Page 8

A low growl sounds from behind me and I pull back from my brother's embrace.

Once separated, a possessive hand guides my body back until my back bumps Ryder's chest. I look up at him through my lashes.

"It's not like that, Ryder. Cameron is my little brother.

" I turn my head back to take in this unbelievable sight.

"I was so scared you were dead," I whisper, my eyes still wide in disbelief.

Unable to stop myself, I take Cameron back into a tight hug. Cameron says nothing but squeezes me back. I lean back taking in his face. He looks so much older."How, Cameron? We've been looking for you everywhere. It was as if you had fallen off of the face of the earth."

Cameron's jaw clenches tightly as he shakes his head, pulling away from me.

"So much happened that day," he says with a weak smile, but a heavy silence hangs in the air at his words.

"I was with the rogue pack for almost three years.

It wasn't good - beatings, starvation, sleep deprivation, and whatever else their twisted little minds could think up.

" His words startle me and guilt swallows me whole.

He's so much more brazen than the boy I remembered.

Though I know that the rogue pack took a lot from me and Jason.

..they took a whole lot more from Cameron.

"But one day the Royal Pack ambushed the rogues' base, finding me and some other prisoners in the basement," he continues.

He pauses for a moment before locking our eyes.

"I had just assumed that our pack was gone.

After seeing Mom and Dad and not knowing what happened to you and Jason," his emotions choke him for a moment, but he quickly clears his throat.

"My job here had nothing to do with other packs and no one ever brought up ours.

I guess a small part of me was always hesitant to go find out myself because I was afraid of what I would find.

" Again, guilt rocks my soul and I ache for my little brother who went through the unimaginable.

I turn to Ryder. "Would you mind giving us a little time to talk?" I ask.

Ryder nods his head. "Yes, of course. Take all the time you need. Link me if you need me," he rattles off, squeezing my waist with the hand that somehow managed to get back on there. I give him a small smile in confirmation and he slides out the door, closing it behind himself.

I place my hands on the sides of his shoulders. "I am so sorry, Cameron. We tried, but couldn't find you. Jason and I searched for you every day, in one way or another. We have packs all over the country on the lookout. I'm sorry we couldn't find you, Cam," I tell him with tears in my eyes.

Cameron frowns and shakes his head in a disapproving manner. "What happened to me wasn't your fault or Jason's. It was the rogues and only the rogues that hurt our family. You both did everything you could to help me and there's nothing more I could have asked for," he states firmly.

I give him a small smile. "Okay, little brother," I say.

Cameron smiles in return, pushing my arms away to bring me into another hug. "I love you, Snow."

I giggle at the nickname he so affectionately dubbed me when he saw my shifted form for the first time.

He said the white fur reminded him of snow and henceforth, he has always called me Snow.

"I love you too, Cammy." Cameron automatically groans and pushes me away playfully at the "girlie" nickname Igave himwhen we were kids.

"Is Jason here with you?" Cameron asks and I can hear the hope in his voice. His expression of disappointment crushes me a little bit when I shake my head no.

I motion towards the loveseat against the wall and we both take a seat. "Then why are you here?" Cameron asks, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

I sigh and let out a humorless chuckle. "The Alpha King is my mate, Cameron. I had to come back to the Castle with him," I explain. Shouldn't he already know this?

Cameron looks confused until realization crosses his face and he rolls his eyes.

"Of course he is. I don't know how I forgot that," he says, trailing off and staring blankly at the floor.

My heart aches again because I can assume that Cameron probably has forgotten many things from our life before due to what he's been through.

Cameron shakes his head slightly and smiles at me brightly.

"He's the black and you the white. Makes sense that the most stubborn female in the world would be mated with the most stubborn male," he mocks and we both laugh.

"You're friends with Ryder?" I question with raised eyebrows.

Cameron shrugs. "We aren't besties or anything, but uh, yeah kinda.

He helped me out and took me into the pack when I was found.

I couldn't really remember much after, you know, everything and I wasn't really in a place to talk about it, but Ryder understood.

He didn't have to, but he did and he found me a job with the Royal Patrol, which let me get back to a sense of normalcy. "

For the next hour, Cameron and I talk about everything under the sun, but mainly about what we've both missed in our lives since that day.

My baby brother had grown up so much in these past years.

A part of me feels grateful that he's been able to heal from his experiences and find a bit of happiness of his own.

Another part of me feels shame and guilt for not finding him before he ever had to endure those experiences.

I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you, Cammy.

After talking for a bit, we both become peckish and head to the main kitchen for some sandwiches. Once done, I make the phone call I've been dying to make since I saw Cameron. "Jason? Can you hear me?" Cameron stands in front of me with nervous excitement, picking at his cuticles.

"How are you? I don't need to kick some ass right?" Jason jokes, but I sense the serious undertones.

I roll my eyes and chuckle. "I'm fine, Jason. No need to go big brother on someone," I tell him playfully and he laughs. "Actually, I need you to come to the Castle as soon as possible."

A moment of silence passes through the phone while I wait for his response. "Uh, why?" Jason asks, sounding extremely confused.

I look over Cameron's figure and smile. "I found something that you need to see," I explain vaguely.

Again, another moment of hesitant silence engulfs us.

"I suppose I can make a trip up there tomorrow and stay a few days," he finally agrees.

I nod in confirmation to Cameron and the bright smile on his face makes me smile as well.

He does a little silent dance that makes me laugh.

I shush him and wave a hand at him dismissively as I turn my focus back on Jason.

Jason and I talk for a few more minutes, discussing pack things before we bid our farewells and hang up.

After lunch, Cameron and I part ways so that he can go to his shift as a Royal Patrol guard. I make my way to my office to make phone calls to all the packs that are currently looking for Cameron, informing them that he has been found and thanking them for their efforts.

Once all the phone calls are made, I lean back and my eyes land on my drawer. Immediately, I remember the plans I made yesterday. Taking everything out of the drawer, I link Ryder. 'Ryder, where are you?'

'My office,' he responds. Oh, he's right next door.

Taking a deep breath, I can smell Ryder's lime and cedarwood scent making its way to me.

He must have just unhidden his scent.

Gathering all of the paperwork, I walk to Ryder's office, rapping softly on the door before pushing it open.

Ryder's eyes are already on me when I enter and a small smile graces his face. "Good afternoon, my queen." His smile lessens and his brows raise when his eyes travel to the folder in my hand. "What do you have for me?"

I chuckle at his seriousness. I hold the folder up, shaking it for emphasis. "Yesterday's little secret," I admit.

Ryder hums lowly. "Ah, yes. Yesterday's troublemaker, as I recall." Ryder motions his hand out to one of the seats in front of him. "Please, sit, and let us discuss."

Taking a seat, I place the folder on his desk.

He eyes me for a moment before grasping the folder and inspecting its content.

After a few minutes of silence, he closes the folder and gently sits it back down.

I can't read the expression on his face as it has gone completely blank.

Ryder leans back in his chair, crossing his arms. Uh-oh.

I might be in trouble. "How'd you get the blueprints, Jade? "

I can't help it. A small smirk pulls at my lips. "You really need better security for your office," I tell him.

Ryder rolls his eyes in response, but picks the folder back up and opens it. A few more minutes of silence pass before he sits back with a hand thoughtfully stroking his chin. I patiently wait for him to collect his thoughts. "Why?"

I furrow my brows in confusion. "Why what?"

Ryder motions at the folder he has placed down. "Why do you want to do this?"

I scoff, shaking my head. "Because I saw how small those rooms are.

After serving the Castle and its residents all day, I believe that these people deserve to go home to a place no less nice than mine.

Not a room where you take five steps and hit a wall.

" Ryder listens to me explain my reasonings and the recommendation report I made on why this is a good idea for the next twenty-five minutes, not looking away or uninterested for a second.

When I finish, I again wait patiently for Ryder to consider the plans and my report.

Ryder watches me intently as I wait, as though he's reading something on my face.

A moment later, an emotion that resembles pride crosses his eyes.

With a smile pulling at the right side of his lip, he nods.

"Okay. It is a very well-executed plan. I will get in touch with some contractors. "

"Really?" I ask, surprised. Yes, while I was hopeful that Ryder would hear me out and agree, a part of me was unsure.

I've never been in a position to make a real change among people, so trying to begin that journey is a little nerve-racking.

Ryder nods again and it's my turn to smile.

In a desire to show my appreciation, I stand, walk around his desk, and stop next to his chair.

Ryder, in response to my approach, spins his chair to face me.

I place my hand on his shoulder, leaning down and placing a lingering kiss on his cheek.

I turn my lips to his ear. "Thank you," I whisper.

Ryder's hands find my hips, his fingers running those amazing sparks along the skin between my shirt and pants.

He guides my waist to his lap, positioning my legs on either side of his body.

Something inside of me pushes me to take another jump, so I do.

I bring my arms up and connect them behind his neck while his thumbs rub circles into my skin.

I stare into his eyes, just studying, but then Ryder begins to smile bashfully. "Why are you staring at me like that?" Ryder laughs. I can't help but smile back, shaking my head, but not breaking eye contact.

I move my fingers to lightly play with the hair on the back of his neck and giggle when I feel Ryder's body react to my movements.

Suddenly, one of Ryder's hands leaves my hips and lightly grasps my throat.

A small gasp escapes me and my smile slowly falls in anticipation of his next move.

Ryder's eyes grow dark then he pulls my throat down to connect our lips.

Again, an explosion of sparks and lust rush me at the contact.

I've never had a kiss that actually made me feel sparks.

I wrap my arms tighter behind his neck, bringing us closer, but it's not enough for Ryder.

Using both hands, he grasps my thighs, picking me up slightly and pulling me flush to his body.

I moan against his lips at the lascivious contact and the desire that rushes through me, but mostly at the protrusion I feel between our bodies.

My heart is racing and my head feels like I stood up too quickly but in the best way.

Okay, maybe we're moving too fast.

Placing my hands on his chest, I gently pull away from him.

My eyelids feel heavy with desire, but I know that we both need to stop before we can't. I rest my forehead against his as we both breathe heavily.

His thumbs, now resting on top of my thighs, continue to rub soft circular motions and spread the delicious sparks deeper.

Wrapping my arms around his waist, I lean my head so that it lays in the crook of Ryder's shoulder and I unashamedly inhale deep breaths of his scent.

He literally smells so fucking good. Ryder continues to massage my thighs with his calloused yet gentle hands and I rest there truly enjoying his company. Maybe this won't be so bad.

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