The Alpha Weredragon's Favorite
CHAPTER 34 - Cruel not Kind

Lyra

As I emerged from the Cells and into the bright sunshine, Ryan stood there, his posture rigid and eyes hard. For the past five days, he'd avoided me, and my frustration at being ignored bubbled over.

"Why have you been avoiding me?" I demanded, my voice echoing off the stone walls. I quickly looked around, thankful no one had witnessed my disrespect towards the Alpha. If it had been my father, Vivian would have torn out my throat. Literally. Ryan just gave me a toothy smile. "Why did you miss me?"

I shuddered at his sarcasm, wondering why it hurt so much. He could really be a dick sometimes.

"No. I didn't."

I turned to leave, but Ryan's voice stopped me. "Do you like him? The wolf who tried to kill you?" he asked, jealousy seeping into his words. "Do you want him? Because you sure don't want me."

Anger flared in my chest, hot and sharp. "It's not like that, Ryan!" I snapped, whirling to face him, feeling a teensy-weensy bit guilty for crushing on Jacques as a teen. Quick as a flash he grabbed me.

His eyes burned with passion and jealousy as he cupped my face, forcing me to look up at him. He leaned down, our lips almost touching, the warmth of his breath making butterflies swirl in my stomach.

With a growl, he claimed my mouth in a searing kiss, stealing my breath away. His tongue traced the seam of my lips, demanding entrance, and I eagerly parted them. A soft moan escaped my throat as our tongues tangled in a dance of desire and need.

No way was this a rejection. He wanted me as much as I wanted him.

Finally!

His hand tangled in my hair, freeing it from its knot, as he deepened the kiss. It felt like his whole being was on fire for me - a sensation unlike anything I'd ever experienced.

Breaking apart for air, I saw the raw lust in Ryan's eyes, his pupils dilated with want. "You're mine," he growled, nipping my earlobe.

I shivered, a thrill of excitement coursing through me. "Don't ever forget it."

He trailed kisses along my jawline, reaching the delicate skin of my neck. He nipped gently, whispering words that sent shivers down my spine: "I love how your skin tastes."

Another nip, this time on the sweet spot under my earlobe, sent tingles through my body. My heart raced as his hands explored my back, his calloused touch igniting sparks where it grazed my skin.

"Ryan," I breathed, my closing me eyes, my voice a breathless whisper.

All of a sudden, cool air swept between us. I opened my eyes to see Ryan at a distance, crossing his arms over his broad chest. His muscles flexed underneath the fabric of his sleeveless shirt. "I bet he never made you feel like that did he?" My mouth open and closed in anger and disbelief. He was toying with me, just like in my dorm room, but this time it was a thousand times worse.

There was something akin to hate in his eyes.

I pointed a finger at him, shaking from head to toe. "Don't ever touch me again."

I stormed away, my footsteps pounding against the floor. Behind me, Ryan's blue eyes shot lasers into my back, full of misunderstanding and distrust.

Let him brood in his jealousy, I thought bitterly. If he couldn't trust me, couldn't see that I was only trying to find answers, then maybe we had nothing more to say to each other.

I slipped into the lecture hall, my mind still reeling from the confrontation with Ryan. As I settled into my seat, Whitney leaned over, her brow furrowed with concern.

"Hey, Lyra, is everything okay?" She searched my face, her voice low. "You look upset."

I forced a smile, but it felt strained. "It's nothing, really." The words tasted like ash on my tongue. I wanted to tell her, to confide in her about Ryan, but a little voice held me back, whispering that it wasn't he right time. Whitney raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Are you sure? You know you can talk to me, right?"

I nodded, my fingers fidgeting with the edge of my notebook. "I know, and I appreciate it. It's just..." I trailed off, scrambling for an excuse. "I didn't sleep well last night. Nerves about the upcoming tests, I guess."

Before Whitney could probe further, the Killian strode into the room, his presence commanding attention. As usual, his silver eyes fell on me before he began to speak, and wondered if he sensed my confusion and frustration radiating from in an invisible wave.

As the lecture began, I tried to focus on his words. I couldn't. My thoughts kept drifting back to Ryan. The way he had looked at me... with accusation in his eyes.

That cut deeper than I wanted to admit.

Why couldn't he trust me? Why did he have to jump to conclusions?

Whitney nudged me just as Professor Harbringer frowned in my direction. He quickly shifted his gaze to scan the rest of the class.

"Today, we'll be discussing the Luna Trials and the history of White Wolves," he said his eyes once more shifting to mine and then away.

I leaned forward, my interest piqued. Professor Harbringer delved into the lore surrounding the trials, his words painting vivid pictures of ancient traditions and powerful bonds between wolves and their chosen Lunas.

A student from another pack asked, "Other than your grandmother, have there been more White Wolves in Moonshadow's history?"

The professor nodded solemnly. "Indeed, there has. All of them unique in their own right, However, my grandmother is the most well known. She sacrificed herself in a ritual to heal a blight that threatened to destroy our pack's forest." "Will you tell us the story Professor. I mean if it isn't to difficult to talk about that is."

"No... no it's not. In fact it is something you should know."