“Should we go help?” Ryker asked.
Kendra shook her head and quickly explained. “It’s tradition that the luna only steps before the pack during the ceremony. She and Father will organize everything today. We just have to hide in here.”
“Then why did you say we have a busy day ahead of us?”
“Because I want to catch up on some paperwork while no one bothers me.”
“Oh, okay.”
“So… did you get to mark your luna?” Mike asked, curiously.
Ryker kissed Kendra’s cheek and pulled back the collar of her stolen shirt.
“Ah, she was very forgiving I see,” Mike laughed. “Welcome to the pack, Alpha Ryker.”
“It feels good to be here.”
“Well let me know when she lets you out of the cave and I can let you meet all the warriors.”
“I don’t want to step on your feet.”
Kendra couldn’t hold back a laugh. “That was his way of either inviting you to a duel or he just wants your approval.”
“I didn’t want to challenge my alpha, you know?”
“I’m not afraid of a challenge,” Ryker offered. “Even if I lose, I can only learn from it.”
“Perfect, it seems like my best friend and mate now have a date.”
“We might become friends, you know, Ryker? I like that attitude of yours.” Mike waved them goodbye with a beaming grin on his face and left.
“You two will get along just fine.”
“I don’t know if I should let him win though.”
“Why would you?”
“Because I don’t want him to look bad before his warriors. Or make them think I’m cocky.”
“You don’t have to hide who you are.”
Ryker shrugged. “If you say so.”
After breakfast, Kendra made her way to the office where she sat on the floor, papers spread before her. Ryker sat on the chair behind her, stapling and hole punching whatever she asked him to. When she didn’t have anything to do for him, he was playing with her hair and massaging her scalp.
An hour into their little work session, a knock on the door made them both look up.
“In the office,” she called out as she sensed her father’s presence.
He stepped in, his lips twitching into an amused smile. “Ah, I see you’re still not happy with my organizing skills.”
“I should ask for a refund. If I’d known about all of this, I’d have made you reorganize everything.”
“I labelled it by years,” he announced proudly before his face turned slightly serious. “If you two have a minute I would like to talk to you both.”
Kendra felt Ryker stiffen, but it was more of a mental block than a physical one. She herself couldn’t hide her worry and for a split second as she thought he wouldn’t go through with her luna ceremony.
“Of course. Come sit in the chaos that will steal my sanity very soon.”