Page 75

Valerie was excited when she heard the knock, knowing that Ryker had arrived. His presence was greatly missed, but she was not going to tell him that.

Stepping out of the room clad in black jeans, white trainers, and a grey sweater, she looked rather gloomy with her eyes slightly puffy and her hair held in a bun.

"Are you feeling cold?" Alpha Denzel was instantly disturbed, feeling that she was becoming more and more human. Valerie would have put on a strong front if she knew she was indeed seeing a disguised Alpha Denzel, but thinking it was Ryker, she didn’t mind admitting,

"A little."

She couldn’t stop worrying about Ashley and her secret savior, as a day had gone unnoticed since she spoke to Ashley. She might not be her savior, but the abrupt way their conversation ended with her phone switched off since then was indeed worrying.

Sadly, he didn’t carry any jacket along due to how he wanted to expose the tattoo on his shoulder. Alpha Denzel thought to hasten things between them, especially when she knew him to be Ryker. The earlier he got her to fall in love with him, the faster she would get her wolf back.

The moon goddess would never lie about such things. "I thought you’d welcome me with a kiss," he said, trying to sound flirtatious as Valerie sat beside him on the garden chair, having a lot of questions for him.

She was also mindful of her promise to him, knowing that she wasn’t going to let him leave without doing as she had promised. Thanks to Ryker, her pack members were safe from the dungeon, but whatever means he used, she was curious to know.

"I owe you a kiss, and you will get it before leaving, but tell me first, how did you do it?"

Ryker smiled, and Valerie felt her breath taken away. The man before her looked old with his long rough beard, but his smile was captivating. "That is confidential information, but you don’t look happy," Ryker pointed out, changing the line of discussion.

"I feel feverish," Valerie let out honestly, surprised at how comfortable she felt around him. It was unlike her to show her weakness, but Ryker earned it easily. Perhaps it was due to her gratitude for his helping her pack.

"Have you exercised?" He asked worriedly. Valerie shook her head with a negative response

"No. I’ve been indoors throughout." Unlike other days, she couldn’t eve

He wondered why Alessia had not come to keep her company, but then again, she was the only one taking care of the pack and was still getting used to things.

Naturally, she would be slow, and that meant using more time in things Adira would do faster, but that was equally understandable.

As soon as Alessia masters everything, she would be able to spend more time with Valerie. "Do you need a doctor?" Ryker asked worriedly. Valerie was lost momentarily in thought. Even if she wanted to see a doctor, there was nothing Ryker could do about it in her opinion.

"I don’t know."

Ryker thought again. He couldn’t use his disguise form to get her a doctor, so he might have to come back undisguised to force her to see the doctor. At that, he changed the topic.

"Have you eaten?"

"I don’t feel like cooking," Valerie defeatedly said, sorry for not being able to tell Ryker about Ashley. Ryker could not bear that she starved herself so much, wondering if his decision of letting her live here alone was right.

Valerie usually cooked, leaving portions for Alessia. Perhaps he would know better if he saw Alessia later. After a little thought, he said carefully to her,

"If you let me in, I can cook for you."

Valerie stared at him in shock. "You cook?" She couldn’t wait to taste his food. As they say, variety is the spice of life, and at this moment, she could do with that variety to lift her sorrowful heart.

Ryker was happy that she was considering it, as he had longed to do so for her. It also meant that she was slowly beginning to trust him. If not, why would she let him into her kitchen?

"Why not try me?" He daringly asked, not caring that he sounded desperate. The more her human side began to show, the more she felt all the things humans felt. If she accepted her human self, she could as well have her full human potential, including falling in love.

It was up to Ryker to help her accept her human side, so she could fall in love like humans do.

Valerie smiled shyly, "Okay."

This was the first time she was going to have any man, other than her father cook for her and didn’t know what to think about it. Ryker’s request reminded her of her father. When she was little, she lost her mother and her father tried to fill in the void.

In spite of his busy Alpha workload, he did a pretty great job with three pretty girls. Except that one of them turned into the black sheep of the family.

As they walked to the kitchen, her phone beeped.

She retrieved it from her pocket, checked the caller ID, and saw a text message.

’Val, it’s Ash. I lost my phone in a fight, but I’m fine.

I’m working on returning to the pack. This phone isn’t mine, so don’t reply.

I will let you know when I get a new phone. ’

Valerie was relieved that Ashley was fine, and her mood brightened. It was even better that she was returning to the pack, as she would know about the happenings at the Yellow Moon Pack.

For as long as Ashley returned, her hope would be restored Her happy thoughts were distracted by the man who had gotten busy in her kitchen without asking her for anything. It was as if he already knew his way around the entire place.

"You have a phone, and you never gave me your number. Selfish Val." There was amusement in his tone, so Valerie was not upset by his accusation.

"Let’s strike a deal. I give you my number, and you forget the kiss," Valerie proposed. Ryker frowned a little. He already had her number, except that she didn’t know and the kiss was more important to him, as he hoped it would spark something between them.