07/11-12/2017

"That went well," Ryder sarcastically said, getting into the car.

"I'm glad we got out of there before I murdered you," Kristin muttered, closing her door.

"Shhh, your dad could hear you," he said, eyeing her father who was getting into his vehicle.

They were now both inside their vehicle, and the doors were closed, but that didn't mean her father's wolf hearing wouldn't hear them.

"If he knew we weren't really mates, he would murder you for me," Kristin said, smirking.

"We have a deal," Ryder said lowly, glancing at their parents' vehicles driving away.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Kristin waved her hand and started the car.

"I don't know why you think you're going to drive back too," Ryder raised his brow, although Kristin was already pulling onto the road.

She shrugged, "Well, I am."

"And what was with that engagement story? Nobody proposes like that."

"Romantic ones do," she grinned at him.

"Tears were streaming down my face," he said with a bored tone.

"That's what happens when you're in love," she said sarcastically, realizing how awkward she had made it by saying that.

"You cry?" Ryder asked, genuinely confused.

"Never mind, you wouldn't understand," she said shaking her head, "You aren't capable of feeling emotions."

"Mmm," he said nodding. "That explains a lot."

She rolled her eyes at him, turning off of the main road to the trail that lead to the house.

"So what are we going to do about the whole marking thing?" Kristin tried not to blush as she spoke.

"Well, since we aren't mates then I guess it wouldn't work."

"What wouldn't work?"

"Me marking you."

"You are not biting me," she said sternly.

He chuckled, running a hand through his hair.

"Don't worry, I won't."

The next day, Kristin was surprised when the front door opened and Gabriel and his mate walked in.

Ryder didn't seem surprised when he spotted them so she figured he had invited them.

Gabriel gave Kristin a warm smile, "Hey, Kristin."

Kristin tried not to look shocked at his politeness. Ryder was his brother after all.

"Hello," she said back in a small voice. She looked back down and busied herself by continuing to cut up vegetables for dinner.

There was something about Gabriel that made him intimidating.

Actually-- she knew what it was. He was an Alpha.

Ryder and Gabriel went upstairs while his mate stayed behind.

"I'm Jess," she smiled at Kristin, taking a seat at one of the bar stools.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Kristin," Kristin smiled at the pretty brunette.

"Yes, you're Ryder's mate for the arrangement deal," she smiled sweetly.

Kristin glanced up at her, wondering if she knew they weren't really mates or if she had just made it sound like that.

Either way, Kristin nodded, smiling to cover up her panic.

"Do you need any help?" Jess nodded to the vegetables she was cutting up.

"Uh, if you want to," Kristin chuckled and took out another cutting board and knife.

Jess got up and began helping her.

"So, how are you liking it, living here with Ryder?"

Kristin bit her lip, wondering if she should lie because they were 'supposedly' mates.

"Umm, it's okay," she only half lied.

In reality, it was okay... sometimes. And then other times...

Jess chuckled, "Still haven't warmed up to him yet?" She turned to face Kristin, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"When I first met Gabriel, I didn't really know how I felt. Sure, I was happy I had found my mate."

"And that he was an Alpha," she added, wiggling her eyebrows.

Kristin chuckled at her giddiness.

"But then I sort of freaked out over everything that was happening."

"What do you mean?" Kristin asked, interested.

"Well, I'll admit, it's pretty scary at first, finding your mate. For some reason your heart suddenly seems to have these emotions toward a complete stranger. You don't know anything about them, yet you've never felt this way about anyone else before."

Kristin swallowed, adverting her eyes to the window.

"From my experience, I've learned to just go with it," she shrugged, "Whoever up above matched Gabriel and I together, they knew what they were doing. One day I just decided to go with the flow, and everything eventually worked out on its own."

Kristin nodded at her, trying to take in her words.

Sure they didn't really apply to her since she wasn't Ryder's mate. However, Kristin had never heard this point of view of mates before.

She had always just looked at her parents, who were both super happily in love, and figured that's what mates were.

"I'm not saying everything is perfect in the beginning, because it's not. You have to get to know the person before you truly fall in love with them. Gabriel and I have been in a lot of fights, especially when we first met," Jess rolled her eyes, thinking back to the memories.

"Really?" Kristin said, not really convinced. From the few minutes she had seen them together, they looked like the perfect couple. They had walked in the house, hand in hand when they arrived, after all.

Who does that?

Certainly not her and Ryder.

"Mhmm," Jess said, giving Kristin a comforting smile, "It'll be okay between you and Ryder, I can tell everything will all work out with time."

Kristin chuckled, "I'm not so sure about that."

"Just remember, everything happens for a reason." Her brown eyes seemed to smile at Kristin.

How could one person be so full of happiness?Kristin thought.

She wanted to be around Jess all the time.

After talking with Jess for a while longer, Kristin glanced outside of the kitchen, hearing footsteps coming down the stairs.

"Make sure he treats you right," Jess spoke up, just as Gabriel and Ryder started walking downstairs.

"In the end he will, but sometimes male wolves can be stubborn," she shook her head at her mate and his brother, walking into the kitchen.

"Especially the ones with Alpha blood," she whispered to Kristin, before walking up to Gabriel.

Gabriel smiled at the sight of Jess, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her towards him.

"What have you two been talking about?" He asked, looking down at Jess.

"Only how amazing mates are," she said, a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

"I know I'm amazing," Gabriel replied, leaning down to kiss his mate.

"Guys, can you not do that here?" Ryder said, cringing at the pair.

Gabriel chuckled, pulling away from Jess to hold her hand.

"It won't be long until this happens to you."

Ryder gave him a hard look, shaking his head.

"We should get going," Jess said, checking the time on her phone.

"It was nice seeing you Ryder," she smiled at him, "And it was really nice meeting you Kristin. We'll have to get together some time."

Kristin smiled at Jess, "Sounds great."

"Alright, see you later baby brother," Gabriel said, going over to ruffle Ryder's hair.

Ryder shifted out of his hold and rolled his eyes, "Bye Gabey."

"That's Alpha Gabey to you," he said, making Ryder laugh.

"Soon."

Gabriel held his hand out to Kristin, surprising her.

"It was truly a pleasure to meet you, Kristin." She saw something light up in his eyes.

"You as well," she replied, reaching out to shake his hand.

That was unexpected.

"Okay, you can leave now," Ryder teased, waving him off.

A couple minutes later, Gabriel and Jess were gone, and Ryder was in the kitchen, stealing vegetables off the counter.

"Those are for dinner!" Kristin swatted his hand.

"But I'm hungry now," he shrugged and grabbed another one, using his fast reflexes against Kristin.

"Then eat something else."

"Actually," he said, pausing to throw the carrot into his mouth, "Now I'm full."

She rolled her eyes at him.

"You didn't tell me your brother was coming today," she casually mentioned, putting the remaining vegetables in a pan.

Kristin turned around when he didn't answer and found him staring at her.

He just shrugged at her in reply.

She finished with the cooking and they both finished eating at around seven o'clock.

"It's really hot out," Ryder said, coming to lean on the counter.

"Okay?" Kristin said, putting the dishes in the washer.

"We should go swimming in the river."

"No thanks," she replied turning around to see his pout.

"Are you pouting?" she asked, putting a hand on her hip.

"Maybe."

"What are you, five?"

"I've already told you I'm nineteen, Kristin," he replied, acting like she was stupid.

She walked out of the kitchen and into the living room.

"Come on," Ryder followed her.

"Leave me alone."

"What, you can't swim?"

"I can swim!" she replied, a little too fast.

Ryder raised a brow, "Prove it."

"No."

"Liar."

"No, I'm not. I just don't feel like swimming."

"You mean, you can't swim."

She sighed, not wanting to argue with him anymore.

"I'll teach you."

"I know how to swim, Ryder!"

He crossed his arms, not breaking her stare.

After a minute of staring, Kristin shook her head.

"If I go out there, will you stop doing this?"

"Yes!" He said, waiting for her to get up.

She dramatically sighed and slowly got up, walking out the back door.

It was really warm out, despite it being seven at night.

She walked over to the edge of the river and sat down, putting her feet in.

The water felt nice against her warm skin.

She jumped when Ryder suddenly ran passed her, jumping into the water right in front of her.

Shirtless.

"Hey!" She shouted, looking down at her romper, which was now wet.

Ryder came up to the surface, wiping his hair out of his eyes.

"Oops."

"You did that on purpose," she accused.

He shrugged, "Maybe."

"Can you not be a d*ck for two seconds?" she snapped, yanking on her wet clothes.

"No way, did little miss perfect just cuss?" Ryder grinned at her.

"Don't call me that," she said, looking to the left so she wouldn't stare at the water droplets running down his muscular chest.

"Okay, babe."

"Or that."

"Sweetheart?"

"No!"

He smirked and continued to swim.

She was adverting her eyes again, when she felt something cold and wet.

"Ryder!" she said, flinching away from the water.

"What?"

"Stop splashing water at me!"

"I will if you come in," he said motioning for her to jump in.

She shook her head.

"Why not?"

"I don't have my bathing suit on," she said with a 'duh' tone.

"So?" he swam over to her. "Just take your dress-with-shorts-thingy off."

"First of all, it's called a romper. And second, I am not swimming in just my bra and underwear!"

"I won't mind," he gave her a teasing smile and she tried not to blush.

"Come on Kristin, what's it going to take to get you wet?" he continued, smirking.

"You are not getting me wet," she snapped, realizing that her clothes were already soaked.

"Don't underestimate my abilities," he smiled evilly and before she knew it, he was in front of her.

"Don't you dare!" she tried getting away but he grabbed her arm.

"Ryder," she warned.

"What, sweetheart?"

"Let. Me. Go."

"Or what?" She saw an evil glint in his eyes.

One pull, and she was easily in the water.

"Are you serious?" she gasped, as she stood on her tippy toes.

Ryder could easily stand up, the water reaching his chest.

Kristin however, was struggling to keep her chin above the water.

"That's better," he said, still holding onto her arm.

"I hate you," she said lowly, as she looked up into his eyes.

They were blue, with little specs of black swirling around.

"Are you sure about that?" he said, leaning down so that his face was inches away from hers.

She unconsciously swallowed.

"Now there's only one more thing for us to do," he said, glancing down at her lips.

"What?" she softly replied, hating how her voice sounded.

She watched as he slowly brought his eyes back up to meet her gaze.

"Lets see if you were lying about knowing how to swim," he grinned, letting go of her arm.

"No, Ryder!" she gasped for air, before water engulfed her.

•. •. •. •. •.

Chapter Nine, voila!

Thanks for reading!

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Who thought Ryder and Kristin were going to kiss? Muahaha

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