Sired to the alpha

16

The cool evening air wrapped around us as we walked down the dimly lit street toward the cinema. Ryker’s hand brushed against mine every now and then, and even though he hadn’t reached for it, the electric charge between us was undeniable. I couldn’t stop glancing at him out of the corner of my eye—his dark hair catching the glow of the streetlights, his sharp jawline set in that confident way he always carried himself.

“So, what’s the verdict? Popcorn or candy?” he asked, his tone light, almost playful.

I smiled, grateful for the easy banter. “Why not both? Life’s too short to choose.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re impossible to keep up with, you know that?”

“Maybe you’re just slow,” I shot back, smirking.

We turned a corner, and the sound of the bustling street faded into the quiet of a more deserted path. It was just the two of us now, the soft click of my boots and the steady rhythm of his steps filling the silence. I felt his presence beside me, steady and solid, and for a moment, everything felt right.

That was, until I collided with someone.

The impact caught me off guard, sending me stumbling backward. “Oh, I’m sorry—” I started, only to be cut off by a deep, irritated voice.

“Watch where you’re going,” the man snapped, his tone dripping with hostility.

I blinked, startled by his rudeness. “I said I’m sorry,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Yeah, well, sorry doesn’t cut it,” he sneered, his eyes narrowing as he looked me up and down like I was beneath him.

Ryker was beside me in an instant, stepping between me and the man with a deadly calm that made the air feel colder. “I suggest you apologize,” he said, his voice low and controlled, but there was an edge to it that sent a chill down my spine.

The man scoffed. “And who the hell are you supposed to be?”

Ryker didn’t answer right away. He just stood there, staring the guy down with a quiet intensity that made my stomach twist. The man took a step closer, clearly not realizing the danger he was walking into.

“Ryker,” I said softly, placing a hand on his arm. But the moment I touched him, I felt it—this strange, almost primal energy radiating off him.

“Back off,” Ryker growled, his voice deeper, rougher than I’d ever heard it before.

The man raised his hands mockingly, muttering something under his breath before walking away. But the damage was done. Ryker’s breathing was ragged, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

“Ryker?” I said again, my voice trembling now.

He turned to me, and that’s when I saw it. His eyes—those beautiful, stormy eyes—were no longer human. They glowed an unnatural, fiery gold, and his whole body seemed to ripple with barely contained power.

“What—what’s happening to you?” I whispered, taking a step back.

He didn’t answer. Instead, his entire form began to shift. His muscles tensed, his breathing grew harsher, and before I could fully process what I was seeing, he transformed.

A massive, black wolf stood where Ryker had been, its fur bristling and its eyes burning like molten gold.

I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe.

The wolf growled, a low, guttural sound that vibrated through my chest. It took a step toward me, and that was all it took for panic to take over.

I turned and ran.

The sound of my boots pounding against the pavement echoed in my ears, but it wasn’t loud enough to drown out the sound of his heavy footsteps—or paws—following me. My chest burned, my legs ached, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t.

By the time I reached my house, I was shaking so badly I could barely get the key into the lock. I slammed the door shut behind me and leaned against it, my heart racing like I’d just run a marathon.

What was he? What was he?

Tears blurred my vision as I slid to the floor, my hands clutching at my knees. This couldn’t be real. None of this could be real.

And then I heard it.

A knock.

It was soft at first, almost hesitant. But then it came again, louder this time.

“Evangeline.”

His voice. Human again.

“Evangeline, please open the door.”

I shook my head, even though he couldn’t see me. “Go away,” I choked out, my voice barely audible.

“Please,” he said, and I could hear the raw emotion in his voice. “Let me explain.”

I pressed my hands to my ears, trying to block him out, but it was no use.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said, his voice firm now. “Not until you let me explain.”

I dragged myself to my feet, wiping at my tear-streaked face as I approached the door. My hand trembled as I unlocked it, but I didn’t open it all the way. Just enough to see him standing there, his expression torn between desperation and something else I couldn’t quite place.

“What are you?” I asked, my voice breaking.

He didn’t flinch, didn’t look away. “Let me in, and I’ll tell you everything.”

I stared at him, my mind screaming at me to shut the door and lock it. But my heart… my heart couldn’t let go of the person I thought I knew.

“Please,” he said again, and this time, his voice cracked.

Against all logic, I opened the door.

Ryker stepped inside cautiously, as if he knew I might slam the door in his face at any second. His usual confidence was replaced with something I’d never seen before—vulnerability. His shoulders were tense, his jaw tight, but his eyes… his eyes were full of regret.

I stayed by the door, my arms crossed tightly over my chest. “Start talking,” I demanded, my voice trembling despite my attempt to sound strong.

He sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. “I didn’t want you to find out like this,” he said softly. “Not like this.”

“Find out what?” I snapped, my frustration bubbling over. “That you’re… that you’re not human? That you’re some kind of… of monster?”

The word tasted bitter on my tongue, and I instantly regretted saying it when I saw the flicker of pain in his eyes.

“I’m not a monster,” he said, his voice steady but quiet. “I’m a wolf. An alpha.”

I shook my head, taking a step back. “That doesn’t make any sense. People don’t just turn into wolves, Ryker. That’s not… that’s not normal!”

“No, it’s not,” he admitted. “But it’s who I am. It’s who I’ve always been.”

I stared at him, my mind racing. Every interaction we’d had up until now replayed in my head, and suddenly, so much of his strange behavior made sense—the way he always seemed to know things he shouldn’t, the way he moved with an almost predatory grace, the way he seemed to radiate power without even trying.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I whispered, my arms dropping to my sides. “Why did you let me get close to you if this is what you were hiding?”

His expression softened, and he took a cautious step toward me. “Because I was scared,” he admitted. “I didn’t want to lose you. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before, Evangeline, and I didn’t want to ruin it.”

My chest ached at the sincerity in his voice, but I couldn’t let go of my fear that easily. “But you scared me tonight,” I said, my voice breaking. “You changed right in front of me. I didn’t know what to do—I didn’t know if I was safe.”

Ryker’s face twisted with guilt, and he closed the distance between us in a few strides, his hands reaching out but stopping just short of touching me. “I would never hurt you,” he said firmly. “Never. You mean too much to me.”

Tears welled in my eyes again, and I hated how much I wanted to believe him. “How do I know that?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “How do I know I can trust you?”

He hesitated, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a small silver charm. It was a delicate wolf pendant on a leather cord. “This,” he said, holding it out to me. “It’s a mark of trust in my pack. I’m giving it to you because you have my word—I’ll protect you, no matter what.”

I stared at the pendant, the weight of his words sinking in. Slowly, hesitantly, I reached out and took it from him. The leather cord felt rough against my fingers, but the pendant was smooth and cool, its craftsmanship surprisingly intricate.

“This doesn’t fix everything,” I said, clutching the charm tightly. “I’m still scared, Ryker. I don’t know how to process all of this.”

“I know,” he said softly. “And I’ll give you all the time you need. I just… I need you to know that you’re safe with me. Always.”

We stood there in silence for a moment, the tension between us thick but not unbearable. Despite everything, I couldn’t deny the pull I felt toward him—the way his presence steadied me, even in the midst of my fear and confusion.

“Okay,” I said finally, my voice trembling. “But no more secrets. If we’re going to figure this out, I need to know everything. No more surprises.”

He nodded, relief washing over his face. “No more secrets,” he promised.

I took a deep breath, clutching the pendant tightly as I stepped back. “You should go. I need time to think.”

His jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue. “I’ll go,” he said. “But if you need me, for anything… I’m just a call away.”

I nodded, watching as he turned and walked to the door. He paused before stepping out, glancing back at me with an expression I couldn’t quite read.

“Goodnight, Evangeline,” he said softly.

“Goodnight, Ryker,” I replied, my voice barely audible.

And then he was gone, leaving me alone with the pendant in my hand and a thousand questions swirling in my mind.