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?" 
Ryan's POV"I want to be considered as an Alpha candidate," I had officially announced to the elders, claiming my prize, but ultimately, it was up to them. That was the way of Alexanders."Ryan is the winner!" The elders had announced my win, and it was still ringing in my head. I couldn't believe it, and I thought they had resisted, but they could not. I had thrown Jacob four times in the match, and he'd violated the rules by attacking me after it was called. If he hadn't done that, I was sure they might have reached a different verdict.I had held firm to the rules till that last strike after the match had been called. I had won two of the three rounds. After my claim, they would need to deliberate my worthiness to be an Alpha candidate.I had looked up towards Alyson in the stadium seats, trying not to be too obvious. I could smell my mate out of a crowd of a thousand. She had sent me blood twice under cover, a
Jennifer's POV"I would have killed him! They should have let me. I'm the Alpha." Jacob screamed as the doctors tended his wounds. His broad shoulders where uncharacteristically hunched. His lip was torn from his nose down to his blood-stained teeth. For the first time in our marriage, I even thought he looked a little hideous, but he only needed to heal."The elders surely won't deliberate against you," I reassured.He slammed his fist into the table, and it splintered the wood. He practically had daggers coming at me out of his eyes, and I grew quiet. My mate was in a terrible rage after he lost the match. I hung in the background, not wanting to risk that his aggression be pointed at me. I made sure he received the Clan Clark blood required to heal and regain his strength, but there was a lot on my mind."Someone is providing him blood, or he shouldn't have been able to beat me. Who is it?"
Alyson Stephanie couldn't help but brag that Ryan was staying at her neighbor's place for safe keeping. She offered a lot more information when I prompted her as casually as possible. Otherwise, I couldn't have known that he was no longer at his father's mansion.Unbeknownst to Stephanie, when she left Michelle and I for the night, I followed her. She was too oblivious to notice, swishing and swaying her way through the streets till she finally entered her grandfather's mansion. I glanced around, there were several possibilities to where Ryan was staying, but I took my chance that he was in the largest one. I let the fresh air fill my nostrils, but I still couldn't quite smell him. It seems the Moon Goddess might have taken it too seriously when she took away the capability that might be handy now if Ryan were a fated bond. Not that he
Dylan was in town, but I had not had the opportunity to see him yet. I was supposed to attend a party thrown by Clan Harris to celebrate the new trade of Blood's Bane, even if I would rather sneak off to see Ryan again. I could not get him out of my head for even one full minute. After last night especially. I was caught up in the moment yesterday, and I had forgot to ask about Stephanie since she seemed to feel important to him. I wanted some clarification. But he had said he would love me always, so that was reassuring. He couldn't possibly even like her, but I still wanted to hear it from him. A package arrived from Dylan with a note: This was made for you, Enjoy.Apparently, he'd ordered me a new dress, and it was the most luxurio
I remained at the party for a while, but then I excused myself to Dylan early, saying I didn't feel well. Every important Alexander and official in Crowalt Pack was still there, and preoccupied, so I figured it might be a good chance to sneak back to see Ryan. Michelle was staying to cover for me in case anyone asked about me, and then I traveled the night, the streets alone, wary and suspicious of every shadow. I was paranoid that Jennifer might have seen me leave and sent someone to spy on me.My insides felt jittery after that tense interaction with my sister. I wanted to cry, but I could not, I had wasted so many tears from her cruelty towards me. I truly hated her. But the night was quiet with the most important wolves at the party. After a few hesitations and wary glances, I approached an