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He drops his head, stealing a quick kiss. “I’d love that, but don’t think I didn’t hear your stomach grumbling the way up here. If we’re going to have a practice run for tomorrow night, I’ve got to get some food in you first.”
I tilt my head, inviting him to nip at my lips again. When he does, I smile against him, then pull back. “Sounds good to me.”
“Be right back,” he promises, then heads down the hall.
I watch his tight ass go, stifling my moan. I almost want to follow him, but he has a point. Shifters have ravenous appetites. Food. Sex. It doesn’t matter. I’m hungry right now, and if I get into bed with him, there’s a good chance I’m not leaving it again until I’m forced to when we meet with some of the packmates starting tomorrow.
He’s gone for longer than it should take to toss my bags into the bedroom. Weird. After a few minutes, I head into the kitchen. It’s probably better for me to whip up something to eat and, after a quick search, I discover that his fridge is full of a bunch of Tupperware. From the quality of the meals inside of them, it looks like some of his packmates have taken it upon themselves to provide us with some food ahead of our mating.
Nice.
I grab one that contains enough lasagna to satisfy even me and Ryker, then nuke it in his microwave. I portion it out on two plates that I find in one of his top cabinets, then bring them with me back into the hall.
Huh. Still no sign of Ryker.
Instead of calling out for him, asking him what’s taking so long, I drift back toward the living room. From the last time I was here, I remember the mantle with its fireplace, the leather couch, and a coffee table that’s made of sturdy wood instead of the glass like Aleks’s. It’s far cozier than the kitchen, and the perfect place to eat our meal.
As soon as I set the steaming plates down, I glance around. Something… something seems different. And, okay. I was only in this room for a few minutes at the most, but even my wolf is trying to get my attention by rising up from her haunches.
Following her lead, I get up and approach the grated fireplace. There’s no fire in there—obviously, since Ryker’s been out of town—but that’s not what she wants me to look at.
Nope. She’s whining toward the pictures that cover the wall above the mantle.
There are about twelve photos, all different shapes and sizes, hanging haphazardly on the wall so that it’s more of a collage than a line of photos. I see a couple that feature Ryker as a pup, a few with him and his dad, his mom, and even a single photo of Ryker and Shane laughing together.
But that’s not all.
“Gemma. Here you are. I smelled food so I—” He stops short when he sees me standing in front of the mantle, staring at his photos. “What are you looking at?”
I can’t even bring myself to answer him with words. I just point.
“Oh.”
Right. Oh.
It’s not even the picture of Shane and Ryker I’m staring at. I always got the idea that Shane’s betrayal hurt all the more because he was Ryker’s best friend as well as the pack Beta. The photo was a reminder of a time when they were still friends, and if he hasn’t brought himself to take it down yet, I get it. This is his personal space, where he can be Ryker Wolfson, and not just Mountainside’s Alpha.
But the other two...
When I was last in here, I was poisoned by mercury, feeling the effects of the moon fever, and blindly following Shane Loup through Ryker’s house. Still, I couldn’t help but marvel at how I was inside of Ryker’s territory for the first time. Though it was probably stupid, I stopped in the living room and looked at the pictures hanging over Ryker’s mantle.
Last time, there were two empty nails still buried in the wall. It was like someone had purposely removed two picture frames from their place, but they’ve been replaced since then.
I swallow, turning just enough that I can get a look at his face. His expression has gone neutral, as if he’s not sure what my reaction to the pictures will be.
I struggle to keep control as I lift a finger, pointing at them. “These weren’t here when I was locked in the basement with you. Were they?”
Ryker shakes his head slowly. “I noticed when the Luna was gone that they were missing. After everything came out about Shane, I realized that he took them. I had them reprinted and replaced since then.”
I don’t ask why Shane would’ve taken them down. I can’t think of at least two different reasons that he would. One: he brought them back to my bio-dad for some reason. Two: he kept them for himself, and I try not to think about that one ‘cause it’s definitely the creepy option. And, three: that he couldn’t risk my discovering that Ryker had pictures of me hanging in his cabin while he was still trying to convince me that Ryker chose Trish Danvers instead.
Besides, it doesn’t matter why they were gone. The fact that he replaced them tells me more about his feelings for me than he ever could with words.
Still, there’s one thing I have to know.
“Did you take these pictures?” When he nods, I have to ask, “When?”
Because I can tell you one thing. I most definitely didn’t pose for them. They’re candid shots, and not all that recent.
