Page 59 of Ruled By The Alpha

Too tempting.

“Did I undercook the fish?”

Syra startled at the sound of his voice, and her cheeks heated uncomfortably as she met his gaze. There was a puzzled, almost concerned look in those dark eyes, but as his tongue darted out to lick a bit of food from his lip, Syra’s attention drifted.

“Uh, no. I was just waiting for it to cool down a bit.” She released her legs and picked up the small plate holding the fish, smiling anxiously in his direction as she propped it atop herknees. She didn’t look up again, but could practically feel the weight of his gaze lingering on her.

“Everything okay?”

She nodded, picking the bones out of a bit of fish and stuffing it in her mouth so she didn’t have to speak. Riden was keen enough to know something was up, no matter how nonchalant she tried to behave, so Syra derailed his focus on her.

“What do you miss most?” She dared a brief glance his way, pretending to be too occupied with her fish to maintain his gaze for long. “About your life before, I mean.”

Riden made a thoughtful noise. “My family, I suppose. And showers. I miss a nice, hot shower.”

Syra swallowed hard, a tinge of something unpleasant she couldn’t quite place creeping in to darken her mood. Of course, he’d have a family. He was a virile Alpha, a good prospect for any Omega. Why had she assumed otherwise? She hadn’t smelled a mating bond, but maybe it faded when you were separated from your mate. Syra didn’t know. It certainly would explain his gentlemanly behavior. “Your family?”

“My parents,” he clarified. “We’ve always been close. I think this was probably harder for them than me. I hope things didn’t get worse for them after I was banished. Wasn’t their fault.”

Relief filled the space where unease had been, melting the tension that invaded her body at the notion he might have a mate and children somewhere. It was stupid, being glad he was unmated. If he had been, it would mean he couldn’t bond her, and some of the danger of her approaching cycle would have been negated. She could have stayed close. She could have felt safe. “I miss showers, too.”

“If I ever find a place safe to settle, I plan on building one. Won’t be fancy, but a small wood stove would heat it. I’m damn tired of cold baths.” He smiled wistfully. The way the corners of his eyes crinkled made Syra smile, too. He had the beginning ofcrow’s feet, she noticed. He used to smile a lot, she guessed. So had she. But that was before everything had gone to hell. Now, there wasn’t often a reason to. It was a shame. Syra thought he had a nice smile.

“Do you think it will ever be safe?”

The question was out before she could stop it, and as Riden’s dark eyes settled on her and his smile fell by half, she regretted letting it slip.

“I think so.” He assured her. “Things are still settling. People can’t just keep picking through scraps for the rest of time. Us out here, we’ll have to go back to how things were in the old days. Form communities, help each other, grow our own food, and meet our own needs. There will be some security in that. The bands are starting to move the right direction, in that respect.”

“Why aren’t you in a band?” Syra asked tentatively. “An Alpha like you, I’d think a band would be lucky to have you.”

Riden’s smile returned. “That’s kind of you, Syra. But truth is, I’m wary to be responsible for the wellbeing of a group of people, and I’m not a second. Couldn’t join with a group that already had an Alpha. No one needs that kind of tension.”

“Wouldn’t two Alphas be an advantage, though? More muscle, more protection?”

“I suppose it would be. Even so, it’s a lot of responsibility.”

“Like having a mate, or a family to protect.” Syra observed aloud. Inwardly, she cursed. She was fishing now, feeling him out. And why? What for? She couldn’t even say. It must have been the hormones, she reasoned.

“Oh, I don’t know about that. It’s a bit different if it’s your kin or your chosen. Mates, they’ve got a special way of syncing up. Function more like a unit, understand each other on a baser level. You don’t have that with a group of Beta or unbonded folk.”

“I guess so.” Syra went back to picking at her fish, and thankfully, Riden let the conversation die as they finished their meal.

*

As the night wore on, the cave seemed to grow stuffier despite the dwindling fire. It made keeping thoughts about her heat and the Alpha across from her at bay increasingly difficult. The all too familiar discomfort made Syra wish the river was closer. A dip in the frigid waters might have helped.

If Riden was consciously aware of the shift, he didn’t say. There were signs that suggested he’d noticed, though. Dilated pupils, a rhythmic clenching of his jaw, the way he fanned the bottom of his shirt when he thought she wasn’t looking, the thickening bulge in his pants.

Guilt drove Syra to her feet when Riden winced and discretely adjusted himself for a third time in half an hour. She was making him as uncomfortable as she was, and she knew it wasn’t fair.

“I’ve got to go.” She snatched up her bag and glanced around the cave, chewing her lip and avoiding his gaze.

Riden got slowly to his feet, his brow knitting with concern as he extended both hands in a consoling gesture. “It’s all right, Syra. Everything is okay. You don’t have to go.”

“No, I do. I shouldn’t have stayed so long. I…” She paused, swallowing hard as she tried to formulate how to finish her sentence without giving any more away than she already had. “Thank you for dinner, Riden. I really… I really appreciate you.”

Syra darted around him before he could say anything else, afraid that if he had the chance, he’d talk her into staying. Knowing him, if she told him the truth, he’d want to protect her, whether he wanted to be with her or not.

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