Chapter 2 TWO

RYKER

A DAY BEFORE

"Fuck, Veronica", I groaned as I explored her lips, her hands tangling in my hair as she moaned, grinding against me hard.

Her breath hitched every time my tongue brushed against hers.

She was on my lap, her legs straddling me, while my hands roamed her back as I deepened the kiss.

"Ryker," she whispered against my lips, her voice trembling with desire.

"You're driving me crazy, you know I love you right", she said.

I smirked, pulling back just enough to look into her eyes.

"Good. That's the point and baby, I love you too".

She laughed as I slammed my lips against hers once again.

Her fingers went down my chest, pulling on the buttons of my shirt, trying to open it.

She loosened the first, second button and I assisted her in loosing the rest.

My hands went down to my trousers and as she struggled with the zip, my hand found hers, about to help her out.

But just as I was about to, the door swung open.

"Fuck", I cursed as we both turned to look at the door.

When she saw the person, she slid off my lap, smoothing down her dress as I buttoned my shirt back.

I turned to see Jude, my beta standing in the doorway, his arms crossed and an amused smirk on his face.

"Wouldn't hurt you to knock", I said.

"Did I interrupt something?" he asked, his voice laced with sarcasm.

I leaned back in my chair, trying to look casual despite the heat still lingering in my veins.

"What's up?"

Jude stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He glanced at Veronica, who was now sitting on the couch.

"You know she's not your mate right" he said.

"You don't have to remind me", I said, my voice coming out almost like a growl.

Jude rolled his eyes.

"Your party holds tomorrow night and all the ladies of the pack who are of age are invited"

"Do I really need to do this", I said

"What if she's not anywhere close to me".

I loved Veronica, she was the releast I've had in years, and even though, my wolf Roy hated it, I was going to crown her as my Luna.

"Your parents' idea. They think it's time for you to start thinking about finding your mate, you're going to be coronated soon, and they want you to have a strong partner by your side."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I know. They've been on my case about it for weeks."

I glanced at Veronica, who was pretending to be engrossed in a book on the coffee table. She was beautiful, no doubt about it.

She was strong and she hadn't found her mate yet.

The door opened and my parents walked in, making me jolt out of my thoughts.

My father's presence immediately filled the room, his Alpha aura commanding attention. My mother followed close behind, her eyes scanning the room before landing on me.

The moment they entered, Veronica excused herself while my Jude stayed behind.

"Ryker," my father said, his voice deep and authoritative.

"We need to talk."

"Your coronation is coming soon," my mother said, stepping forward.

"It's time for you to start thinking about your future. You need a Luna, someone who can stand by your side and lead the pack with you."

"I know," I said, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice.

"And that's why there's the party coming up", he said.

"You need to take this seriously, Ryker. The pack is counting on you. You can't afford to keep playing around."

I clenched my jaw, feeling the pressure building inside me.

"I'm not playing around. I just... I need time."

My mother placed a hand on my arm, her touch gentle but firm.

"Time is something we don't have. Your coronation is in a few months, and you need to be ready. That means finding a Luna who can handle the responsibility."

"The party is a good chance to meet your mate",he said.

"You need your Luna more than you think, the bond between the two of you would strength and hold the pack", he said and they left the room.

PRESENT DAY

"Let's do this", I muttered as I stepped into the bubbling, the air was thick with the scent of sweat, alcohol, and the scent of wolves in their human forms.

I had just gotten to my own party which had begun few hours after reluctantly agreeing to finding my mate.

I could hear people's laughter and the loud music filled the air, creating a rhythm that rang through the pack, yet no sign of my mate.

I stood at the edge of the crowd, my arms crossed, scanning the sea of faces, for that distinct smell.

But all I could see were glaces from different ladies desperate to throw themselves at me, people dancing and grinding each other.

Some were in different corners, with their tongues down different ladies throats.

It was a sight I really wasn't interested in seeing.

My wolf, Roy, was restless beneath my skin, his excitement palpable.

"Tonight's the night", he kept murmuring in my mind.

"Find our mate"

"We have to find her tonight"

I clenched my jaw, trying to focus.

The moon goddess had promised me a mate, and this gathering was to look for her, but no one really stood out.

Just a sea of familiar and desperate faces, none of them stood out.

"Ryker," a soft voice called from behind me.

I turned to see Veronica walking toward me, her hips moving bwith every step.

She was beautiful...there was no denying that...with her dark brown hair descending down over her shoulders and her red dress hugging her curves.

But she wasn't mine..

She could have been mine but she isn't.

"Veronica," I said, my voice barely audible because of the noise.

She stepped up the me, her fingers trailing down my arms as she bit her lips.

"You've been standing here for few minutes," she said, her voice dripping with honey.

"Don't you want to dance? Or... something else?", she said as her hand slid down my chest.

I stiffened, my wolf growling low in my mind.

He snarled, trying to take control.

My eyes flickered as I tried to take control of my human self.

He was been a bit more aggressive and stronger.

Veronica leaned in, her face beaming under the red lights, as she whispered in my ears., her lips brushing against my ear.

"Ryker you look so tense, let me help you relax."

The moment she said those words, I smiled and my hands automatically slipped round her waist pulling her closer,I could feel the friction of our bodies but for the first time, her touch felt so uncomfortable.

"Veronica..." I started, but she cut me off with a kiss.

Her lips were soft, and for a moment, I let myself get lost in it, wanting it to be like the old times.

My hands moved to her hips, pulling her closer but it wasn't it.

My eyes flickered from dark brown to black back to dark brown as I fought to stay in control.

"She's not mate", he roared in my head.

I broke the kiss abruptly, stepping back, Veronica looked up at me, her eyes dark with desire and confusion.

"Your eyes Ryker", she said in fear and I shut it, opening it few minutes later.

"What's wrong?" she asked, her voice breathless.

"I can't do this," I said, my voice rough.

"I need to go", I said as I walked out of the building.

Roy was clawing at me, demanding to be let out. The further I got from the party, the more my control slipped.

I heard Jude call me but I didn't answer.

I needed to let out, I was slowly loosing control.

I walked out of the building, running at full sprint as my vision blurred.

I ran into the woods, the cool night air hitting me as I shifted.

My bones cracked and shifted, fur sprouting from my skin as I dropped to all fours. Roy, a huge black wolf surged forward, taking control as we sprinted through the forest.

The trees blurred around us, the ground soft beneath our paws. We ran until the sounds of the party faded into the distance.

Suddenly, I smelt it.

Distinct.... Close as we ran further.

Roy's anger reduced as we ran,replaced by a sense of urgency.

She's close. I can feel it.

I didn't argue. My senses were heightened in my wolf form, and I let them guide me. The scent of pine and earth filled my nose, but beneath it was something else...something sweet and intoxicating. Vanilla and rose petals.

It was faint, getting closer as we ran further.

The scent grew stronger as we approached the pack's house, a large cabin nestled in the trees. My steps slowed as I neared the house, my eyes scanning the area. And then I saw her.

She was standing on the lawn, her back facing me, her long hair catching the moonlight.

She was wearing a simple black dress and she sat on the lawn, and even from this distance, I could see the way her shoulders moved as she breathed.

My chest tightened, and Roy let out a low whine in my mind.

"Mate", he said, his voice filled with awe and longing.

I shifted back into my human form without thinking, my body moving on its own. The cold air hit my skin, but I barely noticed.

All I could focus on was her.

She turned slowly, as if sensing my presence, and our eyes met.

The moment she looked at me, the fear as she couldn't dare to look into my eyes.

I got the answer.

She was weak, an Omega.

Someone not fit to rule the pack as the Luna.

"An Omega", I blurted out.

"Yes, Alpha", her reply came, weak, fragile barely audible.

"What's your name?" I asked, my tone low and authoritative.

"Aria Bane," she replied, her nails fidgeting at the edge of her gown.

I let out a low chuckle in disbelief.

It had to be a joke.

A joke the moon goddess decided to play on me.

"You've got to be kidding me," I muttered, more to myself than to her.

She raised her head to look at me a bit, but she hurridly looked down.

I didn't want to deal with this.

Without hesitation I talked.

"This isn't it", I said.

"I, Alpha Ryker Woods, reject you, Aria Bane as my mate and ..."

She didn't wait to hear the rest as she sprinted into the thick dark forest, further away from me.