Page 85 of Claiming Her Alpha
“I’ve tried not to think about it too much.”
“You’ll fit in just right!”
“I hope so.”
She pressed a motherly kiss to his cheek before turning to leave again.
Back upstairs, Kendra was already in her dress. Ryker couldn’t help but inhale a deep sharp breath. She looked amazing. The dress was a dark, navy blue. The fabric fell down to her ankles with a slit up each side, which ended high on her thigh. Though her shoulders were mostly covered, they exposed her neck–and his mark. The dress was sleek and tightly hugged her curves.
“How am I supposed to keep my cool with you looking like a snack?”
Her cheeks blushed right away. “I’m all yours after we return home.”
“Not sure that thought is gonna calm me,” he chuckled and closed the distance between them. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
Someone pulled at his mind, and not having linked with anyone from the pack, he felt vulnerable to open up to someone he didn’t know. Reluctantly, he let the person in and when he heard Avery’s voice, he relaxed.
‘Beta Gabriel has agreed for you to join him. You will probably want to leave the house in forty minutes. That will make you right on time for everything to start. One of our warriors will show you the way.’
‘Thank you.’
Ryker could feel Avery bow in the bond before he pulled away.
“Your first link, huh?”
“It was Avery.”
“He and Mike will likely be the only ones to link with you–unless you get close to someone else.”
“I’m used to having my mind open to my warriors. Especially if we train in combat, but that felt weird.”
“Because you don’t know anyone here yet.”
He nodded and pulled the shirt Maya had given him over his shoulders. Her eyes a little nervous, Kendra started to button him up.
“I’ll ask you to bow to me.”
Though they’d discussed this earlier with Desmond, she seemed to need reassurance again. “And I’ll willingly do so every time.”
“I’ll ask you to shift and let your wolf do the same.”
“He will never disobey his luna.”
She sighed and her sad, reluctant eyes met his. “I know you don’t mind. I feel it, but I still feel bad. People might see you as less than an alpha, maybe even less than a man.”
“I’m no alpha nor did I ever want to be one. I might carry the title and I do so with pride, but walking beside you and being able to have your back is more than I could’ve ever dreamed of.”
“I feel safer, better with you by my side. Not like I didn’t before but it just feels good.”
Gently cupping her jaw, he kissed her forehead and poured all his love and reassurance into the bond, letting her know just how much she meant to him.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Walking beside Gabriel felt familiar, yet it was so different. Ryker had adjusted to being ranked beneath Gabriel. Being his superior felt… odd. Andrew walked on Gabriel’s other side, curiously eyeing Ryker.
“You can just ask, you know?” Ryker chuckled.