New Alpha – New Rules(33)

It was big and had a brass headboard and footboard. The balls mounted on the four corners were larger than cannonballs. She noticed that one of them was dented and studied it. “Nightmare.” He offered and smirked. Harper smoothed a finger through the crevice and smiled.

“Did it hurt?” He nodded and kicked his shoes into a corner then pulled his shirt off. Harper watched him for a moment then went to the window. The pack was coming back to the house now. They were dragging their kills. “Damn.” She hissed.

“What?” He was beside her now looking down at his hunting party. “I don’t have the freezer space for all of that. They are going to have to cure that old-fashioned.” He leaned over and kissed the top of her head. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Get ready for bed.”

“Ryder, I’d like a shower and I want to brush my teeth.” He held his hand out and she went to her suitcase to grab clothes and her toiletry bag then joined him at the stairs. He led her back down and showed her the bathroom then closed the door. She heard him go down the stairs and leaned against the sink to look in the mirror at her reflection. One day made all the difference. She smiled.

Harper brushed her teeth then hopped in the shower and scrubbed her hair and body. She felt better, as she washed her old life and her old self away. She washed Bronson and his abuse away. She scrubbed the insecurity off her, the fear, and the insignificance. Bronson may have thought she was insignificant but Ryder thought she was everything.

They met just a day ago and already he meant the world to her. She dried her skin then applied lotion. She wanted to be soft for him, to be everything for him because she’d already decided that he was the one. Her wolf already adored him and already thrived under him. Harper wanted him. Muscles low in her belly clenched sweetly and a blush spread over her cheeks. She pulled a brush through her wet hair then tidied the bathroom. Harper gathered her things and went back upstairs.

She expected to find him waiting but the room was empty. After peering down into the yard and finding it empty, she climbed into bed to wait. It was late and the moon was high now. Her eyes were heavy because of the long exhausting day she’d endured. Would Ellis give it up? He’d never shown any interest before today in her and she wondered what brought the change. He’d always been cordial but never interested except to leer at her. They all did that though, all males checked out the females, mated or not. Sidney got hot stares everywhere she went. She wondered was her best friend was up to but then decided she was probably at work.

Harper sank down into the pillows and pulled the quilt up to her chin. It was getting a little chilly up here with the unfinished gaps at the other end of the attic. It caused a cool draft. Soon though she could hold her eyes open no longer.

***

This day was murder. Ryder scrubbed his hands over his face. The boys were gutting and preparing the game they’d brought in. Tomorrow they would have to get a smoker and he needed to order that damned freezer. “Ryder? Need help with anything?” Cindy offered from her place on the couch. Lucy was lying in front of the TV and her mother was reading. Mathew was probably already asleep. His mated pairs needed housing so the pup could have her own room. He scrubbed his face again. “You look tired, go to bed. They can handle it.” She said and winked. He smirked. “She’s alone up there Ryder.” Cindy grinned and went back to her book. The sneaky smile still curved her lips. Ryder waggled his eyebrows and took the stairs two at a time. He’d congratulated the pack on their magnificent work in the attic and told them how thankful he and his mate were for their efforts. They’d all swelled with pride. Now he stood just outside the attic door. She wasn’t in the bathroom when he passed it and he wondered how long he’d been gone. The bathroom wasn’t humid at all so it was longer than he’d thought.

The room was dark and he scented her freshly showered scent across the room. She was in his bed and under his quilt, the quilt he’d had since he was a pup. The quilt his grandmother made for him. Her small hand rested on his pillow as if she was looking for him. He hoped so.

Ryder tossed his jeans and climbed into bed beside her. Lifting her hand gently he held it in his close to his chest. She moved closer and nuzzled him. He loved it when she did that. She was asleep and he wouldn’t wake her but he liked to watch her and to listen to her. This woman was his. No matter how long it took to put his mark on her, she was his. He pulled her closer and held her tightly while breathing in the scent of her damp hair. Her breath was minty and her skin smelled of flowers. Lotion he suspected because she didn’t seem like the perfume type.