She contemplated her next course of action, fully aware that an encounter with Ryder was not in the plans for her or Layla. They were unable to accomplish it. Had endured that excessively to desire a repetition. She had no idea how she would accomplish this every month in the foreseeable future.
It had caused pain each time. They understood that today would be no exception; despite his assertions of knowing they were his Mate, he could claim it as much as he wished, yet he could not scent her. Thus, they both recognised that his wolf would never acknowledge them without that essential bond.
She directed her gaze towards Stella’s room upon hearing a faint moan emanating from within. This was the moment of decision. She exited the room silently, ensuring the door closed with minimal sound, so as not to alert Nolan’s acute hearing. Inspected the corridor in both directions. No indication of Luca or Enzo.
Assuming Nolan was in her hotel room, Ryder deemed it unnecessary to monitor the hallway for her potential departure. Consequently, he was indifferent regarding Nolan’s presence in her room. The man was performing his duties. He had been until now. The presence of a full moon and a mate to claim would invariably take precedence over his obligations.
Approached the lift and pressed the button, uncertain of her destination, likely intending to wander alone throughout the night. Fortunately, she had donned jeans and a t-shirt following her shower.
She had anticipated that Nolan would eventually arrive for Stella and did not wish to be in her pyjamas while he was present in the hotel room.
Brianna exited the lift and proceeded towards the hotel’s front door, her nose crinkling at the scent of wolf. She turned her head and observed Luca leaning against a wall at a distance; he was not there to watch over her, as she discerned he was engaged in a phone conversation, oblivious to his surroundings.
She heard him say, “I know Sadie.” He sounded somewhat irritated. She was intrigued as to why the Pack’s Beta was in the hotel lobby conversing with Ryder’s younger sister. It was peculiar. Appeared to be engaged in a private conversation apart from his Alpha.
She was not sufficiently curious to pause and listen, at least not this evening. Proceeded towards the hotel’s entrance. A group of individuals walking at a faster pace collided with her. She was not attempting to attract Luca’s attention, thus she ambled as if devoid of any concerns.
She stepped aside at the door to allow them to pass and instinctively apologised, a reflex ingrained in her from her time in the pack, persisting even after all these years, as she felt compelled to apologise for others’ lack of awareness of her presence. Simply could not refrain from doing it.
Upon exiting the door, I heard her name inquiringly, “Brianna?”It was Luca. Despite his uncertainty regarding her identity, he was unable to discern her face from his position and, naturally, could not detect her scent either.
Brianna refrained from turning to look back at him, as that would unequivocally reveal her identity. She observed that Ryder and his entire unit were directly gazing at her, utilising their actual vision to identify and focus on her. She was additionally attired in jeans and a t-shirt, an ensemble none of them had previously witnessed her donning.
It may perplex him.
Brianna nonchalantly exited the hotel, seemingly indifferent to his calls, as if she were not the Brianna he sought. Once she passed the group of individuals awaiting their transportation outside the hotel, she sprinted down the street, aware that if she evaded his sight, he would be unable to pursue her.
Fled from the hotel, with Layla seemingly aiding in hastening their escape to create distance from the entity that would inflict greater suffering than any previous night. She was reluctant to endure the anguish of heartbreak, aware that this time it would be far more painful than previously, as he now asserted that she was his Mate. His possession of that knowledge, coupled with his failure to recognise them, was simply too burdensome to endure. Excessive to contemplate enduring.
He had never asserted that his wolf desired to claim or mark them; rather, it merely sought to mate with them intensely, which was insufficient for her or her wolf, for that matter. The last occurrence had utterly shattered them with his words. They wished to prevent a recurrence of that event. It would ultimately devastate them to have his desire for them, yet never seek to possess them. She refused to accept such a life, recognising that Layla shared her sentiments. She was utilising her wolf-like speed to assist them in evading that situation. Her wolf was eager to escape from her Mate.
They could return once the night had concluded. It was merely a single night. Both were aware that Ryder would be angry, yet he failed to comprehend the anguish they experienced, the years of suffering they endured.
Indeed, he had sensed their rejection, but she had experienced it as well. In contrast to them, he had endured merely one night of anguish, whereas they had experienced years of it; they would not subject themselves to that again, nor would they place themselves before him to receive his disapproving gaze and acknowledgement of his inability to perceive her scent; they resolved never to inflict that upon themselves again.
He was unaware of her location, and she could potentially run throughout the night, proceeding without consideration of her destination, making arbitrary turns without any strategy, solely focused on evading detection, and that was the entirety of her intent.
