The Lunas Second Chance Mate
Chapter 8

Alyson's

free her.

POV

I saw the crazed desire in his face. Was it possible he was part of the Clan Alexander? Could he have a blood provider? I shuttered at the thought of him keeping another like I was kept. If there was another she-wolf of Clan Clark locked away like I had been, I would Michael was quiet the rest of the way, and I was too lost in thoughts to care. There was so much stirring in my mind. I had to replace out more.

But if he had a blood provider, surely, he would not have responded so severely to my blood. It didn't make sense. No Clan Alexander deprived of the necessary Clan Clark blood for ten years would have been able to resist my blood. And I had been under his care this whole time.

I felt the bandage on my wrist, knowing he'd encountered my wounds. Knowing he'd smelt my period blood.

Michael dropped me off without another word. Ryan was not back yet.

Donna fretted over me, worrying that I'd exhausted myself.

I hunched over, "No, the training was not hard today, but my period started."

"Oh goodness, well that's a great sign for your health at least. You poor dear, please, lie down and rest. I will get you some tea with herbs." She tucked me in, making me think of those days long gone when my mother had taken care of me when I was sick. I tried not to think about what my family knew. If Jennifer had lied to them. If they had been part of it. I couldn't handle that thought.

I snuggled into the blankets, feeling warm, but my mind returned to Ryan Alexander. When I was young, my grandma told me that the male wolves of Clan Alexander, especially those with strong abilities, were born hungry for Clan Clark's blood.

"If they're too deprived, the smell of our blood will drive them wild. The wolf within has needs too strong to resist. So, we give them our blood to appease them. So that they do not hunt us. We made a pact that the Alpha, and other male Alexanders, will take a blood provider and honor her as a mate, and leave the rest alone. It had worked like this for many generations, peacefully."

I remembered my small child's mind being a little frightened by the thought that was new to me at the time. "What happens if they don't get the blood?" I had asked.

"They lose the ability to change to man. Their wolves become too strong, they will hunt us, chasing our smell. It becomes like an addiction that will never be satisfied, and they will be very dangerous to us. So we give them our blood to serve them, instead of them taking it forcefully from us."

I eased my worries remembering this. Ryan had been kind; he had resisted me. If it were even true that he was cursed like the same Clan Alexander that I knew, could he be an exception?

I went to bed early with terrible nausea and cramps.

Donna was nearby when I woke. She looked so excited when she saw me awake.

"Oh, I have some things for you. Are you hungry?"

I was terribly famished having fallen asleep before dinner.

Donna was already bringing me a tray of fresh bread, sizzling sausages, fruits, sweetened hot pine sap over roasted roots. There was a steaming cup of coffee. It smelt amazing and luxurious. I was hungry enough that I felt I could eat it all.

Donna was placing it in front of me. "Ryan got you all these things," she said, obviously delighted. "The best bread, he even waited himself in line for it this morning. I'm glad you woke up with it still warm! He roasted these roots himself instead of asking me to do it. I didn't even know he knew how!"

I took the foods, smelling the delicious smells. "Oh, this coffee." I wasn't even sure if I'd tasted anything like it before, so aromatic, bitter, but creamy and sweet all at once.

"You must be very special to him," Donna said. "He sure doesn't even treat himself with all these treats at once. Are you feeling better this morning?"

"Yes," I muttered between mouthfuls of the best meal I'd had in my life.

"What is that smell?" A knock at the door, Michael was peeking in. "Did you make something today, Donna?"

I squirmed under my covers, not really wanting him to come in. But Donna was already ushering him in to help eat the rest of the feast spread on the table.

He was tasting the coffee, "This is the best you made."

"Actually, Ryan made it." Donna sang proudly.

"What?" He almost spit it out.

I was eyeing him as he ignored me at first. But then he looked over at me, a little agitated. "What's the occasion? I didn't know our Alpha could steep coffee like this. Doesn't he have better things to do." "He's treating our lovely guest." Donna said, "Obviously."

Michael set down his cup of coffee, wiping off his mouth on his sleeve. He glared at me once before leaving. His temper never seemed to bother Donna, which put me at ease.

I spent the week mostly in the cabin. I didn't see Ryan at all, although he continued to make food for me, and shock everyone with his culinary talents. Donna was excellent company, so cheery and always enthusiastic about Ryan's attention to me.

I could feel myself softening to her at least. She was so mothering to me; I could hardly help it. I realized how much of my growing up I'd missed with the love from my mother. And grandmother and other clan members.

Finally, proving that Ryan stayed away due to my period, it was over, and suddenly I heard his large feet plodding up the porch. He sounded so different than the skulking gait of Michael. I fretted for a minute, trying to tidy myself. Trying to look casual as he entered as if I hadn't heard him.

Michael was right behind him, but he waited in the doorway.

I felt both wary and grateful for all his care, which was evidently not normal for him considering Michael and Donna's reactions. I still had a lot to figure out for him, but he did not seem as if he wanted to harm me. In fact, by staying away, it seemed he avoided it. He came in eagerly approaching me as if he'd been waiting to see me. He came at me as if he wanted to hug me, but I was leaning away so he stopped.

"Why are you so nice to me?" I asked him with narrowing eyes, and suspicious heart.

"Because I like you... a lot," he looked saddened again as if he expected me to understand without words."

Behind him, Donna was ushering Michael out of the door. Suddenly we were alone in his cabin, face to face. The hairs on my neck were prickling.

My heart fluttered and my face grew hot. It made sense since he was being so kind and doting to me. I looked into his eyes and couldn't look away, I felt lost in his intense gaze, almost wishing I had fallen into his arms when he wanted to hug me. "Why do you like me? You hardly know me. I haven't even seen you in a week." I wondered more about his identity and his strange reaction to my blood. And yet how he resisted.

My heart was pounding so loud in my ears, I feared I would not hear his answer.

"You are my... don't you feel it?" he whispered.

My attention locked onto his lips as the tightened and parted. In that moment, I felt so drawn to him. I didn't even care if he wanted my blood. He looked so strong like I could fall into his arms and be safe forever. But I was not so dumb to those feelings, I waited in my seat for his answer.

Still, I was leaning towards him. His face was so close to mine for a moment, but I pulled away with a shutter. I looked down at my wrist that no longer needed a bandage. It was finally healing up, crusted and hardened. But a clear reminder of why I couldn't forget my past life ever, and why I should not trust.

The question on my lips that I was too afraid to ask and know the answer. Do you like me for me or for my blood?