The Alpha Weredragon's Favorite
CHAPTER 75

Lyra

I quickly finished the other three questions, Fact versus Fiction (which gave me no trouble) and went on to the final section "What it means to be a Luna,". These consisted of easy-breezy questions about Ryan and what he wanted from his Luna. All I had to do was choose the right answers from A-D on the list.

With a silent laugh I supposed they put this section in for those strugglers to feel like they hadn't totally bombed out.

Looking around the room, I noticed when the contestants started on it. There were more than a few she-wolves who let out snickers here and there. Even when I had reached the third question from the end ages ago, I couldn't help it-I silently laughed to myself. I knew the answer, as I had all the others. The question was:

Alpha Ryan Thorton doesn't like one thing above all else. What is it?

A. Running in the woods

B. Protecting his pack

C. His Alpha duties D. Shopping

When the clock tower chimed 3PM, signaling the end of the test, the woman came back on stage and boomed, "Time is up. Put down your writing instruments, and place your test face down or be disqualified!"

I slapped my test booklet shut and placed it face down with a dramatic sigh along with several others. Although I had finished the test an hour into the time, I didn't want to make others feel bad that they had struggled. Waiting for the helpers to collect my test, my mind snagged on a memory of Ryan and our shopping trip. We were on our way to lunch, and somehow, Ryan had convinced me to detour into a fancy store to pick out a dress for his birthday party.

My stomach lurched as we approached the place called Bella's Boutique. The words themselves shimmered with an elegance I didn't possess. Jeans and t-shirts were my uniform, comfy clothes for a comfy girl. That place, with its hushed atmosphere and clothes with labels, felt like a costume party I wasn't invited to.

Ryan, oblivious to my anxiety, practically dragged me in. A soft chime echoed as we entered, and a woman in a crisp suit materialized from the background, her smile a little too perfect. We wandered through the racks, the silky fabrics whispering against my fingers. Ryan, bless his goofy heart, flipped a sequined dress off the rack, and held it up to his neck. "What do you think? You like it?"

I giggled, but then my smile faded. My eyes drifted to a corner with gorgeous dresses housed in dust bags. The sales woman made her move, sliding up to me with a practiced smile. "Are you looking for a gown, dear?" Ryan stepped forward. "Yes. We're looking for something elegant and sophisticated."

The saleswoman gave a knowing nod and whisked us towards the "dreams-not-budgets" section of the store. My heart thumped a frantic rhythm against my ribs as I peeked at the price tags. No way, not a chance, could I afford anything here. Money was already tight, and with the clothes I'd already picked out, Ryan had promised to let me pay him back eventually. But one of those dresses, well, a quarter of its price would take me a lifetime of washing his socks to afford. Ryan must have noticed my expression because he leaned in and whispered in my ear, "Don't worry about the price, Lyra. I want you to have the perfect dress for the party."

I gave him a grateful smile and started to browse through the dresses. I couldn't believe how soft and silky they all felt. I had never worn anything so fancy before.

Ryan picked out a blue dress that swirled around the knees. It had thin straps and a top that shimmered under the light. He held it up in front of me, his eyes sparkling more than the sequined mess earlier.

"You'd look amazing in this, Lyra," he said, his voice gentle.

I shook my head quickly. "No way. It's too... uh, much for me."

It was a garment Viola could pull off with ease. It was a garment of quality I'd never been allowed to wear.

He chuckled, that low, warm sound I loved. "Lyra, you could wear a potato sack and still be the most beautiful one there." He winked, then nudged me playfully. "Come on, try it on."

He convinced me to slip into the dressing room. The dress felt soft against my skin, and when I stepped out, Ryan's jaw dropped. A blush crept up my cheeks, but then he burst into a smile.

"See? I told you." He reached out and tucked a stray curl behind my ear. "You look stunning."

It wasn't just the dress. It was the way he looked at me, like I was the only person in the whole store... the world. At that moment, I knew it wasn't just about the party or the dress. It was about him making me happy, even if it meant something as simple as picking out clothes. That was why I... cared deeply for Ryan. He had a way of making everything, even shopping, feel special.

I went into the dressing room and tried it on. It fit me like a glove. I felt like a princess as I twirled around in front of the mirror.

Ryan's eyes lit up when he saw me in the dress. "You look absolutely breathtaking, Lyra," he said, voice so low and husky a sliver of anticipation ran up my thighs and pulsed my center.

"Thank you, Ryan," I said. "I can't believe I'm going to wear something so elegant."

Ryan stepped forward and took my hands in his. "You deserve to wear something as beautiful as you are," he said, his voice warm. "You're an amazing person, Lyra, and I only want the best for you."

His words warmed me from the inside out, even more than the fancy dresses ever could. We found a cute outfit that wouldn't break the bank, and after paying, we headed out for lunch. For lunch, we sat at a little cafe, the kind with checkered tablecloths and flowers in tiny vases...

"So, did you enjoy playing dress-up?" he asked, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

I laughed, rolling my eyes. "Oh, absolutely. I've always dreamed of twirling around in a fancy boutique with price tags that make my head spin."

He chuckled and reached across the table to give my hand a gentle squeeze. "You know I hate shopping, right?"

I tilted my head, surprised by his confession. "Really? But you seemed so into it. Why do you hate it?"

Ryan sighed and looked away for a moment with a faraway expression as if he were gathering his thoughts.

"It was something my mom and I used to do together," he started, his voice softening. "We'd go out, she'd spoil me rotten with clothes I didn't need. Then we'd have lunch-any place I wanted."

I squeezed his hand back, encouraging him to continue.

"It was our thing, you know? Now she's gone..." He trailed off and shrugged as if trying to shake off the weight of the memory.

My heart twinged for him. I hadn't known about his mom. "I'm sorry, Ryan. That must be tough."

He nodded slowly and then gave me a small smile. "But today... today was different."

"Different how?" I asked, leaning in closer.

Ryan's eyes met mine again, holding my gaze. "Today I made new memories, good ones." He let out a breathy chuckle. "With you."

I felt a warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with the outdoor heater placed near our table.

"Really?" I whispered.

"Yeah." He leaned forward too, so close I could see the fine lines around his deep blue eyes. "You made what I thought would be a painful chore into something fun."

A waiter came by to drop off our food but we hardly noticed.

"Thank you for that," he said softly.

"Thank you for the dress... for everything" I'd replied, feeling my cheeks warm up.

Being apart from Ryan was painful, devastating really, but the reward of having him back in my life he was worth fighting for. Every moment of anguish, every tear shed in solitude, it all paled in comparison to the joy of gazing into those deep blue eyes.

The day when we could openly be together after so much time apart, I was sure it would feel like the missing piece of my soul had finally clicked back into place.

Yes, once we were back together and I was his Luna, I would never, ever be apart from him again.