Moon Dancer - Hidden Wolf 1

Grayson

Ryker makes good on his promise of french toast and orgasms, and the cherry on top of it all was the nap. After extending myself all afternoon, the grocery store along with the diner, I was all too happy to crawl into my bed and nestle into Ryker's chest.

Eventually, we shifted our positions so Ryker could stream a movie on his phone. He had asked me what I wanted to watch, but I had just shrugged. I didn't really have a favorite, or rather any time to have one.

We were currently halfway through some action superhero movie, but I had hardly paid attention to it.

With his back leaning against the wall, Ryker had his sketchbook on his knee, his wrist moving along the page as he lazily sketched.

I was perched against his non-drawing arm, my cheek resting against his shoulder as I watched him intently.

He was adding shading and tiny details to a stunning portrait of Jagger, a joint and a lighter poised in his hands.

I smiled softly to myself as I watched the drawing take shape, quietly watching him do his thing.

"What are you thinking in that pretty head of yours?" Ryker asks without looking at me, his hand still turning this way and that.

I blink at him and press a kiss to the bare skin of his arm. "I've wanted to watch you draw for years now."

Ryker froze a little. The quiet rush of thoughts from him takes me a moment to sort through.

Guilt prickles at me as word vomit surges out of my mouth. "I'm sorry." I blurt. "I- if things had been different, I would have never, ever hidden from you." Ryker opens his mouth to speak but I press my fingers against his lips and sit up straighter. "If- if I had been born into a different life I wouldn't have hidden. Or- if I wasn't putting you all in danger, I would have-" My voice abruptly cuts off when my bottom lip trembles and I bite down on it.

I look away from Ryker in shame.

Ryker's eyes soften. "You would have what?" He prompted gently. I looked down at my hand that Ryker had managed to grab sometime during my word vomit.

Tears of shame line my eyes. "I would have come to you for help."

Ryker's fingers gently grasp my chin. I fight him as he tries to bring my face up to meet his eyes. When I do give in and let him guide my face up, I squeeze my eyes shut so I don't have to look at him. "Sparks." He whispers.

My lip trembles slightly but I can't meet his eyes. I shake my head slightly.

"Why won't you look at me?" Ryker asks.

I open my mouth but only a strangled sob comes out. I clamp my mouth shut and roughly swallow. "The day..." I hiccuped. "The day I realized you were my mates. L-Larkin could tell that I felt the mate bond." I shuddered as a chill raked its way down my spine. "That was the first time he-" I shake my head again, unable to finish the sentence. A few tears escaped my eyes as I thought back to the day I had run into Jagger. Literally.

Ryker's fingers brushed along my jaw as he brought them to gently caress the side of my face. His other hand coaxed my leg over his lap. He gently pulls me the rest of the way on him while my eyes stay shut. "Sparks." He whispers, running his thumb across my cheekbone, trying to soothe me enough to open my eyes.

Ryker was feeling saddened by what I was saying, but also there was this urge to understand me. To understand why I hadn't asked for help. Why I hadn't come to them first thing. Why I had stayed hidden for 2 years.

I couldn't explain the answers easily. I couldn't just tell any of my mates why I felt that I couldn't have come to them for help, or explain why I still felt like I couldn't stay with them.