Page 65 of Claiming Her Alpha
Ryker pulled her closer, running his nose through her hair. He wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do now: not with the Blood Wolves, not with the men before him–not at all. All he knew was that Kendra somehow figured out a way for them to be together.
“Mike, tell them to release the Blood Wolves.”
“Already done, Luna.”
She laughed again. “I didn’t mean to snap at either of you two earlier. I think I was a little harsh.”
Avery relaxed and gave her a gentle smile. “No need to apologize.”
A moment later, Kendra’s father, former Alpha Desmond, came in, his eyes landing on Ryker and his daughter right away. He froze in his tracks, and Ryker felt the need to introduce himself to his now father-in-law.
“I have something to share,” Kendra announced to him.
“Yes, you do.”
Ryker pulled away from Kendra and stepped towards Desmond. “It is an honour to meet you, Desmond, I’m Ryker.” Feeling a little silly, he asked, “Or is it still Alpha Desmond?”
“Formalities don’t count for family members, Ryker.”
“How about we all sit in the living room so everyone’s a little more comfortable?” Kendra suggested.
They all moved into the living room where Kendra guided Ryker to sit on the couch next to her. He laid his arm around her shoulders while she weaved her fingers with his other hand.
“I lied,” she confessed. “The night I shifted for the first time I did run, my wolf did take control. Only, we didn’t pass out somewhere unknown. She took me to the Blood Wolves’ territory, where I crossed the blood line and was stopped by Ryker and his men.”
“When she crossed the line, I hunted her. I was trained to kill. My wolf, however, recognized her as our mate. As one of my warriors struck her, my wolf took over and attacked him to save Kendra.”
“I shifted when I felt Ryker’s touch. I awoke in a bed, cared for by their healer. She gave me fluids, food, and clothes. When Alpha Vallerian came back to me, he knew he couldn’t kill me–so he punished me by keeping us apart.”
“He wasn’t just punishing her for intruding onto our land. I was being disciplined for not following my training, and attacking one of my own. He allowed Kendra to return home but she had to leave me behind. I wasn’t allowed to follow her.”
“Ryker taught me how to shift and control my wolf. When I got home, I kept Ryker a secret, afraid a war would break out between the packs and people would get hurt. I wasn’t sure what Alpha Vallerian would do to Ryker if something like that happened. I didn’t want to risk losing him–or anyone else.”
“So you formulated a plan to get him back?” Desmond asked.
“Yes. When I saw the map from the peace agreement, I figured out that the Blood Wolves had expanded their territory without permission. I used that against him to get Ryker back.”
“She blackmailed him,” Mike chuckled proudly.
“I did.”
Desmond’s heartbroken eyes rested on his daughter. “Through all this. Through all you’ve done the past year, you’ve been suffering on your own.”
She didn’t say anything, but her hand squeezing Ryker’s said a thousand words.
“I understand why you’ve kept us all in the dark, though I wish I could’ve been there for you.” Desmond stood up, his eyes still sad as he looked down at his daughter. “I believe you two have a lot to catch up on before more introductions can be made.”
Both Mike and Avery followed Desmond out of the house. As Avery closed the door behind them, Kendra’s gaze drifted off, linking with someone. He didn’t interrupt her, nor did he ask who it was. She had a pack to lead and a raging alpha storming through her village. He would never stand in the way of her duties.
A moment later, her mind returned to him. She shifted her weight and threw one leg over him, straddling his lap. Her eyes looked tired, her smile faded, and her skin looked far too pale for his taste. He reached up and twisted a strand of her wild hair between his fingers.
“Has he hurt you?” she asked, her voice nothing like it was when she’d talked to Alpha Vallerian.
“No.”
Her body collapsed into his chest as she buried her face in the crook of his neck. “You’re just saying that so I don’t worry about you.”
“I would never lie to you, even if the truth hurts. After losing his temper before he allowed me to see you, he hasn’t touched me.”