Ava looked at Ryder and didn't know what to say, was that why he had brought her to his pack, to rescue her? Had she misunderstood him all this while."What is this heavenly smell?" Helena asked as she entered the kitchen. She was accompanied by Jayden and Lavender. Ryder and Ava sprung apart immediately."Are you cooking Ava? You should have sent for me, I told you to rest." Helena scolded Ava."I am not the one cooking, it's Ryder." Ava said.Helena, Jayden and Lavender looked at Ryder in shock."You don't have to look so shocked, I know my way around the kitchen." Ryder told them."We are quite aware of that. But you don't like cooking." Helena said."Ava said she was hungry and I decided to cook for her, there is no big deal." Ryder said as he stirred the sauce."I can't wait to eat, your cooking always tastes so good." Jayden said hopefully.Ryder gave him an unimpressed look, "in your dreams." he replied.Jayden looked crestfallen. "What about me Ryder sweetie?" Helena asked."

Ava stood up from her seat. "I know it isn't my place to say this but I have to say it. Ryder has feelings too, you all are close to his heart. Jayden, he trusts you so much, you too Helena and Evena. You all conspired and lied to him for so long, do you know how betrayed and hurt he is? And his pride? He is the Alpha of the pack and yet he didn't know his brother was hiding in this very pack, do you know how stupid he must feel?." She turned to Lavender,"He might not show it but he cares for you, I know he must have hurt you back then but can you put yourself in his shoes and imagine how he feels right now? He feels hurt that his brother would rather hide away in a shed than stay with him for so long."She turned to Jayden."I mean no offense Jayden but you are an asshole, all he wanted to do was have a simple dinner yet you had to ruin it for him. Have you even apologized properly for what you did? No m, you haven't. Instead you have been spending all your time with Lavender. You ha

Ryder decided to go an early morning run, he changed into some loose clothing and walked outside. He saw Jayden waiting for him outside his room."What do you want?" Ryder asked."are you going for a run?" Jayden asked instead of answering him."Yes.""Can I come along?"Ryder looked at him and didn't say anything."Please." Jayden pleaded."Fine, you can come along." Ryder agreed.Ryder waited for Jayden to change into some running clothes and the two left the house.It was still dark outside and only the sentries on duty were outside. Nobody else had woken up. They ran in silence until they stopped to rest. They both sat on the ground to catch their breath. "I am sorry Ryder. I really am." Jayden said earnestly. Ryder turned to look at his face, "Why are you sorry? Because you feel I need to hear it?" he asked. "No, I am sorry because I hurt you. As your beta, I am sorry for breaking your trust and as your friend, your best friend, I am sorry for lying to you all these years. I

Ava wandered around the house bored out of her mind. She was the only person at home. Everyone had gone off to their different destination.She remembered the photo album she had been looking at that night and went to get it.She sat on a chair and looked at the pictures of Lavender. Now that she knew his true identity and his story, her curiosity was appeased.She touched his face and thought to herself that their stories were so similar, they had both attacked Lily and had been punished by Ryder for it.But what could have caused Lavender to attack his own sister. At least she had a reason to do what she had done but what had been Lavender's reason.Ava needed to talk to Lavender, she felt she was missing something about the whole matter.She stood up and went to the kitchen to drink a cup of water. To her surprise, Lavender was in the kitchen making a sandwich.This was just perfect! Her prey had fallen into her hands willingly."Aren't you supposed to be at practice?" she asked hi

Evena laughed hard at Ryder's embarrassed face."I told you to shut it." Ryder scowled at him.Evena put up his hands in a peace gesture."All right, I am sorry for laughing.""Why are you here anyway?" Ryder asked him.Evena put a hand to his chest in a mock show of heartbroken misery."is that anyway to talk to your dearest friend. Maybe I should go and not tell you what I found out.""All right, all right. I am sorry for being rude. What did you find out? Did you find anything about the plant.""Nope, but I found out something about your mate's problem." Evena said."What did you find out?" Ryder asked eagerly."The only reason for such a delayed shift is if the werewolf in question isn't a full wolf but a hybrid.""Hybrid? She didn't say anything about that. Are you sure?" Ryder asked."I am. I used my magic on her just now when I wiped her mouth. She is an hybrid.""But even hybrids ought to have shifted by now." Ryder pointed out."That is if it's a human werewolf hybrid. She is