The Alpha's Mate Who Cried Wolf novel Chapter 4

"Astrid. I'm so sorry about Ryker. Please. You don't have to leave your job here at the diner. You know you're safer here than at home," Jim explains. 

"What do you mean by that?" Ryker asks. 

"Mind your own business," I snap. Ryker backs away with a scowl. He crosses his arms and tries to hide the hurt look on his face.

"I was safer here, Jim, but Ryker has an agenda against me. I don't know what his problem is. Thank you for being kind to me and employing me all this time, but I can't work here anymore." I kiss him on the cheek goodbye. His eyes are teary. Ryker lets out a growl. I go over to the stool where my handbag is and swing it on my shoulder.

"You! I feel sorry for whoever you seek and refer to as your mate! To be with you would be a curse!"I shout. My words deeply hurt him. He couldn't even look at me.

Before I can storm off and leave, Ryker swiftly takes my wrist. He flings my hood off my head rashly, and with the sharp eye contact we make, He feels a magnetic rush of endorphins and dopamine sweep through him. My stomach lurches at the instant feeling of butterflies. Everything around Ryker vanishes. He and I are the only people that exist.

I'm so confused. I don't know what is happening right now. A subtle, strange feeling flows through my body. Ryker is now staring at me as if he lusts after me, even though he was intimidating only minutes ago. I'm mesmerised by his eyes. This feels almost like I'm in a trance. Ryker stares intently into my green eyes before his eyes change in colour. 

"You're my mate," he whispers, stepping closer to me. I unwillingly snap out of the magnetic, lustful trance.

"Stop. Don't you dare touch me," I yell. Jim stands there with a shocked look on his face. 

"Alpha, are you sure Astrid is your mate?" Jim asks in disbelief. 

"She's a rogue. This did not just happen?" Ryker mumbles to himself, brushing his hand through his hair, stressed.

"You're right. Whatever you think is happening is not going to happen. We can agree on that," I say. Ryker stares at me. 

"Who did that to your face?" He asks calmly. 

"Mind your own business and stay away from me," I say, skirring the kitchen through the diner and running out the door.

Chasing after me, I hear Ryker's footsteps crunching on the gravel. I run faster, but he matches my pace effortlessly. Eventually, when I am out of breath, and my broken ribs cannot take any more, I am left with no choice but to stop and face him. 

"Why are you following me?" I demand to know. 

"You're my mate, whether or not we like it. I have to follow you. It's my business to know who did that to your face," he says, firmly but calmly.

"You've met a werewolf before?" He says, surprised. 

"A werewolf? What is wrong with you? There is no such thing as werewolves. I'm talking about wild wolves. When I was little, my mum and I saw a wolf in the woods. Something bad happened, and I've been afraid of wolves ever since. I can't even go near pet dogs, let alone wolves. So if you've got a pet wolf, I'm not interested." I try to walk past him again, to no avail, as he steps in front of me again.

"What happened to the wolf?" He is curious. 

"You're not very good at minding your own business?" I scold. 

"Not when it involves my mate." His reply is quick. 

"You just said I'm a rogue, and you wouldn't have a rogue as a mate. So why do you keep referring to me as your mate when you don't even want me?"

Ryker steps closer to me, and it's impossible not to make eye contact with him. 

"You're so beautiful and… stubborn. All I want to do is lift you in my arms and carry you home." He is heartfelt and genuine. "I want you to join my pack. You won't be a rogue anymore. We can be together." His tone has dropped an octave again. If I hear more sincerity from him, I will melt right into this footpath. He slowly reaches his hand out to take mine.