Ryder's POV It was already night-time and seven hours since I sent the letter to London. My messenger still hadn't returned but I wasn't bothered. Nothing at this moment bothered me anymore. I took a small sip from the cup of tea in my hands and sighed loudly. Relaxing the small couch, I stared at the fireplace, watching as the flames danced around the log of woods that had been thrown into the pit. I smiled and took another sip from my cup. "Alpha Ryder," I heard someone call out from behind me. Turning around, I saw John standing in the doorway of my study with something in his hands. "Yes, John," I muttered as I slowly turned back to face the fire, taking a small sip in the process. "What is the matter?" "Are you worried that the messenger you sent to deliver your message to London hasn't arrived?" John asked with a concerned tone as he stepped further into the room.I chuckled softly before downing the entire content of the cup. As I picked up the jug of tea on the table besi
Ryder's POVI opened my eyes wide, panting loudly. The harsh desert wind blew against my face, striking me with little stones that tore at my skin. I grunted, blinking twice as some of them entered into my eyes. "Where am I?" I muttered, coughing as I looked around the place. My entire surrounding was covered in a thick cloud of dust, one that made it hard for me to breathe and see. But still, something told me to walk. Placing my hands over my face, I took a step, defying the strong push of the wind. The ground under me seemed to move with every step that I took, making it seem like I was stationary. But I still walked. All of a sudden, just as fast as it had come, the sand storm sudden disappeared. Almost instantaneously, the entire place went dark. it was as if someone had placed a cloak on the sun, drowning it of it's light. "What the fuck is happening?" I said under my breath as I continued on, my hands placed right in front of me. My senses were at high alert but the oppres
Aria's PovToday was the annual mating ceremony, and also the day, five years ago, that I lost my parents to the cold hands of death. They were killed by rogue wolves, and all that remained of them were bits and pieces of their torn out flesh.Smack! I felt a sharp sting on my left cheek which snapped me back to reality."Ouch!" I winced in pain, as the slap echoed in my ears. I rubbed my stinging cheeks with my palm, as tears welled up in my eyes."Get your head out of the clouds, Aria!" Mrs. Beatrice, the person in charge of caring for the Alpha's quarters barked. "There's a lot of work to do before the mating ceremony tonight, and you are here daydreaming?!""I– I'm sorry Mrs. Beatrice," I bowed and apologized in a trembling voice, and got back to cleaning, even though my cheeks still hurt, there was no time to nurse that now."Sorry Aria," my wolf, Ava comforted me. "Just say the word, and I'd have her head rolling," she threatened."Yeah right," I rolled my eyes at my hot-headed
Aria's Pov"Mate!" Ava called again in a louder voice.My heart skipped a beat. "A- Ava are you sure?" I stuttered, not wanting to get my hopes up."Mate!" Ava said again happily, jumping excitedly in my mind."Are you sure about this?" I asked again. "Hope you're not doing this because I'm losing all hope of finding a mate?""Trust me Aria," Ava said. "He's here, I can sense him.""Why can't I sense him?" I questioned. "Cause your heart is finding it hard to accept," she told me. "Now let's go find out mate," she urged.I sighed in defeat. "Where is he?" I asked, even though I couldn't sense him yet. Well, I just have to trust Ava on this."Just walk straight ahead, and climb the first stairs you come across on your right," Ava described."Stairs?" I asked in disbelief. "Why go up the stairs? All the unmated werewolves are down here.""Quit complaining, Aria," Ava scolded me, with a hint of frustration in her voice. "Just trust me, will you?""Alright, alright," I said and did as Av
Aria's PovAs I said the official rejection words Ava howled in pain and we felt the mate bond severing. I stared at London with so much desperation, hoping against hope to at least see an ounce of pain or regret, but London was fine, and his expression remained cold as ice.London turned to Elsa and gave her a long, passionate kiss."Why can't he feel any pain?" I mumbled under my breath."People should learn to know their place," London said as he and Elsa walked hand in hand towards the stage. "The moon goddess clearly made a mistake," London said, staring at me with nothing short of contempt. The pack members nodded their heads in agreement. "An orphaned omega with no roots will NEVER be my mate, or future Luna of the great Startling Pack."There was no point trying to hold back the tears that threatened to fall down my cheeks, so I just let it flow shamelessly. Maybe, just maybe, it would reduce the hurt I'm feeling."There's no other she-wolf worthy of being my mate, and Luna of
Ryder's PovTwo weeks Later...I was barely holding on to the remnants of sleep when a persistent knocking echoed. I was a light sleeper and any slight noise I could hear from a mile away."Go away Ma Levine," I grumbled half asleep, as I already caught her familiar scent of freshly baked bread."I'm coming in," she announced from the other end and turned the doorknob."Ugh!" I grumbled in frustration, burying my head deeper into the pillow.Ma Levine walked in and pulled the duvet I was wrapped in, off me."I just want to sleep some more," I protested and covered myself with the duvet again.Ma Levine chuckled. "Who would believe that the almighty Lycan King, Ryder Nixon was such a big baby?" She teased and pulled the duvet off me again. This time around, she tossed it far away, and the only way I could get it back was by getting up from bed, which I was clearly not ready for. "Get up boy," she instructed as she made her way to my bathroom to prepare a warm bath water for me."Go hav
Aria's POVEverywhere instantly went silent as the Lycan King grabbed my hand. A frown formed in my face as I heard the words that slipped out of his mouth. There was no way he had just called me... his mate.I turned to the crowd behind me and felt my knees begin to shake as I saw that all eyes were now turned to him. I caught sight of Amanda whispering to her minions and the look she had on her face showed that she was much more surprised at the sudden turn of events than I was. I turned to Elsa and saw that she had the same look on her face too. I was about to turn to the Lycan king whose hold on my hand had now tightened to know if he was being serious when I saw London at a corner, glaring at us. He held in his hands a glass of wine and I watched it crack under his grip. He brought the damaged glass down on the table beside him and licked his lips, putting on a smile that I knew was nothing more than a facade before slowly striding towards where we stood. 'What is he doing?' I
Aria's POV "Was?" Ryder asked as he raised one of his brows. "What do you mean by 'was'?" I turned to London and saw that he now wore a frown on his face. A smile formed on my face and the moment he saw that, he shook his head. I guessed he knew exactly what I was about saying. "I was mated to Alpha London," I said with a small nod as I turned to Ryder. "But he rejected me as his mate so we are not together anymore." "Hmm," Ryder grunted as he brought his eyes to the ground. He kept his gaze there for some time, as if brooding over what I had said before raising his head in London's direction. "You heard what she said, Alpha London." "Yes, I did," London replied with a small chuckle as he brought his hands behind his back. I could see the dark look beneath the fake smile that he wore on his face as he slowly strode towards where I stood. He continued, "but Aria must know that I was only playing when I said so." Playing? The slap that he struck showed his intentions and it definite