The Alpha's Mate Who Cried Wolf novel Chapter 10

Sick with emotion, I drop to the ground on my knees, unable to keep myself up. Dad laughs. With one look of sympathy for me from Ryker, he knocks him out cold. 

Seth drops him, and he falls to the ground. Ryker is swaying, weak from all the fighting. He is drenched in sweat and blood and falls to his knees. 

"I tried my best not to kill him," he says deliriously.

"Ryker!"I yell. I rip his shirt open to find a bullet wound near his heart. I hold my hands over the bullet wound, putting pressure on it. There is blood all over my hands.

Jim, Seth, and the others gather around Ryker, shouting 'Alpha!"and 'can you hear me?" and 'quickly! Carry him into the diner. We have light there, and we can see what we can do to help him." I remove my hands from Ryker's chest while a few pack members lift him and carry him into the diner.

Seth pushes the condiments off the table, clearing it, and the others place Ryker on the table. Blood is everywhere. I'm shaking with shock. 

"He's going to be okay, isn't he?" I ask, distressed. Everyone turns and looks at me. 

"We will try our best to save him, Luna. We need to remove the bullet so he can heal," Seth explains. Jim returns to the table and gives Seth a knife, towels and other tools. 

"Astrid, maybe you shouldn't watch. I can sit with you here," Jim offers.

I hesitantly sit with Jim away from him, not wanting to leave Ryker's side. Jim puts his arm over my shoulder, pulling me into him. I'm shaking from all the trauma and sobbing.

 'Luna, we removed the bullet. He should have healed by now, but nothing is happening," Seth says, turning away as his eyes well up. 

 'No. Ryker can't die. Seth! I can't have someone die again because of me!"I say.

Pushing past Seth, I run to Ryker. The pack members move like I'm someone important. They give me some time with him. I lay my head on his chest and burst into tears.    

"Ryker, please. I'm sorry. Please don't die. I'm sorry. It's all my fault. Please wake up."

His breathing is faint. I sit up and put my hands over his wound. "Please Ryker," I cry. "I promise I'll come home with you if you wake up."

Placing my arms around Ryker, I return my head to his chest and cry. After a moment, warmth flows through my body. 

"We aren't a couple," I say. Ryker is more shocked than he should be.

It's awkward and quiet after that. Seth follows me out the front door, but I'm not planning on running. Instead, walking over to where Dad lies unconscious, I take in his blood-stained body. He is breathing but not going to be waking up soon.

Seth and I walk over to some grass and lie down to look at the stars and the moon. Ryker has a glum look, and the diner is probably full of chatter about what I said.

"Seth, I'm sorry if I upset you, your Alpha, and the others," I sincerely say. Seth sighs. 

"We need to remember. All this is very new to you, Luna. You haven't turned eighteen yet. I think once you've settled into Shadow Crest and adjusted to the way we werewolves live, everything will settle down for you,"

"This isn't the life I wanted. This isn't what I thought it would be, Seth," I confess. 

"That may be true, but it's a life that the Moon Goddess herself chose just for you, which is a great blessing, and an honour given to you," he reassures me with a gentle smile. Ryker and the others come outside. Ryker puts his hand out to pull me up from the ground.        

"How are you feeling?" I ask. Ryker smiles, "Well, there's a hole in my heart. But it's alright because you came along and filled it," Ryker says, referring to the bullet that struck close to his heart.