Third-Person Pov
Rayna and Ryan stood facing each other as they approached the border gate, the air tinged with tension. They both seemed lost for the first few minutes before Ryan finally noticed he was still holding Rayna's wrist, his grip loosening as he released her gently.
"Rayna, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to drag you away like that. I know I went a little out of line, but please forgive me," Ryan said, his voice soft and apologetic.
Rayna's eyes were searching his face for answers, clearly confused. Her main concern was getting away from the drama, so she was not exactly angry that he had dragged her along, but what confused her was that he had pulled her out rather than letting her go on her own and working things out with Clarissa.
"Why did you do it then? You could've sorted things out with Clarissa instead of making a scene by taking me with you. I mean, it's already quite clear that she hates my guts, and I think you only made it much worse by coming with me," she said, not bothering to hide what she really thought.
"I honestly didn't think it through, to be very honest. All I wanted to do was get you out of there because I knew she wasn't going to stop lashing out at you," Ryan replied honestly.
He had not really thought things through because he knew Clarissa would not stop trying to attack Rayna, and knowing Rayna had a short fuse despite how calm she appeared, he decided that getting her out of that situation was the best way to keep the peace.
"I didn't want you to feel disrespected for coming to see me, especially with everything we had spoken about and the possibility that her words could have been very upsetting to you," he added.
Rayna's heart clenched at the hint of concern she heard in his voice. She had been fighting hard to maintain her composure, knowing that her true emotions threatened to spill over even though she could not dare express them.
She was aware that deep down, her wolf longed for something else besides talking with Ryan, but Rayna was determined to stand strong because she knew for sure that there was no place for her in his life, and she was content with that.
"You know what, Ryan? I understand now. After meeting Clarissa, I completely get it," Rayna said, her voice steady despite her inner turmoil.
"I do not intend to interfere with your relationship or cause problems for the two of you. If my father gets upset about the rejection, all I ask is that you speak with him. You already know how he can be, so talking to him myself may not be the best idea. Once that's done, I'll handle the rest. We'll go through the rejection ceremony once he comes to terms with us not being meant for each other, and after it all, you and I can go back to being enemies," she explained.
As much as her wolf was hurting, she also believed that she and Ryan were far too different to be together, and even though it hurt her pride that she was getting rejected, she managed to mentally convince herself that it was for the best.
Ryan nodded, grateful for her understanding, though conflicted by the heaviness he certainly felt in his heart. "Thank you, Rayna. I promise I'll talk to Alpha Kavan when the time is right. I'm sure he'll understand."
Rayna couldn't help but notice the relief in his eyes, and her wolf stirred within her, restless and frustrated. She forced herself to appear like she was doing just fine, hiding the storm of emotions inside her.
With a polite smile, Rayna bid Ryan goodbye, attempting to leave before her feelings overwhelmed her. As she turned to walk away, Ryan stopped her suddenly, his hand reaching out to gently touch her shoulder.
"Before I forget, may I ask why you came back earlier? Was there something you wanted to say to me?" Ryan asked with genuine curiosity in his voice.
He didn't expect her to come back on her own, even though he had wanted to follow her, and he almost forgot to ask him what it was that brought her back.
Caught off guard, Rayna's heart pounded in her chest, and she struggled to find a suitable reply. She couldn't bear to tell him the truth—that her wolf had called out to him, yearning for a connection that was not meant to be.
She couldn't tell him that she had foolishly let her instincts win and that she wanted to see if there was a slight chance that he would change his mind about not wanting to be with her.
As pathetic as it sounded and as foolish as she felt, she blamed her unusual attitude on her wolf and the stupid mate bond. She constantly had to remind herself that, before the discovery, she wanted nothing to do with Ryan and that every emotion of jealousy, desperation, and sadness she felt wasn't her real emotion.
"I... I don't remember what brought me back, honestly," she lied, looking away to hide her unease. "But regardless, it doesn't matter now."
Ryan studied her face intently, sensing that there was more to her return than she was letting on. He wanted to insist further and figure out what she was really thinking, but he knew he had already made his choice.
Deciding not to press her further, Ryan reluctantly let her go, his heart heavy with conflicting emotions. As Rayna walked away, she turned to look at him, and the last words she said to him almost made his heart drop.
"I can't wait to reject you."
***
As Rayna walked away from the border gate, Ryan turned his back in the direction she had left. He couldn't deal with the thought of heading to his bedroom, knowing that Clarissa would be there and that she would be most likely upset with him for leaving with Rayna.
The weight of the situation felt like a huge burden on his shoulders, and he didn't feel up to comforting his girlfriend when his own emotions were all over the place.
Instead, he headed to his office, the familiar space offering a momentary escape from the chaos he would have to be faced with later in the day. As he settled behind his desk, the distant sound of footsteps reached his ears, followed by a knock on the door.
"Come in," Ryan called, his voice subdued.
The door creaked open, and Ariella, his Beta, stepped into the room. She closed the door gently behind her, her expression cautious as she took a seat opposite Ryan's desk.
"Do you need anything, Ariella?" he asked, trying to sound composed.
Ariella hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I don't have any specific reports or needs, but I do have a question, and I would really love it if you responded to me honestly," she said.
Ryan raised an eyebrow. "Go ahead, ask your question."
Ariella took a deep breath, her gaze steady. "Why was Rayna in our pack to see you?"
Ryan's heart skipped a beat as he wasn't expecting Ariella to ask about Rayna, and he fumbled for an answer. He knew Ariella was sharp and wouldn't easily buy a vague explanation. "She came to deliver a message from her father," he lied, not certain if his response was good enough.
Ariella's eyes narrowed, not accepting his response. "Rayna wouldn't willingly deliver a message for her father to you. Besides, even if that were the case, you two would have met in the general meeting room, not away from prying eyes like you had something to hide," she countered.
Ryan felt his defenses rising, and he clenched his jaw. He didn't owe Ariella an explanation, but he also couldn't risk her jumping to conclusions.
"Ariella, stop asking so many questions," he said, trying to remain calm.
Ariella, however, persisted. "As your Beta, I have the right to know what's going on. We're facing a delicate situation with the alliance between our packs, and we can't afford secrets and misunderstandings."
Ryan sighed, his patience wearing thin. "I'll tell you when the time is right, but for now, I'm not ready to share anything," he replied.
Ariella studied him for a moment, sensing his reluctance but not backing down. She knew Ryan better than most, and she wasn't one to be easily convinced.
"Is it about Rayna, Ryan? Did what you two have to talk about involve her?" she asked bluntly, her voice firm.
Ryan's eyes flickered with surprise at the directness of her question. He hadn't expected her to be so straightforward, but he couldn't avoid responding to her.
"Yes, it was about Rayna and our personal business," he admitted, his voice tinged with resignation.
Ariella leaned forward, her eyes searching his. "Be honest, Ryan, is she perhaps your mate?" she asked suddenly, taking Ryan by surprise.
Ryan's heart pounded in his chest, torn between the truth and the fear of the consequences of admitting it. He had already rejected Rayna, but people finding out she was his mate would only bring chaos, and he wasn't sure he was ready for it.
Regardless, he made up his mind to speak the truth.
"Yes, she's my mate."