Robin moves to speak, but I place my hand on her arm. “Amy, is it?” I take on the sweetest tone I can. “I was speaking to Robin, not you. It’s Luna Kennedy to you, and Alpha Ryker goes by his title as well, just so I am perfectly clear. My friends have special privileges. You are not one of them. Now, the door is that way. Robin and I have a busy day.” I raise my eyebrows and just stare at her until she huffs and walks away.
I don’t take a breath until she has walked all the way out the front door. “Nicely done, Luna.” Bennet walks up behind me.
“Still not the Luna, Bennet. That b*ch just needs to learn her place, and it’s not here. She didn’t get the memo the last time.”
“Wait! What last time? There was a last time?”
I exchange a look with Robin and she just winks at me. “Anyway, Robin. I need a place to study, but I like to spread out a little. Is there somewhere I can go where I won’t be in anyone’s way?”
“Your office is all ready for you. Did Alpha Ryker not show it to you?”
“Nope,” I say on a breath. Shocker. “He and his team were too busy telling me how many steps away from the packhouse I was allowed to go.” I side eye Bennet. “It was a longer discussion than they planned on.”
She smiles at me again. “Well, let me take you.” She turns and starts walking away. I have to hurry to catch up. We take the same maze of hallways she had me in the night of the party and I can feel my stomach tightening. I know where we are headed.
“Were you doing something though. You look super busy. I don’t want to take you away from your job. I am not a priority. Bennet can probably show me, I mean, he’s stuck being my shadow for now.’
“What do you mean ‘for now?’ You going somewhere I don’t know about, Luna?” Bennet whispers behind? me.
“Not yet, but we both know your alpha doesn’t want me and we are both just biding our time until he figures out a way to reject me without hurting his wolf.”
I don’t miss the silence at my statement, but I am not going to acknowledge it. I know I’m not permanent. They should too. And I know more about how wolf mates work than they thought. I’m glad I can keep surprising them. Robin walks me back down the hallway that I know leads to Ryker’s office. Figures they would put me right next to him. He must not have done a good enough job explaining how much he doesn’t like me or want me around. He probably assumes his absolute lack of attention towards me is enough to get them to do the same.
Sure enough, my door is right next to his. The situation is only made more frustrating by the intensity of his mouth watering scent. This is going to be torture. No one as rude and disrespectful should look and smell the way he does, it isn’t fair to the rest of us mediocre people.
When Robin lets me in though, I stumble and almost choke. “Oh, wow! Seriously? There is no way this is for? me.”
“Yes, Luna Kennedy. This is yours. Let me know of any changes you want to make. There is a desktop computer that is all set up for you. I’m sorry we don’t have your laptop ready yet. It’s on my list of things today. There’s a bathroom over there. We keep a change of everyday clothes, workout gear and a suit in stock for you. There is also a food and beverage area on the other wall here.” She points across from me near a huge window. We must be on the same side as my bedroom. The forest view is just as incredible. ” Let us know what snacks you like and we will keep them stocked too.” I can only nod, I am so overwhelmed. “If that is all, I have a few other things to get to. Have Bennet mind link me if there is anything else I can do.”
And just like that my heart does a small little stutter. I have to go through Bennet for everything. I take a deep breath and try to smile at her. They are both doing their best to make me as comfortable as they are allowed. “Thank you Robin, I appreciate it.”
I wander around the office. There is stuff everywhere. Ryker’s mom must have loved trinkets and knick knacks. I need to figure out what has sentimental value, cause it’s all making me feel claustrophobic. I won’t throw anything out, but I need to put some of it away before I get vertigo. The desk legs are a beautiful dark, shiny wood. The top was made from a center vertical section of a tree, where every ring is a stripe. It’s beautiful and raw and covered by a thick piece of glass to protect it.. There’s a cute seating area with a two person couch, coffee table and two arms chairs that look very comfortable, all surrounding a fireplace.
Naturally, I moved to the couch. I’m not ready to sit in the Luna’s chair yet. It’s not a conversation that Ryker and I have had and until then, the job isn’t mine, so the chair isn’t mine.
“Bennet, I am going to sit here and work. I would prefer that you don’t just stare at me, but I won’t send you out into the hall to be bored either. Is there something you can do that is at least semi-productive?”
“I don’t believe that you will just sit here and wait for me if I step out to get anything.”
“I earned that distrust,” I smile at him. “And I can guarantee that I tend to do what I want, so it will probably happen again. I’m not used to being confined or having to ask permission. But, I really do have to work and I really don’t want you just staring at me. If it will make you feel better, post a warrior while you’re gone.”
“You won’t be offended?” He’s eyeing me suspiciously.
“By what? You leaving to find something to do? I gave you permission, right?” He nods slowly. “Then no, I won’t be offended. And Bennet?”
“What?”
“I have a patio door.” I point to the side and smile. “It has a single deadbolt, no camera and walks straight out to the forest. Just in case you didn’t know.” I wink at him.?”Handful’ doesn’t even begin to describe you does it?” He almost groans, rubbing his eyes.
“You wish it was that easy.” I laughed a real laugh for the first time in days.
He smiles at me and finally leaves and I don’t know if I like the suffocating space he left behind. I feel alone. Really, really alone.
Ryker
It’s been a week from hell. Well, weeks really, but this one has been the worst by far. She’s in my head and at the forefront of my thoughts at all times. I have had a semi since she came storming into my office demanding to run our first day here. I couldn’t even get off with anyone who tried, and they tried really, really hard. I don’t think I have ever had this much pent up energy in my entire life.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.