I left Elder Fritz with chills running all over my body. I needed to see Ryan as soon as I could. My heart felt heavy in my chest, weighed down by this new information that the elders had picked out a mate for Ryan.
Even my concerns that Diana was the secret blood provider to Jacob didn't seem important for the moment, and slipped to the back of my mind.
I kept too distant with Ryan all the time. I could not do that anymore, he could pick another mate, and no one could blame him for how many times I had denied him. We shared love, but we kept it a secret so no one would know. Up to this point, I even delighted in the secrecy, but not when I'd just learned the elders had matched him with another.
Even if I felt urgent, I still proceeded with caution. I could not forget how Jennifer had tried to trap me today, and that she was likely spying on me.
He meets me at his door, whether it's from smell or som
Ryan's POVI pranced around my mansion as if walking on clouds, completely elated after Alyson was so affectionate with me. If forming a true mating bond would be even half as amazing as the other day, then I would always have hope. She was my love, and my life, and I could only think of her.Her sudden insecurities still tickled my concerns. She had seemed a little closed off towards the end. While this hurt me, it was Alyson, I had to expect that she might always struggle to be vulnerable, and she had shown a lot of vulnerability already that day.The same day, business was as usual till I received an invitation from the elders to meet at their house of council. I hoped that nothing negative would come of it, but the note indicated that they had "important and exciting news to share."The familiar room had books filling the shelves that made up every inch of the wall. The elders sat around
Alyson's POVI received a note from Ryan: The Elders shared important news with me today. I need to see you and tell you everything. If I've learned anything from our history, it's that secrets create walls between us, and I want nothing between us.I clutched the letter to my heart as I paced around my apartment. I wished we could write to each other with love, but we always kept anything written short and to the point without any obvious romantic inclinations.I could not stop thinking about Diana, feeling sure that the Elders had called Ryan to tell him about her.The other night, when I'd been with Ryan, I felt more in-love than ever, more desperate to hold on to him. He made promises to love me always plenty of times, but I still fretted over what he might do if he could live as a full Alexander with a blood provider. He could have a Clan Clark she-wolf of his own and b
I closed the door behind him.He gave me a light peck on the lips, but I knew him well enough that something major was on his mind. He hardly looked at me, but his face was darkened with concern."How were the Elders?" I said. While he paced, I stood watching him my hands tightened to fists, and fear gripping my heart. I knew the nature of the news but it would still hit me like a blow to hear it from Ryan's voice, and I dreaded knowing his reaction to it.He swung to face me, and took my hands in his. "I'll start with good news. The Elders have officially declared that I could be an Alpha candidate. I accepted. They even said that Jacob is showing some signs of deteriorating health all of the sudden."Despite my turbulent mood, that lightened it ever so slightly. "Then the poison is working already."He nodded. "My thoughts exactly. And they do assume it is the curse taking its
A knock at the door surprised me. I doubted it was Ryan, and when I answered, to my delight, it was Dylan. I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him. He was grinning at me, squeezed me tight for one moment, then released me. I slid away from him, my hands lingering on his forearms for a second. "Dylan! I'm so happy to see you! What a great surprise," I said cheerily, inviting him into my apartment. We wrote to each other often about business, but I had missed his happy demeanor. Even as he entered, the entire room lightened up by his aura. He greeted Michelle kindly as I had him sit down at the table to serve him some tea and a bite to eat. 
After playing some games with Dylan and Michelle all afternoon, I was in better spirits than I had been in a while. It had given me some reprieve from wondering about Diana being Jacob's blood provider, and being offered as a future mate to Ryan. That last part really ate away at my soul, I was not sure what I could do to prevent it if Ryan would be Alpha. And I kind of believed that he would be the best Alpha the Alexanders had ever produced. I knew that he wanted to, no matter what he said, I hardly trusted that when the time was right, he would give that all up to be with me as a non-mate lover with hot and cold flashes of affection. I sighed as I snuck up to Ryan's side entrance, expecting him to be waiting for me as usual. When I had to knock, I f
Dylan would be terrible at sneaking around. I had considered for a moment that he could go to Ryan, and I could hide myself and arrive another time, but that all seemed too complicated. Plus, since it was a secret that Dylan's stash of the herb was actually on Starstream territory, I asked Ryan to come over to my apartment for the meeting. All the secrecy and sneaking around was becoming tiresome to me, especially after deciding to come out as Clan Clark someday. It was not the time to do so yet, but I could hardly wait for the time to come where Ryan and I would no longer hide our relationship. The only downside was my reservation to admit what that could mean for us. Dylan was eating breakfast at my apartment even if he did not stay here. I joined hi
Ryan's POV I was heading off to see Elder Fritz with high nerves. I had a feeling that he wanted me to meet Diana Clark today, even though I had no desire to meet her this soon.As I proceeded down the boulevard, my mind wandered back to the interaction with Dylan and Alyson. I had to keep reminding myself that Dylan had been a good friend to us, and a good trading partner. It was hard to see him and Alyson interacting again, especially since I'd told him to take care of her if anything happened to me. Part of me wondered if he'd wait around until my early death and swoop in to find her. I hated the idea, even if I would rather have her happy and safe than lonely and depressed for the rest of her life once I died. The curse of Alexanders was truly oppressiv
Alyson's POV Michelle called from the front door, "You've received another invitation from the Luna." I jolted from my chair; all hair raised on my body. Ariana snarled inside me. Jennifer had wanted me to consider her proposal last time we spoke. I had not thought about it at all, my answer was the same firm no as before. Entering the main room, Michelle held a letter folded three times. "She's invited you over again for tea." I rolled my eyes back in my skull. Tea again? As if we were cordial. The last thing I wanted to pass my time having tea and treats with the sister who betrayed me in my past life. "I su