Rayna's POV
The moment the words left my mouth, I knew I was going to look like an absolute crackhead to Ryan now like I smoked some very nasty crack.
The air crackled with a tension so thick I was surprised Ryan couldn't see it. Judging by the furrowed brow and slack jaw, my declaration had definitely landed. "We're dating," I repeated, the words tasting foreign on my tongue. "As of today."
I watched him look for the first time, speechless, and couldn't help but feel a sort of perverted happiness at it. It wasn't a pleasant situation for me either, but for him, he looked like he had been smacked over his head with a steel baseball bat.
Ryan blinked, then blinked again, like a machine rebooting. "What?" he finally sputtered, his voice laced with disbelief. "Dating? Are you serious?"
I forced a smile, the effort making my cheeks ache. "As serious as a heart attack, wouldn't you say?"
I waited to see his reaction but was met with nothing. The humor died a quick death in the sterile silence of his office.
"Oh please," I rolled her eyes at the deadpan stare he returned, "It's just dating me, not eating a bag of worms."
"Do I look even remotely amused?" He retorted, the confusion now replaced by a rising irritation.
Heaving a sigh, I sank into one of the plush guest chairs, gesturing for him to do the same. "Sit, Ryan. We need to talk."
He hesitated for a moment, then perched on the edge of his seat, as though ready to bolt at any moment.
"Oh come on," I drawled, exasperation entering my voice, "I am not going to jump on you and bind you to me, Ryan."
"I wouldn't put that beyond you."
"Sit. Down." All humor was gone from my voice now, I was sick of the game we were currently playing.
"Alright," he said tightly, "explain yourself. What's this whole dating thing about?"
Here it was, about to get ridiculous. I was about to tell the most pompous, asshole Alpha I knew that he was going to date me, his nemesis because my FATHER willed it.
It seemed almost funny if it wasn't so serious.
"My father," I blurted, the frustration bubbling over. "He's announced to the entire freaking pack that we're mates and getting to know each other with… with good feelings." My voice dropped to a mumble at the last part, the memory of my father's booming voice and suggestive smirk still fresh in my mind.
Ryan looked at me, first confused then apparently, amused, his lips cracking open into a smile.
"You are kidding, right?"
"Not even a little." I retorted, with tight lips
It was my turn to be deadpan and serious right now. I knew he wasn't, but it felt like he was laughing at me more than the situation.
And I don't like being laughed at, especially not by Ryan.
A scoff escaped his lips. "Let me get this straight," he started, relaxing on his seat and folding his hands in front of him, his eyes meeting mine, "Your father announced what?"
"That we are together."
"And you expect me to just… go along with it?"
"Yes."
He scoffed again, this time with even more venom than before. "You both have gone absolutely insane."
"Apparently, maybe, probably, it really makes no difference to me," I said dryly. "So, for the next few weeks, we're going to have to pretend we're a couple."
Ryan's scoff morphed into a full-blown laugh, a harsh, humorless sound that grated on my nerves. "A couple? Rayna, come on. That's ridiculous. I already have a girlfriend."
"And?" I countered, my voice sharper than I intended. I didn't want him to know how much his derision got to me. It was a sign of weakness, and the last thing I wanted to show Ryan was weakness.
"And I would honestly rather eat shit than be in a room with you longer than I absolutely have to, late alone date you."
He had already gotten over the shock of my announcement apparently, because his trademark snarkiness was back with full force.
"Frankly, I don't care." There, a tiny white lie. Maybe a part of me did care. Not because I liked Ryan, heavens no, I hated him as much as I knew he hated me, maybe even worse, but because the dismissal in his voice stung. Who the fuck did the sly bastard think he was?
"You don't care?" He looked genuinely bewildered. "We can't just waltz around pretending to be in love. People will talk."
"Let them talk," I said with a shrug, trying to appear nonchalant. "It's not like it affects me in any way. Besides, if you're that worried about your girlfriend's feelings, I wouldn't mind having a chat with her myself. Explain the whole unfortunate mate situation."
I saw a look of horror flit over his face for a split second, so fast I wasn't even sure if was there in the first place, but it was gone as soon as it came, his jaw now clenched visibly. "Absolutely not. This is insane. I'm not participating in some charade just because your overbearing father…"
"Wants what's best for his precious daughter?" I finished for him, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Look, Ryan, I don't like this any more than you do. The last thing I want is to be publicly involved with you."
"The feeling is very mutual Rayna." He snapped.
"I would hope so. I wouldn't want my good name to be ruined now would I?" The words were out of my mouth before I realized how forceful I sounded. I needed to get my shirt together, this was getting out of hand quickly and I didn't like it.
A flicker of something akin to hurt crossed his eyes, quickly masked by annoyance. "See, that's the problem, isn't it? You think so low of me."
I bit back a retort. I wasn't even sure this was about him, not really. It was about the humiliation of being forced into a situation that made me feel like a pawn in my father's game. A game where my happiness was a mere footnote.
Then I looked up to see his face, the annoying picture of arrogance and self-confidence that had annoyed me so much so many times before, and then I realized, it might be about him. I just couldn't stand this guy.
I took a deep breath, time to diffuse the situation a little bit.
"Just think of it as a temporary inconvenience," I said, forcing a lightness that wasn't there. "We barely speak to each other anyway. How much different can pretending to be in a relationship be?"
Frustration bled into Ryan's voice. "This isn't a game, Rayna. This is my life, and I can't just up and decide to be in a fake relationship."
"Unless you want to explain to my father why you're rejecting his 'generous offer' for your mate," I countered, a sly smile playing on my lips. It was a low blow, but I was desperate. He might be a pompous dick, but he still needed my father's alliance.
Ryan slumped back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose. "This is unbelievable. I can't believe I'm even considering this."
A sliver of hope flickered in my chest. Maybe, just maybe, he'd see reason. Maybe we could navigate this mess together. Then, with a sigh that spoke volumes, he spoke.
"I need to think about it," he said, his voice strained. "I can't just agree to something like this without talking to Clarissa first."
"Oh really? You gotta run over and ask mommy permission to let you play with your friends aren't you?"
He didn't even look up at me, no reaction at all, he just kept staring at his table, his brows furrowing even further.
"Look, big guy," I said, after the silence had gotten too uncomfortable to ignore, "I genuinely don't give a shit what you and your little girlfriend discuss. My father has put us in this situation, and even though I don't like it, it's the status quo okay? It's what we have to face, so I suggest you stop sulking, stop fucking around, put on your big boy pants and figure this shit out, you need my father and these are his terms."
He let out a deep breath, running his hand over his hair, I could almost see him giving in, I could feel my hopes rising a little...
"Leave." He said shortly.
The hope sputtered and died.
"What should I tell him?"
"I don't care, Rayna, I have to think. This discussion is over for now, so leave."
Something in his voice told me he meant it. I stood up and without another word, left.
Clarissa. Of course. How could I have forgotten about his precious girlfriend? A pang of something sharp and unexpected lanced through my chest, leaving her breathless. This wasn't jealousy, it was something else.
I felt my hand involuntarily reach for my chest. It was a pain, a strange pain.