MATED TO THE SECRET ALPHA
Chapter 160: Suspicious Ryder

Chapter 160: Suspicious Ryder

Reana didn’t feel well after the hackle-raising meeting with Kael. She kept thinking of ways to turn the tables and her mind constantly drifted back to her discussion with Ryder.

Perhaps her only hope was to use Alpha Snow. If Mirian could convince Zeta Detroit to speak well of them and help bridge the gap between the two packs – if they could secure Alpha Snow’s support in the Alpha Council – then Kael’s threats would no longer be relevant.

The West Wood Pack had its own rules, so for both packs to integrate successfully, those rules would need to be revisited and amended.

With this in mind, she went to look for Zeta Detroit, whom she was told was at Zeta Marcus’s residence.

Weren’t those two at each other’s throats the other day? Did they suddenly throw their differences aside?

She scoffed.

At the entrance to the quarters, she saw them sitting under an oak tree. But surprisingly, she found Ryder with them.

Reana’s brows furrowed. What was Ryder doing with Detroit? She knew Marcus and Ryder were friends, but Zeta Detroit? He was from the Dark Snow Pack – a proud man who barely had enough words in his mouth for one, let alone two people.

Perhaps, if she didn’t already have suspicions regarding Ryder’s connection to Alpha Snow, she wouldn’t have seen anything wrong with this gathering. But now, everything – including body language – was under her intense scrutiny.

As she drew closer, she saw Zeta Detroit speaking to Ryder with reverence, his posture ramrod straight – like a subordinate before his master.

Reana slowed her steps, masking her suspicion with an indifferent expression, though her eyes flicked sharply between the three men.

"Ryder?" she called out, and he turned to her with a soft smile. No surprise. No awkwardness – like he wasn’t doing something suspicious. He rose from his seat and walked toward her.

"Done with your meeting? How did it go?" he asked sweetly, taking her hand and planting a soft kiss on her knuckles.

The gesture sent a flutter through her chest, but she pushed it aside. She was in no mood for romance.

"Not exactly as I’d expected. But nothing good ever comes from seeing Kael." Her gaze flickered to the other two men.

Zeta Marcus flashed her a smile. "Luna," he bowed slightly.

However, Zeta Detroit only nodded faintly at her.

Her gaze shifted back to Ryder. "You were having a meeting?" It was a statement, not a question.

He nodded. "I was telling the Zeta here about the plan we thought of earlier."

Reana stared long and hard at him before she shifted her gaze to Zeta Detroit. "Bridging the gap between our packs is one of the conditions I gave to be with Mirian. If you can’t do it, I’ll give my unwavering support to my Zeta here." She glanced at Marcus, who looked like he’d swallowed a fly.

"Luna, are you saying if he succeeds, you’d give him your full support?"

"Why can’t I?" Reana arched a brow at him.

Marcus’s eyes rounded as he snapped. "How can you support a stranger’s claim to Mirian over mine? I’m your pack member! I’m your Zeta! I bleed for you!"

Hearing him call himself a member of the Black Moon Pack, Zeta Detroit glanced at him and his lips twitched. ’This shameless idiot,’ he thought.

"Shut your mouth!" Reana glared at him. He’d been in the pack for years, saw how Mirian was bullied by Xavier, yet did nothing to save or protect her. And now that someone else was here, he was competing? "Why do you think you deserve her, when you weren’t there for her in her desperate times?"

Marcus froze. Then a small pout slipped up his lips as he stayed silent. He knew why the Luna was mad at him, but how could she blame him when he was mostly away from the pack? He was either fighting monsters or rogues, and he wasn’t so open to gossip. And on several occasions, he was carrying out his Alpha’s tasks.

Moreover, his circle was limited to his six comrades – from the same pack – who also shared the same limited friends. So, he hardly knew what was going on in the pack unless his Alpha gave him the command to find information for him.

Thinking of his Alpha, Marcus’s gaze shifted to Ryder, hoping he’d speak up for him. But instead, the betrayer was focused on his woman, staring at her with those doting eyes – like he’d not been extremely cold, unapproachable, and emitting death aura just a few minutes ago.

"Why are you staring at me, Marcus? Am I so eye-catching?" Ryder turned his head and grinned at him.

Zeta Marcus felt goosebumps crawling up his arms and he quickly hugged himself. He turned and glared at Zeta Detroit. "You!" he began. "Do you deserve her? You almost killed her! You put her in that state!"

Reana’s eyes flashed. Her cold glare fixed on Detroit, who looked down at his feet, feeling remorseful. "I’m sorry, Luna," he said.

That was it. He didn’t try to defend himself or explain. And Marcus, the bully kept hammering the point.

"You’re a brute. Who can say you won’t lose control in the future and kill her? Unlike me, I’m calm and reasonable. I don’t let emotions get the best of me. I’ll protect and love her better than–"

"Enough!" Reana spat. She was starting to develop migraines as she slowly pressed a finger over her temple.

She could clearly see what Marcus was doing: he was trying to sell her his good qualities while pressing hard on Detroit’s faults. "Go see how Mirian is doing. I need to speak with him."

"But Luna –" he protested, but Reana shot him a glare, and he left begrudgingly.

After Marcus left, Reana strode forward and sat in front of Zeta Detroit, who glanced back at the man behind her, as if seeking permission to sit with his woman.

Only after he received a faint nod did Detroit sit down.

"Alpha Snow’s letter cannot be faked," Detroit said the minute he sat down. Not giving Reana the chance to speak, he continued. "And also, using his name without his permission might not mean anything, but if he doesn’t like that person, there’d be a serious problem.

"So, I was telling..." he paused, considering what to call Ryder. "Master Sharp Fangs here that I’d seek permission from my Alpha. Depending on how fast the message is received... Until then, we wait."

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