Chapter 15
I couldn’t stop bouncing.
Literally. My feet kept lifting off the ground in these little excited hops that I couldn’t control, and Ryder’s arms around my waist were the only thing keeping me from launching myself down the driveway.
“Easy, baby,” he murmured against my ear, his chest rumbling with quiet laughter. “They’ll be here in like two minutes.”
“I know, I know, I just—” Another bounce. “I’m so excited!”
It had been months since I’d seen my parents in person. Two weeks since that phone call where I’d told them about Ryder, about the mate bond, about everything. And now they were here, driving up to the packhouse, about to see this whole new life I’d built.
In two days, I’d officially become Ryder’s mate and the Luna of the Edgewood Pack. Two days until the ceremony that would bind us together in front of everyone. Two days until pack leaders from across the country arrived to witness it.
My stomach flipped with a mixture of excitement and nerves.
“You’re adorable when you’re like this,” Ryder said, nuzzling into my neck. His lips brushed against my mark, and I felt that familiar spark of heat shoot through me.
“Ryder,” I warned, but I was smiling. “My parents are literally about to pull up.”
“I know.” Another kiss, this one lingering. “Just reminding you who you belong to before your dad gets here and tries to intimidate me.”
I laughed, tilting my head back to look at him. “He’s not going to intimidate you. You’re an Alpha.”
“He’s your father.” Ryder’s expression was serious despite the smile playing at his lips. “That’s scarier than any Alpha.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but then I saw it—a silver sedan coming up the long driveway, sunlight glinting off the windshield.
“They’re here!” I squealed, and this time I did try to launch myself forward.
Ryder’s arms tightened around me, holding me in place. “Babe, just wait. They’re almost here.”
I looked up at him, and I knew my face was showing every ounce of love I felt for this man. The way he held me, the way he smiled at my excitement, the way he’d been so patient with all my nerves about the ceremony—he was everything.
He must have seen it in my eyes because his expression softened, and he leaned down to kiss me. It was gentle, sweet, full of promise.
The car stopped in front of us just as we pulled apart.
I didn’t wait. The second Ryder’s arms loosened, I was running.
“Mom!”
The passenger door flew open, and my mother practically jumped out of the car. She was laughing, her arms already open, and when I crashed into her, she held me so tight I could barely breathe.
“Oh, my baby girl,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “Look at you. You’re glowing!”
I was laughing and maybe crying a little as I hugged her back. “I missed you so much.”
“I missed you too, sweetheart.” She pulled back to look at me, her hands cupping my face. “You look so happy.”
“I am,” I said, and I meant it with every fiber of my being.
Dad came around the car then, and his expression was softer than I’d expected. He pulled me into a hug, and I felt some of the tension I’d been carrying ease.
“Hey, kiddo,” he said quietly. “Good to see you.”
“You too, Dad.”
When he released me, I turned to find Ryder standing a few feet back, giving us space. He looked nervous—actually nervous—and it was so endearing I wanted to kiss him again.
“Mom, Dad, you remember Ryder.”
Mom’s face lit up, and she moved forward immediately, pulling Ryder into a hug that clearly surprised him. “Ryder Black! Look at you—you grew up to be so handsome!”
I saw Ryder’s cheeks flush slightly, and he smiled. “Thank you, Mrs. Reed. It’s really good to see you again.”
“Oh, please, call me Lisa.” Mom pulled back, still beaming. “I can’t believe it’s really you. Emily told us everything, and I just—I’m so happy for you both.”
Dad stepped forward then, and the temperature seemed to drop about ten degrees.
He didn’t smile. He just looked at Ryder—really looked at him—with an expression I couldn’t quite read. Then he extended his hand.
“Mr. Reed,” Ryder said, shaking it firmly. “Thank you for coming.”
“Mm.” Dad’s response was noncommittal, and the handshake lasted just a beat too long. “We’ll see how this goes.”
“Dad,” I said, a warning in my voice.
“What? I’m here, aren’t I?” But his eyes never left Ryder’s face.
I could feel Ryder’s tension through the bond, but to his credit, he didn’t back down. He met my father’s gaze steadily, respectfully, but without submission.
“I know I have a lot to prove to you, sir,” Ryder said quietly. “And I intend to.”
Dad just nodded, then turned to grab luggage from the trunk.
Mom shot me an apologetic look, and I tried to smile back. I’d known this wouldn’t be easy. Dad was still angry about what had happened in high school—about what Ryder leaving had done to me. He didn’t know the full extent of it, but he knew enough.
And he was my father. Of course he was protective.
“Come on,” I said, linking my arm through Mom’s. “Let me show you to your room. You’re staying with us on the fourth floor.”
Ryder grabbed their suitcases, and we all headed inside. I gave them a quick tour as we walked—pointing out the main common areas, the dining room, the library. Mom oohed and ahhed over everything, clearly impressed by the packhouse’s rustic elegance.
Dad remained silent, his expression neutral.
When we reached the fourth floor, I led them to the guest room we’d prepared. It was spacious and comfortable, with a large window overlooking the forest and an en-suite bathroom.
“This is beautiful,” Mom said, setting her purse down on the dresser. “Thank you so much for having us.”
“Of course,” Ryder said, setting down their luggage. “You’re family. You’re welcome here anytime.”
I saw something flicker in Dad’s expression—not quite approval, but maybe a slight thaw.
“We’ll let you get settled,” I said. “Lunch is in a couple hours. Just come down whenever you’re ready.”
Mom hugged me again. “We’ll see you soon, sweetheart.”
As Ryder and I walked back down the hallway, I felt the weight of Dad’s disapproval settling on my shoulders. I knew it would take time. I knew he needed to see that Ryder and I were really happy, that this wasn’t some impulsive decision.
I just hoped two weeks would be enough.
Ryder must have sensed my thoughts because he took my hand, threading our fingers together. “Hey. It’s going to be okay.”
“I know. He just—he needs time.”
“I get it, Em. I really do.” He pulled me closer as we walked. “I hurt you. He saw that. He’s your dad. I’d be the same way if someone hurt our daughter.”
The casual way he said “our daughter” made my heart skip. We hadn’t really talked about kids yet, but hearing him say it so naturally, so easily—it made something warm bloom in my chest.
“Come on,” he said, steering us toward his office. “We have a couple hours before lunch. I need to go over some last-minute ceremony details with you.”
But the moment we were inside his office and the door was locked, ceremony details were the last thing on his mind.
He pulled me against him and kissed me, deep and hungry, his hands sliding down to grip my hips. I melted into him, my arms wrapping around his neck, and for a few perfect moments, everything else faded away.
When we finally broke apart, both breathing hard, Ryder rested his forehead against mine.
“So,” he said, his voice rough. “Your dad’s not a big fan of me, huh?”
I stopped, pulling back to look at him. I gave him what I knew was a sheepish smile. “Um, yeah...”
Ryder raised an eyebrow. “Anything I should know?”
I took a deep breath. We’d been doing so well these past couple weeks. Everything had been perfect—the ceremony planning, spending time together, getting to know the pack. I hadn’t wanted to bring up the past, hadn’t wanted to taint this happiness with old pain.
But Ryder was right. His mom liked to constantly remind me that good relationships were built on a foundation of trust and truth.
“Your mom has always been wise,” I said softly.
Ryder nodded, his expression growing serious. He took my hand and led me to the couch, and we sat down facing each other.
I gave him a nervous smile. “Yes, my dad is still mad at you for what happened in high school.”
“I know,” Ryder said. “I’m sorry, Em.”
“I know you are. And you’ve made up for it—for me. But it was really hard for my parents to see me like that.”
“Like what?”
The question hung in the air between us. This was it. The moment I’d been avoiding, the truth I hadn’t wanted to burden him with.
But he deserved to know. He needed to know.
“When you stopped talking to me,” I began, my voice quiet, “and I found out that your family had sold the house and moved away without anyone telling me... I spiraled. I became really depressed.”
Ryder’s hand tightened around mine, but he didn’t interrupt.
“I stopped eating. Stopped sleeping. I couldn’t focus on anything. All I could think about was that you were gone and I didn’t know why. That you’d left without saying goodbye, without any explanation.” I took a shaky breath. “My parents were terrified. They didn’t know what to do with me.”
“Em—”
“I tried to kill myself, Ryder.”
The words came out in a rush, and I felt him go completely still beside me.
“They found me in the bathroom with a bottle of pills. I was—I couldn’t see any other way out of the pain. Everything hurt so much, and I just wanted it to stop.”
I could feel Ryder getting more and more tense as I spoke. His hand was trembling in mine, and I could sense his wolf rising, fighting for control.
“They took me to the hospital. Kept me there for three days. Then they sent me to live with my grandparents for the rest of junior year and the whole summer. Seven months away from Pinewood, away from everything that reminded me of you.”
Tears were streaming down my face now, and I could see them in Ryder’s eyes too.
“It took me so long to get better. To learn how to function again. To stop feeling like there was this gaping hole in my chest where you used to be.”