His Decision

CHAPTER SEVEN

Scarlett's POV

The rest of the drive passed in complete silence, but it was no longer the comfortable silence that had existed on our way to his parents' estate. This one carried the weight of everything that had happened at the dinner table, and every time I replayed Ryan's words in my head, my heart refused to believe they had actually happened.

I stole a glance at him.

Ryan remained focused on the road ahead, one hand resting on the steering wheel while the other leaned casually against the center console. His expression revealed nothing, making it impossible to tell whether he had any regrets about what he had said.

I, on the other hand, could barely think straight.

His words continued replaying inside my head.

I'm marrying Scarlett.

Did he really meant it or was it just the contract stuff?

The entire dinner had become a blur after that. I could still remember the shock on his mother's face, the disappointment in his father's eyes, and the hurt expression Ava had worn before leaving the dining room.

None of it made sense.

I turned my head slightly and looked at Ryan.

His face remained calm, giving away nothing.

It was almost impossible to believe he had just started a war inside his own family.

My fingers twisted together in my lap. "I'm sorry."

The words escaped before I could stop them.

Ryan didn't take his eyes off the road. "What are you apologizing for?"

I lowered my gaze. "Your parents."

My voice came out quieter than I intended. "I never wanted you to argue with them because of me."

He remained silent for a few moments before finally answering. "This wasn't because of you."

I frowned. "It wasn't?"

"My family has been trying to decide who I should marry for years." His tone was steady, almost indifferent, as though he had grown tired of having the same battle over and over again.."If it hadn't been tonight, it would have happened another day."

I looked at him again.."Even so... I don't want to be the reason you're fighting with them."

For the first time since we left the estate, Ryan glanced at me.

His expression softened ever so slightly. "As long as our contract remains in effect, it's my responsibility to protect you."

I felt something tighten inside my chest, he hadn't said it to make me feel better.

He hadn't tried to comfort me, he was simply stating a promise he intended to keep.

A small smile found its way onto my lips. "Thank you."

He acknowledged my gratitude with a quiet nod before returning his attention to the road.

The silence returned, but this time it didn't feel as heavy. I rested my head against the window and watched the city lights pass by one after another.

Just when I thought the conversation was over, Ryan spoke again. "There's something we need to discuss."

I straightened immediately. "What is it?"

"My mother."

"What about her?"

"She doesn't believe this engagement is real."

I gave a nervous laugh. "Well... she's right."

Ryan didn't react. "The problem is that she won't stop asking questions until she's convinced."

I felt my stomach tighten. "What are you saying?"

He slowed the car as we approached my apartment building before pulling into the parking area.

After switching off the engine, he finally turned to face me. "If we're going to convince everyone that this marriage is real, then we can't keep acting like strangers."

I blinked. "I don't understand."

"My mother will come looking, so will my father, the elders will become curious, the council will hear about it, they'll all want proof that this engagement isn't something I announced on impulse."

A strange feeling settled in my chest. "What kind of proof?"

"There are a few changes we need to make."

I turned toward him. "What kind of changes?"

"Our arrangement."

My smile faded. "What about it?"

Ryan slowed the car as we approached the mansion gates. The guards immediately recognized his vehicle and opened them without question.

Once we were inside the estate, he continued speaking.

"When I announced our engagement tonight, everything changed."

I listened quietly. "From this moment forward, people won't see you as a hockey player living in my house."

I frowned. "They'll see you as the woman who's going to become this pack's Luna."

The words made my stomach tighten. "I don't know anything about being a Luna, I don't know anything about pack”

"I know."

The car rolled to a stop in front of the mansion. Ryan switched off the engine before turning toward me. "That's why you'll have to learn."

I blinked.."Learn?"

He nodded.."As long as this contract exists, your life can no longer revolve around hockey alone."

I stared at him without speaking.."l

His voice remained calm and matter-of-fact. "You'll also accompany me to pack gatherings."

My eyes widened.

"Pack gathering, council meetings." He counted them one by one.."Pack celebration, official ceremonies, charity events, banquets, every occasion where the future Luna is expected to stand beside the Alpha."

I could only stare at him. "Ryan... I don't know the first thing about any of those."

"You will.".His confidence caught me off guard.."How?"

"You'll familiarize yourself with the pack."

I frowned in confusion.."Our history."

A nervous laugh escaped me. "You make it sound so easy."

"I didn't say it would be easy."

I looked away.."What if I embarrass you?"

"You won't."

"You don't know that."

"I do."

I searched his face, hoping to find some uncertainty..There wasn't any.

"I've never belonged to a pack," I admitted quietly. "I don't even know how to greet elders properly, I don't know how council meetings work, I don't know what people will expect from me."

Ryan listened without interrupting.

When I finally finished speaking, he answered with the same calm certainty that seemed to define everything about him. "Then you'll learn."

I let out a slow breath.."And if I make mistakes?"

"You will."

I blinked.

.He continued before I could respond. "Everyone makes mistakes when they enter a world they've never known."

His eyes met mine. "What matters is that you learn from them."

For the first time since leaving his parents' estate, I felt some of the fear inside me begin to settle.

Then Ryan said the one thing that made my heart start racing all over again.

He nodded once. "There isn't much time."

"Time for what?"

His expression remained unreadable.

 "My mother won't stop until she's convinced this engagement is real."

He opened his door before looking back at me.."So until this contract comes to an end..."

  

My breath caught.

I had spent years trying to survive in the world of hockey, now I was expected to survive in an entirely different world.

One that belonged to Alphas, ome where eve

ry mistake would be noticed and somehow...

I had the feeling that learning how to become Ryan Carter's future Luna would be far more difficult than learning how to play hockey.