Blackthorn

Chapter 20

Blackthorn

Jade had never been outside Silverwood territory before.

Not really.

There had never been a reason.

Or an invitation.

Yet three days after the border patrol, she found herself riding beside Ryker through the northern forests toward Blackthorn Pack.

The realization still felt strange.

Especially because Alpha Rowan had approved the visit without hesitation.

"Try not to start an international incident."

Those had been his exact words.

Jade was still fairly certain he had been joking.

Mostly.

Beside her, Ryker looked entirely too pleased with himself.

"You've been smiling for fifteen minutes."

"I have not."

"You have."

"I haven't."

He grinned.

"You're excited."

Jade hated that he was right.

So naturally, she changed the subject.

"I still don't understand why your pack wants me there."

"My mother wants to meet you."

That answer nearly made her fall off her horse.

"What?"

Ryker laughed.

"You should've seen your face."

"Your mother?"

"Relax."

He looked suspiciously entertained.

"She just heard about you."

That was somehow not reassuring.

At all.

---

The first thing Jade noticed about Blackthorn was how different it felt from Silverwood.

The territory was rougher.

Less polished.

The buildings weren't arranged as carefully.

The paths weren't perfectly maintained.

Yet somehow the place felt alive.

Wolves laughed openly.

Children raced through the village center.

Warriors sparred without half the formality Silverwood demanded.

It felt less structured.

More free.

"You're staring."

Jade looked away from a group of wolves wrestling near the training grounds.

"They're fighting."

"They're playing."

"One of them just got thrown into a fence."

"Exactly."

Blackthorn Pack made no sense.

And somehow she liked it.

A lot.

As they entered the central square, several wolves greeted Ryker immediately.

Not because of his title.

Because they genuinely seemed happy to see him.

The realization struck her.

Nobody appeared intimidated by him.

They respected him.

Trusted him.

The difference was subtle.

But important.

A tall woman with dark hair emerged from one of the nearby buildings.

The moment she spotted them, her face lit up.

"There you are."

Ryker looked resigned.

"You're smiling."

"Be worried."

Jade choked back laughter.

The woman ignored him completely.

Instead she walked directly toward Jade.

"You must be Jade."

The warmth in her voice caught her off guard.

"I'm Luna Vivienne."

Jade straightened.

"Pleasure to meet you."

"Nonsense."

Vivienne reached for her arm.

"We're not doing formalities."

The Luna's smile widened.

"I like you already."

Ryker groaned.

"I told you she'd do this."

"Nobody asked your opinion."

The ease between them made Jade smile.

The interaction reminded her painfully of something she had never really experienced.

A complete family.

One where everyone genuinely enjoyed each other's company.

---

The next few hours passed quickly.

Vivienne gave Jade a tour of Blackthorn territory.

Several warriors joined them.

Then left.

Then returned.

Everyone seemed to know one another.

More surprising still...

No one cared who Jade's father was.

No one mentioned the exile.

No one whispered.

No one stared.

They simply accepted her.

The experience felt almost unreal.

At one point she found herself standing beside Beta Knox Mercer near the training fields.

The towering Beta watched several younger warriors spar.

"So."

Jade immediately became suspicious.

"So?"

Knox folded his arms.

"You're the Silverwood wolf who keeps causing trouble."

She blinked.

"Excuse me?"

The older wolf's expression never changed.

"Good kind of trouble."

"Oh."

A pause.

"That makes more sense."

Knox barked out a laugh.

Across the field, Ryker shook his head.

Apparently even from a distance he knew trouble was happening.

---

Later in the afternoon, Jade finally understood something.

She'd always known Ryker was respected.

She'd never realized how much.

Every wolf she met had a story about him.

A favor he'd done.

A patrol he'd led.

A dispute he'd settled.

A young warrior he'd mentored.

He wasn't respected because he was Alpha Gideon's son.

He was respected because he had earned it.

The distinction mattered.

And somehow, seeing him through everyone else's eyes made her like him even more.

---

By evening they sat overlooking a cliffside that faced the Blackthorn forests.

The sunset painted everything gold.

For a while neither spoke.

The silence felt comfortable.

Natural.

Increasingly dangerous.

Eventually Jade broke it.

"Everyone expects you to become Alpha."

Ryker stared toward the horizon.

"Pretty much."

"You could do it now."

That finally earned a glance.

News traveled quickly inside a pack.

Especially after conversations with Betas and Lunas.

"I could."

"But you won't."

A small smile appeared.

"No."

Jade tilted her head.

"Why?"

Ryker was quiet for several moments.

Long enough that she wondered whether he'd answer.

When he finally spoke, his voice was softer.

"Because leadership changes everything."

She listened.

"It's not just my future."

His attention returned to the distant forests.

"It affects everyone."

The answer didn't surprise her.

It was exactly the sort of thing he'd say.

"What does that have to do with waiting?"

Ryker's smile became self-conscious.

Rare enough to capture her full attention.

"I don't want to start that life alone."

Her heartbeat immediately picked up.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

"You mean your Luna."

His gaze found hers.

Steady.

Certain.

"Yeah."

Neither looked away.

Something shifted.

Subtle.

Yet unmistakable.

For a long moment neither spoke.

The evening breeze carried the scent of pine between them.

Then Ryker looked toward the horizon again.

"For a long time I thought I'd wait for fate."

Jade's breath caught.

She knew exactly where this conversation was heading.

And apparently so did he.

"Now?" she asked quietly.

Ryker looked at her.

Not the forest.

Not the horizon.

Her.

For a moment, it felt like they were the only two wolves in the world.

"Now I'm not sure that's what matters most."

The words settled between them.

The air suddenly felt too warm.

Jade's pulse quickened.

Neither looked away.

Slowly, Ryker moved closer.

Not enough to alarm her.

Just enough that she became aware of every inch between them.

Every breath.

Every heartbeat.

Her wolf stirred restlessly beneath her skin.

Curious.

Interested.

Hopeful.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Ryker smiled softly.

"You know what's funny?"

Jade shook her head.

"What?"

"For the first time in my life, I don't mind coming to Silverwood for meetings."

The confession stole her breath.

Heat rushed into her cheeks.

"That's a terrible line."

"It wasn't a line."

"That somehow makes it worse."

His laugh was quiet.

Warm.

And entirely unfair.

The silence that followed stretched.

Neither seemed eager to break it.

Then Ryker's gaze dropped briefly to her lips.

Just for a second.

But she noticed.

Moon Goddess help her, she noticed.

And judging by the look in his eyes...

He knew she'd noticed too.

The moment shifted.

Became something else.

Something far more dangerous than teasing and friendship.

Jade's heart pounded.

Ryker took another step closer.

"So," he said quietly.

Her voice almost failed her.

"So?"

His smile faded.

Not completely.

Just enough to reveal something vulnerable beneath it.

Something real.

"I've been trying very hard not to kiss you."

The world stopped.

Every coherent thought vanished.

Ryker immediately looked as though he regretted saying it out loud.

Which would've been comforting if Jade's brain was still functioning.

Unfortunately, it wasn't.

Neither moved.

Neither spoke.

The distance between them suddenly felt impossibly small.

And for one wild, terrifying moment...

Jade wanted him to.

Then a horn echoed from the village below.

The spell shattered instantly.

Both froze.

Reality came rushing back.

Meetings.

Patrols.

Packs.

Responsibilities.

Everything that existed outside this cliff.

Ryker let out a slow breath.

"Probably a good thing."

Jade swallowed.

"Probably."

Neither sounded convinced.

As they stood together watching the last light disappear beyond the Blackthorn forests, Jade knew one thing with absolute certainty.

Three days ago, Ryker Blackthorn had been a stranger.

Now she wasn't sure how she was supposed to leave him behind.