We'd all heard the noise, but no one made any move to investigate. Besides me, Shelly seemed to be the only one who looked worried and fearful that something was wrong. So maybe it was a door that had just slammed in the wind and the rest of the family was used to it? But as I turned my attention to Ryder, my gut told me it wasn't the wind. He was watching his parents through narrowed eyes, clearly suspicious as their shared looks of concern swept across the room to focus on the entrance. Heavy footfalls could be heard coming up the stairs and suddenly Tyler appeared in the entryway, a look of fury on his face. His hair was disheveled and he looked hot and sweaty, like he'd just finished a long run or something. "Is there a reason I wasn't invited to this little family gathering?" he demanded, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on me. His expression softened momentarily, until his focus was turned back on his parents. Shelly quietly retreated from the room, probably figu

I watched as Ryder led Kate back downstairs, feeling a mix of relief and regret. The anger that had surged through me just moments ago began to dissipate, leaving a deep sense of disappointment in its wake. I turned my attention back to my parents, searching their expressions for any kind of understanding. “Why can’t you just be happy for me?” I asked, wanting a real answer. “Kate is a good person. She makes me happy. Isn't that enough?” My mom looked down at the half-cleared table, covertly wiping a tear from her eye. I thought I saw a flicker of shame crossing her face. Dad, on the other hand, remained resolute. His expression only hardened as he met my gaze. "No," he said plainly, "It's good to hear that you're happy, but that's not enough. You need a strong partner at your side. If Ryder isn't going to sand with you, you need a mate that will." That was ridiculous and I told him as much. "What about you? You're the Alpha and you don't have your brother holding your hand eve

The silence in the car was deafening with only the lights of the dashboard casting any kind of illumination through the small space we found ourselves trapped in. The usual easy atmosphere between us was replaced by a tension that made the air feel thick and heavy.Glancing over at Ryder, I noticed his hands gripping the steering wheel a little too tightly."Are you okay?" I asked, repeating the question he had asked me only minutes ago."Yeah," he said, his tone a little dismissive. "Just got a lot on my mind after tonight."His eyes flicked to mine briefly and a shadow passed over his face that told me there was more to this that he wasn’t saying.The ride continued in silence, each of us lost in our own troubled thoughts about the disastrous dinner with his parents.When we pulled up in front of my aunt Mara’s house, I leaned over to kiss him goodbye, but the kiss was different tonight. Lacking. Void of its usual warmth and passion.Pulling back, I searched his face, "Is there somet

The sun retreated, casting the sky in dazzling tones of orange and pink as we sipped on our coffees. The aroma of freshly ground coffee beans filled the air and even though the thought of Ryder filled me with unease, I managed to push it to the back of my mind as I looked at Tyler's smiling face.He reached across the table and took my hand gently. His touch was comforting and my heart swelled with affection for him.We talked about more trivial things, just enjoying our time together, until he glanced at his watch and sighed.“I need to get going,” Tyler said, a hint of regret in his voice. “Can I give you a lift home?”I nodded, thankful for the offer. It would mean a few extra minutes together. “That would be great, thanks.”The drive home went too quickly. When we arrived, Tyler pulled up in front of the house and we shared a passionate kiss goodbye.“I love you,” he murmured with a warm smile.I couldn't help but smile in return before I went back in for another kiss. "I love you

Tyler and I stepped out into the cool night air. A fresh breeze was blowing through the trees and I was grateful I'd brought a jacket.The street was quiet and dark without a soul in sight, but Tyler held my hand and led the way. I didn't know if he had some predetermined destination in mind or whether he was just winging it. To be honest, it didn't matter.The air was fresh and my mind began to focus on my surroundings rather than thoughts of Ryder. Perhaps this had been just what I needed."You know," Tyler began, breaking the silence, "I understand that you don't want to discuss Ryder with me, and I get it. I respect that and I understand your reasons, but I just want you to know, that from my side, you can. I'll listen and do my best to remain impartial. I just want you to know that. That you don't have to deal with everything alone."I know he meant well, and I was grateful for the offer, but this was something I was pretty steadfast on. There was no way I could tell him. The cha