MATED TO THE SECRET ALPHA
Chapter 48: Far From Over

Chapter 48: Far From Over

Reana’s gaze trailed down Ryder’s neck, mesmerized by the gentle bobbing of his throat as he swallowed. The elegant way he chewed, the sensual way he licked his lips, every subtle movement seemed to ignite a fire within her.

Her skin flushed, and a wave of heat washed over her, pooling around her stomach, leaving her feeling breathless and bothered. The intensity of her reaction caught her off guard, yet, like she was hypnotized, she was drawn to his sensual act of Ryder savoring the banana.

The last bite of the banana made her shudder. Groaning softly, his tongue stuck out, flicking over it, biting and nibbling in a way that a distant, unclear, yet familiar scene played out in her mind - a man’s head between her thighs, his tongue flicking her...

Her skin prickled with awareness at the sensual nightmares that had accompanied her all her life.

Suddenly, she felt a spark of electricity, snapping her back from stupor. Her gaze dropped, only to discover that their fingers were touching, intertwined in a gentle, intimate grasp. The warmth of Ryder’s skin seeped into hers, a shiver dancing down her spine as she realized that she had no recollection of him taking her hand.

"You’re more delicious. Always have been." Ryder said, his eyes never leaving hers as he flashed a charming grin. "I can’t wait to eat you out again...as you liked to be eaten."

Reana’s throat constricted, and she gulped, her heart racing with confusion and desire. "What are you talking about?" she clearly didn’t know him until days ago. Why was he sounding as if they... She swallowed hard.

"I mean, mangos," he smiled, yet eyes were locked on Reana. "Mangos are the sweetest."

"Oh," for some reason, she felt disappointed and couldn’t help anticipating his tongue on...

On what?! She wasn’t hoping to be...to be... No! She hastily pushed the unsettling thought aside, her mind reeling with denial.

Ryder watched the flicker of emotions dancing across her eyes, plus the flush on her cheeks, and grinned with satisfaction. It meant he was still capable of invoke those feelings in her - the moon goddess hadn’t stripped her off her needs. Like the last time.

The memory of his previous lifetime left a sour taste in his mouth and his expression suddenly shifted, his eyes turning serious as he abruptly changed the topic.

"My family had a merchant friend," he began, "They never ran out of fresh fruits and vegetables in all four seasons."

The sudden change in topic caught Reana off guard, and she felt relief from her turbulent emotions. "Is that so?"

"Even though the trading negotiations with the southern islands were successful, we can’t import fruits and vegetables from such a long distance."

Reana nodded quietly, acknowledging the practicality of his words. She had also considered the challenge of transporting perishable goods, which was why plan B was very important, but unfortunately, she couldn’t come up with any after days.

"Your family’s friend? You mean before your family joined our Black Moon Pack?"

Ryder nodded, "Yes. My family used to be their protector until a stronger power took interest in them."

"Who is he?"

"He is Orion, a human farmer situated in the boundaries between the North and South," Ryder explained. "For generations, his family had been experimenting with new techniques to grow crops in different seasons, and their results are impressive."

Reana’s mind snapped, a sudden connection forming in her mind like a puzzle. If she wasn’t mistaken, that was the village that was plundered by the Crimson Caravan. But that man, Orion, would have been dead by now.

A pang of regret hit her; it was a pity she didn’t discover the information earlier. I’m her vision, the humans indeed were impressive. They had managed to grow crops in all four seasons, even cultivating out-of-season crops with remarkable success.

"I heard they were attacked by some merchants recently," Reana said, a hint of regret and concern etched in her voice. After all, the people had a connection to Ryder and he may not have known this.

"You’re right, but Orion and most of the villagers weren’t harmed. My family had built them an underground tunnel in case of such attacks."

Reana’s expression eased slightly, a hint of relief flickering across his face. "Is that so? Then, I must stop by on my way to the North."

Reana didn’t ask how he knew so much about the village when he hadn’t left the pack, but then, everyone had their secrets.

Ryder’s eyes widened in surprise. "You’re traveling?"

Reana watched him for a moment, weighing her options. She contemplated bringing him along, but hesitated due to his condition. Yet, the thought of leaving him behind, vulnerable to further harm, was unbearable.

A protective instinct stirred within her, and she knew she couldn’t leave him behind. But her concern for his injury held her back. With the injury on his stomach, he wouldn’t be able to ride a horse for too long, nor could he shift, due to his wolf rot disease.

"If you’re going to stop by the village, I think you should take me along," his voice cut through Reana’s thoughts. "The village is under the protection of the Dark Snow Pack from the Southern Islands. Orion wouldn’t sell anything to you, as their products have been monopolized by the southern islands." Ryder’s expression turned persuasive. "But if I came with you, considering our relationship, he’d likely make an exception."

And now, she had no choice but to take him along... albeit, in a carriage.

Like a princess...

...

Madam Katherine had woken up a whole ago and had inquired about the situation that led to Ryan’s death. Considering the significant distance from her residence to the pack house, pack news took a little too long to reach her.

After Reana became the Luna, she’d sent her stepmother out of the pack house, citing that Katherine was becoming deranged after losing Alpha Roughman to death.

’The former Luna is becoming emotionally and mentally unstable after losing the late Alpha and six stepsons. She has not stopped crying and breaking things for six months now. She needs a quiet, peaceful, and familiar environment to get a hold of herself.’

The council members had thought Reana was genuinely concerned about her stepmother, but only Katherine and her children knew the truth; Reana’s actions were an indirect attempt to exile her, stripping her of the pack’s protection and leaving her vulnerable in the outskirts of the pack’s territory.

However, with her children grown and resourceful, her life at the outskirts of the pack’s territory wasn’t as bad as she initially imagined.

She had a handful of guards and servants at her beck and call, a humble, yet tasteful manor with a nicely decorated and furnished bedchamber. Madam Katherine lacked nothing in terms of material comforts, yet everything that truly mattered to her was missing.

She yearned to return to the pack house, to bask in the admiration and envy of the other women. She craved the power, the prestige, and the sense of superiority that came with being at the top. She longed to taste the sweetness of dominance once again, to feel the thrill of manipulating those around her.

The memory of her former glory haunted her daily, fueling her ambition and driving her to scheme her way back to the pinnacle of pack society.

But Ryan’s unfortunate death in the hands of that accursed child, had cast a shadow over her dreams. Yet, Madam Katherine refused to surrender. As long as she had children who shared her ambition, she knew that it was far from over.

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