The Lunas Second Chance Mate
Chapter 17

Ryan's POV

It was the sweetest night of my life, although it was not easy to control my desires. Rupert was raging inside me to mark my mate, and unhappy that I blocked him. Still, as much as I wanted Alyson, I never wanted to hurt her or force her to do anything. I was able to sleep after watching Alyson fall into peaceful slumber, tucked up beside me, breathing peacefully. Everything about her smelt enticing and delicious.

I felt the stirring as we woke up at the same time. We opened our eyes together, and looked over at one another. She was smiling, biting her lower lip in an incredibly sexy way. Her straight black hair was messy and she had little dark patches under her eyes that were endearing.

I would have stayed like that all day-forever. Even sleeping beside Alyson without s*x was enough for me, even if I hoped for more when she was ready.

I left for a short time to retrieve us a nice breakfast, we ate in bed, reliving the matches of yesterday, and how amazing she had done. I ignored the fact that she'd eaten at Dylan Harris' table because she'd come to me after and spent the night with me, so there was a clear winner there.

Unfortunately, the calls of duty as the Alpha came to replace me, interrupting our moments. Michael came to the tent, peering curiously inside when he heard someone there. He reminded me of all the meetings I had planned today. I sighed. Stepping back inside, I said, "I'm sorry, Alyson. I would ignore this to be with you more, but since we're here with all these other pack representatives, I need to meet with a few of them. It's my only chance this year for most." Alyson nodded coolly. Even after last night, she still reserved alot of herself from me. I kissed her on the cheek as she left. Outside the cabin, she passed Michael, his curiosity was appeased with an obvious amount of surprise. I met several other Alphas of more modest Packs, and the representing betas of the larger packs, to discuss some trade issues or contracts. My mind felt far away, with memories of Alyson dancing right on the edge of my focus. In-between meetings, Michael was stepping in, "Um, Alpha Ryan... Patrick of Crowalt Pack wants to see you."

My fists tensed, turning white. Patrick was Alpha Jacob's beta that was in charge of many errands. I had heard that some members of Crowalt pack were there, but I was able to successfully avoid them in the last couple of days. I wondered if I might reject his request as he had not honored me by making an appointment, but the Crowalt Pack had been after me ever since discovering my success after banishment. The fact that I had not died was a problem for them.

"Let him in." I said, rising from my chair to allow my full size as Patrick entered the room.

Patrick came in, his lanky quick movements energizing the room in the way he did. His wayward eyes were never fully centered. While he was not very old his course hair was prematurely gray with a receding hairline.

"I hear we're to offer you a congratulations on your she-wolf winner yesterday." His tone was dripping in mockery. "I'm surprised the Starstream Pack dares to show their faces at such a respectable event. We're all surprised that you live without the blood."

My hackles were rising. I knew that Patrick was there to get a reaction out of me, always seeking to have reason to kill me. The elders had banished me, so my life was protected unless I proved an actual threat to Crowalt Pack.

"How did you come across that bitch anyway? Was she another rogue like most of you?" Patrick said.

Any insult to Alyson was too much. Without a hesitation, I lunged across the room and grabbed him by the throat. "That's none of your business. We will not talk as if we're friends." I lifted him a few inches from the floor as he spluttered and gasped for breath. Michael lingered right outside the tent flap, ready in case I needed him. He was about to come in, but I halted him by putting out my other hand, and released Patrick from the choke.

He was wheezing, holding at his wind pipes, but still, he said, "It's too bad she didn't get killed. Not like you need another death in your life, like your mother. That really was a shame."

My blood was like a storm inside me, Rupert was ready to lash out. I punched him in the face.

"Did you come here for actual business?" I said. "Or can we end this now?"

Patrick cringed from me for a moment, blinking from the bruised eye, his fierce gaze growing a little fearful. "I came to remind you of your place, and what better business do I have?" Patrick mocked. "Do you remember how she died?" Shooting him a warning glare, I was on the verge of losing control. "Do you want to die?" I said.

"I saw it. It really was a terrible display, the way they pulled out her organs while she still lived. They wrapped her own intestine around her neck to choke her in her own blood."

I felt sick as the images flood into my mind. They had made me watch it, but I was so young, still those images once in a while would seep back up to consciousness when provoked like this. I remembered the pain on her face, I remembered calling for mom, but she was in too much pain to know my voice.

I lost it. Even while I kept my form of man, Rupert took over. Punching him in the face again, I also grabbed Patrick and broke his arm in with a single snap of my wrist. He was reeling back, and I shifted, tearing into his face so that he would never say anything like that again. I plunged my fangs into his eyes so that he would never see again.

Michael came in, risking his life to intercept me, but it was too late, I had killed the bastard. "Alpha Ryan, stay calm, please. He was doing this to irritate you."

Patrick's body went limp, blood seeping from the skin and eyes torn from his skull. I ripped more at his body, Rupert wanted to destroy him forever to erase any threat to Alyson. This man knew I cared about her, and look what they had done to my mother. Michael said, "Think about Alyson. You have her now. You need to protect her, do not let them rob her of your protection."

I had been thinking of Alyson, but I hadn't been thinking of the greater consequences to us after I'd killed Jacob's beta at the games that were meant for peace between the packs. I relaxed and release my jaws. But Patrick was already dead.