Reluctant to leave his pack unattended, which numbered only 800 wolves—smaller than some others—he assigned his younger brother Henry to safeguard the pack during his absence. The man was a robust wolf, yet at 24, he remained youthful. Although he might be somewhat negligent in his responsibilities, Ryder was aware that in the event of an assault, Henry would go to any lengths to safeguard the pack and his Mate.
Henry appeared displeased by Sadie’s tears; she was their younger sister, an unexpected addition, the offspring of his father and his second chance mate, both of whom had children and were not intending to have more. However, a year after their reunion, Sadie appeared, gentle and amiable, reminiscent of his stepmother; he had been 18 at Sadie’s birth and was now twice her age.
His flight was scheduled for the following day, in the late afternoon. Ryder entered to discover Sadie sequestered in her hotel suite, gazing out the window. Upon noticing him, she looked up, prompting him to sigh and approach her. He embraced his younger sister, stating, “Come on, it’s not that bad.”
“She exhibited extreme unkindness.” How can an individual who creates such beautiful objects exhibit such cruelty?“She enquired of him.”
Ryder replied, “I am uncertain, but we will dedicate tomorrow to shopping, and if you fail to discover anything appealing elsewhere, I will confront the woman personally.”
“I do not desire another dress,” she pouted, gazing up at him.
“You may lack an alternative, Sadie.” I conversed with Grace; she indicated that the dress is outdated and is no longer in production.” He conveyed this to her gently, aiming to avoid further distress.
“However, Brianna Layla was capable.” I intended to come directly to the store where she is employed. “To enquire in person.” She gazed up at him, her large blue eyes beseeching him. He could not comprehend how anyone could deny her desires. One could feel sympathy for the unfortunate wolf destined to be her Mate; he was already fated to succumb, for his large, expressive eyes indicated that he would never refuse Sadie.
“Understood, but you will permit me to accompany you for shopping tomorrow first.” “Experiment with different dresses; remain receptive to the idea,” he instructed her assertively.
Sadie pouted at him once more, then acquiesced, stating, “Yes, Ryder.”
“Well done, now let us proceed to dine; I am famished.”
“You are perpetually famished; you will inevitably gain weight,” she jested.
Ryder chuckled, “Unlikely; I engage in frequent workouts, and Aiden consistently urges me to dash off and pursue game.” “Not a trace of fat on me,” he prodded her in the abdomen. “You will experience fate one day.”
At last, I beheld her smile. “Indeed, it will be entirely canine,” I observed as she protruded her abdomen, attempting to create the illusion of being pregnant.
“That is sufficient; you are too young for this,” he stated, taking her hand and guiding her out of her room so they could proceed to dine.
They devoted the entire subsequent day to escorting Sadie from one bridal boutique to another. Despite trying on numerous dresses, in which she appeared stunning, she never genuinely smiled, and Nolan merely sighed after each fitting, shaking his head.
“Ryder, this will not be successful.” The girl exhibited exuberant enthusiasm upon entering Brianna Layla’s Goddess Gowns store; I, however, feel no semblance of that excitement.
Ryder recognised the necessity of confronting the woman, though he was reluctant to do so. He despised exerting his Alpha Aura over humans and preferred to rely on his charm and attractiveness. However, based on what he had gathered from Luca, this Brianna Layla would not be easily intimidated.
If she were not human, as Luca suspected, he was uncertain of what awaited him tomorrow; she could very well be a witch, and confronting one was inadvisable, particularly if she had sisters or a coven nearby. He did not desire any repercussions, yet he found no information on her; neither did his unit, which conducted a thorough investigation. She seemingly emerged and established a store seven and a half years ago, with no prior existence apparent.
Obtained a photograph of her; she is a petite woman with light caramel brown hair, highlighted and cascading past her shoulders, honey brown eyes exhibiting a subtle golden hue, and very fair skin, suggesting limited sun exposure. In the photograph, she appeared youthful, donning a white suit paired with a dark purple blouse; it was an image of her featured on the cover of a magazine just a few months prior.
“That diminutive woman did not flinch at Steel whatsoever?””
“Negative.”
No human of such diminutive stature could withstand the ferocity of Luca and Steel. He scowled, discontented by their inability to ascertain her origins, her history, or her purpose. Excessive emptiness surrounding her rendered him significantly uneasy. Brianna Layla was probably not her true name; she likely abandoned her past and assumed a new identity upon relocating here. That was the reason she possessed no history.
Ryder made multiple calls to the store that morning to request a conversation with Brianna Layla, but was informed that she was not present in the store and was occupied in her studio for the entire day. He would not be accepting appointments, so he dispatched his Delta and Gamma to oversee the store at 11, only to discover that the woman was present and that her studio was integrated into the store.
Provoked his ire. Ryder seized Sadie and proclaimed, “Let us resolve this matter; I assure you will receive your Brianna Layla dress.” He had attempted to contact her four times that morning to avoid a direct confrontation, but her assistant Stella reiterated each time that she was unavailable. Indeed, she was present; Nolan and Enzo had witnessed the woman herself traverse the street to procure a round of coffees for herself and her employees, carrying back six cups in total.
