MATED TO THE SECRET ALPHA
Chapter 123: Deal With Ryder

Chapter 123: Deal With Ryder

The next morning, Mirian paid a visit to Ryder. She’d heard from Marcus that Ryder was the one who told him where to find the body regeneration herb.

She owed him.

The guard’s didn’t stop Mirian, letting her into the dungeon with no questions asked.

They knew her to be the Luna’s personal servant, and for her sake, Delta Xavier was punished severely. And the guards didn’t want the same fate for themselves.

"Hoho, it seems the goddess does answer prayers, Ryder," Mirian mocked as she entered the cell.

Ryder had his back to her, watching the space before him. "Mirian is not dead? What a disappointment."

Mirian chuckled. Before, she would have blown up, but knowing he was the reason she was still alive, she didn’t take his nasty comment to heart.

"How could I when the goddess still has my back." She rolled her eyes, of course, she knew who to thank.

"What now? You thank that woman hanging on limbo?" He turned around, shaking his head with mock disappointment. "Seems you need more troubles in your life to learn a lesson."

Mirian took in a sharp breath as she gazed at his face.

His dark circles were large and prominent, and his cheeks were sunken, his beards overgrown, but his eyes still held that spark of defiance, like he wasn’t suffering at all.

She felt a pang of pity for him...just a little.

"Ryder, I..." she started, but he cut her off.

"Don’t waste your breath. I didn’t do it for you," he scoffed. "My Luna likes your presence and your death might cause her a bit of a heartache."

Mirian scowled, the little pity she had for him vanished in a heartbeat.

But he managed to render her speechless. Even after what he was going through, he still cared about Luna. Just how much love does he have for her?

After she was rejected by her mate, Mirian gave up on love and devotion, believing she’d never get it anywhere else, but with Detroit and Marcus crashing into her life, Mirian had seen and felt a semblance, or rather, what love and devotion might truly felt like.

Now, she kind of started to understand what Ryder felt for Luna Reana. Why he was so headstrong on pursuing her, even though he knew the chase might end up in heartbreak.

She finally got to understand that Ryder wasn’t scheming to become the Alpha –Marcus told her so. He told her being the Alpha of the Black Moon Pack was the last thing Ryder would appreciate.

"You love her so much?" she broke the silence.

"What do you think?" Ryder’s lips curled, brow raised.

Mirian’s lips thinned, her mind strategizing how to help him. After a while, she breathed. "Fine, let’s see what I can do to help you out of here." She added, "Guess that would make us even, yes?"

Ryder almost laughed out loud. His eyes shining with amusement as he watched her, arms crossed on his chest and back leaning on the cold walls of the cell.

"Even..." he drawled, lips curled as he chuckled.

What she did in their past life could never be evened out. She was a formidable villain in his love life and ruined his chances of being with Reana.

In their past life, Ryder despised her like he despised the moon goddess, but in this lifetime... Perhaps, he didn’t hate her as much.

"What? You don’t think helping you out of this place is enough to cross out saving me?" she glared at him. "Don’t be greedy, Ryder, I’m the only one who is willing to help you."

"Oh?" he chuckled but didn’t push it. "Well, seems your help will be much appreciated then, Mirian." He smiled meaningfully, his gaze raking over her features.

Only then noticing that Detroit’s claim on her had been severed.

Ryder’s gaze drifted back to her face. She was glowing. The type that only a fulfilled mating could give.

So, he decided to tease her.

"You’re glowing...differently," he said, amusement dancing in his eyes, lips curled. "A rejection, huh?"

Mirian’s cheek flushed as she struggled to maintain her composure. "Wh– what, what?!"

Ryder’s grin widened, his eyes sparkling with mirth. "You’re playing the game. A daring one. Can you afford it?"

Mirian’s face burned with embarrassment, and she looked away, trying to hide her guilt.

He sighed dramatically, pushing himself off the wall. "Perhaps, you could consider keeping them both."

The war between those two wouldn’t end unless they both had a claim to her. Otherwise, the Black Moon Pack wouldn’t be enough to contain their fury.

Ryder didn’t want them annoying his Luna, and the last thing he wanted was to reveal his true identity right now.

Mirian’s eyes widened as she cried out, "No way! It’s a taboo!"

Ryder arched a brow, "Oh? How true is that?" he tilted his head, "Doesn’t sound like the truth to me."

Mirian’s eyes darted around the cell, as if searching for an escape from Ryder’s provocative suggestion. "It’s...it’s not done," she stammered. "A bond between a she-wolf and two men is unheard of. It’s a taboo, a forbidden thing."

"Huh?" Ryder’s expression turned skeptical, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Forbidden? Perhaps...?" he drawled meaningfully. "But I think you’ll find that the rules are meant to be broken, Mirian. Especially when it comes to matters of the heart."

He took a step closer, his voice dropping to a low, husky tone. "Besides, it will interest you to know that such a rule was mandated by a jealous Alpha who lost his mate to an omega. It had nothing to do with your moon goddess."

Mirian’s eyes widened. There was such a story? Rules for their kind were made by the moon goddess and man-made rules could be adjusted.

If what Ryder claimed was true, then...then...

Her love for gossip spiked as she leaned in, "Tell me more," she whispered, her eyes sparkling with intrigue.

Ryder’s grin returned, and he pulled back, seemingly losing interest in talking. "Nothing is free, Mirian, you earn it."

As if a bucket of cold water was doused on her, Mirian grew cold.

Never punish a gossip lover with half stories.

Her eyes narrowed, and she reached out, grabbing Ryder’s arm. "No, no, no! You can’t just stop there!" she exclaimed, her voice rising in protest.

Ryder chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, but I can, Mirian. And I will...unless you agree to do something for me." He raised an eyebrow, his expression sly. "Are you willing to make a deal, omega?"

She glared at him, sneering. "I’ll gouge out your eyes if you call me that again," she said, making an exaggerated gesture with her fingers, as if she was actually going to do so.

Ryder burst out laughing as he shook his head. "Silly little omega."

Mirian fummed. "Before I’m truly tempted, what is your deal?"