't—”
“He's looking at you,” Hayley interjected.
Elena instinctively jolted upright, craning her neck around so fast it almost cracked, straining for a glimpse. Sure enough, she caught him momentarily glancing over at her over the shoulder of the dryad he was sitting with. As soon as they made eye contact, his gaze snapped back to his conversation partner with impressive intensity. She felt her face flush scarlet and gave Hayley a playful shove and a scowl. The blonde laughed, a knowing smirk tugging at the corners of her lips as she took another sip of her drink.
“Come on, Ellie. It's me. You can tell me the truth,” her best friend cajoled her. “Look, I know it sucks. Zach rejected me at first, remember? Sometimes, boys are stupid, and we must let them stew in it while they sort themselves out. Now, come on. You need more rosé, and we need to dance.”
The familiar twinkle in Hayley's eye made Elena burst into laughter, and her friend's smile brightened instantly at the sight of it. They clinked their glasses together, knocked back what was left, and went over to the makeshift dance floor in one corner. Before long, they were giggling and jumping around in place together, swept away in the upbeat tempo of the music. She almost managed to ignore the handsome blond wolf lurking in the back of her mind.
The two girls danced together, joking and laughing as they exchanged lighthearted gossip and belted out their favorite songs' lyrics. Occasionally, some guy would approach them and try to join the conversation. Unfortunately for him, he was invariably brushed off fairly quickly, and they went right back to talking in hushed whispers and giggling amongst themselves. After a while, the pair were exhausted, so they retreated to the bar to catch their breath and order another round.
“Did Zach tell you anything about what's been going on with these attacks, by the way?” Elena asked hushedly as they waited for their drinks, leaning against the counter. “I have to brew fresh poultices every day, and nobody knows what's going on. Is it really just some random rogue?”
Hayley's brows furrowed as she chewed thoughtfully on her bottom lip. Then she shrugged, shaking her head.
“That's what they think,” she replied quietly. “Why, do you reckon something else is going on?”
“I keep having these bad dreams. It started the day of the first attack,” Elena admitted, pausing slightly when the bartender dropped off their wine glasses with a smile. “I mean, it could be a coincidence, but—”
“Hey, gorgeous, how are you doing tonight?” A loud, slurring male voice interrupted her train of thought unexpectedly, and a strong arm that reeked of booze slipped around her shoulder from behind. A tall, broad-shouldered young man stepped into view next to her, leaning drunkenly into the counter as he flashed a broad, toothy grin at both of them. “Haven't seen you in here before. Why don't you let me buy you a drink?”
“Uh, no thanks,” she responded with a nervous laugh, trying to squirm out of his grasp without offending him too much.
“Yeah, we're having a girls' night,” Hayley cut in with overwrought cheerfulness, giving him a big fake smile as she grabbed Elena's hand. “Please excuse us. We're—”
“Hey, no need to be like that,” he interrupted, frowning deeply as his fingers tightened possessively, pulling Elena in closer against him. “We're just talking, right? Can't a guy chat with a pretty lady without getting the third degree? What're your names?” He spoke slowly, but his speech was slurred. The distinct smell of tequila hung heavy on his breath. That, combined with the beer bottle in his other hand and his disheveled shirt and mussed hair, made it evident that he'd had plenty to drink already.
“Look, I'm flattered, but I have a boyfriend,” Elena lied awkwardly as she attempted to wiggle free from the stranger's iron grasp.
“Oh yeah? Where's your man tonight? Shame to leave a pretty little thing like you alone on a Friday night, isn't it?” he pressed, squeezing her shoulder and giving her a suggestive wink.
“All right, buddy, let's leave the ladies alone,” a low, smooth baritone called out, just a split second before its owner walked up beside them with an easygoing smile. Elena felt her heart skip a beat as Ryder stepped toward them. Although both his tone and expression were friendly, his piercing eyes glinted with an unmistakably dangerous edge as he stared the intoxicated man down. “How about it? Run along and enjoy your night.”
The drunken stranger cocked his head slightly, returning Ryder's gaze with an irritated glare, but his arm dropped from its uncomfortable perch on her shoulders. Ryder stood a good head taller than him, and was well-built and muscular. Even in his inebriated state, the man appeared to recognize that picking a fight would be unwise. With a resentful huff, he turned away and stumbled over to his friends at a table on the opposite end of the bar.
Elena breathed a sigh of relief, and Hayley immediately rushed to stand beside her, both of them looking up at Ryder. “Ugh. Thanks,” Elena said, rubbing her temple as she exhaled heavily. “What a creep.”
He chuckled, tilting his head down at them and giving them a wry look. “You all right?” he asked with unusual gentleness, his eyes locked with hers in a way that sent shivers running down her spine. “Want me to get rid of him?”
He jerked his thumb toward the man's table, shooting her a mischievous smirk that made his eyes sparkle. She couldn't help smiling back, the fluttering in her chest intensifying by several counts at the sight of the wickedly charming grin. The way he was looking at her stirred something warm and fuzzy deep inside of her. There was a protective air about it but also something tender. For a fleeting moment, she thought she glimpsed a hint of vulnerability beneath his confident demeanor, a genuine concern for her that reached beyond his usual gruff detachment.
“No, that's okay. But thank you. Really,” she replied, sounding a little breathier than intended.
He glanced away, shrugging casually before flashing a smirk at them both. “Always happy to save a damsel in distress,” he said with a wink, his usual aloofness firmly back in place. He shook his head slightly, then leaned back against the counter, lifting his chin slightly at the two women in front of him. “You get yourselves into more trouble, come find me, all right? Can't have Zach and Tolliver coming after me 'cause I let you two get hurt. They'd tear my head off, and I'm rather fond of it staying where it is.”
A sharp nudge in her ribs drew her attention back to her best friend, who was giving her a mischievous, knowing look. Elena tried very hard to fight back the crimson flush she felt rising on her cheeks, but to no avail. After several glasses of wine, any semblance of composure had melted away. Every cell in her body was vibrating with an acute awareness of Ryder's presence and the weight of his eyes on her, and her nerve endings sizzled as Hayley elbowed her playfully.
“Actually, speaking of Zach, it's getting pretty late, and he's probably exhausted from dealing with Kyle all night,” the petite blonde announced, stretching her arms above her head with exaggerated nonchalance. “I should head home and check on them. You guys have fun, though. It's been so nice catching up. Ryder, you'll keep an eye on our girl here, right?” She flashed a brilliant, innocent smile at him, making Elena groan internally in embarrassment. “Call me tomorrow, Ellie!”
Elena didn't miss the teasing gleam in her friend's eyes as the blonde spun on her heel to waltz off toward the exit, calling back a cheerful farewell over her shoulder. Her pulse quickened as she watched Hayley go, leaving her alone with Ryder. Suddenly, she was hyper-conscious of how close they were standing to one another. The spike in her heart rate made her blood rush to her brain, and when she looked back up at him, his irises bore into her with an unnervingly intense stare. Almost like he could hear the frantic pounding in her chest. Or smell the adrenaline racing through her veins. Was that a shifter thing? She hoped not.
He was smiling at her, though, with an unusual warmth that brought out a dimple on one side of his face. Sure, he looked mildly exasperated at having been suddenly left on what he probably thought of as babysitting duty, but it was more of a playful annoyance, not the outright irritation he usually displayed in her presence. There was still that lingering glint of protective fire dancing across his features, too, like he wanted to stick around to make sure nothing else threatened her safety tonight. Or was that wishful thinking? Either way, he was here, looking at her, and it didn't seem like he was about to disappear anytime soon.
“So what happened to your date?” she quipped after a few seconds, unable to contain her curiosity as she glanced at the table where he'd been sitting earlier. The dryad seemed to have taken off somewhere. Teasingly, she added, “Did she finally come to her senses and realize what a scoundrel you are?”
Ryder scoffed softly in response, his eyebrows quirking upward as he shot her a look halfway between amusement and chagrin. “Hardly,” he answered wryly, “she realized what a lightweight she was and had to take her drunk ass home to bed. Seems a bit silly for a nature sprite to have such a low tolerance, right?”
“Well, we can't all be blessed with shifter stamina,” she joked back.
It wasn't until after she'd said it that it fully registered in her mind exactly what she was implying. Mortified heat raced to her face, turning the tips of her ears pink. She hastily turned her eyes away, wishing desperately for a convenient sinkhole to open up and swallow her whole. Ryder's laughter rang out beside her, an absolutely devilish smirk twisting his lips as his eyes took in her embarrassment. Why did she never think things through before opening her mouth? This was what she got for trying to be witty. Apparently, she didn't have that particular skill set.
“What, do you miss having a wolf keep you up all night, Elena?” he asked cheekily, wiggling his eyebrows at her. He clearly enjoyed watching her squirm, his voice dripping with false innocence and eyes glittering with mischief. The suggestive lilt of the words was enough to send another rush of warmth through her entire being.
“No, that's not what I—” she protested, covering her face with her hands and grimacing.
“Hey, no shame in that. We're notoriously skilled lovers, I've been told,” he quipped back matter-of-factly, crossing his arms over his broad chest and resting his hip against the edge of the bar. “Although I doubt that pup you were with before had anywhere near my level of experience. Still a little wet behind the ears, that one,” he added with a conspiratorial wink.
“Wow, you've got a real high opinion of yourself, don't you?” Elena rolled her eyes at him in mock disdain and wrinkled her nose. “I bet you're all talk. Always going on about how great you are, but can you back it up?”
She hoped she sounded convincingly confident and not flustered beyond recognition. The last thing she wanted was for him to think he could throw her off-balance so easily. In truth, the thought of Ryder and all he might be capable of was enough to send her mind spiraling in a dozen different directions, all of which made her light-headed. He was such a jerk, though. She couldn't let him know how much his bravado had its desired effect on her. He'd never let her live it down.
Ryder's eyebrows rose, his eyes sparkling as they met hers. His lips curled into a smirk, his gaze growing brighter and sharper as he leaned in ever-so-slightly toward her. “Is that a challenge?” he asked in a low voice, his teeth flashing in a lascivious grin. “Careful, Ellie. Might want to be sure you can handle what you're getting into if you put that kind of bait out there.”
Her pulse skyrocketed at his proximity, and her throat went dry, preventing a response. She knew he was only toying with her. Just another attempt to get under her skin and embarrass her. A test to see how much he could provoke her before she faltered like the silly little girl he seemed to believe she was. That was always the game, and she'd lost more times than she could count over the years despite her best efforts.
Forcing herself to stay cool, she ordered a shot of whiskey when the bartender passed. Hopefully, more alcohol would give her enough liquid courage to hold her ground. Ryder gave her an appraising look and matched her order. When they received their glasses, they tipped their heads back and knocked them back simultaneously. She flinched, scrunching up her nose as the acrid burn ran down her throat. When she opened her eyes again, he was looking at her with amusement written all over his handsome features.
“What, too strong for you?” he teased with an easy smirk.
“Hah. Don't underestimate me,” she retorted defiantly, straightening her spine and drawing her shoulders back as she met his challenging smirk with one of her own. “You're not as tough as you think you are, Ryder. I can handle a little whiskey.”
“Yeah? Prove it,” he dared her, putting his hand up to call the bartender back and order another round. “But don't come crying to me when your pretty little head hurts tomorrow.”
The following two shots went down much more smoothly than the first. As she slammed back the third, feeling bolder than ever, Ryder's grin widened appreciatively. He was so close she could practically taste him, his scent washing over her in intoxicating waves. She leaned in even closer, emboldened by the liquor, and placed her hand lightly on his chest as she smiled up at him with exaggerated sweetness.
“What was that you were saying about a challenge?” she teased softly, batting her eyelashes at him, feeling giddy and daring as she traced her finger along the top button on his shirt. “'Cause I'm calling your bluff. You're all talk, no action. You wouldn't know what to do with me anyway.”
Something shifted behind his irises as she spoke. The muscles in his jaw tensed visibly, his eyes narrowing slightly as he placed one hand on her waist. The touch sent a jolt of electricity racing up her spine. His grip tightened, drawing her closer, and his nostrils flared slightly.
“Oh, really? Wanna bet?” he murmured, his voice lowering dangerously as he leaned in until they were almost touching noses.
“All bark, no bite,” she replied in a saccharine, sing-song tone, feeling a rush of exhilaration rushing through her as his fingers dug into her hip. “Big, bad wolf, too scared to—”
She didn't finish the thought. Not when his lips crashed over hers, searing and passionate, consuming her senses like wildfire. The world seemed to spin around them, veering wildly off its axis. All rational thought evaporated in an instant, leaving only sheer, primal instinct. Her hands moved of their own accord to bury themselves in his hair and pull him against her. He responded with equal eagerness, drawing her to him and pressing her body flush against his as the kiss deepened further still.
His tongue swept across her lower lip, coaxing her mouth open, and she willingly yielded to him. She tasted whiskey and lust, passion and heat, need and desire. A growl rumbled from deep within his chest, his hands wandering to explore every curve of her form. Fire ignited everywhere his fingertips came into contact with bare skin, his touch burning like embers across her body. It was everything she had ever imagined and more. A thousand little lights exploded into a kaleidoscope of color throughout every cell. It felt right, like coming home and flying at the same time. Like coming alive.
“I still don't believe you,” she breathed as they broke apart, panting heavily. “You're going to have to take me home if you want to prove me wrong.”
The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. The tiny, sober Elena that sat somewhere far in the back of her mind screamed in alarm, telling her what a terrible idea this was. Through the euphoric, pink haze of alcohol and infatuation, that voice was drowned out completely, unable to compete with years of pent-up longing.
Logic and reason were abandoned without a second thought, and when he grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her toward the exit, she could only giggle like a schoolgirl and follow him into the night.