Page 66 of Claiming Her Alpha
“So, that’s why you’re still lead warrior?”
“I don’t believe I still am.”
“Does that mean you’re mine now?”
“You made sure of it.”
Needing to feel her skin again, he teased his fingers under the hem of her shirt and ghosted them over her spine. Her body weighed heavy on him, her muscles completely relaxed and her breathing shallow.
“I’m so tired,” she whispered. “I missed you and it drained me of everything.”
“But you did it. I’m here with you now. You don’t need to fight alone anymore.”
“I didn’t want to offer for him to take you back, but I didn’t want this to escalate. I already crossed so many lines…”
“I don’t believe I’ll be going back with them.”
She pushed her hands under his shirt, her touch sending sparks skittering over his skin that caused a warmth to settle deep within his soul. He could feel his heart slowly healing and even with the little time they’d had together, the void in his soul had closed. He held her, soothed her with his caresses while her heart rate slowed. Though he had many more questions, he let her rest in his arms.
Only when he felt Gabriel’s pull did he break the silence. “Gabriel is asking for me.”
“And I should get this dinner started.” She sat up and looked down on him, her face a little less exhausted and her cheeks a little more pink. “Can you figure out if you’re staying or if you’re leaving with them? I need to think about how to introduce you to the pack.”
He leaned forward and ran his nose over her jaw line. “Whatever you tell me I’ll do, Luna.”
Her wolf seemed to like that, her chest vibrating in a pleasurable groan.
He dragged his nose towards her chin and softly pressed a kiss on her lips. “I’ll talk to him and Gabriel and return before dinner if I can.”
“I’ll be here with my mom because I’ll definitely burn the entire meal if I were by myself.”
He could feel her hesitation, but she moved to stand up anyway. The second they separated he missed her.
“I have something that belongs to you,” she confessed and walked back to the office.
Curiously he followed her and saw her pulling out a golden necklace from one of her drawers.
“Andrew gave it to me earlier.”
“I didn’t even know he took it.” Instead of pocketing it, he draped it around her, fastening the clasp behind her neck. “Keep it. It’s yours now.”
“Don’t get him in trouble!”
“I won’t.”
With his hand in hers she led him to the door where they said goodbye with a single kiss.
Chapter Nineteen
Gabriel was waiting for him by the front door, his face void of all emotion. “Alpha Vallerian and Luna Sophia are leaving. Andrew and I will stay behind.”
Ryker nodded and watched as the door opened. Sean led the group of warriors outside, where they formed around their luna like Ryker had taught them.
Without looking, Sean walked past him, speaking through the bond. ‘Good luck and keep in touch, Alpha Ryker.’ He laughed, though Ryker could feel that it was bittersweet.
Before Ryker could respond, a sharp pain shot through his mind, the link severed. Suddenly, Ryker felt alone. His wolf was uneasy as he couldn’t reach his pack. It was only when he caught sight of Alpha Vallerian that he understood what had happened.
His alpha had kicked him out of the pack. He severed the bond, making him rogue and disconnecting him from everything he’d come to know. Though Ryker had grown up without a pack, he’d grown to love the bond and his pack with all his heart.