nside. I quicken my pace knowing Ryker might be with them. For a while, I am left unbothered, and I think this will be a non-even

eats himself. I keep my head down and keep walking. He grabs my wrist, and I fee

et me go!

an off, and all day yesterday and today. W

talk about!’ I say,

r. I cry out in pain from the injuries I sustained, so much

wrong?’

n't touch me,’ I say. Ry

, please,’ he pleads. He can see

rolling down my cheeks. I don't know

wipe my tears from my cheek; I flinch and take

't mean to hurt

I say, loo

the diner and let us talk?’ I

ance to open the door before on

odding. Ryker walks

a year and now you’re afra

e like this,’ I explain. Ryk

itchen,’ he suggests. I hug my

Ryker is trying to hold Jim back; he is obviously very angry and distraught that I've been beaten again,

ay, standing at the kitchen bench, and looking at the mess of pots and pans on the floor. Jim st

is eyes well up, he steps toward me an

o the freezer. The other men in the diner are all

ng uncomfortable by glaring

g to the diner door, flipping the OPEN sign, a

eady to leave,’ he reassures me. I nod and sit at one of the tables with the booth seats. Ryke

iscuss your living ar

hing to disc

u in your current state, another beating before your eighte

r beating?’ I ask. All the men in the room

men speak to eachother with knowing looks; unspoken words pass be

so hungry. I eat slowly and carefully; the pain in my jaw m

know now so you know what to expect on your birthday. No matter what I say, try and stay calm. It's

o argue, I keep sipping

una who are the leaders of the pack. If you’re not in a pack then

not in a pack I'm

u can't just go anywhere: you need permission to go onto a pack's territory, otherwise

to kill someone for p

't normally have good intentions for entering

ka

in your mind. You’ll also be able to heal very quickly and you will be able to shift into your wolf for the first time t

e places his hand over mine

o you, but Alpha Ryker is telling you the truth, and you k

im stand too. I look around the diner again a

ve you. Either

Jim nods and starts undressing. Disturbed that Jim is stripping hi

he chemistry between Ryker and I, when he gently pulls my hands down from my face with his; forcing me to watch. After no time at all, Jim's face and body are no

ard me. My ongoing screams f

the salt, the pepper, the sugar, the ketchup, my empty mug, the jar of teaspoons from the table. I try

his is a shock for you, but you need to breathe. It'

nd in the corner, and hold my knees, wh

large wolf backs away into the kitchen out of m

Why?’ I yell, before letting my head fall onto Ryker's chest. He wraps his strong arms around me and holds me tightl

y you saw the wolf. Please forgive me,’ he whispe

Fireworks explode throughout my body, pressed against his so closely. I don't ever want to leave his arms. It takes me

with the memory of my mother's death replaying over and over in my mind. Scenes from that day resound in my head, and poor Ryker has no idea what I’m reliving, as he holds me closely. No one dares make a sound or