As the door to her studio swung open abruptly, she halted at the sight before her: Ryder Wood stood in the doorway, clad in dark grey slacks and a dark blue long-sleeved dress shirt, his blue eyes, flecked with green, radiating anger directed exclusively at her.
She experienced anguish tearing at her, and Layla’s heart rate accelerated upon seeing him, rendering her breathless as she stood gazing at him. Her own Mate, who remained unaware of her identity. I would never. Experiencing a surge of goosebumps across her body, she felt pain radiate within her. Rendered speechless and breathless at his appearance.
His scent remained unchanged to her, permeating her nostrils, while she perceived Layla’s whine within her mind. Sadie, his mate, stood beside him as he placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her into the room. She experienced excruciating pain twisting her heart, which now beat erratically within her chest, upon witnessing them together. She did not require this. Did not wish to observe him in her company.
She finally succeeded in inhaling a half-strangled gasp of air as she stepped back from him and shook her head slightly. He was gazing directly at her, and she realised that his Alpha senses would detect her irregular heartbeat and her abrupt difficulty in breathing. Her reaction to him in this room was unmistakable; the anguish she experienced, which tugged at every fibre of her being, coupled with Layla’s distress at witnessing him with another, was overwhelming for them to endure.
“You will create the dress that Sadie desires,” he asserted icily, continuing to glare at her.
Brianna negated with a shake of her head, as they would not comply. She refused to allow another individual to don the dress that rightfully belonged to her, particularly not the woman usurping her position beside him.
Observed him advance towards her, sensed Layla propel forward as they retreated from him, a snarl emanated from her in response to the menace he represented. Observed his eyes widen significantly, clearly believing he had arrived to confront a human. Noted his head tilt as he inhaled deeply, attempting to ascertain her true nature.
Layla’s eyes did not reveal her as a wolf; her wolf-like eyes featured white irises with a black perimeter, lacking the typical green or yellow colouration of a wolf.
Observed Sadie extend her hand to his arm, her gaze fixated on the placement of her hand, her fingers delicately encircling his forearm, evoking a profound sense of familiarity. An additional pang of anguish enveloped them as she experienced a shiver coursing through her body, followed by a tremor upon hearing Sadie softly utter his name.
Subsequently, they exited the room, traversed the interconnecting door to her office, proceeded through the door to her balcony, and descended the stairs at full wolf velocity, forcefully closing doors behind them. Rushed to the modest courtyard she shared with three other boutique establishments along the street.
Tears accumulated as she fervently attempted to compose herself and refrain from weeping. He had detected her scent, remained unaware of her identity, and simply stood there, glaring at her with apparent animosity, having entered her office to impose demands for his new mate.
He was oblivious to the extent of her pain, as he always had been, and why would he change now? Her rejection had persisted for years; she was inconsequential to him, had always been, and would perpetually remain so. Resented that she continued to love him, and that Layla also harboured feelings for her Mate. Disdained the lingering scent of him, leaned against the brick wall, and felt an all-encompassing chill, despite the sun’s radiant presence.
One hand covered her mouth while the other grasped her chest as she attempted to compose herself. Attempting to relinquish the anguish that consumed her, Layla was already curled into a ball of torment and despair within her mind, suffering emanating from her in waves upon witnessing him with another.
Descended against the wall, embraced her knees, rested her head upon them, and remained in that position. They relocated to another state, departing from Florida entirely, to ensure they would never encounter him or even hear his name mentioned. The industry in which she operated was entirely dissimilar to his, and she ensured that she never frequented the same social circles.
His organisation specialised in construction, erecting skyscrapers, gated communities, private log cabins, and residences for the affluent. The sole risk she faced was the possibility of working for the same individual, albeit the likelihood was minimal since she had relocated several states away.
He was now present at her workplace, expressing anger towards her for her refusal to create a Luna dress for his Luna. The girl had numerous alternatives for obtaining a dress, including the option to have one crafted within her own pack. Brianna was confident that Grace’s boutique remained operational and that Grace continued to create dresses for the she-wolf community.
