The Alpha’s Mate Who Cried Wolf

Chapter 24

Astrid

Focusing, like Ryker, told me to. My body shifts back into human form. I open my eyes to see myself

lying in Ryker’s arms. I lock eyes with him, but this time, I see him through my wolf’s eyes. ‘Mate!’ I say,

and the world around me disappears. I feel a magnetic rush of endorphins and dopamine sweep

through me-the attraction and lust I have for Ryker increase dramatically. I want to touch him, hold him,

mark him and tell the world he is ‘mine’. My arms wrap around his neck.

“Ryker, I missed you so much! I’m so sorry for leaving.’

–

–

He wraps his warm, masculine arms around my waist and presses me to his chest. He cups my face in

his hands.

‘It’s okay, babe. I know you didn’t want to leave. I’m here now, and that’s all that matters.’ We stare into

each other’s eyes, and our mouths smash together. My body ignites with the intensity of our passionate

kiss. It sends overwhelming, hot shivers down my spine. We eventually part from the kiss and pant.

Ryker lets out a little growl and nips at my neck.

‘As much as I want to stay like this forever, we need to destroy Alpha Zenith. He brings me back to

reality with his words. I stand up quickly, and my eyes change into my wolf’s.

‘Alpha Zenith is mine to kill!’ I growl, instantly shifting.

Ryker shifts, and we’re almost the same size. I’m only slightly smaller. We let out a loud, majestic howl

in unison, warning Alpha Zenith that we are coming for him!

Bolting out of the cell, up the stairs and out of the packhouse, I see we have a lot of badly injured

warriors. There are wounded wolves everywhere and many dead warriors and pack members from

Shady Crest. Sprinting around for Alpha Zenith, I catch his scent. I follow it away from the battle

through the long grass and creep through the trees. I can tell he is close. Ryker isn’t far behind me,

watching my back.

N

Hearing a ferocious growl on my right, I turn to see Alpha Zenith in his wolf form lunging toward me.

We roll a few metres, with Alpha Zenith pinning me down. My hind claws tear into his stomach. He

emits a whimper and claws into my chest. I roll out from underneath him, then leap onto him,

ferociously biting the back of his neck, and tear a piece of flesh off him. He howls in pain and then falls

backward, almost crushing me beneath him.

Unable to move from under him, I rip into his ribs and listen to the sounds of bones breaking. He rolls

off me, and we snap and snarl at each other, blood dripping from our muzzles. Alpha Zenith’s neck is

exposed briefly, so I lunge forward, biting as hard as possible. I Remember how he bit my mother’s

neck and shook her around like a rag doll. I show no mercy. Adrenaline rushes through me. Blood

spurts

everywhere, and I shake him around feverishly. I know he is dead, but I don’t let go. Increased strength

surges through me as my wolf grows larger. Having Killed Alpha Zenith, I now have the power of an

alpha, and his pack members now belong to me. I’m not finished with him yet, and I release all my

anger by ripping more flesh off him.

‘Astrid! Enough! He’s dead! Ryker says, slowly approaching me. I let out another growl, warning Ryker

to back off. He freezes on the spot, shocked by my response.

‘Astrid, you killed him. You can let him go now. It’s over,’ he says.

So much anger is boiling up inside of me. Alpha Zenith killed my mother! He murdered my whole family

and pack in Moonstone Crest! His death hasn’t satisfied me. It isn’t enough compensation for what he

has done. I growl ferociously, still tearing his flesh off in strips. Masculine arms instantly wrap around

me.

‘Astrid! You need to stop! You need to shift into your human form. This isn’t you, Astrid. Don’t be the

monster he is. Please! I’m begging you!’ He pleads. I cringe at his words. What am I doing? He killed

my mother. I got my vengeance by killing him. But I continue to violently rip him apart like a monster.

Finally, I let go of his body. Ryker can see the pain in my face. In my dazed reverie, I tumble into his

lap. I’m severely injured and have lost too much blood from my wounds. I must have blacked out

because I opened my eyes to stare into Ryker’s

smooth jawline. He carries me bridal-style towards our pack members. Shady Crest pack members felt

Alpha Zenith’s death immediately and ceased fighting.

Approaching Shady Crest, the pack members see us, fall to their knees and bow their heads.

‘Why are they bowing for us?’ I ask Ryker.

‘The moment you kill an Alpha, his pack becomes your pack, he explains.

‘But I’m not officially part of a pack yet,’ I say, confused. Ryker looks at me passionately.

‘All you have to do is accept me as your mate, Astrid. And take your place by my side as my equal and

Luna,’ he smiles. I cup his face in my hands as he cradles me.

‘I, Astrid Moonstone, accept you, Alpha Ryker of Shadow Crest, as my mate and your Luna. Ryker

stares into my eyes. He is fending off tears of happiness with my words.

A strange warmth courses through my body. I feel an immediate sense of power and authority. ‘Astrid,

you have made me the happiest Alpha in the world, Ryker says, mind linking me for the very first time. I

freeze at his voice in my head,

‘I just heard you. In my head. Is that the mind-link?’ I ask excitedly Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

‘Yes, think of me in your mind. I will hear your voice in my head, he says.

‘Okay. Ryker, if we didn’t have hundreds of werewolves staring at us, I would kiss you passionately.

Ryker lets out a chuckle.

I’m sure they wouldn’t mind a show, he says mischievously.

“Ryker!’ I say, slapping his chest playfully.

I’m only joking, babe,’ he says, kissing my forehead.

Amelia and Leon run up to us, holding hands. Amelia is blushing and smiling. I smile back at her, happy

she has found her destined mate, who has accepted her unconditionally.

‘So, Amelia and Leon, hey?’ I say, smiling. ‘So, what happens now?’ I ask Ryker.

‘Now we tend to the injured. First, we will use the Shady Crest packhouse for all the wounded. After

that, the warriors will bury the dead, and we’ll return to Shadow Crest. Pack members from here are

welcome to come with us. Or they can stay here and resume their lives, but this land is now our

territory, he explains.

Doing my best, I help tend to the injured. Everyone calls me Luna. It’s foreign to me, but I figure I’ll get

used to it,

“How are you feeling now?’ Ryker asks, looking me up and down.

I’m completely healed from all the injuries I received. I can’t believe how quick I heal now, I smile.

‘You will always heal quickly now that you have your wolf, he smiles. ‘I think it’s time we all go home.’

We hold hands, keeping our eyes only on each other. Everyone else is ready to leave to go home.

‘Ryker? I was wondering if we could catch up with everyone later? My wolf is begging to be let out, and

I thought we could go for a run together?’

I’d like that very much, he smiles and kisses me passionately.

‘Ready to go, Alpha and Luna?’ Seth asks. Our eyes remain locked on each other. Without turning

around to look at Seth, Ryker waves his hand.

‘You all go home. We will catch up later, Ryker says. Seth smiles and nods, leading everyone back to

Shadow Crest. I pull my dress off and shift into my large white wolf. Ryker shifts, and I bolt toward him.

We play-fight a little. I nip at his ankles and neck. He purposely falls over, feigning weakness and

whimpers. I haven’t had the strength to knock him to the ground. It is charming to watch: to play with

his wolf is a gratifying experience.

We race through the woods to see who’s faster. Our speeds aren’t very different. The full moon is out in

full view. We sit on a cliff edge near the packhouse and let out majestic, powerful

howls together.

The pack members respond to us, howling together with joy and enthusiasm. Ryker’s wolf sits beside

me, resting his head on mine. He gives me a nip and a nuzzle every so often. We return to the

packhouse when everyone is asleep and shift into our human forms. Before entering the front door,

Ryker scoops me up and carries me upstairs to bed.