“Perhaps,” he replied gently. She had fled and spurned him without any discernible justification. He had never acknowledged it. He sought to ascertain the underlying reason. Thus did his Wolf, Aiden, in that regard. If they had a partner, they desired to converse with her prior to acknowledging her rejection. Request her to elucidate the matter to them. It may have been a misinterpretation or similar issue.
His wolf was currently subdued, having been irritated by the girl’s reaction yesterday, which disrespected him and caused him to huff in annoyance. However, when Sadie remarked that the girl had responded as a Mate would, Aiden retreated to the recesses of his mind and did not return until they were in her store just now.
Upon reflection, Ryder considered the woman’s response to him and her gaze directed at Sadie while she touched him. Sadie entered the store for a Luna Gown, assuming she was mated to an Alpha.
Brianna would likely perceive Sadie as his Mate, as she had arrived at Brianna’s store accompanied by Luca, the pack Beta. He arrived with Sadie, insisting that Brianna create the dress she desired. It likely appeared that Sadie was his Mate.
They bore no resemblance to one another. Sadie possessed a voluminous mane of dark red curls, resembling her mother, while inheriting her father’s dark blue eyes. Conversely, he mirrored his father’s features but had his mother’s eyes. If Brianna contemplated this, it would explain the anguish he perceived in her gaze, particularly when she observed Sadie touching him as she had. Would have appeared affectionate and recognisable.
As he gazed out the window observing the streets pass by, he realised he was not yet prepared to relinquish her. If she experienced pain, it was probable that their Mate Bond remained intact and effective, indicating that her rejection had not been valid. She continued to perceive it, although he could not. However, that was inconsequential; he had been unaware of it, while she alone possessed that knowledge for some trivial reason. If Brianna Layla was formerly a member of his pack, he needed to ascertain her age. Return and enquire as to why she concealed herself from him. What were the reasons for her rejection of him? It was entirely incomprehensible to him.
She pondered whether she had observed him with Biancia, which might have prompted her to reject him, disapprove of him, or anticipate his rejection of her; it was uncertain. She was the sole individual until he was able to track her down and obtain those answers.
He could scarcely remember the appearance of the girl in his bed that night, yet he had not forgotten the sensation of touching her; she had been exceedingly warm, an experience unlike any he had previously encountered, rendering him unable to restrain himself. Even Aiden had exerted additional stamina that night to prolong the experience for his own enjoyment; his wolf typically remained uninvolved in s****l activities, merely ignoring them as they were not his Mate, but that night was different.
Ryder had completely lost control and engaged in mating with her intensely. He only remembered her diminutive size and slenderness, which did not diminish his desire. He recalled asserting dominance over her to continue mating, hoping he had not caused her any harm. Although it did not appear that he had, that does not imply he had not.
Ryder recalled that it was her first time and had cherished the notion of being her initial partner; however, he now felt profound disappointment in himself for not having valued her more during that night in his bed. Detested his remarks directed at her. At that moment, he had not considered them significant, but after Nolan elucidated his feelings, it changed.
Ryder recounted his sensations upon touching her, his overwhelming desire for her, his loss of self-control, Aiden’s involvement, and the subsequent remarks of his doctor. He recognised that those words were utterly abhorrent and that her hearing them would likely be excruciatingly painful. He could not fathom the extent to which his words would have wounded her.
He realised he would have disliked hearing them from his Mate, especially if he had known her identity and she remained unaware. Had their roles been reversed, it could have prompted the woman to express that rejection.
“Let us return home, Luca,” he exhaled.
Ryder possessed no evidence to substantiate any claims at this juncture. He probably required additional information; particularly if she consistently masked her scent, he would indeed need to physically touch her to ascertain if she shared the same sensations as the individual in his bed that evening. Approaching her closely could prove to be exceedingly challenging.
She was presently absent, affording him a minimum of three days to ascertain his course of action and determine if she was indeed the same individual. Brianna conformed to the specified description, yet so did a significant portion of the Wolfen populace. He exhaled audibly.
Brianna’s Perspective
Brianna and Logan were dining in the hotel restaurant, accompanied by numerous other wolves, much to her discontent. She, however, disregarded them entirely, and they did not perceive her as a wolf, thus leaving her undisturbed. Most of them, at least.
Logan observed with curiosity the imposing men surrounding him, seated at various tables, some of which were occupied by she-wolves, presumably the future Alphas of their pack. The location appeared to be a gathering for Alphas; she could detect a few Betas, but predominantly, it consisted of Alphas and their heirs, based on her observations.
Brianna instructed him to refrain from speaking or enquiring in public, advising him to address the matter solely within their suite or at home, and to avoid discussing it with his school friends. He consented and nodded, yet he appeared somewhat disheartened. Seated in this room, he was undoubtedly intrigued by those in his vicinity.
“Excuse me,” Brianna observed the woman approaching her and sighed internally; it was the same young girl from the previous day who had approached her at the lift. “Are you Brianna Layla?”“She inquired.” She enquired why. Brianna was unaware; she had already conversed with her and knew the answer, or perhaps it was simply that her inability to perceive the woman hindered her recollection of who she was. Who was aware?
“Affirmative,” she responded succinctly.
