Chapter 13
The past few days had been a blur of stolen moments and tender touches, of learning Ryder all over again and discovering that somehow, impossibly, I loved him even more than I had before.
We’d spent hours just talking—about everything and nothing.
About his years as Alpha, about my work as a Pack Liaison, about the dreams we’d had when we were younger and the ones we were building now.
He told me about the changes he’d made to the pack, the alliances he’d forged, the threats he’d neutralized.
I told him about the conflicts I’d mediated, the cultures I’d experienced, the person I’d become in his absence.
But mostly, we just existed together. Learning each other’s rhythms again, the way we fit together like puzzle pieces that had been separated too long.
And God, we couldn’t keep our hands off each other.
It was like five years of longing had condensed into this desperate need to touch, to confirm that this was real, that we were finally together.
Ryder would reach for me in the middle of a conversation, pulling me into his lap just to hold me.
I’d find myself gravitating toward him in a room full of people, my hand seeking his without conscious thought.
Every morning, I woke up wrapped in his arms. Every night, I fell asleep to the sound of his heartbeat. And in between, there were stolen kisses in hallways, heated looks across crowded rooms, and moments of intimacy that left me breathless and wanting more.
Ryder hadn’t officially introduced me as Luna yet—we’d agreed to wait until I was ready and had time to learn what that role actually meant. But he introduced me as his mate to everyone we encountered, and every single time, my heart would swell with pride and happiness.
“This is Emily,” he’d say, his arm tight around my waist, his voice filled with unmistakable possession and love. “My mate.”
And I’d smile, feeling my cheeks heat with a blush that never seemed to fade, and watch as pack members’ faces lit up with genuine happiness for their Alpha.
Well, most of them anyway.
There were still a few she-wolves who shot me looks that could kill—jealous glares that made it clear they’d had their sights set on being the Alpha’s mate. I’d catch their eyes lingering on Ryder with longing, or see the way their expressions would sour when they saw us together.
But honestly? I didn’t even care.
Ryder had always been mine. From the moment he’d found me lost in the woods when I was seven years old, from our first kiss at that party, from every phone call and every moment of longing during our five years apart—he’d been mine. And now, finally, I was his too.
Besides, Ryder usually caught those jealous looks at the same time I did. His response was always immediate and unmistakable—a low, warning growl that had the offending she-wolf dropping her gaze and scurrying away. The first time it happened, I’d been startled. Now, I found it oddly satisfying.
Though sometimes I wished I was a wolf shifter so I could growl back at them when he wasn’t around.
Tina had been incredible these past few days, patiently showing me the ropes of everything Luna-related. We’d spent hours going over pack finances, discussing the various programs and initiatives the pack ran, and talking about the delicate balance of being both a leader and a nurturer to the pack.
Today, we were sitting in the Luna office—my future office, I reminded myself with a flutter of nerves—going over staffing for the packhouse.
“So the kitchen staff rotates on a weekly schedule,” Tina was saying, pointing to a detailed spreadsheet on her laptop.
“We have three head cooks who each manage their own teams. They coordinate the menus together to make sure we’re not repeating meals too often and that we’re accommodating everyone’s dietary needs.”
I nodded, taking notes. It was actually pretty self-explanatory once you understood the system. The packhouse ran like a well-oiled machine, with everyone knowing their role and executing it flawlessly.
“The cleaning staff works in zones,” Tina continued. “Common areas are cleaned daily, private quarters weekly unless requested otherwise. The laundry service is available to everyone, but most people prefer to do their own.”
We went through the rest of the staffing—maintenance, security, the daycare workers, the teachers for the pack school. It was a lot to take in, but Tina was patient, answering my questions and sharing stories about various pack members that helped me put faces to names.
After about an hour, we’d covered everything on her list. Tina closed her laptop and smiled at me.
“You’re going to be wonderful at this, Emily. I can already tell.”
“I hope so,” I said, feeling that familiar flutter of nervousness in my stomach. “There’s just so much to learn.”
“You’ll learn,” Tina assured me. “And I’ll be here to help you every step of the way. We should probably head down for lunch soon. Ryder and Greg will be waiting.”
I glanced at the clock and realized she was right. But before we could pack up, I felt a surge of certainty wash over me. I’d been thinking about this for days, weighing my options, considering what I wanted. And I’d made my decision.
“Tina,” I said, my voice coming out steadier than I felt. “I wanted to talk to you about something first.”
She turned to look at me, and I saw excitement immediately spark in her eyes. “Oh?”
I took a deep breath. “I’ve decided. Officially. I want to become Luna. You can start planning the mating ceremony and the Luna ceremony.”
For a moment, Tina just stared at me. Then she let out a scream that probably shattered glass somewhere in the packhouse.
“Oh my Goddess!” she shrieked, launching herself at me and pulling me into a bone-crushing hug. “Emily! Oh, sweetheart, I’m so happy! This is wonderful! We have so much to plan! Oh, this is going to be beautiful!”
I was laughing, hugging her back, when suddenly the door to the office was ripped open with such force that it slammed against the wall.
Ryder burst through first, his eyes wild and glowing with his wolf, his body tense and ready for a fight. Greg was right behind him, equally alert, and Ken brought up the rear, all three of them scanning the room for threats.
“What’s wrong?” Ryder demanded, his voice rough with his wolf. His eyes found me immediately, checking me over for injuries. “Are you hurt?”
Tina just smiled, completely unbothered by the fact that she’d just sent three of the pack’s most powerful wolves into a panic. “Don’t worry, boys. I was just excited because Bunny told me I can start planning the mating and Luna ceremony for her and Ryder!”
And then she screamed again, just as loud as before.
I couldn’t help it—I burst out laughing at the expressions on their faces.
Ryder’s panic melted into relief and then joy, his entire face transforming as he processed what his mother had said.
Greg looked like he’d aged ten years in the past thirty seconds.
And Ken just shook his head, though I could see him fighting a smile.
Ryder crossed the room in three long strides and pulled me into his arms, lifting me off my feet as he kissed me. I wrapped my arms around his neck, kissing him back, feeling his happiness and relief and love pouring through our bond.
“You’re sure?” he murmured against my lips when he finally pulled back enough to speak.
“I’m sure,” I said, and I meant it.
He kissed me again, deeper this time, and I heard Tina sigh happily in the background.
“Sheesh, Mom,” Ryder said when he finally set me back on my feet, though he kept his arms around me. “You scared the shit out of us.”
Ken nodded emphatically. “I thought someone was dying.”
Greg just shook his head, looking at his mate with a mixture of exasperation and affection. “Tina, I am too old for this kind of excitement.”
Tina tsked at him, walking over to pat his cheek. “Please, honey. We have way more excitement than this daily.” Then she winked.
Ryder made a gagging sound. “Mom. No. Please, Goddess, no.”
Ken and I burst out laughing. Greg just grinned, pulling Tina against his side and kissing the top of her head.
“I assume you two are ready for lunch?” Ryder asked, looking around and noticing that Tina and I had already packed up our things.
We both nodded, and Ryder immediately pulled me into his side, his arm secure around my waist as we headed out of the office and down the stairs toward the dining hall.
It was another typically busy day in the packhouse. The hallways were filled with pack members going about their business, and it seemed like every few feet, someone would stop to say hello or nod respectfully at Ryder.
Most everyone had gotten used to seeing us together by now. The initial shock and curiosity had faded into acceptance, and I’d started to feel like I actually belonged here, like I was part of the pack rather than just a visitor.
Though I still got the occasional evil eye from a she-wolf here and there.
It happened as we were walking past a group of younger wolves—three women who looked to be in their early twenties, all beautiful in that effortless way that shifters seemed to manage.
Two of them smiled and nodded politely. The third one, a stunning brunette with amber eyes, let her gaze linger on Ryder just a beat too long, her expression hungry and possessive.
I felt Ryder tense beside me at the same moment I registered the look. His response was immediate—a low, warning growl that rumbled through his chest and had the she-wolf’s eyes widening in alarm before she quickly dropped her gaze and hurried away with her friends.
I bit back a smile. It happened at least once a day, and every time, I found it oddly satisfying to watch Ryder put them in their place.
Though sometimes I really did wish I was a wolf shifter so I could growl back at them when he wasn’t around. That would be incredibly useful.
But the majority of the pack was genuinely happy that Ryder had found his mate.
Even though I was human, they’d been incredibly accepting and welcoming.