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Never in my life did I ever expect to be buying over fifty white t-shirts, all different sizes. Here I thought the pack house just had an endless supply of extra clothes. Never really thought someone had to buy them for them to be there.

“Ok, I’ve done all the picking for the guys’ clothes, you can do the girls’,” Ryder said, putting his last ten-stack of jeans in the cart.

“Really, white t-shirts and jeans? That’s it.” I shook my head at him.

We were meant to re-stock the pack house’s supply of clothes, and Ryder really wasn’t giving the boys the freedom of choice.

He shrugged his shoulders and took over pushing the cart for me.

“Well, I’m adding some different color shirts, and, heck, might even lash out and pick a different style.” I shot him a grin.

“Go for it, Allie. I hate clothes shopping. I reckon that is why Zane jumped so quickly to do the groceries.”

More like he wanted to get away from me and said the first thing that popped into his head.

“Maybe.”

“No maybe about it, he hates clothes shopping as much as me.” Ryder scrunched his nose up at a jumper I was holding.

Rolling my eyes, I put it back down. So, he didn’t want to shop, but he wanted to have an opinion.

“So, you going to tell me more about why you’re never around here or are you just going to stay a mystery?” I selected a few different colored hoodies and placed them in the cart. I caught a glimpse of debate within his eyes.

So, he was holding something back.

“I could tell you, but the little you think of me might be wiped completely.”

“I doubt that, Ryder.” If there was one thing I had, it was a thick skin and maybe too good of a heart. I always wanted to see the best in people which was a weakness. “Go on, try me.”

Ryder’s eyes scanned the department store, and when he realized no one was coming near, or was within listening distance of us, he parked the cart and came to stand next to me and the current rack of clothes I was looking at.

“Now I’m really interested.” I looked up at him.

“It’s a long story you know.”

“Good thing we have a lot of shopping to do.” I waved the piece of paper with the massive list on it.

“It isn’t very pretty.”

“Well, you aren’t very pretty, yet I’m still here.” I joked and copped a shrug from him for it. We shared a smile. “Come on, Ryder, I’m a big girl; I’m not going to get scared and run away from you.”

It was clear Ryder didn’t know me well enough to know I don’t run away.

“Ok.” He gave in and let out a low sigh. “It all started when I was in high school.”

I nodded my head, and, while listening, I continued to shop for clothes.

“I met this girl; her name was Alannah, and when I met her, I just knew.”

“Knew she was your mate?”

He nodded his head and with a solemn look he continued, “She was everything I wanted and everything I couldn’t have.”

“So, something was stopping you two from being together?”

“Yes. Her. She was a few years older than me and to say she was set in her ways was an understatement. You see Alannah got what Alannah wanted. She wanted a mate to always be there, to get her out of the trouble she was in, to be, I guess, her back up plan.”