I hovered in the doorway of Cade’s office, chewing on my bottom lip. It’d been three days since my fun swim in the freezing river. When we’d arrived home two days ago, Bastian had promptly disappeared, which I wasn’t surprised about, given how distant he’d been on our journey back.
Was a part of me a little disappointed he hadn’t made good on his threat to punish me? Yes. And for the last two nights, I’d had some very dirty dreams. All of which had involved Bastian . . . and Ryker. And the two of them putting me into some very interesting positions. Each time, I’d woken up with my fingers buried in my pussy and very damp sheets.
But those fantasies would remain just that.
It was for the best that Bastian and I had gone back to being distant towards each other. It would certainly make things easier when I left.
Still, I could admit I missed falling asleep next to someone. Those days traveling alone with Bastian had been nice. Despite all his flirting and teasing, he was a far safer option than Ryker, who had been acting extra possessive lately—if that were possible—and was the reason I was currently seeking refuge with Cade.
“Something you need, Rynn?” Cade asked from where he sat behind his massive desk, his gaze still glued to the letter he was reading.
“Mind if I work in here?” I shifted my weight from foot to foot.
“Need a change of scenery from your library?” He finally glanced up at me, one thick eyebrow arched.
A small smile flitted across my lips at him calling it my library. I guessed I had kind of taken it over. “Yes. Plus you have better lighting.”
Cade leaned back in his chair, studying me with an unreadable expression. “This have anything to do with Ryker following you around night and day like a lost puppy?”
It had everything to do with that. Things between Ryker and me had changed ever since that night in the garden. I hadn’t thought it was possible for him to get more obsessive, but apparently I’d been wrong. Based on scent, he slept outside my bedroom every night, although he was gone every morning when I got up.
It was like he couldn’t help himself and had to be close to me but also knew it would piss me off so he vanished before I could yell at him.
I spent most of my waking hours in the library, doing research about the crest. Throughout the day, he’d bring me my favorite foods. If he thought I wasn’t drinking enough water, he’d put a pitcher down in front of me. If I shivered even a little bit, a blanket would magically appear over my shoulders.
We barely spoke because I didn’t know what to say. The only thing Ryker had asked me was if I would go for a run with him. I knew what he wasn’t saying.
Will you go to the cavern with me?
But I couldn’t do that. Things had been bad enough when we’d been hate fucking. I was done denying that this had become something more than that. It was almost like we had a mating bond.
I shut down that thought immediately.
We didn’t. We couldn’t.
Soon enough, I’d be negotiating my exit from the Alpha pack. For both our sakes, whatever this was between us had to stop.
“Rynn?” Cade prompted.
“What?”
Cade looked at my hand, which I realized had drifted directly over my heart while I’d been lost in my thoughts. I promptly let it fall to my side, which made Cade frown a little.
“Is something going on with you and Ryker I should know about?”
“No,” I said quickly. “I’d just like some space, and it’s easy to forget you’re here.”
He gave me a wry smile. “You really know how to dish out the compliments, don’t you, Princess?”
“I didn’t know you required flattery,” I said flatly before inviting myself in since he hadn’t told me no. “If that’s what you’re looking for, we both know you can just walk into any tavern to get it.”
“You do remember my best friend is Bastian, yes?” He went back to sorting through the paperwork on his desk. “He tends to draw the eye wherever he goes.”
“Yes, I’m well aware of his attention-whore ways.” I snorted and set my books and notes down on a small table, close to the area where the wall had been ripped away, before walking behind Cade’s desk and looking over his shoulder. “New reports come in?”
“Yes.” He continued scanning the page he’d been reading while pointing at another pile. “If you have time to look through those today, I’d like your thoughts.”
“Sure.” I grabbed the small stack of papers and settled in my seat overlooking the snowy landscape.
