Chapter Forty

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Andy's POV

The phone ringing had woken me up. I strained my ears, and then wished I hadn't.

I lean back into my bed and continue listening as the rest of the house falls apart. Luna Cardinal is the first knocked down, no doubt the weight of the world becoming too much on top of all of the loss he had suffered. Arrow goes next, and Rowan follows quickly behind.

I stay still in my bed until everyone gives into their exhaustion, and then I stay still for a little longer. Once I am sure that everyone is asleep, I push myself to stand and head towards my window. I glance out over the backyard, and strain my eyes to see the nearest patrol.

I have to wait several minutes, but eventually I find them- working in threes, they move quickly just beyond where I can comfortably see. They move on quickly, and I wait another moment to make sure they are actually gone before carefully swinging my window open. I pause to make sure the sound hasn't awoken anyone, and once I'm sure they still rest soundly I haul in a deep breath out of my window, and freeze.

There's a scent here I recognize, almost too faint for me to catch. It lingers only along the outer edge of the window and it makes my stomach turn. I press my nose closer to the ledge, trying to get closer to the scent, to prove I'm wrong, but it doesn't get any stronger and the wind starts ripping it away from me.

The sound of tires in the snow startles me. I turn my head towards the road and frown as I realize the car has turned into the driveway... a quick glance at the clock shows that my time is up, and Ryker and his father have returned. I quickly slide the window shut and throw myself back onto my bed.

Minutes pass in silence while I focus on slowing my breathing. Just as I'm getting it under control, the car pulls to a stop and a door creaks open. Footsteps crunch in the snow and then a second door is pulled open. Four heavy paws hit the snow at once and two doors are slammed.

The second the front door is opened, the paws come thudding up the stairs. The feeling of stretched rubber bands grows stronger, the distance between us slowly closing. Before he even presses on the door, I know who it is. I sit up to wait for him, but he doesn't open the door.

"Ryker?" I whisper. He whines on the other side, and I realize why he isn't coming in- he can't open the door. I slide off the bed but before I can take a single step he crashes through the door, splintering it at the handle.

I gasp as he barrels towards me, anger clear on his muzzle. He continues advancing until I'm forced to back up into the bed. My knees buckle as he continues towards me, and eventually his massive form looms over me. He presses his weight over me, and the rubber bands around us finally relax.

He connects his nose to my neck, and inhales deeply.

I wrap my arms around his neck to pull him tighter.
"Ryker?" I call out in my mind. He doesn't move, as if he hasn't heard me. I frown and call him again.
When he still doesn't answer, I let my eyes drift shut and focus on welcoming our connection deeper into myself. I focus on the heat of him, the feel of him around me, and the sparks that sizzle between us.

"Andy?" His voice echoes in my mind, and I flick my eyes open.

"Ryker." His eyes flutter shut and I recognize the warmth in my chest as his.

"Are you ok?" His concern nearly knocks me over; the sadness and anger he feels at our circumstances aching in my chest.

"I'm..." Everything I feel is overwhelming; He experiences it with me and whines as he does.

"Andy..." A tear falls from my eye. Unable to stop it I just let it run down my face. Ryker's tongue flicks out to catch it.

"It will be alright." He whispers. I can feel that he doesn't fully believe his words, but wants so badly for them to be true.

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