Chapter 14
The past week had been absolutely insane.
Between Ryder trying to get ahead on his Alpha work and me being swept up in planning our mating and Luna ceremony with Tina—on top of learning everything I needed to know about actually being Luna—we’d barely seen each other except at dinner and in bed.
And even then, we were usually so exhausted that we’d just collapse into each other’s arms and fall asleep immediately.
I missed him. Which was ridiculous considering we lived together and saw each other every day, but I missed having time alone with him. Time where we weren’t surrounded by pack members or buried under to-do lists or learning about pack finances and ceremony traditions.
So when Ryder had announced this morning that he was taking me on a proper date tonight—just the two of us, no pack business, no ceremony planning—I’d nearly cried with relief.
It had been a few days since we’d announced the ceremonies to the pack, and everyone had been in an incredibly good mood, constantly offering to help with planning or asking if we needed anything.
The support was overwhelming in the best way, but it also meant we were constantly surrounded by people.
My parents were flying back for the ceremonies and would be here tomorrow, which added another layer of excitement and nervousness to everything. I couldn’t wait to see them, but I also knew my dad was going to give Ryder hell, protective father that he was.
But tonight? Tonight was just for us.
I stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around myself and wiping the steam off the bathroom mirror. My reflection stared back at me, cheeks flushed from the hot water, hair damp and hanging in waves around my shoulders.
I took my time getting ready, wanting to look nice for our first official date.
I applied a little bit of makeup—just enough to enhance my features without looking like I was trying too hard.
Some mascara to make my lashes look longer, a touch of blush to add color to my cheeks, a subtle lip gloss that made my lips look fuller.
Then I went to the bedroom to get dressed.
I’d picked out a dress earlier—a soft, flowy sundress in a deep blue that Ryder had once told me brought out my eyes.
It hit just above my knees and had a sweetheart neckline that was flattering without being too revealing.
I paired it with a cream-colored cardigan in case it got chilly later, and slipped on a pair of simple sandals.
I walked back to the bathroom to check my reflection one more time, smoothing down the dress and adjusting the cardigan. As I looked at myself in the mirror, I felt a flutter of nervousness in my stomach.
Did I look okay? Was this too casual? Too dressy?
I was still studying my reflection when I heard footsteps behind me, and then Ryder was there, appearing in the mirror behind me.
He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me back against his chest, and pressed a kiss to my cheek. The gesture was so tender, so natural, that it made my heart swell.
“You look gorgeous, babe,” he murmured against my skin, his eyes meeting mine in the mirror.
I felt heat creep into my cheeks. “So do you.”
And God, he really did. He was wearing dark jeans that fit him perfectly and a button-down shirt in a deep green that made his eyes look even more striking.
He’d left the top two buttons undone, giving me a glimpse of his collarbone and the strong column of his throat.
His hair was slightly damp, like he’d just showered too, and he smelled incredible—that woodsy, masculine scent that was uniquely him.
Looking at our reflection together, we looked happy. Really, genuinely happy. And we made a super hot couple, if I did say so myself.
I couldn’t stop looking at Ryder in the mirror. The way his arms wrapped around me, the way his body pressed against mine, the way he was looking at me like I was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen—it all made me feel warm and wanted and loved.
He was so good-looking it was almost unfair. Strong jaw, perfect features, those intense eyes that seemed to see right through me. And he was mine.
Ryder must have sensed the direction of my thoughts because his eyes darkened slightly in the mirror. Before I could say anything, he spun me around to face him and captured my lips in a passionate kiss.
I melted into him immediately, my hands coming up to grip his shoulders as his mouth moved over mine with unmistakable hunger. His tongue swept into my mouth, tasting me, claiming me, and I couldn’t help the small sound that escaped my throat.
Then his lips left mine and started trailing down my jaw, down the side of my neck, until he reached that spot—the place where he would eventually mark me as his mate.
He sucked and licked at the sensitive skin there, and I felt my knees go weak. A moan escaped my lips before I could stop it, my fingers digging into his shoulders as pleasure shot through my body.
God, when he did that, I couldn’t think straight. Couldn’t focus on anything except the feel of his mouth on my skin and the heat pooling low in my belly.
Ryder’s lips curved into a smile against my neck, and then he was whispering in my ear, his voice rough and amused. “If you keep thinking whatever you’re thinking, we’re never going to leave.”
I realized with a jolt what he meant—he could smell my arousal. The mate bond made him incredibly attuned to my body’s responses, and right now, my body was very clearly responding to him.
I felt my face heat with embarrassment, and I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.
Ryder chuckled, the sound low and intimate, and pressed one more kiss to my lips before taking my hand. “Come on. Let’s go before I change my mind about leaving this apartment.”
I let him lead me downstairs and out to the car, trying to calm my racing heart and the lingering heat in my body. The man had an unfair effect on me, and he knew it.
Ryder opened the passenger door for me—always the gentleman—and I slid into the seat, watching as he walked around to the driver’s side. Even the way he moved was attractive, all confident grace and controlled power.
I was in so much trouble.
The drive to Pinewood was comfortable and easy, filled with light conversation about our day.
Ryder told me about a territorial dispute he’d been mediating with a neighboring pack, and I told him about the latest ceremony planning developments—apparently Tina had decided we needed ice sculptures, which seemed excessive but also kind of amazing.
When we pulled into Pinewood, I felt a wave of nostalgia wash over me. This was the town where I’d grown up, where I’d spent so many years of my life. It looked the same but also different, like time had moved forward while I was away.
Ryder drove us to the “nice” restaurant in town—a small, family-owned Italian and steak place that had been here for as long as I could remember.
On the outside, it looked exactly the same, but when we walked inside, I was surprised to see that the interior had been completely updated to look more upscale.
The lighting was warm and intimate, with candles on every table. The walls had been painted a rich burgundy, and there were elegant touches everywhere—fresh flowers, white tablecloths, soft music playing in the background.
We were greeted by a hostess who looked to be in her early twenties, pretty in a conventional way with long blonde hair and too much makeup. Her eyes immediately locked onto Ryder, and I watched as she gave him a slow, appreciative once-over that made me want to roll my eyes.
I just rolled my eyes instead. This was something I was going to have to get used to—women checking out my mate. Ryder was gorgeous, and he was the Alpha, which made him even more attractive to unmated females. It came with the territory.
But Ryder seemed completely oblivious to her attention. He just held my hand and followed her to our table, his focus entirely on me.
When we reached our table—a cozy booth in the corner that offered some privacy—Ryder pulled out my chair for me before sitting down across from me. Even after we were seated, he made sure to touch me, his foot finding mine under the table, his hand reaching across to hold mine.
It was like he couldn’t stand to not be in physical contact with me, and I loved it.
We ordered drinks and appetizers, and then settled into easy conversation, continuing to catch up on everything we’d missed in each other’s lives over the past week.
But there was something I’d been curious about, something I’d been meaning to ask him since I’d discovered it.
“So,” I said, trying to sound casual as I took a sip of my wine. “I wanted to ask you about something.”
Ryder looked at me, his expression open and curious. “Yeah?”
“The picture you have of me in our apartment. The one from my college graduation.” I watched his face carefully. “How did you get that?”
Ryder’s expression immediately shifted to embarrassment, a flush creeping up his neck. He looked down at his plate, suddenly very interested in his food.
“Ryder?” I prompted, fighting back a smile.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Okay, so... one of the pack members was also graduating that day. From a different school, but same ceremony venue.” He looked up at me, his expression sheepish. “I may have... made them take a picture of you.”
I stared at him for a moment, and then I burst out laughing. “Stalker much?”
“Absolutely,” he admitted, and there was no apology in his voice, just honesty. “But then again, this is me we’re talking about. I already confessed to keeping tabs on you for the last five years.”
I shook my head, still laughing. “You’re ridiculous.”
“I’m in love,” he corrected, his eyes intense as they met mine. “There’s a difference.”
My heart squeezed in my chest. If I hadn’t grown up with him, if I hadn’t been in love with him since I was a teenager, I would probably be very freaked out by his stalker tendencies.
But I knew Ryder. I knew his heart, knew that everything he did came from a place of love and protection, not obsession or control.