Chapter 4

Ryder's Pov

She wasn't Alara. 

I could tell from across the room. Everything was the same. From her features, to her scent. It was even more overpowering. But something was wrong. The way she looked at me. The chills that I could feel emanating from her. I could smell the fear all over her. Alara would never be scared of me.

“Ryder!” Someone called out, and I couldn't help but frown. Thyri was the only one that would call my by my name, and I was avoiding her more than anything. She was the last person that I wanted around me. 

“What is it this time?” I asked, and she pouted, cocking her head to the side. Her rich brat attitude was starting to get to me, and I didn't know how long it was going to be until I lost my cool. 

“Acting like that when you just sent me from sealing an alliance isn't right, you know. I definitely deserve some kind of appreciation.”

“You just played a part in the pack. It's nothing special. I could have sent someone else in your place.”

She seemed hurt for a second, but she quickly plastered a smile on her face again. I honestly couldn't care less. 

“Have the elders said anything about the wedding plans?” She asked, and I cocked an eyebrow. 

Ah. The wedding. 

The pack elders planned that I was going to get mated to Thyri if Alara didn't return. They couldn't have their Alpha mateless, without the possibility of an heir. 

Thankfully, Alara… or who ever that woman is, returned on time.

“You haven't heard?” I asked. “Alara has returned.”

I watched all the color in Thyri’s face drain within seconds. I couldn't deny the fact that it gave me more happiness than it was supposed to. 

“She's back?” She asked. “But that's not possible.”

I turned to look at her immediately, and she immediately started stammering. “The pack guards said that she was last seen at the lake. She couldn't have returned after two years.”

“Maybe you should do something worth your time instead of chasing someone else's mate,” my sister, Velyana snapped, making Thyri fling her hair backwards, and walk away. 

Of course, they were the biggest enemies of each other. 

“The pack elders have asked to see you,” she said, and I immediately rubbed my hands against my temples. 

I was about to walk away when she called me back. “Don't let your eyes off Alara this time.” I gave her a stiff nod not stopping to think about what happened the last time, before heading downstairs, and walking right into the council room. 

The elders immediately got on their feet, bowing down to me. I could feel she shivers on their skin. It gave me some kind of joy that I couldn't describe. I could smell the tension in the room as soon as I walked in. 

I walked over to my throne at the top center of the room, ordering them to sit down. 

“This better be important,” I said, and they looked among themselves, looking for who was going to speak first. 

“The Luna has returned, Alpha. What could be more important?” Elder Xavier said, and I cocked an eyebrow at him. 

“And you suddenly have a problem with her return?” I asked. I wanted to tell them that I had my doubts as well, but I wanted to hear their thoughts first. I wanted to be sure that I wasnt imagining things.

“The members of the pack are doubting that she's the one. She doesn't have the spark in her eyes that our Luna had. She acted like she hadn't seen us in years.”

“Yes, it could be that she had been shaken by the whole accident, but the pack members won't let her be,” Elder Aldo added, and I narrowed my eyes at him. 

I knew the kind of Elders I had. They were going to be the ones suggesting, but they could as well be the ones to give the rest of the pack members stupid ideas. 

“She has to somehow prove herself. We can't have the pack members, or any other pack getting a whiff of whatever they think. She probably needs more time around them.”

“Fine then,” I said, standing up. “Throw a party. And give Velyana the details.”

They all nodded. I attempted walking away when Elder Xavier stopped me again. “Now that the Luna has returned, we can as well talk about the bringing forth of an heir.”

I cocked an eyebrow at him, and he immediately made himself smaller in his seat, with his eyes fixed on the floor. “I apologize, Alpha,” he mumbled.

“I thought as much,” I said, stalking out of the council room, with my hands balled into fists, and my jaws ticking. 

I could feel my chest burn with Alara's secret that I kept buried at the back of my head. 

For the sake of it, I headed back into the room. Alara wasn't on the bed anymore. I could hear her in the bathroom. I slowly walked over to the bathroom door. It was slightly open, and I watched her as she stared at herself in the mirror, with tears in her eyes. She looked at herself like it was the first time she was seeing her features. 

I couldn't help but narrow my eyes at how her blonde hair had darkened somehow. 

“What are you doing?” I asked, and she jumped, before turning to look at me. 

My wolf turned within me. Even he knew that something was wrong. But we couldn't place my finger on what it was just yet. 

She quickly wiped her tears, blinking at me with the eyes that I fell in love with. They looked softer. Sadder. I was moved to wipe them off just as I would have. But something in me held back. 

Her scent lingered in the air, pulling me to her. More fierce than usual. But I wasn't going to touch her. 

Not until I was sure that she was my mate.