Chapter 12
The drive back to the packhouse felt different this time.
Maybe it was because my suitcase was in the back of Ryder’s truck, or maybe it was because I was actually moving in with him.
Either way, there was a sense of permanence to this trip that made my heart race with a mixture of excitement and nerves.
When we pulled up to the packhouse, Ryder came around to my side and opened the door, offering me his hand. I took it, letting him help me down, and he immediately pulled me close for a quick kiss.
“Ready?” he asked against my lips.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I said, smiling.
He grabbed my suitcase from the back, refusing to let me carry anything, and we headed inside and up to his apartment. Our apartment, I corrected myself. I was going to have to get used to thinking of it that way.
Once we were inside, Ryder set my suitcase down in the bedroom and turned to me, his expression apologetic.
“I hate to do this,” he said, running a hand through his hair, “but I really need to go work for a bit. I’ve been neglecting my Alpha duties to spend time with you, and there are some things I need to take care of.”
I felt a pang of guilt. He’d been with me almost constantly since I’d arrived, and while I loved every second of it, I knew he had responsibilities. Important ones.
“Of course,” I said quickly. “Go. Do what you need to do. I’ll be fine here.”
He stepped closer, cupping my face in his hands. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Make yourself at home, okay? This is your place now too.”
“Okay,” I whispered.
He kissed me again, deeper this time, and I felt that familiar heat building between us. But then he pulled back with a groan.
“If I don’t leave now, I’m never going to leave,” he said, his voice rough.
I laughed, even though part of me wanted to pull him back. “Go. I’ll be here when you get back.”
He pressed one more kiss to my forehead and then left, closing the door behind him.
I stood there for a moment, just taking in the silence. Then I turned to my suitcase and got to work.
Unpacking didn’t take long. Most of my clothes went into the closet Ryder had already filled with things in my size—which was still slightly creepy but also incredibly sweet. I put my toiletries in the bathroom, arranged a few personal items on the dresser, and within an hour, I was done.
The apartment looked more lived-in now, with my things mixed in with Ryder’s. It felt right.
I pulled out my phone and stared at it for a long moment. There were two calls I needed to make, and I wasn’t looking forward to either of them.
Well, that wasn’t entirely true. One of them I was dreading. The other was just going to be emotional.
I decided to start with the hard one first.
I scrolled through my contacts until I found Sandy’s number and hit call. She answered on the second ring.
“Emily! How’s the vacation going?” Her voice was warm and cheerful, and I felt another pang of guilt.
“Hey, Sandy,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “It’s going really well, actually. That’s kind of why I’m calling.”
There was a pause. “Oh?”
I took a deep breath. “I need to quit.”
“What?” Sandy’s shock was evident. “Emily, what are you talking about? You love this job. You’re amazing at it.”
“I know,” I said, and I meant it. I did love my job. Being a Pack Liaison had been fulfilling and important, and I’d been good at it. “But something’s come up. Something I can’t pass up.”
“Does this have anything to do with Ryder Black?” Sandy asked, and I could hear the knowing tone in her voice.
I blinked. “How did you—”
“Emily, I’ve known Ryder for years. We’ve worked together on several integration projects. And I know he’s from your hometown.” She paused. “Are you two...?”
“We’re mates,” I said quietly.
Sandy let out a delighted laugh. “Oh, Emily! That’s wonderful! I’m so happy for you!”
I felt tears prick at my eyes. “You’re not mad?”
“Mad? Honey, no. I’m thrilled for you. Ryder’s a good man, and you deserve to be happy.” She paused. “Though I am going to miss you. You’ve been one of my best liaisons.”
“Thank you,” I whispered. “For everything. For understanding.”
“Of course. When’s your last day?”
“I’m not coming back,” I admitted. “I’m staying here. With him.”
“Then consider this your official resignation, effective immediately,” Sandy said warmly. “Go be with your mate, Emily. Live your life. And if you ever need a reference or want to come back to this kind of work, you call me. Understood?”
“Understood,” I said, smiling through my tears. “Thank you, Sandy.”
“Take care of yourself, Emily. And congratulations.”
We said our goodbyes, and I ended the call, wiping at my eyes. That had gone better than I’d expected.
Now for the emotional one.
I pulled up my parents’ number and hit call, my heart pounding. Mom answered almost immediately.
“Emily! Sweetheart, how are you? How was Nina’s ceremony?”
“Hi, Mom,” I said, and just hearing her voice made me feel like I was going to cry. “The ceremony was beautiful. Nina looked so happy, and Nate is perfect for her.”
“Oh, I’m so glad to hear that. Your father and I were thinking about her. She’s such a sweet girl.”
“She really is,” I said, smiling. “And Mom, I have to tell you something. Ryder is here. He’s the alpha of Nina’s pack.”
There was a pause. “Ryder? Ryder Black?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” Her voice softened with concern. “How are you doing with that? I know how hard it was when he left.”
I took a deep breath. “It was hard to see him at first. Really hard. But we talked, and Mom—he told me I’m his mate. He wants to be with me.”
“And?” Mom asked gently. “What did you decide?”
“I want to be with him,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Okay,” Mom said after a moment. “As long as you are happy, sweetheart. That’s all that matters to your father and me.”
“I am happy, Mom. I really am.”
“Does he make you happy?” she asked, and I could hear the protective edge in her voice. “Does he treat you well?”
“Yes,” I said, and I felt tears starting to fall. I shared with her how he spent the last five years working to make the world safer for us, so I could be his Luna without fear. “He never stopped thinking about me.”
Mom was quiet for a moment, and when she spoke again, her voice was thick with emotion. “That’s beautiful, Emily. If he makes you happy and he’s good to you, then I’m happy for you. But if he ever hurts you—”
“I know, Mom,” I said, laughing through my tears. “I know.”
“I just worry about you, baby. You’ve loved him for so long, and I don’t want to see you get hurt again.”
“I know,” I said softly. “But I think this time is different. I think we’re going to be okay.”
“Then I’m happy for you,” Mom said, and I could hear her smile. “Is Dad there?” I asked.
“He’s right here. Let me put you on speaker.”
There was a rustling sound, and then I heard my dad’s voice. “Emily?”
“Hi, Dad,” I said.
“Your mother’s crying,” he said, but I could hear the warmth in his voice. “I hope this is good news?”
“I’m mated to Ryder,” I said.
“Ryder Black?” Dad’s voice was thoughtful. “Your childhood best friend?”
“Yes.” I shared with him about Ryder being an Alpha and his work with the integration.
“And you’re happy?”
“I’m really happy, Dad.”
“Then I’m happy for you, sweetheart.” He paused. “But I’m going to need his phone number.”
I blinked. “What? Why?”
“So I can call him and threaten him, of course,” Dad said matter-of-factly. “It’s my job as your father.”
I burst out laughing. “Dad, he’s an Alpha. He could probably snap you in half.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’m still your father, and he needs to know that if he hurts you, he’ll have to answer to me.”
I was still laughing, but I felt a warmth spread through my chest. “Okay, Dad. I’ll give you his number.”
“Good girl.”
I rattled off Ryder’s number, and Dad repeated it back to me to make sure he had it right.
“We love you, Emily,” Mom said, her voice still thick with tears. “And we can’t wait to see you both.”
“I love you too,” I said. “Both of you.”
We talked for a few more minutes before saying goodbye, and when I ended the call, I felt lighter than I had in years. My parents were happy for me. Sandy was happy for me. Everything was falling into place.
I set my phone down and looked around the apartment. It was quiet, and I suddenly felt restless. I needed to do something, maybe explore or make this place feel like mine.
I started wandering through the rooms, really looking at everything this time. The living room was spacious and comfortable, with a large couch and a TV mounted on the wall. The kitchen was modern and well-equipped, though I suspected Ryder didn’t cook much.
But it was the walls that caught my attention.
There were pictures everywhere. Family photos, mostly—Ryder with his parents, Ryder with what looked like pack members, Ryder at various ceremonies and events. He looked happy in all of them, confident and strong.
But then I saw them.
Pictures of us.
My breath caught in my throat as I moved closer. There, on the wall next to a picture of Ryder and his father, was a photo of Ryder and me as kids. We couldn’t have been more than twelve, and we were grinning at the camera, our arms around each other’s shoulders.
I moved to the next one. This one was from when we were teenagers, sitting on the hood of his truck. I remembered that day—we’d driven out to the lake and spent hours just talking.
And then I saw it.
A picture of me at my college graduation.
I stared at it, my heart pounding. I was in my cap and gown, holding my diploma, smiling at the camera. But I didn’t remember anyone taking this picture. I didn’t remember Ryder being there.
“Okay,” I said aloud to the empty apartment. “This guy is truly a stalker. How did he even get a picture of me from graduation?”
I was going to have to ask him about that later.
But even as part of my brain was yelling Ryder is your own personal stalker, the other part was melting. He had pictures of me in his apartment. Pictures of us together, pictures of me alone. He’d kept me close, even when we were apart.