5

FEYRE

I looked down at myself as I left the house. I was a mess.

But I didn't even have enough time to go back to the pack house to change before heading over to Alpha Ryder's pack.

I had to go there now so I would be there on time. I sighed and started my journey.

It was a long and tedious walk, and by the time I got there, it was eight p.m. on the dot.

I panted hard. I was a mess. I knocked on the door and a woman opened it.

"Hello, dear. Are you okay?" She looked concerned.

"I am fine. I am Feyre. I have an appointment with the Alpha."

"Oh, yes, he told me. Come with me, dear," she told me.

I nodded and went inside the house. She led me to a room.

"Wait here. The Alpha will be with you soon."

"Thank you, ma'am."

"You're welcome, sweetie."

She left, but she returned shortly with a tray which she set in front of me.

"Here, have some tea, dear. It will make you feel warm."

"Thank you, ma'am."

"You're welcome, dear."

"You may leave now, Evelyn," Alpha Ryder had entered the room.

"Okay, Alpha." She smiled at me before leaving.

I stood up and bowed.

"Good evening, Alpha."

"Why do you look like a mess?" he asked.

I looked down. He was very blunt, just like he had been when he first made me this offer.

"I, uh, had a little accident."

My feet ached. I winced as I tiptoed.

"Sit down." He gently pushed me to the chair as he crouched in front of me. He took my feet in his hands and examined them.

"Did you walk here?" he asked.

I nodded.

He frowned. "Why didn't you shift?"

I lowered my head in embarrassment. "I don't have a wolf. I have never shifted."

"I see. If I had known, I would have had someone come pick you up."

"I am sorry," I told him.

"Why are you apologizing? You did nothing wrong."

"I don't know."

"Evelyn!" he called.

"Yes?" she replied as she came in.

"Take her to get a shower and some fresh clothes. Also get ointment for her feet," he instructed her.

"But what about our talk?" I asked.

"We can talk over dinner," he told me.

"Come with me, dear," she told me as she led me away out of the room.

She showed me to a room and showed me the bathroom inside.

"Take a shower, dear. There will be clothes on the bed and medication for your feet when you get out."

"Thank you, ma'am."

She touched my cheek fondly. "Call me Evelyn, dear."

She left the room and I got into the shower. I allowed the water to wash over my skin as I thought about the first time I saw Alpha Ryder.

It was at a general Alpha meeting which had been held at our pack.

Anna had been there with her late mate and Grant had been so angry and irritated. He had almost gotten into a quarrel with Alpha Ryder that day until I stepped in.

That night, before he left, he had made me an offer. He wanted me to be his mate, not for love; it was a contract.

I had been so obsessed with Grant that I hadn't even considered it. But now, I was considering it. I needed to leave Grant and everything that had to do with him. Alpha Ryder could be my escape.

I got out of the shower and, as Evelyn had said, there were clothes on the bed and medication.

I put them on, applied the medication to my feet, and made my way out of the room. Evelyn was waiting outside.

"You look way better, dear. Come on, the Alpha is waiting."

She led me down the stairs to the dining room.

"Sit down, Feyre. Let's eat," he told me.

I sat down nervously and looked at the food on the plate. It looked delicious. The only time I had tasted food like this was when Grant gave me leftovers.

"Don't you like it? Evelyn can prepare something else," he asked me.

"It's fine. It really is." I started eating.

It tasted so good. I moaned while taking a bite.

I looked up, embarrassed. He simply smiled and continued eating.

"Alpha Ryder, about your offer?"

He held up a finger. "We will talk after dinner."

After dinner, he led me back to the room.

"So about my offer. I want you to be my mate for two years."

"Why two years? That's kind of specific," I asked.

"My pack, especially my father, wants me to get a mate and produce the next alpha."

"So why can't you just get a mate? You are an Alpha. You have lots of female werewolves after you."

"That's my business. But rest assured, you will be rewarded handsomely for it. I won't sleep with you or touch you inappropriately."

"I just want three things."

"And what are those three things?" He was looking at me with interest.

"First, you help me escape from Alpha Grant. Two, you help me take care of the orphanage I grew up in. Third, I want to go to the Imperial Werewolf College next year."

"I can do the first two things, but not the third," he told me.

"Why?" I asked.

"As my mate, you will be Luna. You can't be away from the pack. After the two years, you can leave for the college. I will give you all the support you need."

"I really need to go next year. In high school, I was very good with the old ancient werewolf languages. The werewolf professor who specializes in this language retires in two years, so I have to go next year."

"That can't happen. I am really sorry, but if we do this, you can't go," he told me.

"I am sorry, Alpha Ryder. I can't accept your offer."

"It's okay, Feyre. You can think about it and give me a response later."

"Thank you." I stood.

He stood up. "One of my men will send you home."

"Send me home?" I asked.

"Yes, he will give you a ride home."

"Thank you, Alpha Ryder."

"You're welcome. I do hope you can think about my offer and give me a favorable response."

I nodded.

He escorted me outside the house. A car was already waiting outside.

"Have a safe ride home. If you do change your mind, you can text me."

"Thank you," I said again.

As the car sped along, I thought about Alpha Ryder. He was so considerate to me. If not for the college, I would have accepted his offer.