Chapter 17
I woke to the feeling of warmth surrounding me, the steady rise and fall of Ryder’s chest beneath my cheek, and the sound of his heartbeat—strong and sure—echoing in my ear. For a moment, I just lay there, letting myself absorb the reality of where I was.
In Ryder’s arms. In our bed. Safe.
The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft golden glow across the room. I shifted slightly, careful not to wake him, and tilted my head up to look at his face.
God, he was beautiful.
Even in sleep, there was something commanding about him—the strong line of his jaw, the way his dark hair fell across his forehead, the fullness of his lips that I now knew could be both tender and demanding.
His arm was wrapped possessively around my waist, holding me close even in unconsciousness, like he was afraid I might disappear if he let go.
I let my gaze travel down the length of his body—the broad shoulders, the defined muscles of his chest and abs, the V-line that disappeared beneath the sheet slung low across his hips.
He was seriously sex on a stick, all hard planes and masculine beauty, and I still couldn’t quite believe he was mine.
All mine.
After everything we’d talked about last night—the pain, the betrayal, the truth about why he’d tried to reject me—I felt like we’d finally turned a corner. We’d laid everything bare, exposed all the wounds, and somehow, we were still here. Still together. Maybe even stronger for it.
I felt a flutter of anxiety in my chest when I thought about today.
The packhouse would be flooded with guests arriving for tomorrow’s ceremony—not just wolf packs, but leaders from the bear and panther communities too.
Alphas, Lunas, Betas, Gammas. And then there were the human leaders from the Department of Supernatural Affairs, the DSA, since Ryder had been such an active member in bridging the gap between supernatural and human communities.
It was going to be exhausting. A whole day of playing hostess, of smiling and greeting and making small talk with people I’d never met. And I wouldn’t get much time alone with Ryder at all.
So I decided to take these few stolen moments, right here, right now, and just be with him.
I traced my fingers lightly across his chest, feeling the warmth of his skin, the steady thrum of his heartbeat.
“You look happy.”
I jumped slightly, my gaze snapping up to find Ryder staring down at me, his eyes warm and a lazy smile playing at his lips.
“I didn’t know you were awake,” I said, feeling my cheeks heat.
“I’ve been awake for a few minutes,” he admitted, his hand sliding up my back in a slow, deliberate caress. “I was enjoying watching you watch me.”
I felt my face flush deeper. “That’s not creepy at all.”
He laughed, the sound rumbling through his chest. “So? Are you? Happy?”
I thought about it for a moment. After everything we’d been through, all the pain and heartbreak and years of separation, was I happy?
“I am,” I said softly, and I meant it. “I really am.”
His smile widened, and before I could say anything else, he rolled me onto my back, his body covering mine as he braced himself above me on his forearms.
“Good,” he murmured, his eyes darkening as they roamed over my face. “I wouldn’t want you to be anything other than happy.”
Then he kissed me—long, slow, and tender. It was the kind of kiss that made my toes curl and my heart race, the kind that promised everything and demanded nothing. I melted into it, my hands sliding up his arms to his shoulders, feeling the flex of muscle beneath my palms.
When he finally pulled back, I was breathless.
“We have to get ready,” I said, even as my body was already responding to his proximity, to the heat of his skin against mine. “Guests will be arriving soon.”
“They can wait,” Ryder said, his voice dropping to that low, rough tone that always made my stomach flip. “Everyone can wait until I’m done with my beautiful mate.”
I smiled, unable to help myself. “Ryder—”
“Em,” he said, cutting me off with another kiss, this one deeper, more insistent. “Let me have this. Let me have you. Just for a little while longer.”
How could I say no to that?
I kissed him back, pouring everything I felt into it—all the love, all the gratitude, all the hope for our future. His hands began to roam, sliding down my sides.
He broke the kiss to trail his lips down my neck, nipping and sucking at the sensitive skin there. I gasped, arching into him, and felt him smile against my throat.
“I love the sounds you make,” he murmured, his breath hot against my skin.
Then his mouth was on my breast, his tongue circling my nipple before he sucked it into his mouth. I moaned, my fingers tangling in his hair, holding him to me. At the same time, his hand slid between my thighs, his thumb finding my clit and rubbing in slow, deliberate circles.
“Ryder,” I breathed, pleasure already building low in my belly.
He switched to my other breast, giving it the same attention, while his fingers continued their maddening rhythm. I could feel myself getting wetter, my body responding to his touch like it always did—instantly, completely.
Then he was positioning himself between my thighs, the head of his cock pressing against my entrance. He looked down at me, his eyes searching mine.
“Okay?” he asked, his voice strained with the effort of holding back.
“Yes,” I whispered. “Please.”
He slid into me slowly, carefully, and I gasped at the sensation. It felt amazing—the stretch, the fullness, the way our bodies fit together like they were made for this. Made for each other.
He started moving, slow and steady, his eyes never leaving mine. It was intimate in a way that went beyond the physical, like he was trying to show me with his body what he couldn’t always put into words.
“Faster,” I begged, my hips rising to meet his thrusts. “Please, Ryder, faster.”
He groaned, his control snapping, and then he was driving into me hard and fast, exactly the way I needed. The bed creaked beneath us, and I didn’t care. All I cared about was this—him, us, the way he made me feel.
The pleasure built and built, coiling tighter and tighter, until I couldn’t hold back anymore.
“Ryder!” I screamed his name as I came, my body clenching around him, waves of pleasure crashing over me.
He followed right after, his own release tearing through him with a guttural groan. He collapsed on top of me, both of us breathing hard, our bodies slick with sweat.
After a moment, he rolled to the side, pulling me with him so I was tucked against his chest.
“We really do need to get up now,” I said, even though I didn’t want to move.
“I know,” he sighed, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Come on. Let’s shower.”
We both begrudgingly got up and made our way to the bathroom. The shower was large enough for both of us, and we took our time washing each other, stealing kisses and touches that threatened to turn into something more.
But we had responsibilities. Guests to greet. A ceremony to prepare for.
So we dried off, got dressed, and headed downstairs hand in hand.
The packhouse was already buzzing with activity. Pack members were rushing around, making last-minute preparations, and the dining hall was filled with the scent of breakfast.
Everyone we passed smiled at us, their faces bright with excitement. I could feel their happiness and their joy at seeing their Alpha and Luna together.
It still felt surreal sometimes, being called Luna. Being his Luna.
We ate breakfast quickly, both of us knowing we had a long day ahead. Tina and Greg joined us, along with a few of the higher-ranking pack members, and we discussed the schedule for the day.
“The first guests should start arriving around nine,” Tina said, checking her phone. “The Silvercrest Pack from Montana, I believe. Then the Nightshade Pack from Oregon around ten.”
“And the bear and panther representatives?” Ryder asked.
“This afternoon,” Greg confirmed. “Along with the DSA officials.”
I felt a flutter of nerves. I’d never met leaders from other shifter communities before, and I definitely hadn’t met any of the executives from the Department of Supernatural Affairs. What if they didn’t approve of me? What if they thought a human Luna was a bad idea?
Ryder must have sensed my anxiety because he squeezed my hand under the table and gave me a reassuring smile.
After breakfast, we made our way to the front entrance of the packhouse. Ryder stood tall and commanding beside me, every inch the Alpha, and I tried to channel some of that confidence.
The procession started right on time.
Pack after pack arrived, their Alphas and Lunas greeting Ryder with respect and me with curiosity. I smiled until my face hurt, shook hands until my arm ached, and made small talk until I thought my brain might shut down.
Some of the Alphas were warm and welcoming. Others were more reserved, clearly still forming their opinions about me. A few of the Lunas pulled me aside to offer advice or share stories about their own mating ceremonies, which I appreciated more than they knew.
By the time lunch rolled around, the packhouse was packed. Some guests had to stay at the hotel in Pinewood because we’d simply run out of room.
I was exhausted—physically and emotionally drained from hours of standing and smiling and being “on.”
Ryder must have noticed because he took my hand and, instead of heading to the dining hall with everyone else, led me toward the front door.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Lunch,” he said simply. “With our parents. At the restaurant in town.”
My stomach dropped. “Our parents? Together?”
He nodded, and I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me. I was still nervous about my dad and Ryder. Last night had been...intense. And while I have forgiven Ryder, my dad was still upset with him. And it didn't help that Ryder was gone all day yesterday.
“Ryder, I don’t know if this is a good idea—”
“It’ll be fine,” he assured me, bringing my hand up to kiss my knuckles. “I’m going to charm the hell out of your dad. He used to love me, remember? We can get back to that.”