The Alpha's Appetite

The Awkward Dinner

**Lizzy's PoV**

We all got ready and started out for dinner. Stryker ordered a huge SUV to seat everyone and had someone drive them. We had seats across from one another. Ryker and I on one side and Ryan and Stryker on the other. I looked around as we rode through town to this small Italian restaurant. The driver hopped out and ran to the door to open it up for everyone.

"Lady's first."

Stryker gestured his hand to the door as he smiled at me. The driver held his hand out and helped me out of the car, "Thank you." I responded as I moved up so everyone else could jump out. Ryker got out next and walked over to me, wrapping his arm around my waist.

I looked around and I felt eyes on me. Several she-wolves were staring at the couple, clearly jealous of me. I looked down as we made our way into the restaurant. No one knew who I was, and I did not want trouble all because I had found my mate. We were seated instantly as we walked in. Stryker laughed a bit as he ordered a bottle of wine. "We are celebrating. Alpha Ryker has found his mate!" The waitress looked over at me as she put on a fake smile.

"Well, isn't that amazing? I figured he would have to take a chosen mate."

I watched her walk away as I heard Ryker growl under his breath. Ryan glared at him a bit, knowing I would be a little upset.

"Don't mind these women, Little One. They are just jealous of you."

Ryker whispered into my ear. His lips brushed against it as he spoke, sending shivers down my spine.

"Thank you for having me to dinner. I really love getting to know Lizzy's mate."

I heard Ryan say to Stryker as he read the menu. Styker laughed a bit.

"Nothing like the best friend being a little jealous over not being the mate."

Ryan's eyes widened as he looked over at him. I just laughed.

"That's not-"

Styker held his hand up.

"It is okay. I had the same problem with my female best friend. It is completely normal. Plus, I highly doubt you would risk your life fighting an Alpha for her."

Ryan shook his head and looked over at me.

"That is honestly where you are wrong. I wouldn't risk Lizzy's happiness. I would risk my life. For anything. I made it my job to protect her all these years and it will continue. Mate or no Mate."

Ryan laughed as he shrugged his shoulders and looked away.

"That is one dedicated friend. I like that."

Stryker laughed as the waitress came back with our wine and glasses. She took our order while glaring at me the whole time. Ryker was whispering into my ear, making me giggle a little. We continued to flirt as we waited for our food. Ryan continued to speak with Stryker as we listened.

"I could use a man like you in this pack."

Ryker said to Ryan as the waitress came back to the table with their food.

"What do you mean?"

Ryan looked at him. Ryker smiled.

"Someone who would go so far to protect their best friend. I would love for you to come and be my little Luna's guard. So she isn't lonely."

I smiled so widely as Ryan smirked.

"I would love to actually."

I squealed a bit and hugged Ryker.

"Thank you. I didn't want him to leave me."

Ryker just smiled at how excited I was as Stryker raised his glass.

"To the Luna and her body guard."

We all clinked their glasses as we laughed and began to eat. I was unaware of the she-wolf approaching the table.

"Well, if it is the lovely Alpha."

A tall, slender red head stood at the table looking down at Ryker. He growled a bit as she looked over at me.

"And who is this?"

She spoke to him in a manner I didn't like making my wolf growl.

"This is my mate if it is any of your business, Anna."

I heard her growl a little as she eyed me like I was a threat.

"Excuse me?"

The dumb b***h said with anger in her voice. I heard Ryker growl at her as she crossed her arms, and I became enraged.

"I thought you had agreed to take a chosen mate?"

She bellowed out like a child.

"I assume he didn't plan on meeting his actual mate. Well, now he has."

I snapped back at her. She growled loudly this time.

"I know you didn't just speak to me, the future Luna like that?!"

I just laughed and stood up.

"And on what grounds do you say that? I am his mate... Not you."

I cut my eyes at Anna as she started to approach. Stryker cleared his throat, drawing Anna's attention, but not mine. I would never take my eyes off of a threat.

"You, Miss Anna, are out of line... You were never even in mind for a chosen mate to begin with, or ever in bed with my son."

Stryker spoke up trying to ease the overbearing aura around us from me. She growled.

"And how would you know that, old man? You never even leave your house."

Ryker finally snarled and stood up to defend both his father and I.

"ENOUGH!"

She whimpered as he used his Alpha tone on her and I just smirked smugly at her.

"You are not only disrespecting your Alpha and Luna, but also the previous Alpha and even the Moon Goddess herself."

I took Ryker's hand to calm him. He looked at me curiously as I began to speak.

"Mind-link the guards, have her escorted to the dungeons. We will not allow a power w***e to ruin our dinner, and I refuse to have my mate fight my battles. If I am to be Luna, I would need to prove how strong I am."

Ryker looked at me proudly as his eyes glazed over. His father looked shocked but also proud. And of course, my best friend just laughed.

"Oh poor girl. She f****d with the wrong one. Excuse my tongue."

Stryker just laughed.

"I like this man."

I could see how angry and shocked Anna looked as the guards surrounded her.

"Take her to the dungeon, per the request of the soon to be Luna."

Ryker nodded in agreement at his guards as Anna started kicking and screaming. He took my hand and smiled.

"As we were."

We sat down and continued our meal.

"I am impressed. You are definitely of Alpha blood. "Stryker mentioned to me as he took a sip of his wine.

I nodded and smiled.

"And I plan to show that tomorrow."

Ryker raised an eyebrow as he looked at me.

"I think the perfect punishment for Anna would be to let her fight me for the Luna position. I will show her I am not weak like she was thinking. She will also regret embarrassing me in such a lovely restaurant."

I took a sip of my drink as Stryker looked me over.

"You are so perfectly polite until you don't need to be anymore. I assume you have trained hard?"

I nodded.

"Top warrior of my pack, even without using Alpha strength. Which I won't even need to use tomorrow, since she seems to be a bit dimwitted and single-minded. I have a strategy just for her type."

Ryker just laughed about the whole situation.

"You are so fiery. I love it."

Ryan smirked at me.

"You realize that a pack member may die tomorrow, right?"

Ryker nodded.

"Oh of course. But she is nobody here, not even a ranked member. She is exactly what Lizzy said... A power w***e. And my father is correct. I have never been in bed with her, or even given her the option or second thought of being my chosen mate. I know the elders mentioned it, but I never moved forward with it. I wanted my fated mate."

He kissed my cheek and smiled. We finished up dinner and started back towards the pack house.

"When we get there, I want to go let the w***e know about her punishment."

I mentioned as I stared out the window.

Ryker nodded.

"Not a problem, Little One."

We arrived at the pack house and climbed out of the car. A couple was standing in front of the entrance waiting. They both had red hair, so I knew they were Anna's parents. Ryker growled as they approached.

"Alpha, what is the meaning of my daughter being thrown into the dungeon?!"

Her father yelled out. I saw Ryker's face and could tell he did not like the tone he was using on him.

"Is that the proper tone to use with your alpha?!" I yelled back with a growl.

They both stared at me and growled softly.

"If you are so concerned, you should have raised her better. She not only disrespected her Alpha, but also the future Luna and previous Alpha. She is clearly delusional and assumed she would be the Chosen Luna, when Alpha Ryker said no such thing."

I continued. They looked completely shocked as I addressed them, not saying another word.

"Her punishment will be a fight for the Luna position since she wants it so badly. With an Alpha Princess since she was too idiotic to even ask. I am going to inform her now."

Ryker just smiled at me as I spoke. No words are able to describe how powerful I was.

"B-but you can't... She could die.."

Anna's mother started but I stopped her.

"Well, let's hope she submits first."

I huffed as we walked passed them and into the house. Ryker lead me down to the dungeon as we heard crying and sniffling. Anna was in the last cell. We approached and she growled out.

"What do you want?!"

I just growled.

"You clearly have not learned anything. I am here to give you your punishment." Anna growled. "Oh don't worry. You won't be touched tonight. Tomorrow, a fight for the Luna position is your punishment. You want it so badly? Have fun trying to defeat an Alpha Princess, top of her class, best warrior in her pack. "

I just smirked as Anna gasped and tried pleading, I turned my back to her.

"Tomorrow, 10 o'clock on the spot. We will make sure you aren't late or try to escape."

Ryker was giddy with me, his mate. He absolutely loved my powerful aura. The thought of my power probably made his c**k twitch. He followed me back up to our bedroom.

"I would like to shower please."

I said quietly as we entered the room. Ryker nodded.

"Go ahead Little one."

I smiled and hurried to the bathroom to shower.

As I showered, I heard Iris in my head.

"You do know I will not hold back tomorrow..."

I sighed knowing full well she was going to make sure all my power was known tomorrow.

**Ryker's PoV**

There was a knock on the door. Istood up to answer it.

"Hey. Is Lizzy still awake?" Ryan stood at the door and rubbed the back of his neck.

"She is in the shower. Are you okay?"

Ryan nodded.

"Can we talk?"

I nodded as he stepped out and closed the door.

"Look, I haven't been the nicest to you.. And I did do it out of jealousy."

Ryan put his hands in his pocket.

"But there is something you need to know about Lizzy's wolf, Iris."