Gem

I. Love. You

RYDERS POV

When I woke up this morning it was pure bliss. Let’s be honest I have always loved Hazel but that look Anastasia gave her at dinner when we confirmed our relationship to our friend group didn’t slide by my radar.. It haunted me all through the night while I waited for Hazel to get back from meeting with Karson.. I highly doubted she would do anything with him especially because we made it clear we are together but I didn’t have the best feeling with Ares. He was pretty drawn to her at the party then they all went out for a day. I could’ve lost my shit.. I don’t like that guy. For one reason and one reason only. Hazel. That’s it. Point blank.

The fact I got up to go down and grab her breakfast this morning to surprise her in bed Elena pulls me aside and tells me that sh.it. That her and Ares kissed at his pack. I was fuming. Doesn’t matter if I haven’t gained my wolf yet I was jealous and Elena saw that. She knew but now I couldn’t cra.ck I had to be that ass.hole and make Hazel tell me the truth so I decided Elena sit next to me in Stass’s seat at breakfast and wait. Karson and Blake gave me sh.it but I didn’t care. It was a total disaster though. I mean what did I really expect once everything hit the fan? I didn’t want to lose my mate after fighting so hard for her because I was really hoping it wasn’t true. I pushed her away. She knew the kind of guy I was and that made her sick.

Of course she would kiss someone else before me.. I knew it was too good to be true in a sense because she chose me right away. Now I know why.. Once she walked away Karson and Blake gave me more sh.it pissing me off even more I stood up and walked out of there going go for a run then my usual swim. Sweating like a mad man I reached Tammy’s and jogged slowly through the woods in the back out to my quiet spot. I was super adventurous as a kid so I found this way back in the day. My parents never knew I would come out here. They probably would have disapproved but all those times I couldn’t hangout with Hazel and Karson I would be here.

Stepping out into the clearing I see someone swimming and instantly know it’s her.. Besides literally no one else really comes down here unless for parties. I casually walk down into the sand with my shoes on not caring much just waiting to see if she will see me or sense me. Her bare back is facing towards me and I see it tense a bit.. So now she knows I am here. I gulped. My heart is pounding a million miles a minute as I get closer to her. I look down by my feet and see clothes.. Wait a second.. Is she n***d right now? No- no it’s my imagination or so I thought until she put her arm across her chest protectively before turning around to face me. She is beautiful. In every way. She is always so beautiful. She is mine and I have to get her back..

“I-I can leave if you want.” She says obviously surprised to see me here. I shake my head no to her not being able to speak or move a muscle. “Uh okay.. So are you just going to stand there all day staring me then or?” She sass mouthed me and I smirk at her while taking my shorts and shirt off leaving my boxers on then went straight into the water almost reaching her when she ducks her whole body into the water then back up soaking wet surprising me so I kept my distance and she stayed where she was floating shoulders up not exposing herself fully. She tilted her head back into the water as her long dark hair surrounds her and closes her eyes for a moment. Just like the first time we swam here.

“I’m leaving for Redwood.” She says softly to me pulling me out of my head and opening her eyes again. Her beautiful auburn gaze on me. It made me speechless I don’t know how to respond. I know I don’t want to lose her after just finally winning her.. “I will be back the end of the week.. We can talk then if you want to. What it’s worth I really am sorry Ryder.. Um well I’m gonna go so you can have your swim I will see you in a few days.” She says starting to swim away from her spot and panic immediately set into my whole body.

“W-Wait!” I shout quickly thrashing through the water to her and she stops to look at me. I gather my thoughts hoping I don’t keep screwing up.. “Don’t go yet.. Please.. I- I’m sorry about what happened earlier it’s just when Elena told me you kissed Ares I had a feeling it was true.. Then I was pissed and everything escalated so quickly.. I just don’t understand why didn’t you tell me?” I rambled looking into her eyes. “There isn’t an excuse I just didn’t think it was important. It was a peck.. Nothing compared to you and I.” She says getting closer to me and I close the gap so I can hold her. She puts out her hand to stop my arms from wrapping around her. “Wait Ryder I don’t have a shirt on.. But what does this mean for us? What about that dumb she-wolf you keep parading around me?” She says as her gaze turns to burning my soul..

“It means I don’t want it to end before it’s even started. I never wanted her and you know it.. I- I am just jealous.. Of that tool.. Okay? Can we just start over?” I ask wrapping my arms around her n***d frame and pulling her close to me. She relaxes in my embrace and smiles big. “What?” I ask watching her and she looks up at me. “I was so worried you wanted to reject me.” She chuckled and I look at her surprised. “I would never Hazel. I can’t deny I was jealous and hurt just ask the guys but I love you. Truly. I have always loved you buttercup.” I said going in for a kiss that she actually responded to. I hold her half n***d body in my arms and kissing her soft plump lips trying to avoid the obvious.

“Ryder..” Hazel breaths out softly breaking apart from our kiss to alert me that my member is poking her and all I can do is laugh. “I’m sorry I don’t mean to laugh it’s nature baby. He’s got a mind of his own and obviously wants to mark his territory. I will behave I promise. You are just so beautiful. Also in my defense it doesn’t help you are basically naked.” I smirk at her and now she’s the one laughing. “You are correct. Well let’s get out. I’m leaving very soon and as much fun as this is I need to be dressed.” She says smiling at me. I nod and let her know I’ll turn my back and when she’s dressed to let me know. It absolutely su.cks she is leaving for the next few days but this just means we are one step closer to me gaining my wolf. I can’t fu.cking wait. It felt like eternity before she said my name. I turn around and she’s dressed ringing her hair out waiting for me so I swim over to shore and walk out over to my clothes.

My boxers stuck to my skin my body dripping wet. I shake my curls out with my fingers seeing Hazel’s expression she seems to be enjoying the view. I get dressed and pull her into my arms again. “Is this better?” I asked her squeezing her. “If I could breathe then yes.” She says laughing and I released her laughing. I look down at her face tucking a strand of her hair back while she stares back at me. “I am sorry.. For parading another she-wolf in front of you. Jealousy got the best of me and I’m not afraid to admit that. What I am afraid of is losing you before I could even have a chance to be with you.” I say sincerely to her. Her big eyes looking at me like she is deciding on what to say.. “I am sorry too. We will take these next few days to reflect and on your birthday we can start over.” She says to me and I nod my head not wanting to ruin anything further. She stands on her tippy toes trying to give me a kiss making me chuckle. “Oh buttercup, you are something special aren’t you?” I smirk at her making her smile. I lean down and kiss her again.

She wraps her arms around my neck and I hold her waist. That little kiss becomes a full blown make out session and I grab a hand full of her a**s in one hand making her hold on to me tighter. My tongue in sync with hers getting lost in the moment. I pull away from her first leaning my forehead onto hers not being able to contain myself much longer at this rate and I don’t want to touch or do something that’s going to push it. “I wish you didn’t have to go..” I say softly hoping she would change her mind.

“I know I’m sorry but I basically promised Stass and besides I’ve been wanting to go get settled in beforehand.” She replied back to me. “It’s okay I’m just going to miss you the next few days that’s all.” I tell her feeling more vulnerable than I ever have. “I will miss you too but you’ll have me everyday after that since we will be at Redwood together. I actually heard they allow couple dorms for mates that attend so that would be lovely, don’t you think?” Hazel says asking me with a big grin. “Buttercup you get sweeter every day.” I say lifting her into my arms and twirling her as she giggles. The best sound in the world. I am so lucky.

After I put her down we walk hand in hand back over to the pack house and by the pissed off look on Stass’s face she has clearly been waiting on Hazel for a while and with none other than Ares Beta.. Whatever his name is. Just what I need to get through the next few days without her.. For goddess sake I hope he isn’t Anastasia’s mate because then my mate will be around them and.. HIM.. It’s inevitable..

“Finally! I thought you weren’t showing up! I got worried!” Anastasia shouts before looking at Hazel’s hand in mine. “Oh! I didn’t know you two had made up.. So quickly after this mornings show.” Stass says changing her tone of voice from excited to annoyed in point two seconds. I know her. We’ve grown up as kids together and I’ve always considered her as my sister.. “Yeah well her and I talked. Everything is good. Couldn’t be happier right baby?” I said sharply to Stass before looking down at Hazel. Stass giving me a glare before looking to my mate. “It’s all water under the bridge. I am very happy.” She smiles at me and I lean down to kiss her. Anastasia starts to pretend she is going to throw up and that Beta laughs. To be honest first I thought she was mad because Hazel was running late but now I can see it’s because we are back together.. Meaning his Alpha does want my mate. That infuriated me.

“Stop being a child Anastasia. She is MY mate.” I say to her but more towards the man next to her like the di.ckhead I am. Her boy toy no longer laughing but now looking at me as if he wants to rip my head off. Luckily for him he has such restraint while being in a place full of wolves that aren’t his pack members. Good for him. Got to give him that because if I had my wolf I’m not so sure this conversation would be going as smoothly as it is.. I can be a hot head majority of the time. I’m an excellent fighter in my human form so I can only hope and pray to the moon goddess my wolf form is too.

“Mhm sure. Are you ready Haze?” Stass asked her ignoring what I said. Hazel nodded. “We will be in Axel’s car right over there! Your dad brought down your things earlier so it’s all packed up!” Stass shouts as she and her toy walk away. I turn to Hazel and pull her into my arms. She hugs me tight. “I will call you tonight buttercup. You can fill me in on everything so I’m prepared for when I go.” I say giving the top of her head another kiss. She looks up at me all teary eyed as I kissed those soft lips of hers. “I love you.” She said softly to me and I’m taken back by it.. I just look at her. She smiles and her amber eyes shine like never before. They have more yellow in them today. Goddess she’s beautiful. “Are-Are you serious?” I ask her of course regretting it immediately because I don’t want her to take it back. “I’m serious as can be. I love you Ryder. I knew I always did in a sense but you have been surprising me lately and I can’t help how I feel. It feels almost too good to be true.” She says looking into my soul. “You have all of me baby. I will never do anything to break it again. I love you so much.” I tell her as she’s beaming from ear to ear. I lean down again kissing her passionately before holding her tight against my chest for a few more minutes.