Alyson's POV
"What?" I exclaimed excitedly. Looking around a charming little apartment that Dylan has just presented to me. It had several rooms including a maid's quarter for Michelle. It would be perfect.
Dylan was smiling, "You can stay here as my trade associate with your own salary and apartment of course."
"That's amazing news!" I had wanted to stay under my new identity, especially after the elders announced that Ryan was an official Alexander and he had bought a mansion here.
"You're the perfect choice for it." He said. "It was actually Ryan's idea, so I can't take full credit. The Blood Bane's supply is technically his after all." He finished the last part in a hushed tone.
Clan Alexander did not know where Clan Harris derived their stash, and
Alyson's POVEven as some time passed, I struggled to move around Crowalt Pack's territory because there were many faces that I recognized. Everyone only knew me as Alyson, Clan Harris' goddaughter who ran the trade operations. I was still too hesitant to wander through my old neighborhood where I grew up, no matter how badly I wanted to find my mother, she should not recognize me if Jennifer had not.Michelle and I had discovered the paths to traverse on my way to Ryan's where we would be less likely to be noticed. I was glad that his mansion was on the outskirts of all the other Alexander mansions.On one particular day, I left Michelle at home to sneak to Ryan's myself. He was not expecting me, and I knew it was risky, but I was gaining enough confidence to feel sure I could get there unnoticed. My excitement might have put some blinders on as I did not realize that someone else was about to cross my path before it
Ryan's POV A light tapping at my door roused me from my thoughts. It was Alyson, I smelt her immediately. My desires rose whenever I smelt that delicious smell of vanilla and warm strawberries and I delighted when she came to me now that we were a little safer. I wanted us to be mates so badly, but I had to be patient till she was ready- only hoping that someday she would be. She had to be the most stubborn she-wolf in existence, but she was my love. I opened the door, and she darted inside without even a kiss to greet me. It was odd, but she seemed to be panicking. "What's wrong?" I asked, kneeling down beside her as she fell back to catch her breath on the nearest chair.&nb
Alyson's POV My face was still swollen from crying all night. I'd not slept well. Michelle had slept in my room with me, making me feel a little less alone, but I still felt very secluded and unloved in the world. This morning, I felt angrier at Ryan than ever. But also angry at myself for trusting him. He said that he would never hurt me, and last night he almost did. It scared me to my core. What was worse, was the memory that he'd handled me roughly another time. The pendant around my neck was proof of that. He hadn't even been drunk this time. Had I said something wrong to make him act like that? I poured through my memory of our interaction. I had spoken of Jacob, but if Ryan had been listening at all, he would have known my feelings about him.&
"Today?" I called back to Michelle through the door. "Yes, by 3 o'clock. In two hours." She answered, her voice sounding regretful. While she didn't know the whole story, she was smart enough to pick up on my dislike for the Luna, especially with Jacob and Ryan's animosity. "Thank you, Michelle, I will be ready. Could you prepare yourself to come with me?" "Of course," She responded. "Whatever you need. Let me know when you are ready to go." We heard her footsteps venture away from my door. Ryan and I looked at each other. His eyes were as wide as I'd expect that mine were. "Fuck," I asked. "What could she want from me
A servant answered the door. "The Luna is expecting you upstairs if you would please follow me." She bowed, and led us up the stairs. I swallowed a lump in my throat, looking towards the dark stairs that led to the basement. I remember before when I'd expected to proceed upstairs towards luxury, but they'd dosed me with blood's bane. The fear in those memories was a force inside me that I had to ignore. I looked upwards towards the beautiful furniture laced with gold and the finest paintings of all the Alexander Alphas over the generations. At the end of the hallway was one painted of Jacob standing in his imposing stature with Jennifer sitting beside him on a gold and velvet throne. It was strange like seeing the life I should have had, the face I used to have only colder and crueler looking back at me from that w
"Are you threatening me?" I asked, deciding that it was best to call it out to test what Jennifer might say. Finally, Jennifer took a sip of her tea, setting down the cup carefully on the saucer. She looked thoughtful and pleasant again. "Of course not, I'm offering you an unbelievable chance to rise through ranks and riches… and for what? A little blood that you can spare, unless you've been lying to me, and you're already a blood provider to someone." My sister always did know how to suck the air from the room. My breath grew short for a second, and I realized her gaze had lifted straight to mine. She sniffed the air slightly to catch my reaction in all her senses. "I don't know what you're talking about," I said, trying to make the fear sprea
I left Elder Fritz with chills running all over my body. I needed to see Ryan as soon as I could. My heart felt heavy in my chest, weighed down by this new information that the elders had picked out a mate for Ryan.Even my concerns that Diana was the secret blood provider to Jacob didn't seem important for the moment, and slipped to the back of my mind.I kept too distant with Ryan all the time. I could not do that anymore, he could pick another mate, and no one could blame him for how many times I had denied him. We shared love, but we kept it a secret so no one would know. Up to this point, I even delighted in the secrecy, but not when I'd just learned the elders had matched him with another.Even if I felt urgent, I still proceeded with caution. I could not forget how Jennifer had tried to trap me today, and that she was likely spying on me.He meets me at his door, whether it's from smell or som
Ryan's POVI pranced around my mansion as if walking on clouds, completely elated after Alyson was so affectionate with me. If forming a true mating bond would be even half as amazing as the other day, then I would always have hope. She was my love, and my life, and I could only think of her.Her sudden insecurities still tickled my concerns. She had seemed a little closed off towards the end. While this hurt me, it was Alyson, I had to expect that she might always struggle to be vulnerable, and she had shown a lot of vulnerability already that day.The same day, business was as usual till I received an invitation from the elders to meet at their house of council. I hoped that nothing negative would come of it, but the note indicated that they had "important and exciting news to share."The familiar room had books filling the shelves that made up every inch of the wall. The elders sat around