Gem

Could This Be

RYDERS POV

My brain can’t handle everything that has gone on in this office tonight. I’m pissed at my best friend even though I get it. She’s incredible. I mean everyone adores her in our pack.. It makes me wonder since she has her wolf.. Can it recognize me at all if I am her mate? I haven’t gained my wolf yet so I really don’t know I just feel close to her. After Karson left I stayed in my seat for a few minutes thinking. Hayes comes over to me and puts his hand on my shoulder. “Son I want you to go talk to her and make sure she is okay. I would but my wife is waiting for me. We all have duties to handle. This is yours. Now get going.” He says then sits in the seat next to me. “Thank you sir. I will make you proud.” I say standing up and respectively bow my head. “Alpha” I bow my head then leave.

Stepping out of the office I go towards my house. I need a shower and change into some dry clothes. After I do that I head up the stairs to the third floor where the Beta family stays. I am the future Beta of this pack but I chose to live with my folks and younger siblings until then. They are warriors so we live in cottages on the grounds around the pack house for protection. On the third floor of the pack house the first few rooms are the Betas offices, their own living area and her parents suite. Further down towards the end of the hallway in a corner unit is Hazel’s room. I am nervous. Truthfully I have never been up here or even in her room.

Her father gave me his blessing.. Now don’t screw up.. I fix my shirt and knock on her door.. Nothing happens so I decide to knock a little harder. About two minutes go by and I’m about to knock again when I hear a loud noise right behind the door and now my heart is thumping.. “Mom for the millionth time I told you I was going to bed.” She says as she swings her door wide open and gasps. “It’s the afternoon buttercup” I say smirking. “Ryder.. What are you doing here..” She says and I can’t help but drool. She looks so hot right now it’s hard to keep it together.. She is in her towel and has soaked messy hair. She tightens her towel with her hand so it doesn’t fall and it ends up squeezing her breasts perfectly in view for me.. I lean into the door frame staring at her just smirking. She steps back. “Um.. Are you going to stare all day or are you going to tell me why you are here? Do you want my father to harm you if he finds you here? Actually scratch that.. Do you want my mother to? She’s the wild one..” She says and I chuckle.

“You are right. I can only imagine what your mother would do finding me here with you like that.” I smirk and she rolls her eyes.. “I’m sorry for coming unannounced I just wanted to see how you were doing.. After this morning you must be drained.” I say looking at her and I genuinely meant it. Her eyes are soft, slightly red and puffy from the crying. “I’m okay thanks I just plan on staying in bed watching movies all day now.. Um would you want to join for a bit?” She asks me and I nod frantically which she laughs so hard at putting her tiny hand up stopping me from entering her room.

“Listen lover boy I need to get dressed first. I will do that in my bathroom. You can sit on my couch.” She says pointing to her loveseat. I tried telling her that she didn’t have to put clothes on.. She just laughed and walked away into her bathroom. I decide to look at her pictures on her desk and wall. All of us kids growing up through the years. It’s always been us five. Karson, myself, Hazel, Sass and Blake. Some of the best memories.. I walk over and lay on her bed making myself comfortable. I want to see if she reacts to my scent. Since she has a wolf I’m assuming she has to sense something. I find her remote and start clicking through movies for her to choose from when she walks out in her black yoga shorts and a baggy tee. Her long beautiful brown hair swaying as she walks over to me. “I told you the couch Ryder. I’m not getting into bed with you.” She says now standing with her arms folded. “I won’t touch you I promise. If you ask me to then that’s a different story.” I smirk at her and she rolls her eyes getting on her side of the bed.

“What do you want to watch beautiful.” I say keeping my distance like I promised. “Honestly I’m gonna be here all day so pick whatever you want. I can watch my sappy stuff later.” She says. I put on the breakfast club because it’s one of the best movies ever made. A fu.cking classic. She didn’t object in fact she made herself comfy under her blanket and smiled. I still don’t move. We are silent as we watch the movie. We laugh and make jokes as if we were in the movie. It was fun. I haven’t really had fun with a girl alone like this before. I never allow a hook up to stay so this was nice. An hour goes by and the movie is just about over. Hazel sits up and faces me. “I literally haven’t seen that movie in so long! What a great pick!” She says excitedly. I just chuckle. “No problem. Your turn.” I smile handing her the remote. She picked one and we watched it about half way before she started to fall asleep. I know she’s exhausted especially with everything she went through this morning. Da.mn did that really happened this morning? Today is such a long day I’m going to wipe out tonight when I get home. She probably won’t like waking up to me lounging in her bed so I decide to leave. I go to get up and I hear her faint voice. “Don’t go.” I whip my head towards her.. f***k it. I get under the covers and she snuggles up to me. I wrapped my arm around her holding her as she fell asleep then before I know it so did I. I’m having a great dream when I’m being shaken I open my eyes and see Hazel sitting up next to me.

“Uh I’m sorry I must’ve been tired too..” I say whipping my eyes sitting up. “It’s okay. I asked you to stay. Remember?” She said and she takes a deep breath. “Uh how long have we been asleep for?” I ask. “Probably like four hours so we skipped lunch.. Hey can we talk about something?” She says acting very strange like she is looking into my soul. “Yeah are you.. Is everything good?” I ask her somewhat nervously. She nodded her head. “Actually I’m not quite sure but it’s a now or never kind of conversation for me..” She says jumping out of her bed throwing her hands in the air. She starts pacing back and forth.. “Um.. Your birthday is soon right?” She asked me and I nodded my head. Ah now I am pretty sure where this conversation is headed..

“You aren’t going to understand this well and that’s okay because truthfully I’m not sure how it happened either.” She says. I debate getting up but she blurts out. “I have my wolf. Her name is Angel. I turned at the age of eight.” She said looking at me now waiting for me to say anything.. “That is.. Wow.. But why are you trusting me with this information?” I ask her sincerely trying to push for any sign.. “Angel has been away for a long time.. When I turned the Alpha, Luna and my parents were present. They told me I was special and to basically keep it hidden. Angel was hurt for being a secret and has only just started coming to me here and there.. I think it has to do with your birthday coming soon.. It has been making her stronger being close to you because.. I.. I know you are my mate Ryder.. The signs are all there.. I smelt warm hot fudge and fresh strawberries earlier and I thought was from my ice cream you had knocked over but it’s you.. It made me feel things and when you tried to leave I felt the need for you to stay.. I thought you should know beforehand th..” f***k nope I’m not letting her finish that so I cut her off. “No! Hazel please don’t reject me!” I yell flying off the bed and over to her on my knees begging her. Great she starts laughing until her belly hurts and she’s holding it saying ow and still laughing. “Don’t make fun of me. I am being serious. Take me serious if I am your destined mate.” I say standing now looking into her eyes. She stands up right still holding eye contact. “Your are correct and I am sorry.. I am not going to reject you but I can’t accept you right now either..” She says looking away. “Well why not?” I ask her. “You are not ready to be someone’s mate Ryder and you know it.. How could I ever trust you? It’s not even your birthday yet. I need confirmation. I.. I am not ready yet..” She says still not looking at me. I cup her cheeks with my hands to have her face me. “Listen I regret not staying pure for my mate and I can’t change what I have done but I haven’t done anything physical with someone in over a year. Ask anyone. I do a lot of flirting.. Yes but it won’t happen ever again even if we don’t end up together. I apologize for the disrespect.” I say watching her eyes get glossy. I decide this is the perfect time to kiss her but she pulls away before I can. “We can spend time together but I am not labeling anything before your birthday. We will see what happens.” She says looking at me. “So this is my chance?” I say smiling at her like a kid on Christmas. “We will see.” She says smiling back.