Chapter 23

**Ryland**

"You ready?" Marcus asked.
"Are you kidding me?" I said with an expression that said, did you really just ask me that?
He just chuckled and shook his head as he walked to his car and climbed in. I hopped into mine right behind him and we were off to WestWood Territory.
"Finally," my wolf said and I couldn't agree more. These last few days had been torture for us and I couldn't wait to see my mate so that we could straighten this whole thing out.
The drive wasn't a long one and I was grateful. Once I was finally able to get out the suffocating car and out into the fresh air I felt both relieved an anxious. My mate was all I thought about and now I was finally going to see her face to face.
"Alpha Marcus," I heard a voice say. I turned my attention to the speaker even though I already knew who it belonged to.
"Alpha Zayne," Marcus extended his hand to the alpha and I found myself wishing that they could just forget the formalities and let us through already.
"Glad you could make it. I really am grateful you showed up to help us. It means a lot."
"We have an alliance. Of course I would show."
"Yes but still, we're right below your pack in ranking and growing. Some Alpha's would consider that a threat even if they have an alliance. The fact that you showed up says a lot about your character."
On and on they went for the next five minutes. I had completely stopped listening by this point and was fighting the urge to just cross the border myself. My mate was close, I could feel it. My wolf was making matters worse becaus kept reminding me that we were wasting precious time.
"And this is my Gamma, Ryland."
I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard my name. Alpha Zayne was starring at me and I was wondering what I might have missed. He gave me a nod to show respect and I did the same. We followed them through some gates and I could feel the change in the atmosphere from crossing into their territory. My wolf instantly went on alert trying to pick up the slightest trace of our mate.

**Destiny**

I was sitting alone eating as usual. Strangely enough I had gotten used to the concept. I had accepted the fact that I would forever be alone after the man that was meant to love me forever fell in love with another woman. It didn't even bother me when people stared anymore. I was okay with it now. I would never have kids, never get married, never even lose my virginity. If I couldn't have my mate I didn't want anyone and neither did my wolf. It just didn't seem right.
I tried to move on, talk to a guy or two but something always held me back from actually feeling something. Then I realized what that something was, they weren't him. They didn't look like him, they didn't smell like him, they didn't make me weak kneed when they laughed. I wasn't a betting woman but if I was I would bet anything that their kisses would be nothing like his. Even though it had been only one kiss, if I closed my eyes and really tried I could still feel his lips on mine. It had taken him a second to respond but when he did it was unforgettable. It hurt like hell knowing that I would never feel those lips again. That she would feel them everyday when they belonged to me.
Just the idea of them together was enough to send my wolf into a frenzy. I was jealous and I wasn't afraid to admit it. But if he was happy with her I wouldn't come between them. I didn't want him to pretend he cared about me, make me the happiest woman in the world and then betray me. I didn't want him to feel obligated to me because of the mate bond.
I paid for my meal and left the money on the table. I had nothing else to do so I decided to head home, maybe read a book to take my mind off things. I just wanted to get away from reality for a while, get lost in another world. It was the only way I knew how to cope.
I walked outside and headed to my car. My wolf became a little jumpy and I had no idea what could have been bothering her. I ignored it, that is until I smelled a scent I never thought I would smell again, it was him. The next thing I knew my back was pressed against the car and my wrists pinned above my head.
"Don't you even think of trying to get away from me this time. You're going to tell me why the hell you kissed me and ran and you're going to tell me now."
My breathe caught in my throat. I didn't know what to say. I had to be dreaming. There was no way this could be real. He wouldn't have come all this way for me. He had a fiance back home, he didn't want me. The next thing I knew I was being tossed over his shoulder.
"Put me down," I said finding my voice.
"Now you talk," he said sarcastically. I was glad he couldn't see my face since I was probably crimson red.
"Just please put me down and let me go home," I begged.
"No. You're not going anywhere until we talk. I'm not letting you out of my sight. Even if I have to chain you to my bed you're not leaving me."
"What about my car?"
"Forget it. You can pick it up later," I groaned. I loved my car. He gave my behind a smack and I sighed in defeat. The hotel he was staying at wasn't far, only about a fifteen minute walk, no wonder he was able to find me.
People stared as we walked through the doors. I know we looked strange with me being draped over his shoulder but he didn't seem to mind at all. I heard him say some words to the person at the desk and before I knew it he was walking again. I heard the elevator ding and he stepped inside. Even then he didn't put me down. He walked out and I watched the door close. We made our way down a hallway before we finally came to a stop. Only when we were inside his room did he finally set me on my feet.
"I could have walked you know. You didn't have to carry me the whole way," I said rolling my eyes.
"You like to take off and I told you I'm not taking any chances," he said ignoring my rudeness.
"Why did you bring me here?"
"You're my mate dammit," he said furiously. "You practically fucking rejected me without even telling me why. What the hell was I supposed to do? Move on and be happy? Just forget about you?" His eyes darkened with fury but there was something else underneath it all, hurt.
"Yes. That's exactly what I expected you to do. You seemed to be doing fine all on your own. I didn't want you to stop living your fairly-tale life all because of me," I said sarcastically.
"What the hell are you talking about? I have very little patience and you're talking in riddles. Just tell me why the fuck you left me!" He was angry. I could see he was on the verge of shifting, and it pissed me off. He had no right to be mad, no right to be upset when he was planning to devote his life to another woman.
"You want to know what I'm talking about? I'll tell you. I'm talking about your fiance. I am talking about the woman you planned to spend the rest of your life with. I'm talking about the woman you chose over me. That's right I know all about her. I saw how in love you were with her, without the mate bond. You didn't care if you ever met me. Hell I'm sure you prayed that you never would. I knew there was no way I could compete with that. I knew there was no way you would ever look at me the way you looked at her. All my life I would wonder if you truly loved me or if the only reason you gave a damn was because your wolf was forcing you to. I wanted someone that would love me for me not because it was their so called destiny." He just stood there and stared. He didn't say a word. I knew right then that I was right. If he had his way he would have never met me, he would still be with her.
"You're right. I loved her. She was my world before I met you. I never wanted to meet you. I wanted to live my life on my own terms. I gave up finding you a long time ago. I watched the people around me get destroyed by the mate bond and I never wanted to end up like them. I never wanted to meet the one woman in the world who could tear my heart in two. The one woman in the world who would be more important then the very air I breathed. Marilyn was a safe choice. She was someone I cared about who cared about me. I was like a protector to her, she needed me. I never had to worry about her hurting me because she was dependent on me. I was strong, she was fragile, we balanced each other. I liked that. I liked being in control. I liked knowing that she would always need me, until she didn't. She found her mate and I was lost, I was alone. Then you came along and left before you even gave me chance. I never felt so conflicted in my life. One kiss and I couldn't stop thinking about you. For the first time I questioned if I even knew what real love was because what I felt for you was something completely different from what I felt for Marilyn. I realized that her I could live without her, I could get over her, but not you. I finally understood that I had been afraid to find you all this time. Afraid of loving someone more than I loved myself. Even more afraid of not being able to control that kind of love. Even though we were brought together by fate I know this is more than a mate bond. I just want the chance to get to know you, see where this goes because I need you in my life. I'm sorry for not waiting for you, I'm sorry for giving up on you. I hated you had to find me that way but what I hate the most is not coming after you sooner. Just say you forgive me."
I was speechless. He had said the words that I only dreamed he would say. Now that he said them I didn't know what to do. Then logic kicked in. We were both at fault. I left him and that was wrong. I should have at least let him explain. I let my pride get in the way. I let all my thoughts of having the perfect mate cause me to react without thinking.
"I forgive you."
"Really?" I could see the relief wash over his face as he smiled at me.
"Only if you forgive me."
"Done."
"Now what? Where do we go from here?" I asked nervously.
"That's the easy part sweetheart. We pick up where we left off."
He pulled me closer and kissed me. I was light headed. The kiss we shared before was nothing like this one. This was a thousand times better that anything I could have imagined. I fought to catch my breath and he smirked.
"Come on. I have to be at a meeting soon and I want you to meet my alpha," he said taking my hand in his.
"Alright," I said trying to get the feeling back in my legs as I trailed behind him.
When we made it to the lobby Ryland froze. I looked at him curiously and followed his gaze. It was Marilyn, and she was wrapped around Daniel.