Gem

First Time Alone

RYDERS POV

Looks like I got my answer.. I’m not disappointed because I knew she wouldn’t be with me right away. I have to earn it and man will bust my a**s to earn it.. Hazel had to use the bathroom and when she came out she laid back in her bed. I run my hand through my dark brown hair and walk over to her. “I don’t know about you but I’m starving! It’s practically dinner time. I’m gonna run down for a min to grab something, you hungry buttercup?” I say to her smiling. She laughs and snuggles into her big comforter. “Actually yeah. Surprise me!” She said cheerfully. I couldn’t help but smile big and give her a kiss on the forehead. She didn’t object or say anything she only closed her eyes. I can’t wait to feel what she might be.. I walk away and out into the hall heading towards the elevator when I pass the Beta families living area. Her parents are talking then stop as I walk by. I nod my head in respect to them and they return it with a smile.

“Things going well I presume young Beta?” Hayes says to me. “Yes sir. Off to grab us some dinner. We’ve been having a movie day.” I say and he nods his head. Ana thanks me for it. I make my way down to the main floor of the pack house and walk over to the dining hall. I see my buddies but I don’t have time for any of that she is waiting for me to return. I take a tray and grab a few burgers, chicken tenders, fries and onion rings. I also grab a spare tray for our dessert. I get a few different kinds of cake pieces and a pile of cookies. I don’t know how I’m gonna make it upstairs so I ask an omega to help me with a tray bc I almost forgot drinks. The omega whose name is Raquel helps me with the dessert tray. Her and I get out of the dining hall when Karson yells for me. I turn my head and he’s with Blake. “Hey man I wanted to apologize for early this morning. I was out of line and I know how much it hurt you to watch that. We both have always loved her. She will calm down in a few days and I will apologize to her as well. In the meantime Blake and I were heading for dinner, where are you off to with all that food? Are you with Raquel now too?” He asks boldly as always.. “No actually I am not. She’s kind enough to take a few mins out of her schedule to help me with my dessert tray. I’m not eating down here tonight boys I will see you at training in the am. Thanks for the apology Karson.” I say walking by him. I wanted to crush his skull for saying he loved Hazel.

“So that’s it then huh?” Karson says being his sarcastic self and I turn around we’re face to face. “You sweep her off her feet and I am suppose to go on with my life miserable?” He said and I roll my eyes. He is always thinking of himself. I love the guy he’s my brother but he can be over dramatic when he doesn’t get his way.. “You are still my Alpha and my best friend that doesn’t change but she IS my mate.. We leave for school in a few weeks. This awkwardness will pass the moment you find yours.. As for sweeping Haze off her feet well I wish it was that easy.. We all know how she is though and she won’t make it easy for me whatsoever. I hope you can be happy for us.. If not now then later.” I said back not caring if Blake was there or not. He would never tell a soul anything. He is a very loyal Gamma. “She.. She confirmed it?” His voice broke as he looked at me ignoring anything else I said and I simply nodded my head. Karson looks defeated and normally I would feel bad but this time I just turn and leave. This is something I couldn’t control. I have to fight for her to even consider me as her mate so dealing with him right now isn’t happening.

Thankfully Raquel didn’t wait for me. She brought the food to Hazel’s room and I pass her on the way up as she’s coming down. I thank her and head towards Hazel’s room with the rest of our food and drinks. I pass her parents, I greet them again not wanting to be rude and they smile at me. I knock on her door and she yells it’s open so I walk in and she’s setting up her love seat with pillows. There’s a fold out table with the dessert so I set my tray down next to it and she smiles. “Wow.. Did you save any food for anyone else?” She says laughing. “What can I say I wanted you to have options.” I say joining her laughter. “It’s perfect thank you Ryder.” She says and I melt just at her calling me by my name. I rub the back of my neck with my hand. “Shall we sit?” I ask her and she nods happily.

HAZELS POV

When I first ran up to my room and slammed my door I was furious.. No. I was enraged! The nerve of him! I decided to not take it out on my beautiful furniture and take a nice long hot shower. My mother was mind-linking me the entire time and I kept telling her I am fine but if she keeps pestering me then I might not be.. I hated my anger but mother knows how to push my buttons. I finally step out of the shower and start to dry off when I hear knocking. Thanks to Angel my hearing is amazing. The knocking continues and my mother is being very persistent.. I swing my bathroom door wide open not caring and walk towards my front door.. I swing that one too and it’s freaking Ryder.. Now that he’s seen me weak I can’t get rid of him.. He is comforting but I am just.. Ugh I don’t know.. He’s just complicated. Comes with female baggage and that really gets me. He’s unbelievably attractive and yet still didn’t wait for his mate.. I tell him my mother will kill him knowing he’s on our floor but I invite him in anyways.. Like thanks Angel.. He really is my mate. Oh boy. Why goddess.. why.. The bond is growing stronger he’s around and yet I can’t seem to stay away. I go to the bathroom to get dressed after he eats me alive with his eyes.. I come out to find him lounging in my bed so I give him sh.it.. I told him the couch. Men never listen. Oddly enough he picks the breakfast club and I hate I’m falling for him so quickly. ‘This bond will only get stronger as he gains his wolf.. We will be stronger.’ I hear Angel say. I end up closing my heavy eyelids and apparently so did Ryder because he was passed out when I woke up. I watched him for a few minutes not going to lie. It’s hard to believe this is real but not really, I decide to shake him a bit. He finally gets up and declares we need food so he runs to do that. I decide to make my living area also a dining one. I go out into my actual living room seeing my parents casually relaxing together. Dad asks what I’m up to and I tell them I have a friend over for dinner. All they do is smile.. They are being strange..

“Why aren’t you guys in the ranked dining hall? It is dinner time is it not? I just woke from a nap.” I ask them. “Not tonight sweetie. Erik wants to give everyone a break to relax and cool down. Your mother and I are enjoying each other’s company.” Dad says and I nod walking away grabbing the folded table we have for dad during football season. It’s for all his game food mom prepares. He looses his mind if not. “Don’t hurt my baby I need it until I die.” Dad says to me and I laugh. “How many times do I need to tell you not to say that daddy?! Besides I wouldn’t dream of hurting your precious table. Muah! Kisses!” I say back to him before heading back to my room and I see Raquel at the end of the hallway about to knock on my door. “Hey girl!” I yell out and she turns to me smiling. “Good evening Hazel I have a special delivery for you.” She says to me holding out the tray of goodies. Oh wow. Her and I enter my room and I set up the table, Raquel sets down the tray and we talk for a few mins before she politely excused herself back to the kitchen. I gave her a quick hug and she was off. I heard a knock on the door and I yelled come in. I knew it was him by his scent. The more time we spend the more I am affected. Maybe I will let go for once and just play it by month.. I know the usual saying is by year but honestly once he gains his wolf I am not sure what will happen..

I am in deep thought when he walks in holding another tray of food and I am speechless. There’s no way there is food left the way this guy stuffs his trays but he begs to differ. I laugh it off knowing I’m going to barely eat any of this especially after the sh.it day I’ve had.. I finish occupying myself with the pillows on my love seat and we sit to have dinner. Truthfully my whole life of knowing Ryder this has to be our first hangout alone and surprisingly the conversations have been nice. We continued watching movies and just getting to know each other. He has always been in the shadows since I did favor Karson more than Ryder and I have to admit him being so protective of me pushed me away for a long time. I needed to explore things on my own. Karson was protective but Ryder was and still is on a different level. Now I know why.. We ended our night on a great note. I just hope it’s not a faze and it’ll be this nice when he gains his wolf. Only time will tell.