Chapter 4: The Move

Ryder POV

“Well, yes, I guess so but I’m not angry with you or even mad at you. It’s the way Rylen behaved, thinking that I’m going to wait for his sorry ass. Thinking that I’m going to be his second choice. You maybe a little high maintenance but you are a good she-wolf.” She chuckled. “You’re his first choice; you have a bond with him that you built with him even if he’s too stupid to see that.” She glared at Rylen. “Rylen,” she said as he looked over at her, “your future is next to her and that pup growing in her belly. You only want me now because you can’t have me and because I don’t want you. Please, accept my rejection, move on, and let me move.” She told him.

“Why? So, you can go and build a life with my ass of a brother?” Rylen growled.

“Yes…No…Maybe…I don’t know!” she sighed rubbing her forehead. I hated seeing her like this even though my heart fell to my feet. I looked at Rylen and he smirked at me. He knew what he was doing.

“I’m sorry Ryder but I just don’t know.” She whispered.

I caressed her check with my thumb, gave her my best lopsided smile, “it’s okay, I’ll wait for you but please, just give me a chance to prove myself, to prove that I am nothing like my brother. We maybe related but that’s where it ends.” I told her, hoping that she’d believe me and give me a chance.

“Dude, she doesn’t…” Rylen started.

“Shut up Rylen!” Stephanie yelled. “You need to decide what you’re going to do! I’m the one carrying your pup!” She finally unleashed all her hurt and anger.

“How can I even be sure the pup is mine.” he said rolling his eyes.

Stephanie balled her fists; she was fit to be tied. She stomped over to him as he just stood smirking at her. She growled at him, “I can’t believe you would stoop that low and claim that I have slept around! You know that is a lie!” She said bringing her hand back and punched him straight in the nose causing it to bleed.

“What the fuck, Steph.” He yelled out holding his nose. “What was that for?” He whined.

“You know what it was for! You, no good fucker! You know that you are the only one I have been with!”  She yelled at him.

“Michael, Jake!” My dad yelled out.

“Yes Sir!” They said in unison.

“Help Rylen pack his room and set him up in one of the open cottages and you will take a couple of extra men to help Stephanie move into the cottage with him.” Dad instructed.

“I’m not moving in with him!” Stephanie snorted. “He doesn’t even believe that I’m carrying his pup.”

“Stephanie, you have nothing to fear child,” mom rubbed Steph’s back, “we believe that he fathered your pup. You have been together for two years; we have no doubt that the two of have mated in the past.” 

“If it’s okay, I would rather stay with my parents.” She said looking at her mom. “Can I stay at home, mom?” she asked, holding back her tears. “I don’t trust him right now. He’s being an asshole.”

“Oh, sweetheart of course, you can stay home.  We would never turn our back on you.”  Her dad told her pulling her into a hug.

“Rylen, you will still be moved into one of the open cottages. That is where you will call home from now on.” Dad ordered. “Riley, you will be moved to the Alpha floor to the room next door to Ryder. You will both need to be near each other, otherwise you will both begin to get sick.” Dad explained. “Remi has her room at the end of that hall with the living room, dining room and kitchen in the middle and your and Ryder’s rooms at the other end of the hall. There’s a couple of guest bathrooms. No one is allowed on the Alpha floor without permission. Rylen, you will not be allowed up here unless you have the expressed permission from Ryder who will check with Riley before you even think about setting foot on the Alpha floor.” He glared at my brother.

“What about us?”  Raden sadly whispered.

I smiled at her, “you, your dad and brother are always welcome. I will make sure to let the guards know to let you in anytime you want.”  I told her leaning down to her level.

“We can bring over your things, it’s best that you start staying here tonight.” Her dad said to her with a small smile. “Your mom wouldn’t have it any other way.” He chuckled.

“Why don’t you join us later for dinner?” I offered.

“Thank you, it would be our honor, Alpha.” Her dad accepted.

“Please, just call me Ryder.” I laughed.

“Does this mean you’re gonna be my new big brother?” Raden asked, she is so cute just like her sister.

“Let’s talk about that later, okay?” Riley quickly changed the subject. “It shouldn’t take to long to pack, considering I haven’t even started unpacking.”  Riley snorted.

“I’ll bring your cloths and crap over.” Her brother offered with a snicker.

“No, just send them with one of the guards. We still need to inspect the training grounds and the warriors.” She said, “I…we can figure this out later.” She looked over at me.

“Must show little mate that we love and care about her, prove that we will love her and protect her.”  My wolf sighed. He was already envisioning our future with her, including the little of pups he wants to have.

“We will but we need to give her some time, don’t push her. Oh, and I don’t think she will be agreeable to have a dozen pups.”  I warned, he huffed at me and receded back to the shadows of my mind.

“It’s already been a long day; we can tour the training ground tomorrow.”  I told her, “Let’s get you settled in and give you a tour of the house.”

“No that’s okay…” she started.

“Riley, sweetheart” her dad put his arms around her shoulders.  “Get settled in, relax and please take a shower, you stink.” He covered his nose.

“Daddy!” She yelped, making all of us chuckle.

“Well, you do sissy.” Raden giggled pinching her nose closed with a scrunched face.

“Thanks a lot.” She rubbed up against Raden.

“Eeewwweee!” Raden squealed.  “Ryle!”  She ran, hiding behind their dad.  We all laughed a little harder.

“C’mon Ryle, Raden.  I’ll show you to your room.”  Remi said.  “Mr. RedFang…”

“Please call me Draven or Drav.” He said.

“Okay, Draven, you and Ryker can come with us, or we will just see you at dinner.” She told him.

I noticed the way Remi and Ryker were watching each other.  I nudged her elbow and perked my brow at her.  My sister blushed; she blushed.

“We will see you at dinner, it will give us a chance to pack up Ryle’s things and bring them over.” Draven told them.

“Dad, you can let others do that.” Ryle huffed.

“Punkin, it’s not a problem.”  He assured me.

“I just don’t want you to hurt yourself.” She sighed, “you’re still recovering from your back injury. I don’t want you lift anything heavy. We’ll see you at five for dinner.”  She leaned into her dad’s arms. “You’re not the young wolf you used to be.”  She teased.