Chapter 8
“Ashton, I didn’t really intend to meet him, I…”
I didn’t want him to misunderstand.
But before I could finish explaining, Ashton pulled me into his arms, his voice soft with concern. “You sweet, stupid idiot, too kind for your own good, too soft–hearted to even defend yourself. You’ve suffered enough from that hypocrite, right?”
“It’s all in the past now.”
Ryder’s words were sweet, but I was naïve back then.
I believed him, and that’s why I wasted so many years on that relationship.
Ashton held me tightly, planting a tender kiss on my forehead.
The next day at noon, I went with him to meet my family.
The young Alpha, usually confident and carefree, was now unusually cautious, showing respect when he came into my home.
If someone didn’t know better, they’d think he was a completely different person.
My family was very pleased with Ashton. They eagerly engaged him in conversation.
I, too, was surprised to see him so talkative for the first time.
“What hotel are you staying at? Stay here instead, cancel your hotel.” My mom made the decision immediately, insisting that Ashton stay at our house during his visit.
Throughout the day, Ryder called several times, but I hung up every time.
That night, before I went to bed, I saw that he had sent me dozens of messages.
[Sienna, I’ve arrived. Where are you?]
[Are you stuck in traffic, or is your car broken?]
[Are you still coming?]
I didn’t read the rest, only replying with one message: [I have something to do today, let’s meet tomorrow at noon. Same place.]
Ashton watched me send the message, then suggested with a mischievous grin:
“The day after tomorrow will have a heavy rain, how about you ask him to go hiking on that day? Tell him you’ll meet him at the top of the mountain and then cancel when he gets there. Or you could go abroad, maybe Italy? When he lands, you can break your promise!”
I thought it was a pre
good idea, so I decided to go with it.
For a whole month, I led Ryder on, leaving him heartbroken and disoriented, waiting outside my house.
“You’ve been playing me this whole time, haven’t you, Sienna?”
“Playing you? I don’t know about that. All I know is, this is exactly how you treated me before.‘
He was the master of standing someone up. What I was doing now was nothing compared to how he had acted before.
Ryder swallowed hard, looking uncomfortable. “I know I was wrong before, but I truly regret it. I…”
Araised my hand to interrupt him. “You truly regret it, or is it because other Alphas found out about your history with Kendra and didn’t want to let their daughters become your Luna? That’s why you’re here, begging me?”
‘S.
བག་དང་
Kendra had indeed grown up now, and he hadn’t openly pursued her anymore, but their relationship was still very close.
“Is that really how you see me?”
Chapter 8
“Otherwise, what am I supposed to think?”
Ryder clenched his fists. “My pack has enough resources. I don’t need to force a marriage alliance. Don’t think of me as some kind of villain!”
S
4
ས ས པ ཡ པའི་སྐོར་དར་ཚན་
I shrugged. “Is that so? But I’ve heard that most of the packs you’ve worked with in the past were primarily after me. They wanted me to train their pack members and make them into elite warriors. But after I left, a lot of Alphas stopped cooperating with you, and your pack’s defensive capabilities dropped significantly. So, do you want me to go back and put all my effort into protecting the pack, but never even get a glance from you?”
I looked at him, my gaze piercing as I continued:
“Do you want me to go back, keep fighting for the pack, keep bleeding and sweating to protect everyone… but still get nothing in return, not even a bit of sincerity from you?”
My tone remained calm, but Ryder looked like I’d stepped on him.
“You can’t think of me like that!” He looked desperate, almost pleading. “The only reason I want to win you back is because I love you!”
Chapter 8