Different

MALIA’S POV

There was nothing as sweet as your own independence and freedom. This I realized in the first few days of being alone in my room without Ryder in my space.

He was sorely mistaken if he felt that giving me space was going to strengthen whatever attraction I had left for him.

The more I stayed away from him, the more the attraction died and my wolf was beside herself with happiness. She was still insisting that I leave the palace and reunite with our mate. But I just didn't want any man in my space. I was dreading the day Ryder would ask me to return to his chambers. Maybe that was when I was eventually going to decide to leave him, go somewhere else and start afresh.

The first time I heard him sneak out of his chambers, I thought perhaps, that he was going to his study to work overnight. He had done it a couple of times when I was still sleeping in his chambers.

The same thing happened the next day and then the next and I began to get curious. I decided to ask him a