Page 16

I step out of the car and glance over at Ryder who hasn't said a word to me since the mall. I sigh and walk up the steps of the Castle. I notice the sunset setting over a hill, the light shining through the trees. I stop and then walk over the the edge of the Castle's front deck.

I stare at the beautiful view as a memory comes to my mind.

"Look daddy! It's so pretty." I say and point at the sunset fading behind the horizon.

My dad smiles down at me, "Just like you princess.

You are gorgeous and don't you ever let anyone ever tell you otherwise.

If they do, they are just blind as a bat.

" He says and then tickles my sides. I let out squeal of laughter and squirm away from his fingers.

"Daddy stop!" I laugh. He stops and laughs.

My dad kisses my forehead and smiles at me, "I love you my sunshine.

" I smile up at him, "I love you too daddy.

" I say. "Hello my darlings." A sweet voice says from behind us.

We turn and a bright smile graces my dads face, the face he always got when he looked at my mother.

"Snow come on! Lets play tag!" Jason yells.

"You're it!" He yells after he starts running.

I jump up from my dad's lap and take off after him, "No fair!

" I yell after him. I hear my parents soft laughs as I chase my brother around the open field with the sunset glowing around us.

"Hey, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" A voice breaks me away from my memories.

I glance to my side and then look down, quickly wiping the tears that I hadn't realized fell from my face.

I chuckle humorlessly, "I'm not crying, my eyes are just sweating.

" I joke. I look back over to see Ryder with a small frown on his face.

He reaches his hand up and wipes away a tear I forgot to.

Ryder walks closer to me and pulls me softly to him.

I sigh and bury my face in his chest. "What's the matter, love?

Did I do something?" He asks in my ear. I shake my head softly.

"Love please tell me." He pleads gently.

I sigh and close my eyes as Ryder strokes my hair and place his hand on the back of my waist. "I was just remembering something. " I say dismissively.

"Was it something sad?" he asked. I shake my head, "No, actually it was a happy memory.

" I tell him. "Then why were you crying?

" he questions. I bite my lip and tears fill my eyes, I stay silent.

Ryder places his hand under my chin and gently makes me look up at him, "It's okay Jade.

Don't cry baby, you too beautiful for that.

" he says, I know he is trying to lighten the mood.

I laugh but my voice is thick from the lump in my throat.

"I was crying because it was about my parents.

..when they were alive." I say and whisper the last part.

Ryder tightens his grip on me, "I'm so sorry Jade.

It will be okay, I'm here for you." Ryder soothes.

I just let him hold me as I calm down. "Hey Ryd- oh sorry.

I'll save it for later." Evan voice says from a few feet away.

I pull away from Ryder and give Evan a small smile, "No, I was just leaving.

Please continue." I say as I start walking inside.

A hand grabs mine and pulls me back, I look up at Ryder who has a worried look on his face.

"You don't have to go Jade. I can talk to him later.

" he says searching my eyes. I smile at him softly and shake my head, "I'll be fine," I lean up and peck his cheek, "Talk to Evan.

I'll still be here when you are finished.

" I tell him and walk away from him again, this time he doesn't grab me.

I give Evan one last smile and wave before walking inside the doors that the guards have already opened.

I go up to our room and go to the closet. I changed into a black tank top, a gray and black hoodie, and black jeans. I slip on my black and white converse and then head back out.

I walk around the castle for a little while after grabbing my phone and headphones.

I see a small body sitting in a chair with their feet swinging and their face covered by a book.

I smile and place my phone in my pocket.

I walk over to the chair and squat down.

They don't see to notice me so I tap on the back of the book.

They jump and look down at me. "Hey there handsome.

" I say. Tyler smiles shyly, "Hello Luna. " he greets.

"So what are you doing?" I ask. "Reading.

" I smile, "Oh yeah? Whatcha reading?" I question.

"The Maze Runner." he says. "I love that book.

Do you have the next two books?" I ask him.

Tyler shakes his head, "No and the library doesn't have them either.

" he tells me. I think for a minute, "Okay then.

Well I gotta go, okay? Come find me and visit with me sometimes.

" I tell him and stand up. He smiles, "Okay. "

I smile at him one last time before heading back down the hall.

'Ryder?' I call out through the mind link.

'Yes baby? You alright?' He answers back quickly.

'I'm fine, but I need to go out. I'll be back as soon as possible, okay?

' I ask him. 'I don't know. I don't want you going out alone.

' He said after a moment. 'Ryder I'll be fine.

I'll be back soon. Just for a bit.' I assure.

Ryder sighs, 'Okay but please be safe.' 'I will.' I say and grab a pair of keys from the garage. I click the button and follow the beep to a Ram truck. I hop in and start off to my destination.

A little while later I pull up outside of Barns and Nobles.

I go inside and look around until I find the teen fiction.

I look up and down the aisles until I find what I'm looking for.

The last two books of the Maze Runner series.

I also grabbed the entire Divergent series.

I quickly bought the books and got back in the car.

As I drive back I notice a bright neon sign. When I get closer I see it says tattoos. I think for a moment before I quickly turn the car and pull into the parking lot.I look around before I step out of the car and make my way inside.

Inside is very dark with neon signs everywhere. There are pictures of people with tattoos and sketches all over the walls and counters. The bell rings as the door closes behind me. "Hey. What can I do for you today?" Someone asks.

I turn my head to see a woman with tattoos up and down her arms and her brown hair in a long braid but you can see the strands of red running through her hair.

"I'm here to get a tattoo." I tell her as I run my hand across a beautiful drawing of a rose.

"Just one or do you want more? And are you going to pick out a sketch or do you want something drawn up? " She asks.

I think for a minute as I look over the drawings and one spots my eye.

"I want three. One sketch and two I need to be drawn out.

" I tell her. "Okay. What's the sketch? We will get started on your own sketches.

" she says. I pick up a sketch that has flowers all over it and hand it to her.

"I want this one going down the side of my hip and thigh.

" I explain and show her with my hand. She nods and places the sketch down and picks up some paper and pencil.

"Alright come sit down and tell me what you want and make sure you correct me if don't draw it right.

" She says. I sit down with her and walk her through the two tattoos that I want.

After about an hour or two she's finished the drawings.

I smile at them, "They're perfect." I tell her.

She gives me a smile and stands up, "Okay lets do this. I'm Dianna by the way."

Dianna leads me to a back room and tells me to sit down, so I do.

She starts to clean the supplies she'll need and then turns back to me.

"You ready?" She asks. I nod, "Yeah." I say and that's all she needs to start.

"In that case, this is gonna sound weird, but I need you to strip down to you underwear.

" she says. I laugh and nod. "You were right about the sounding weird part.

" I tell her as I lift off my hoodie and take off my jeans, which left me in my tank top and panties.

Many hours later and two tattoos in, I feel something nudging in my head.

I open up my link and Ryder's voice comes through instantly.

'Jade! Are you okay? Where are you? It's been hours without a word.

' he says frantically. 'Ryder calm down.

I'll be back soon, I promise. I'm fine.' I calm him.

'Where are you?' He asks. I didn't want him to know I had tattoos at the moment and I didn't want to lie to him either.

'You'll find out later.' I tease.

'Jade tell me where you are.' he says.

'Sorry, I gotta go. I'll be there before you know it.

' I say. 'Jade-' I cut him off before he can say anything.

More hours go by until Dianna sits up with a smile on her face.

"I'm all done." She says cheerfully. I stand up and walk over to a full body mirror.

My eyes wonder to my side thigh where the flowers are and smile slightly.

Then I look down at my forearm where there is a shadow of a forest. Then finally I turn to my shoulder and see the Yin Yang wolves on my left shoulder.

I turn back to Dianna and give her a bright and grateful smile, "They are amazing!

Thank you so much." I thank her. Dianna smiles at me, "You're welcome.

" I sit back down and she places so cream over my tattoos and then puts bandages over them.

"Okay take off the bandages when you get home and let them breathe and don't forget to place this cream on them before you go to sleep.

" she directs. I nod and gently pull my clothes back on when she leaves the room.

I pay her, thank her for all her hard work, and head outside.

I get back in the truck and finally head back to the castle.

I get back soon, pick up the books I bought, and when I walk through the doors I'm instantly pulled into somebody's arms and judging the scent and sparks, it is Ryder.

I hug him back, "Hello to you too." I laugh.

He pulled back with a frown and I notice his eyes go to dark blue, "Why do you smell like blood? " He asks.

Dammit. I open my mouth to answer but am cut off by Sean. "Hey, Alpha. I got a question about training."

Ryder growls under his breath. "Go ask Evan."

"Evan told me to ask you," he counters.

Ryder lets go of me and turns to Sean. "What is it?" I don't hear his question because I use werewolf speed to get out of there and up to my room.

I place the books down and grab a long sleeve black shirt and some loose gray sweatshirt. I go to the bathroom and lock the door. I start the shower and take off my clothes. Carefully I take the bandages off of my tattoos. I smile at them and gently run my hand on them.

I step in the shower and wash over myself, making sure to get the smell of blood and everything off me. I get out a little while later and dry myself off fully. I place the cream on my tattoos and then pull on my clothes, I brush my teeth, and then my hair.

I sigh and walk back into the room. Ryder isn't in the room yet but I am too tired to wait up for him.

I lay down under the covers and get comfortable.

The room is completely silent except for the sounds of me breathing.

I feel my eyes getting heavier and as I'm about to fall asleep I hear the bedroom door open and I know it's Ryder.

I hear shuffling around the room and then hear the water running in the bathroom.

Soon after, the water shuts off and I hear more shuffling.

I hear him walk back into the room and to the other side of the bed.

The bed dips when he lays down and he sighs.

I feel him scoot around and then his arm wraps around me and pulls me to his chest.

My body relaxes in his touch and I turn in his arms and I rest my head on his shoulder.

I felt his hand push some hair off my face and then his lips press softly against my forehead.

"Goodnight my love." He whispers as he strokes my hair repeatedly.

Between his warmth, the hair strokes, and the tiring day, I was asleep very soon.