MARRIED TO THE ALPHA

"Let's stay here."

"How's she?" Styles asked as soon as he saw Ryder appear at the dining table.

"She's one strong human," He spoke in a sarcastic way. "She's not that bad, actually."

Before they could continue their conversation, Alina entered the room, "bro, what can we feed her for breakfast? We literally have nothing." Ryder looked at Styles and nodded, as if ordering him to go bring something. Styles instantly understood Ryder's expressions. He immediately got up. His knees reversed direction and his bones shifted inside him. His face contorted as the long wolf's muzzle extended out in front of him, and he fell forward into his hand. His clothes tore into bits and pieces as his body became heavy and bulkier. After his complete change, he bowed towards Ryder and went from there in a lightening speed. That was Ryder's way of having things delivered as fast as possible. "Why does he have to shift so early?" Alina wailed. "He could've just used the car, there are so many hunters around." She folded her face to show frustration.

"Don't worry, Styles is responsible," he stated while sitting down on the sofa and grabbing a newspaper beside him. The first news he saw made his eyebrows rise a notch. He didn't blink for at least forty seconds before turning to Alina.

"It says, a human mysteriously killed in the forest, found dead, and its the kill of an animal," Alina gawked.

"You know that means, they'll search for animals in the forest?" Ryder nodded and turned to look at the newspaper again.

"Do you think it's a wolf?" She asked him.

"Never know, maybe our rivals?" He shrugged. "If you're done eavesdropping, you can come sit now." A sudden coldness hit Tasha on the core.

"I wasn't eavesdropping," she faced the floor and approached them timidly. "I want to grab my things from my house," she stated thinking maybe this would give her the opportunity she needed to escape from them. The school was only a few minutes away from her house, this meant she could at least try. "I can maybe take Evan with me," she stopped and looked at Ryder.

"I'll take you with me," with challenge written fully on his face, Ryder looked at her. Before she realised, Evan was pulling the pants she had worn excitedly. He quickly removed his notebook and wrote, 'my moms' while hugging her. This sent a tingling feeling to Tasha's legs. "Okay, stop," she chuckled and gave Evan a pat on his head.

"The hunters are all over the forest," Styles spoke immediately after he entered while panting. Seeing Tasha, he looked at Ryder and faced down. "I am sorry, I didn't realise," Ryder raised his hand to signal him to keep quiet and walked towards him.

"Let's just lay low," he stated. "I am taking Tasha with me to her place," Tasha raised her head with satisfaction. She knew it was a good opportunity. "Don't give yourself high hopes," She swallowed the saliva built up in her mouth and turned her face away from him. "Now, let's go," he stated after Tasha grabbed a croissant Styles offered. Evan tried to tag along. However, for the safety of his son, Ryder refused.

The ride to Tasha's house was silent. No one intended to break the silence. Tasha had only one mission, to shout as soon as she saw someone. Her eyes scanned around in all directions while the car moved. Ryder watched her with intrigue and shook his head. "How many times am I supposed to tell you not to have false hopes," he laughed indulgently. Instead of giving him a reply, she gave him a forced smile and looked out of the window.

The car halted just infront of Tasha's house. She straight away alighted the car and banged the car door shut. Ryder clenched his jaw at her immaturity and got off too. He wanted to show her he was least bothered by her behaviour.

She entered the house and tears welled up in her eyes. "This house has my parents memories," she spoke the moment Ryder noticed her tears. "I never imagined I would have to leave it." Tears continued flowing one drop followed by the other and then a third drop followed. "We shifted here last year, when they bought it because of my job, " a sad smile formed on her lips, a smile that did not extend to her eyes. "It's the only memory I have of them," she picked up a frame with her parents and her. Ryder took it from her and spoke, you look just like your mother." She nodded as she wiped her tears and kept the photo back in its place. "Sorry for your loss," Tasha gave him a tight lipped smile and walked to her room. Ryder followed suit.

"Can I ask you something?" Tasha spoke after sometime.

"Sure," he raised his hands towards her to signal her to start.

"You want me to be with Evan yeah?" She questioned while pulling Ryder's hand to sit on the bed. Ryder looked at their contact and back at her again but avoided it.

"Anha," he nodded.

"Let's stay here, you can stay with us," her heart rejoiced at that thought. She continued staring at Ryder with twinkling eyes waiting for his answer.

"I have a whole pack to take care of," he shook his head and got up from the bed.

"I have an idea," she snapped her fingers and walked near him. "You can go there everyday to check on you pack," hope and expectations entangled her. She formed a puppy face knowing it was one thing her parents' always got convinced after her using it.

"I don't think it'll work," he shook his head. "Not possible," and he walked out of the room towards. "I'm waiting for you outside," her face was ravaged with despair. She took long and deep breaths to calm herself.

"I am going to show you what I can do, Ryder," she murmured with a voice thick with anger. Reluctantly, she grabbed her things inside a bag and followed him, not forgetting to lock her precious house.

"I thought I would have to carry you from there," he mocked her. Tasha's knuckled whitened but she ignored the feeling. Competing with a werewolf was not her cup of tea.