Page 41 of Resisting Fate

His father gets an excited gleam in his eyes. “One on one training?” he asks.

Ryker laughs and nods his head. “Yeah.”

I swallow hard. I know Ryker’s dad is good. He’s trained his family, and he has also trained Pen, Hailey, and Max. I know he was working with other pack members, but I was too busy trying to win my mate over to train with him.

“I’ll do whatever it takes,” I say. I look out the door when someone opens it and feel the pull of the barrier tugging at me.

Hailey grabs my chin and turns me to face her. “You aren’t going back there. If you try, you are going to do so with me hanging onto your ankles,” she says in a determined voice.

I chuckle at her words. “I’m trying not to, but I still feel the pull,” I say softly.

I know everyone can hear us, but I ignore them and focus on my mate.

“Then we are going to have to change that,” she states in a determined voice.

I nod my head, but I try hard not to get my hopes up.

I sit back as we talk to each other about Hailey’s parents and everything they have done for the pack for all these years without anyone knowing.

When the conversation moves to the two lion shifters, they look completely lost.

“Can you tell us your stories?” Ryker asks, looking at them.

“I am the son of the alpha of my pride. I lost my mate in a war between prides. She was protecting our cub when they attacked. I couldn’t get to her in time and, when I felt her life force drain away, I just couldn’t stay strong enough for our cub. I just let the lion take over so I couldn’t feel the pain,” one of them says. Tears fall from everyone’s eyes at his words.

“I lost my mate before I could claim her. Someone claimed her and took her from me out of revenge. She claimed to love him and rejected me. She was one of my best friends. Losing her felt like losing a part of me. I didn’t want to go on after that. I knew no one else would be good enough for me or take her place. I left, walked here, and let myself walk into the barrier. Once I was inside, I let my lion take over. I knew there was nothing for me outside of it. So, I stayed,” the other one says.

“Do you want us to call your prides? Do you want to go back?” Ryker asks after a few minutes.

“What if I don’t want to go back?” the second one asks.

“Then you are more than welcome to stay here. I’m not like most pack alphas. I’ll welcome any and all shifters here. It doesn’t matter that you aren’t a wolf,” Ryker says.

“Then I’ll stay. There’s nothing for me back home, but I don’t want to lose my humanity again,” he says.

Ryker nods his head, easily accepting him into the pack. That’s why he’s a great alpha. Because he had been on the outside and not good enough for the pack before, he would never turn anyone away if they are wanting to be a part of the pack.

“I’d like for you to call my pride. I want to see my cub,” the first lion says. He gives Ryker the name of his pride and the number to call.

Ryker does just that. He doesn’t bother leaving while he phones and instead puts his phone on speaker.

“Nolan,” a deep voice says.

“This is Ryker from the Blue Walkers pack,” Ryker says.

“The pack that protects the barrier?” the man asks, sounding almost hopeful.

“That’s right. There have been some recent developments with the barrier,” Ryker says.

“Is it my son? Deke? I know he had to have ended up there after losing Elise,” Nolan says, sounding more alert.

“Yes, it regards your son. Your son has recently gotten his humanity back, and would like to see his cub,” Ryker says.

“I’ll fly us out first thing. Is he there?” Nolan asks.

“He’s right here listening,” Ryker says, looking at Deke.

“Deke. Son. I have missed you so much,” Nolan rasps.

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