Page 57 of Pack Captive

"I'll take it from here, Eryn," he said, giving me the grin that always made my stomach flip-flop.

"Yes, Alpha," Eryn replied automatically, turning his back on us and leaving me with the Alpha.

Who was looking at me like he wanted to eat me whole.

And I was perfectly happy with that.

17

Ayla

I was suddenly self-conscious,which was very unlike me.

He'd found me covered in filth, my hair matted, and now I was balking because I was sweaty. My braid had come unpinned and hung down my back.

All I wanted was to wash and eat, but from the look in Ryden's eyes, he had other plans.

"I'll bring you back to the Palace," he said, reaching and putting a hand in the small of my back.

I mentally cringed away from the touch, not because I didn't enjoy it, but because I didn't want him feeling my sweat-soaked clothes or how hard I was still breathing.

Eryn was right; I was used to rough terrain, but for short spurts, not extended periods. I was underfed and not in the best shape of my life.

Or maybe I was still breathing hard because it was nearly impossible to unglue my eyes from the dips and valleys of Ryden's chiseled torso.

It was hard to say which was affecting me more, the exercise, or the sight of the half-naked Alpha.

Either way, Ryden clearly wasn't letting me go. He guided me towards the exit of the amphitheater.

"How did it go with the Elder Caller?" he asked, looking down at me. I was a whole head and a half shorter than him.

Unlike Calian's sidelong glances, he looked at me directly.

"You could've warned me she was your mother," I finally said.

Ryden laughed. "And ruin the fun? I was curious if you two would get along without me interfering."

We walked up the street, drawing eyes from passing wolves, but as usual I found I didn't have a care in the world when Ryden was around.

"We eventually came to an understanding. But I'm curious to know...what did Tyra do to everyone?"

I was looking at him when I asked, and his expression went from easygoing to closed off the minute he heard her name.

Whatever it was, it was bad.

A muscle moved in his jaw as he clenched his teeth. "It doesn't matter. She's gone now."

There was a hint of relief beneath the grit of his words, like he was happy she was dead.

Even Merikh had seemed put out with her. I hadn’t come across a single wolf who had respected the last Caller.

"Look, Ryden. Everyone compares me to her. I've already asked Calian, and he didn't give me a straight answer, but I am damn tired of everyone treating me like shit because they think I'm going to be her twin."

Ryden's hard gaze softened a little, but not much. He finally blew out a breath, and the hand on my lower back tightened.

"Ayla, if you asked me to take my hands off you, and never touch you again...I would do that."

I had a sudden foreboding feeling about what he was going to tell me.

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