Crouching low in the bushes, Ryker wolf's eyes waited for the deer mountain to bend down for a sip of the spring water. Its ears cupped forward, head held high, and head turned toward Ryker. its body tense and conscious of its surrounding.

Without a doubt, the deer senses something wrong, but it couldn't see Ryker. Ryker's fur blended with the obsidian night. His wolf's eyes maintained its natural hazel color.

Suddenly, the deer relaxed. Its neck relaxed and head lowered. It began drinking the water.

Ryker launched at him. His paws digging into the dirt. Growling as he latched onto the deer's neck.

A loud shriek came from the deer. It tried escaping the unexpected attack. Kicking its legs, but it was useless. Ryker was superior in every way.

Slowly, a few more wolves appeared out of the shadow. Walking over to join Ryker in his meal. Hunting in their wolf forms, they liked to eat raw meat now and then. Whatever they kill, they usually bring back to share with everyone else.

A flash of similar black fur appeared in Ryker's vision. It was his brother. Abraham walked next to him, bent his head down, and began tearing the meat from the body. A few enforcers that tagged along joined in.

After they finish devouring the deer, they shifted back to their human form to clean up the blood that now stained their bodies. They washed their bodies in the cold spring water.

Once done, Ryker pulled on a pair of black cotton shorts he carried with him before stepping out of the shadows.

Abraham was joking around with the enforcers. They stood around in a circle beneath the moon.

"You must be hungry tonight, Ava," Abraham joked.

"I'm hungry for many things." Ava's eyes moved from Abraham to Ryker in female appreciation.

"Hey Ava, how about you and I—" Ethan teased, but Ava shut him up with a quick rejection.

"Not interested."

"Yo, Alpha, you going to tell us more about that female you have been hanging around with? Who is she?" Dalton asked when he saw Ryker.

Ryker didn't respond. He walked back to his backpack, bent down, and picked up his sleeveless tank top. He quickly put his arms through the large sleeve holes and pulled the shirt over his head.

"She's just visiting," Gary answered for Ryker.

"So, are you saying there is nothing going on between our Alpha and her?" Dalton questioned.

"She can't be a potential mate for our Alpha. She doesn't look like she would fit in with us." Ava snagged the opportunity to speak up.

"Who is she to you?" Bruno who was hiding in the shadows asked Ryker directly.

Bruno was an old pack member. A little older than Ryker by a few years. Ryker knew him to be arrogant and brash. Sometimes, Bruno would step out of line and push Ryker's decisions a little, but Ryker knew he could trust the guy. Bruno saved Ryker's life more than a handful of times.

"She's important to me," Ryker answered him.

"You're courting her." It was a statement, but it came out as an accusation.

Ryker and everyone else was used to Bruno's bluntness.

"Does it matter? If I say she's important, then you treat with the same respect you will give me," Ryker growled.

Ava didn't look too happy to hear Ryker's response. Even if Ryker didn't say it, his enforcers knew the answer. Mary was off-limits because he was courting her. Their Alpha has treated none, other females, this way before. Like an overprotective male.

"I'm heading back first. Gary, take the rest of the kills to Theo. Have him butcher the meat before handing it out to everyone," Ryker ordered, bending to swipe his backpack with one hand.

Ryker turned his back on his enforcers and walked the rest of the way home. Tonight, they traveled a little farther than usual. Ryker needed to work off some tension.

Mary has started her new job at the restaurant two days ago. Now, they barely see each other. They both leave their home at different times. They both return at different times. It shouldn't bother him so much, but he was bothered by it. Yet he wasn't willing to approach her. Not yet. He didn't want her to feel like he was hovering. Ryker wanted to give her a chance to become independent and become comfortable with the pack.

His fingers tightened around the backpack. His eyes staring ahead as he trudged through the woods.

"Ryker," Abraham said from behind him before running to catch up.

When he reached Ryker's side, Abraham slowed his pace.

"So, everyone has been talking. They're wondering about your relationship with Mary. What are we supposed to say?" Abraham questioned.

"Tell them to fuck off?" Ryker growled irritably.

Abraham chuckled, "You know, it isn't just to satisfy their own curiosity. Maybe by stating your claim, unmated males would not think she is available. Know what I mean?"

Ryker remained silent. Apart of him wanted to announce it. It would avoid any conflicts. However, he knew if announced it—it would drive away from the only wall that he has up. The wall he built up since Lottie.

"Remember when I told you about Lottie?" Ryker asked.

"You told me you thought she was the one."

Ryker nodded his head. The calmness of the night helped ease his agitated heart and mind. Sighing, he ran his fingers through his hair and looked up at the sky. Abraham knew where Ryker's thoughts were.

When he opened his heart to Lottie and announced that he had chosen Lottie as his mate, he made it official. In the end, he got his heartbroken. Ryker was afraid that he was going to walk a similar path.

"It's not the same," Abraham said. "Lottie was a scheming whore. She lured you in and manipulated you."

Ryker tried so hard to not feel so much, but now trying was useless. He was falling even when he was trying so hard not to. Could he love but not give all of him away? Pursuing her was an act of honor but also a reason for him to hope.

When they reached the pathway that led down to Ryker's home, they split ways. Telling Ryker what to do was the simple part. But the last leap, it has to come from Ryker. He needed to learn to let go.

Ryker walked along the quiet pathway, his eyes not looking exactly anywhere. When he passed Mary's cabin to walk to his home, he heard keys jangling and quiet voices.

"You need to add shallots," Mary laughed.

"I didn't have any. So I used red onions," Easton laughed along with Mary.

Ryker had never heard Easton laugh before.

"Oh god, red onions?"

Ryker stopped walking to stare. She stood in front of her door. Easton must have walked her home. His chef's jacket was around her shoulder to ward off the chill of the night. Her eyes round with disbelief and amusement.

"It didn't taste so bad," he replied. "Besides, I was still in culinary school. I had to use what I had on hand."

Mary's laughter filled the night air. Ryker's heart squeezed hard in his chest. He missed hearing it.

"Did your instructor notice?"

"Yes, he did. That old man was on top of his taste buds. He gave me a passing grade for my dish but damn, did I get an earful on how much red onions I used," Easton replied. Laughter was evident in his voice. He was smiling from ear to ear. Ryker could see the whites of his straight teeth.

"Well..." Mary's face had a smile on it, "thank you for walking me home."

"No problem. It was late."

"Are you telling me that there are things in these mountains I should worry about?" Mary teased.

Easton chuckled nervously. He stuffed his hands into his pocket before shrugging.

"You never know. An unmated female seems like a tempting meal to me," Easton flirted.

Mary must have realized that Easton was flirting with her because her smile slipped a little before she caught herself. Suddenly shy, she smoothed back some loose strands of hair behind her ear.

Angry, Ryker continued down the path but walked a little louder and made a little more noise to announce his presence. Whatever he did, he caught both their attention.

Easton and Mary turned to look at him.

"Good evening, Alpha," Easton greeted.

Ryker stopped to stare at Mary.

Mary could sense that Ryker was angry...or irritated? His eyes were hard and not soft like what she was used to. An awkward silence lingered in the air because Ryker would not move from his spot until Easton leaves and Easton was waiting for Ryker to leave so he could continue to flirt with Mary.

Mary looked at Easton.

"Thanks again for walking me home. I'll see you tomorrow," Mary dismissed Easton.

Easton looked at Mary for a hesitated second before nodding his head.

"See you tomorrow." He turned to Ryker. "Good night, Alpha."

When Easton left, Ryker started walking towards him home. However, Mary stopped Ryker in his footsteps.

"Wait," she called out.

Ryker turned to look at her. She didn't move. Instead, she spoke from where she was standing. Ryker noticed that Easton's jacket was still around Mary's shoulder.

He walked over to her before slipping the jacket of her shoulders.

"Oh, I forgot to give him this," she said.

"I'll give it to him." Ryker wanted to rip the jacket into a million pieces.

"But I'll see him tomorrow morning. He asked me to come in early tomorrow. Easton is teaching me how to make one of his favorite home dishes before the restaurant open."

Ryker fisted Easton's jacket in his hands. Mary's half-raised hand stopped halfway in reaching for the jacket. Ryker was wrinkling the material.

"Ok." Ryker nearly growled his response. It came out hoarse. Mary touched Easton's jacket and Ryker, finally, let go.

"So, how are you doing?" she inquired, bringing Easton's jacket to her chest. She wrapped her arms around it.

"I've been busy," Ryker replied.

"I realized that. I haven't seen you in days. I was thinking you went somewhere far."

"We went on a hunting trip," Ryker replied.

"Hunting? What did you guys kill?" she questioned curiously.

"A few big games and a few small ones," he answered, dropping his hand almost unwillingly back to his side.

Mary nodded and again they fell silent for a minute. Just living in each other's presence for a few minutes.

"Would you like to come inside for a drink?" Mary invited him.

It was late but Ryker couldn't help but notice that Mary didn't invite Easton. She had invited Ryker inside.

Gloating a little? Hell, yes he was.

He nodded his head.

They walked inside the cabin together. Ryker watched her walk into her little kitchen. She opened her cabinet and pulled out two glasses and a bottle of old scotch.

His eyes wandered around the small cabin and saw there were little hints of her all over the home. Mary's house was filled with wildflowers that she must have picked. There were throw blankets and little pillows on the couch.

Mary walked over and handed him a glass. He took it from her. She sipped hers and sighed. Moving her head back and forth and rubbing the ache from her shoulders, she walked over to the sofa to sit.

"It was a long day today," she groaned.

"A lot of customers?" he asked.

Mary nodded. "I don't know how Easton does it. He works hard every day and all by himself. I'm amazed."

Ryker didn't want to talk about Easton. He sat his glass down on an end table before walking behind the sofa. Placing his hands on shoulders, he rubbed away the ache. Her stiff shoulders relaxed immediately under his large hands.

"Lord, that feels good," she moaned.

Ryker hardened and his body physically reacted as a thunderbolt hit him.

Suddenly, he craved kissing her. It was an urge that intensified. God, all those days didn't stop what he was feeling. It only made it worse.