Chapter 13 Chapter 13 "Who's that?" Ryder asked as Kent stepped into line to grab food "Who?" Kent pretended to not understand as he grabbed a plate and looked at the spread that Elva had put out today - cold cut sandwiches, pasta salad, chips, and fresh cut fruit. "The woman you were talking to," Ryder replied, loading pasta salad onto his plate. "Is she a new warrior?" "A new advisor from the council." Kent filled his plate, resisting the urge to glance over his shoulder to see where Riley was. He had spent most of his morning thinking about her, unable to focus on his training session. He couldn't explain the relief that had washed over him when he spotted her walking with Patrick, or why he had spent so much of his morning worrying if she was ok. "When did she get here?" Ryder waited for Kent to finish filling his plate before they moved to a table. Fae and Connor were already sitting down. "Last night." Kent slid into the table nodding to the other two warriors already sitting there. Fae and Connor were two of Kent's best trainers. He had grown up with them and had been there when they discovered they were each others' mates. Ryder was a new trainer, still young but very promising. He had yet to find his mate and didn't seem rushed about it. Kent was well aware of his reputation with the she-wolves, but chose to ignore it as long as it didn't negatively affect the pack. "She's hot," Ryder commented, craning his next to look at her across the room. Pax snarled in Kent's mind, causing Kent to grind his teeth slightly. "Who are we talking about?" Fae asked, following Ryder's gaze. "The new advisor from the council," Ryder replied. "The woman with the gamma this morning?" Connor glanced up. Kent nodded. "She got in last night. She's going to work with Wesley to help figure out the rogue issue." "What's she like?" Fae asked, turning her attention to Kent. He shrugged, hoping he seemed nonchalant. "She was highly recommended by another alpha. She's supposed to be the best." Ryder's gaze snapped back to Kent. "That little girl? The best advisor?" "Yes," Kent replied, sounding sharper than he wanted. "She is a woman and even the commander of the Werewolf Council says she is the best." Ryder raised an eyebrow. "Ok, Alpha. I was just surprised. I'm sure she's good." "What are we talking about?" Max dropped into the seat across from Kent. "The hot advisor from the council," Ryder replied quickly. Kent clenched his fist, resisting the urge to sink it into Ryder's face. "Riley," Max said calmly. "Please use her name." "I'll call her whatever she wants." Ryder turned to look at her again. "Think she'll give me a shot?" 1/4 Chapter 13 +15 Points) Kent felt his face turn hot, Pax snarling in his head. He opened his mouth to reply but Max gave him a stern. look. "I don't think she has time to waste on little boys like you," Max said lightly. "Plus I think there are rules about council members fraternizing with pack members while on assignment," added Connor. "What the council doesn't know won't hurt anyone." Ryder grinned as he turned back to his food. "How was training today?" Max said quickly, giving Kent another warning glance. Kent sighed in relief as the conversation finally moved away from Riley. He stole a glance across the room to see her talking to Leo, her face animated as they talked. She looked up, catching Kent's gaze across the room. She smiled and he suddenly felt a warmth spread across his chest as he smiled back. He turned back to find Fae watching him. He forced himself to focus on the conversation, fighting against the urge to look at Riley again. It was futile though. He found himself stealing glances at her whenever he thought no one was watching. He barely noticed when Ryder excused himself and had to ask Connor to repeat his question twice before he could focus long enough to understand it. When Riley finally finished her lunch and left the room, it took every ounce of willpower Kent had not to jump up and follow her right out. "So, the new advisor," Fae said, raising an eyebrow at Kent, "what's she like?" Kent shrugged his shoulders and put on what he hoped was his most nonchalant expression. "I don't really know her. She just got in last night." "But she's certainly caught your eye," Fae commented. Kent felt his face heat up as he shook his head. "No! What... why would you say that?" "Because you were watching her for almost all of lunch," laughed Connor. "And you looked like you wanted to rip Ryder's throat out when he was talking about her." Fae smirked at him. Kent glanced helplessly at Max, who only made it worse by giving him an amused look. "I think it's great," Fae commented, reaching out to touch his hand. "You've been alone too long. I think it would be wonderful if you started dating again instead of slipping off every few months to see Iris. You could find a sweet she-wolf and take a chosen mate." Kent rubbed his face with both of his hands. "I don't need to date," he managed to grind out. "I don't need a chosen mate." It was the same thing he had been hearing from the elders for the last year. Fae sighed, pulling her hand back. "I'm just saying you shouldn't be held back by the past. You deserve to be happy again." Kent couldn't explain the lump that swelled in his throat. He hadn't cried over Lilly in years. He clenched his teeth so hard that his forehead throbbed. Shoving back from the table, he ignored his friends' protests as he stomped out of the dining hall, headed towards the elevator. His head was swimming as he turned the corner into the main lobby of the packhouse and saw Riley standing by the elevator. Leaning against a wall, talking to her was Ryder. He stopped cold in his tracks, watching as she smiled at Ryder, nodding as he talked to her. 2/4 Fury rose in him as Pax snarled in his head. You need to claim our mate before someone else does! He was almost across the lobby before he even realized that he was moving, his fists clenched tightly at his side. "There's plenty to do after training," Ryder was saying as Kent drew closer. "There's a nice bar towards the center of town that a lot of us like to go to. We're thinking about going out on Friday if you want to come with us." " "Miss Atwood has better things to do than go drinking with a bunch of pups," Kent said sharply. Ryder jumped slightly, turning to look at Kent. "Hey, Alpha," he said with a tense smile. "I didn't see you come over." He glanced at Riley who was watching with a bemused expression. "I'm sure Riley can decide for herself." Kent opened his mouth to reply but it was Riley who spoke first. "I appreciate the offer," she said, "but I'm discouraged from drinking or fraternizing with pack members when I'm on assignment." Ryder smiled ruefully. "Well, that's a shame." He glanced at Kent before taking a step back. "It was nice to meet you, Riley. I'll see you later, Alpha." "It was nice to meet you, too," Riley said with a polite smile. Kent nodded his head and watched as Ryder disappeared down the corridor that led to the warriors' wing. "You can relax," Riley muttered as she jabbed the button to the elevator. "I wouldn't have done anything with him." Kent stared at her for a moment, still trying to reign in his emotions. "I know that," he finally said. "Doesn't mean he should have been bothering you." She rolled her eyes as the elevator doors slid open and she walked in. She turned to look at him, putting her hand against the opening to stop the doors from closing. "Are you coming up?" He stepped into the elevator and she took a step back. For the first time since she arrived, Kent suddenly realized how much bigger he was than her. She stepped back, leaning into the corner of the elevator as the doors closed. Her lips were pursed, her hazel eyes hard as she watched him. He could have guessed she was annoyed with him, even if he didn't feel her emotion flowing through their bond. "Are you going to hit the button?" She gestured to the buttons behind him, but Kent kept watching her, taking in the slope of her small nose, the small cleft in her chin. She sighed, leaning around him to press the button. It was her closeness that finally caused him to move. Her scent, vanilla and cloves, was overpowering. The thought of any wolf looking at her, desiring her, was unbearable. She was his. He moved, blocking her into the corner of the elevator, grabbing her hips to pull her against him. She gasped, her head snapping up to look at him. He took advantage, burying his face into her neck and breathing in her scent. "f**k," he whispered against her throat. "You smell so f*****g delicious." 3/4 * Chapter 13 +15 Points > Her hands slipped under his shirt, her fingers brushing lightly over his abs. The touch was enough to send tingles and sparks throughout his body and he felt his c**k start to thicken. He ran his mouth lightly along her throat, weaving his fingers into her hair to tilt her head back to give himself better access. She made a soft groan and his c**k went fully hard. He kissed her just under the ear, pushing his hips against her, desperate for friction. She groaned, her hands running up his chest as she willingly tilted her head back. He trailed kisses along her throat, enjoying the taste of her skin he used the hand on her hip to pull her harder against him. The elevator dinged as the doors slid open. The sound jolted Kent back to reality. He jerked his head to stare at the open door in surprise. In that moment of surprise, Riley darted out of his grasp and into the hall. He quickly followed after her. Had he just been ready to claim his mate in an elevator? She stood a few paces down the hall, a look of shock written over her features. Kent felt his chest tighten. This same woman had just told him last night how she didn't want to feel trapped into a bond and he promised he wouldn't do that. Now, not even a day later, he had just pinned her in the elevator and tried to have his way. He felt the horror of that wash over him. "I'm..." He swallowed hard, running a hand forcefully through his hair. "I'm so -" "Don't," she said quickly, taking a small step back. "Don't apologize." He stared at her for a second. "I shouldn't have..." He took a deep breath, looking at the ceiling. "Stop." Her voice sounded strained, her face reddening. "It's not that. I just... forgot, you know. What... how powerful it is the mate bond, I mean." - He nodded, not trusting himself to speak. "You didn't do anything wrong," she continued. "I mean..." She took another step backwards. "I wanted that." She grimaced and shook her head. "I mean, I didn't - but I did at the same time." "I'm sorry. I just -" Kent started, but she cut him off again. "Don't apologize." She took another step back. "You didn't do anything wrong. Let's just..." She took another step back, glancing over her shoulder. "We can just pretend that didn't happen, ok?" "Yeah," he said quickly, grateful for a chance to end this whole awkward conversation. "We can do that." She nodded. "Great. Perfect. Bye." With that she turned on her heel and fled down the hall, leaving Kent to stare after her.