MATED TO THE SECRET ALPHA
Chapter 205

Chapter 205: Chapter 205

"Luna Reana..." he froze mid-step, nostrils flaring as if catching her scent made his brain short-circuit. His throat bobbed but the fierce growl from Marcus and the other warriors baring their teeth at him from the side made him swallow in fear. "...Lodgings are ready. Your warriors will be lodged in the warriors shelter."

Warriors don’t stay in the Alpha lodge for obvious reasons. The Alpha is only allowed to take one person – preferably, an omega.

"Luna, we’ll be on our way." Marcus bowed with a smile before leaving with the rest of the warriors to their quarters.

For some reason, the Luna was mad at him. He believed it was Mirian’s incident, but Mirian was awake, yet, the Luna had been ignoring him. He’d asked Ryder but the betrayer had shrugged and told him he talked too much.

Marcus was not reconciled. That was why he proposed to come with her, hoping he could beg for forgiveness on the way, but his Alpha wouldn’t let them near her– he was always beside her.

After they left, the guard continued. "You’ll be housed in the Stonefang Quarters. And the escort too." He gestured to Ryder.

"Escort?" Reana raised an eyebrow, forgetting her ache for a moment. She followed the guard’s gaze, and blinked. He was calling Ryder...an escort?

Her face changed, icy and freezing as she spat through gritted teeth. "The ’escort’ has a name."

The guard blinked as he stared at Ryder, unsure if he should apologize or bow. Reana didn’t give him time to decide.

"He’s my mate," She said, her voice cold as steel. "Show some damn respect."

She was already irritated, thanks to her abnormal heat, and now, she just wanted to vent.

"I– I..." the guard stammered. The Luna doesn’t have a mate, otherwise, they would have been informed. Without another word, he bowed slightly, then turned and led the way.

Reana and the guard passed quiet watchfires and other packs who had already arrived. No one greeted no one. Just stiff nods, and cautious glances.

Everything seemed normal, but no one knew that those people’s hearts were under arrest by a block of ice walking behind his woman.

Those people saw Reana. They perceived her phenomenon in the air, but none dared to think. None dared to speak, because something strange had clawed around their hearts – A squeeze that threatened to crush them if they so much as breathe too loudly, let alone talk at all.

Reana felt the abnormality of the situation. She’d expected them to laugh at her, mock her, and make derogatory comments. But when she saw them all stiff and scared with wide eyes, she immediately suspected her dear Ryder.

She turned to look over her shoulder. And the sweet lover smiled.

He was the culprit. Of course.

Normally, she wouldn’t have liked this, but right now, she loved it.

But it didn’t help the trouble in between her legs. The reason she was shooting sharp glares at the head of the guard leading the way. He didn’t turn back, but she could hear his ragged breaths and the thudding of his heart.

Her fingers tingled from Ryder’s grip, and her skin burned beneath the fraction of her clothes. The ache clawed at her insides with every movement, but her pride held her spine straight and her head high.

Ryder walked beside her, silent but watchful. She could feel his presence like a second heat—steadier, darker, and in perfect contrast to her current unrest. He said nothing, but she knew he was amused. He always was when she got like this – Sharp. Petty. Ready to start wars over an accidental word.

"I’m fine," she said suddenly, as if trying to convince herself more than him.

"I know," he replied coolly, his hands folded behind his back as he followed her steps with deliberate ease.

The Stonefang Quarters were deep in the heart of the ancient keep—rooms carved into the stone itself, elegant in a harsh, practical sort of way. The guard stopped at the thick oak door and bowed awkwardly, still not quite meeting Reana’s eyes.

"Luna," he said, voice tight with nerves. "Th–"

She pushed the door open before he could finish, walked in, and slammed it in their faces.

Ryder chuckled, then turned to the guard who looked stunned. "What? You want to go in?" He moved aside and gestured to the door. "This way..."

The guard bowed and vanished in the blink of an eye.

Ryder’s lips curved, then he turned to open the door and walked in. The moment the door clicked shut behind him, Reana dropped her composure. Her back hit the stone wall, and she let out a sharp breath through clenched teeth. Ryder locked the door, then turned to her slowly.

"You’ve been growling at everyone but me," he murmured, voice low and dangerous as he walked toward her. "Do I get the special treatment now?"

She glared at him. "Don’t tempt me."

He stopped inches from her, giving her wolfish grin.

Her lips parted in warning –or maybe a plea– but in the next second, his mouth was on hers, and the wall trembled with the impact of their bodies.

Her hands clawed at his shirt, desperate, furious, needing. And when he pulled back just slightly, he looked into her eyes with something dark and unreadable.

The scent of her heat was still thick in the air – sweet, intense, and overwhelming. Ryder’s jaw tightened, his fists clenched at his sides as he stared down at her. She looked wrecked. Flushed. Breathing like she’d run a marathon. And fuming.

Reana’s fingers curled around his cloak, her back still pressed to the stone wall. "Do you know how many wolves caught my scent, Ryder?" she hissed, voice low and ragged. "I nearly dropped to my knees..." her voice cracked with embarrassment, "...in front of strangers." She gritted her teeth.

Ryder’s eyes darkened.

He stepped closer so that her chest was against his.

"And you think I wanted anyone else to smell you like that?" he growled, his voice deep and shaking with restraint. "You think I didn’t want to rip them apart when they stared too long?"

Her lip curled, breath hitching as she swallowed down another wave of unbearable heat. "Then do something about it."

Ryder was on her before she could take another breath.