The Rider Alpha's Runaway Luna

CHAPTER 8 THE FALLOUT

Ryker held his son for the first time and felt something fundamental shift in his chest because Kade was solid and real in his arms, chattering excitedly about the race and not caring that a hundred people were staring at them.

He'd won the championship but it meant nothing compared to the weight of this boy who'd just announced to the entire arena that Ryker was his father.

"You were so fast!" Kade said, his small hands gripping Ryker's racing leathers. "I knew you'd win, I told Aunt Zara you'd win and I was right!"

"You were absolutely right," Ryker said, unable to stop smiling even though he could feel Kyra's panic radiating from where she stood frozen a few feet away. "Did you like watching?"

"It was the best thing ever," Kade breathed. "Can you teach me to ride like that someday?"

"Someday," Ryker promised, then looked at Kyra over Kade's head and saw the devastation on her face. Her secret was out and there was no taking it back, and part of him felt guilty while the other part was savagely satisfied that she couldn't hide their son anymore.

"Ryker," Kai's urgent voice cut through the moment and his beta appeared at his elbow looking tense. "We need to talk, now."

"Later," Ryker said, not willing to put Kade down yet.

"Now," Kai insisted. "Your phone's been blowing up and the pack is asking questions."

Ryker's satisfaction dimmed because of course news would travel fast, someone in the arena had probably already posted about the Rider Alpha's secret son on social media. "Give me five minutes," he said, then carefully set Kade back on his feet. "I need to handle some business but I'll come find you later, okay?"

"Promise?" Kade asked, and the hope in his voice was devastating.

"I promise," Ryker said, ruffling his hair. "Your old man keeps his word."

He followed Kai down to the track level where his team was celebrating the win, but Kai pulled him aside into an empty equipment room and closed the door. "The elders are calling," Kai said bluntly. "Someone sent them footage of that kid announcing you're his father, and they want answers."

"Tell them I'll explain when I'm ready," Ryker said, pulling out his phone and seeing twenty-three missed calls. "This isn't their business."

"It is as if that boy is your legitimate heir," Kai said. "And if his mother is Kyra Sedgwick like you said, then you have a mate bond that was never properly dissolved, which makes any other relationship you've had since then legally questionable."

Ryker's blood went cold. "What other relationship?" he asked carefully.

Kai gave him a look. "Seraphina has been telling people she's your intended mate for the past three years," he said. "She's going to lose her mind when she finds out about this."

"Seraphina is not my mate," Ryker said flatly. "She's been convenient but that's all, and she knew from the start it wasn't permanent."

"Does she know that?" Kai asked. "Because she's been acting like the future Luna for years and the pack has accepted her in that role."

Ryker cursed under his breath because his beta was right and this was about to become a nightmare. "Handle it," he said. "Tell Seraphina the arrangement is over, tell the elders I'll explain everything when I return to pack territory, and make sure our team knows to keep their mouths shut about Kade."

"Too late for that last part," Kai said, holding up his phone. "It's already trending on racing forums, people are digging into Kyra's background as we speak."

"f**k," Ryker breathed, running a hand through his hair. "Kyra's going to kill me."

"Kyra's going to run again," Kai corrected. "And this time she'll go somewhere you can't find her."

The thought made Ryker's wolf snarl because Kai was probably right and Ryker had just destroyed any chance of Kyra trusting him. "I need to talk to her," he said, heading for the door.

"Boss, wait," Kai called. "There's something else you should know."

Ryker turned back and saw reluctance on his beta's face. "What?" he demanded.

"Six years ago when Kyra left, did you ever wonder why she ran?" Kai asked carefully. "I mean really wonder, beyond just assuming she took the money and disappeared?"

"What are you getting at?" Ryker asked, his patience wearing thin.

"I'm saying that the contract you made her sign was brutal," Kai said. "I helped draft it and I told you at the time it was too harsh, but you insisted on including clauses about no contact, no claims, no rights to anything pack-related."

"So?" Ryker said. "That was the agreement."

"So she was nineteen years old, working as an omega maid, and desperate to save her dying sister," Kai said. "

And you were the powerful alpha who rejected his own mate because she wasn't good enough, then offered her money to play pretend for a year before throwing her away."

The words hit like physical blows and Ryker felt sick. "I didn't throw her away," he said weakly.

"You paid her to leave and never contact you again," Kai said. "That's the definition of throwing someone away, and now you're acting shocked that she didn't tell you about the pregnancy."

Ryker sank onto a bench and put his head in his hands because his beta was right and he was an asshole. "I was twenty-four and stupid," he said. "I was worried about my reputation and what the pack would think."

"And now?" Kai asked. "Are you still worried about your reputation, or are you actually ready to claim your mate and son properly?"

"I want them back," Ryker said. "Both of them, permanently, no more contracts or games or half measures."

"Then you better figure out how to make Kyra trust you again," Kai said. "Because right now she looks at you like you're the enemy, and I don't blame her after what you put her through."

*Flashback - Six Years Ago*

Ryker stood in his office with the contract in his hand and tried to ignore the sick feeling in his gut.

Kyra sat across from him looking small and scared, her omega scent subdued from years of suppression, and the mate bond pulled at him to comfort her, to claim her, to make her his.

"Sign here," he said, pushing the papers across his desk. "The money will be transferred to your account immediately."

Kyra's hands shook as she picked up the pen. "And after the year?" she asked quietly.

"After the year, you leave and we never speak again," Ryker said, keeping his voice cold. "No contact, no claims, no trying to leverage the mate bond for more money or status."

"I would never—" Kyra started, but Ryker cut her off.

"Everyone wants something from an alpha," he said. "Better to be clear about expectations from the start."

Kyra flinched and something in her eyes died, but she signed the contract with a steady hand.

"I'll be the best fake Luna you could ask for," she said. "And when the year is up, I'll disappear so completely you'll forget I ever existed."

"Good," Ryker said, even though his wolf was howling in protest. "That's exactly what I want."

*Present Day*

Ryker's phone buzzed and he looked down to see a text from an unknown number with a photo attached.

The image showed Kyra from six years ago, heavily pregnant and working at what looked like a diner, her face tired and her body clearly struggling.

The message below read: *Thought you should know what your mate looked like when she was carrying your son.

She worked double shifts until the day she went into labor because the money you gave her went to her sister's treatments. You're welcome. - Marcus*

Ryker stared at the photo and felt his heart c***k open because Kyra had been pregnant and alone and still working herself to death, and he'd been back at pack territory celebrating his secured alpha position without a second thought.

"I'm such an asshole," he breathed.

"Yeah, you are," Kai agreed. "But you can fix it if you're willing to actually try, actually fight for them instead of just demanding they fall in line."

"How?" Ryker asked. "How do I fix six years of abandonment and rejection?"

"You start by being honest," Kai said. "Tell her the truth about why you rejected her, tell her about your own fears and insecurities, and then you prove through actions that you've changed."

Ryker stood and headed for the door. "I need to find Kyra," he said.

"She already left," Kai said. "Took her sister and Kade and disappeared the moment you came down here, so you're going to have to wait until tomorrow."

"Then tomorrow I'm demanding a paternity test," Ryker said. "And if she refuses, I'll tell Kade the truth myself.”