Alyson's POV
Ryan wasn't there when I woke up, and my chest tightened till I saw that he was outside the cabin. He hadn't disappeared, but I knew he was likely getting ready and I would go with him.
My heart needed him. I might tell him at some point, but for now, I knew I was going with him.
I began to pack a small assortment of dresses and clothes. I wasn't sure what was best to pack, and I asked Donna for some guidance. We spent the day getting ready, keeping tabs on Ryan to make sure he hadn't gone far.
"We need to talk about the trip," I told Ryan in passing.
He
I was sobbing uncontrollably when I ran back into the cabin. I would grab a few items, and then I would follow Ryan. My bleeding hand from grabbing the necklace too tight stung as I wiped the tears from my eyes. Even when I was bleeding, Ryan had not come back. He must be so far from me; how far could he be? The sooner I left, the sooner I could catch up to him. Dylan must have heard me. He was knocking at my door, "Alyson! Are you ok?" I was not ok, and I didn't want to talk to him. He couldn't possibly understand. He was still knocking as I was trying to pack one more dress in a pack that I could carry even as a wolf. I put
I was in Dylan's carriage, traveling the road through the forest back to Featherwall. Any steps closer to Ryan soothed my constant anxiety. I could not stop wondering about his safety. Dylan had done everything he could to ensure I was comfortable, even so, I was becoming irritated whenever he'd ask, "Are you doing ok?" Ryan was far away and potentially in great danger on my account, so of course I was not ok. But I told him, "I'm fine." "I can't wait for you to meet my family." He said. It sounded nice, but it was also going to be difficult for me to enjoy anything for a while. On the second day of out traveling, I thought I
Ryan's POV I had traveled for days, making time to rest so that I wouldn't be in terrible shape by the time I arrived at Crowalt. They should expect me with their predictions of the future, and I was sending mental images towards my father so that he'd know my return. I considered sending something to Alyson, but I decided it might only encourage her to leave Dylan's protection, so I ultimately left her in the dark. I also knew that Jacob would know, with my messaging and his level of powers, he could persuade others that I was not coming, and try to take care of me unofficially. I was on high alert at every moment once I crossed onto Crowalt territory. I sensed that Alyson had been terribly upset, but Dylan had persuaded her as we
Alyson's POV I was getting a little nervous as the carriage pulled up in front of a lair built like a castle. I remembered the day I arrived at Jacob's lair, only to be thrown in the basement, and my heart beat fast with this memory. Of course, I believed that Dylan would never lock me away, but I was grateful to have a companion, Michelle who was growing loyalties to me, and could be a witness. I didn't feel alone this time. "I can't wait for you to meet my mother," Dylan said. "She will love you. Most likely my father is away on business, but he's not nearly as much fun anyway." My nerves were making my hands sweaty. "Are we meeting everyone right away, or do we have any time to clean up and prepare?" I looked at Michelle in my dress, and it didn't fit her. I liked the idea of her support.
Alyson's POV I was enjoying my time with the Harris family. Lilla invited Michelle and I every afternoon for tea, and Dylan joined us for dinner. They were a merry bunch with lots of jokes and laughter, they included their servants in the teasing, and even the more submissive servants seemed to be treated well enough that they also joked with them. I made sure to send money that settled Michelle's debts for her brother's doctors. Having her company really settled my anxieties since I was away from Ryan, even having her sleep in my room so that I was never alone with my thoughts and worries about him. Dylan knocked on my door one day, and I answered. Michelle was there, learning how to sew as Lilla had instructed. She was practicing, but I also knew she was listening.
Ryan's POVJacob had left before dinner the other night, after his threats to me. He was unwilling to dine with an enemy, and I was glad to be rid of him.I had been at my father's house for a day, preparing for the match. It was odd how coming back to the Alexander's territory had strengthened my powers, I needed Clark blood, and I could smell that there were many Clan Clark she-wolves nearby. Not that I would take from them, but their presence seemed to enliven the witch's abilities. It made sense that once Alyson had come into my life, I had a resurgence of the talents and the curse.Michael walked into the room, he had joined me yesterday, making the journey after me as planned."Will you be ready, Alpha Ryan? What can I do for you?" He asked.Jacob was a big wolf, but I was confident that I could overpower him physically. I had never lost a match since I'd g
Alyson's POV Michelle and I were sitting together in the stadium on the day of the games. We had gotten there early and the audience was rolling in. I couldn't stand it any longer, I had to be there, as close to Ryan as I'd been since he left me.I was fraught with anxieties, unable to smell him. There were too many smells here, and I wasn't sure where he'd be. But Crowalt was a large pack, and I dared not go wandering around where the Alexanders lived- as a Clan Clark she-wolf, I would stand out, and they might ask who I was mated to, opening me to danger.Making my nervousness worse, there were so many faces that I recognized who even looked right at my face but said nothing. It seemed that my new face was enough to fool most anyone, and I hoped that it would fool Jennifer. Her knowing me before I was ready to take revenge was my greatest concern. At least, she'd seen me
Stephanie was back while the match was about to start. I sat closer to Michelle, trying not to be too obvious in how I leaned away from her. Ryan had allegedly sent her to watch over me, I would have a talk with him about that, couldn't he have found someone who didn't have a major crush on him? "I did not look at your message as promised, and Ryan really appreciated it," the stupid girl went on and on as if I would congratulate her. I let her voice become a meaningless thrum in the background as she bragged. I was on the edge of my seat looking towards the stadium, where I should see Ryan appear. "Stephanie," I turned to her, and her mouth shut for the first time in minutes. "What is the first round again?"