We lock eyes in a heated standoff, neither of us willing to back down. I'm the one to break the tense silence. 'I know you were going to tell me tomorrow, but I want to know what a mate is right now because there is obviously more to it than you thinking I'm going to be your girlfriend!' I snap, my patience wearing thin.
Ryker sighs, his features showing a mix of reluctance and concern. 'Promise you won't freak out?' He asks cautiously.
I respond defiantly, 'I'm not promising anything, Ryker.'
After another deep breath, Ryker concedes, 'Then maybe we should wait until tomorrow. You've already had much to process at this stage,' he suggests.
But I refuse to wait any longer. I slam my hand onto the table, demanding answers. 'Sit down and tell me now, Ryker, or I'm leaving,' I warn him.
Ryker looks away briefly, collecting his thoughts, before finally taking a seat. I promptly sit opposite him, and our eyes lock once more, both of us prepared for the truth to be revealed.
After a moment of heavy silence, Ryker reaches his hands toward mine. 'Place your hands in mine, Astrid,' he says softly, with a reassuring smile.
Curiosity mixed with hesitation fills my gaze as I eye his outstretched hands. 'Why?' I ask with caution.
Ryker offers a patient explanation, his tone gentle. 'It will make it easier for me to explain what a mate is and the mate bond,' he responds.
Taking a deep breath, I reluctantly comply, placing my hands in his with a hint of trepidation. The moment our skin makes contact, an electrifying sensation courses through me. It's an incredible feeling—warm and fuzzy, sparking many emotions. Ryker holds my hands with a delicate touch, his thumbs caressing the back of my hands, sending pleasant jolts of warmth and sparks throughout my body. I peer at him, bewildered, and he nods to confirm that he feels it, too.
'On our eighteenth birthdays, when our wolf awakens, we can sense our mate when they're nearby,' Ryker explains. 'Sometimes we find our mates right away, while for others, like me, it may take years. Your mate will have the most amazing scent you've ever smelled. It triggers your wolf, urging it to take over and follow that scent.'
My brow furrows in curiosity as I listen intently.
'When you make eye contact with your mate,' Ryker continues, 'your wolf announces that person as your mate. We develop an instant connection; touching feels like sparks and fireworks. We're overcome with a powerful desire for each other, an overwhelming need to be near each other constantly.'
As he speaks, I absorb the extraordinary details of his strange world.
'Werewolves solidify their bond by marking each other on the neck with their canine teeth,' Ryker adds. 'In other words, we bite each other, leaving our marks to signify that we are mated. This intensifies the bond even further. Your mate becomes your life partner, your soulmate—the one you'll spend the rest of your life with and have pups with. Oh, and lastly, because I'm the Alpha of this pack and you are my mate, it makes you the Luna of our pack.'
Ryker finishes his explanation, and it's evident that he's nervous about revealing this information. He observes my reaction, noting that my complexion has paled considerably.
At this moment, I must resemble a stunned deer caught in the glare of approaching headlights. My mouth hangs agape, and I find myself locked in an unblinking stare into Ryker's eyes, my mind attempting to process the overwhelming and fantastical information I've just received.
Cautiously, I rise, taking slow, deliberate breaths to steady my racing heart. My gaze darts toward the kitchen, focusing on the back door. Silently, I begin moving with the grace of a shadow, navigating the room with quiet steps.
'Astrid?' Ryker calls out, rising from his chair with concern.
Raising a finger to my lips, I implore him to remain quiet. 'I need water,' I murmur, pretending to head toward the sink.
All eyes fixate on me with silent anticipation. As I pass the sink without pausing and approach the back door, I swing it open and break into a sprint, swift as the wind.
The shocking revelations from Ryker echo in my mind: he wants to mark me, make me bear his pups, be his Luna, and stay with him forever. Yet, we've only known each other for a matter of days. It all feels like madness, and I'm left questioning whether it's me or them who’ve gone insane.
Thoughts and questions whirl through my head as I dart through the woods, desperate to put distance between me and Ryker's pack as they desperately chase after me.
Despite the throbbing pain from my injuries, I push myself onward, meandering through the dense woods. I don't get far before Ryker catches up. His grip on my wrist is gentle to minimize the pain he might cause.
Ryker growls. ‘Why did you do that? Why did you run from me?’ He says, hurt by my actions.
I scoff. ‘If you think for one second, I am going back home with you to be your lifelong mistress and let you bite me and give birth to your pups! Then maybe I am better off going back home with my stepfather,’ I tell him.
My words cut into Ryker, leaving him visibly hurt and frustrated. 'It's not like that at all, Astrid. You'll understand better when you turn eighteen in a couple of weeks,' he insists.
I try to wrestle away from him. ‘Get off me!’ I shout.
‘Will you run if I get off you?’ He asks.
'Probably,' I reply honestly, provoking another growl from him.
Suddenly, the sound of a shotgun goes off, briefly stunning us both into silence and worry. It comes from near the diner.
Ryker rises to his feet, extending a hand to help me up. I should release his hand, but it feels warm and right. The sparks connecting us are addicting, and an inexplicable magnetic force seems to pull us closer, refusing to let us separate.
We race back towards the diner. I tighten my grip on Ryker’s hand, scared of what will unfold. My stepdad sits on the bonnet of his red car. His shotgun is pointing at some of Ryker’s pack members.