As the hours drag on and dinner time approaches, Hayley knocks on the door. 'I brought you some dinner, Luna,' she says softly. 'I see your lunch is still here too. I know you're upset, Astrid, and I understand why, but Ryker is incredibly distressed. We're struggling to keep him calm, and we could use your help before he destroys the entire pack house.'
A twinge of guilt courses through me at the thought of Ryker losing control and causing chaos. I sigh heavily and unlock the door, letting Hayley in.
Hayley smiles at me and holds out a plate of food, ‘Luna, thank you.’
'Thank you, Hayley, but I'm not hungry,' I admit, my gaze distant. 'Just show me where he is so I can return to my room, please.'
Hayley nods, and I follow her down the stairs apprehensively. The chaos in the living room is immediately apparent as I step into the scene. Ryker stands amidst the wreckage, growling with unchecked frustration. He hurls a chair across the room with such force that it shatters into pieces upon impact. The room is a complete mess, and I stand there with my arms crossed, unimpressed by the destruction he's caused.
Amidst the chaos, Ryker suddenly pauses, his senses attuned to something. He sniffs the air, and his expression shifts from anger to relief as he sees me standing there. However, I avert my gaze, unwilling to meet his eyes.
'Astrid! You're out of your room?' He exclaims, racing toward me.
He kneels before me, attempting to take my hands in his.
Seth, Kane, and Mia remain at a distance, giving us space, while Hayley joins them. It's evident that Ryker is distressed, and his big puppy-dog eyes look up at me with an innocent vulnerability that's difficult to resist. I struggle to maintain my anger.
'Astrid, I never wanted Vanessa to be my mate and Luna,' he explains earnestly. 'I just turned twenty-two a couple of months ago, and the elders said they would have to choose a mate for me to become our Luna and my mate because I hadn't found my fated mate yet.'
I stare at him incredulously, my anger slowly diminishing. 'Why didn't you tell me that in the first place?' I ask, my voice softer now.
'I tried to tell you, but you were upset and locked yourself in your room,' he replies, his gaze cast downward in shame.
I kneel on the ground so that we're facing each other, eye-to-eye. 'I'm sorry, Ryker,' I admit, my anger subsiding. 'I wouldn't have locked myself in my room if I had known this.'
Ryker smiles gently with relief, his warm hands cradling my face as he caresses my cheeks with his thumbs. 'It's okay because you're out now, and you know the truth,' he says, his voice soft and reassuring. 'I've spoken to Vanessa and told her the agreement is off. I never agreed to it anyway. The elders put it all in place and were enforcing it. I was shocked when they told me they had chosen her to be my mate and Luna. I know she has always had a crush on me, but I never felt anything more than a friendship with her,' he confesses.
'Vanessa will adjust to it all in time,' Hayley chimes in, reassuring me. I look over at Hayley and the others and nod, my heart slowly finding comfort in their support.
Ryker extends his hand to help me stand. 'How's your head?' He asks with worry.
'My head feels fine now,' I reply honestly.
‘Join us for dinner?’ He insists.
I'm initially reluctant. 'I'm really tired. I'd rather go to sleep for the night,' I murmur.
Ryker remains persistent. 'You haven't eaten all day, though, Astrid. Eat, and then you can go to bed,' he suggests.
I finally concede and nod in agreement. We sit at the table, and Alice, although grumpy, places platters of food for us to serve ourselves. The tension between Alice and the rest of us is still thick.
As we prepare to eat, the tension intensifies when Vanessa enters the dining room with a smile, casually helping herself to a plate of food. My fork, laden with food, freezes mid-air as I process her presence. The awkwardness in the room is almost suffocating.
'Wait... what is she doing here, eating dinner with us?' I finally muster the courage to voice my question.
Vanessa responds with a smug grin, her words cutting through the silence. 'Don't you know I live in this pack house too, Astrid?' Her words make my fork drop from my hand in shock.
Turning my gaze to Ryker, I can barely contain my frustration. 'You have got to be kidding me,' I growl, my anger evident.
'When the elders arranged for her to be the Luna, everyone expected her to start living in the pack house,' Ryker explains.
I smile at Vanessa. 'Well, seeing as I am here now, Vanessa, it means you no longer need to remain in the pack house.'
Mia can't help but snort a laugh, earning herself a glare from Vanessa that makes her straighten up quickly.
Vanessa, however, continues to enjoy her little show. 'Well, actually, I heard along the grapevine that you might not even want to become the Luna or accept Alpha Ryker as your mate,' she taunts with a grin.
Ryker's growl rumbles through the room as he glares at Vanessa, clearly displeased with her remarks.
Unable to hold back my frustration, I snap at her, 'Well, that's none of your business, is it now?'
Vanessa counters, 'Well, it is my business because if you don't accept Alpha Ryker within a certain time frame, the elders will still make Alpha Ryker mark me as his mate and initiate me as the Luna of Shadow Crest,' she says it with such glee. This time, I can't help but growl. My wolf's instincts are starting to come to the surface.
Everyone turns to stare at me in surprise, but they are all impressed by my guttural growl.
'Ryker?' I address him with a hint of desperation. 'Would they make you do that?'
Full of thought, Ryker eventually responds, 'There is a possibility, but I'm sure it won't come to that because you're here now. I don't see why we would have to rush anything.'