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
Chills were still sweeping down my body as I approached Ryan's. I made sure that no one was following me, but I was extremely paranoid after how Jennifer was staring at me. What had she seen? What could she guess? Ryan opened his door to me as soon as I was about to knock. I breezed by him with a delicate kiss, but I could sense that something was bothering him too. We circled each other, both of us wound up and ready to talk. "What happened?" Ryan finally said. "Jennifer invited me over again, and she wants me to be a blood provider for Jacob. She's a little desperate now, so I think his health must be really bad." I did not mention the last part of the conversation about my mothe
Jennifer agreed to me visiting Jacob the next day. I had sent the message with Michelle saying that if I were to ever consider her proposal, I would have to speak with the Alpha first. I worried that she would want to test my blood, but she said nothing about it. Dylan was walking with me to the Alpha's lair. His prancing gait loped beside mine, he was beaming at me as if I'd invited him to a dance. "This is a strange meeting, isn't it?" He said. "Yes, thank you for escorting me. I feel so nervous meeting the Alpha, and as you know, Ryan could not come." "Oh, he's not so bad," Dylan said. "I've never had any problem with Jacob the few times that we've met."&nb
Dylan and I stood before the elder council. We'd called on them with a complaint against the Alpha. I understood how Ryan had felt all those times he'd come to this large room with walls covered with books. The large table held all the elders. At the head of the table, stood elder Fritz his parrot on his shoulder. All twenty or so elders were staring at us. Elder Fritz brought the meeting to concession with a little announcement. "We gather here, called by Dylan Harris and his trade associate Alyson with complaints against Alpha Jacob." There was one elder in particular who looked very put out. He spat, "These foreigners making complaints against our Alpha! This is wrong." "The com