The soft hum of the heater filled the silence in Lena’s room as she sat cross-legged on her bed, staring at her phone. The screen was blank, yet her mind was anything but. Ryker’s words from earlier replayed in her head, each one stirring a mix of emotions she couldn’t quite untangle.
She sighed, leaning back against her pillows and rubbing her temples. How had her life gotten so complicated in such a short amount of time? One minute, she was dreading the Christmas dance, and the next, she was the center of attention for not one, but three Alpha heirs.
Her phone buzzed, jolting her out of her thoughts. She glanced at the screen to see a message from Ryder.
Ryder: Hey, just checking in. Hope your night’s going okay.
Lena smiled despite herself. Ryder’s easygoing nature was a stark contr
