The Heart of the Shadow

11. I Am

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Ryka's POV
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   I attempt to stretch and yawn, but a weight on my chest stops me, looking down only to see Louis curled up against me. Slowly and carefully, I remove him from his spot. He squirms and whimpers as soon as I leave, but after a few seconds he falls asleep again. I take a quick shower and get dressed for the day. Louis is still sleeping when I leave the room to eat breakfast. As I make my way downstairs, I see my mother frantically running around.

"Mom, it's 6 in the morning. What's got you so worked up?" She grips her hair in frustration.

"Your party is today, the decorations in the Grand Ballroom need to be changed. Also, the cake isn't here yet. I have to go, your dress just got here." I make my way to the kitchen and fix some pancakes. I make enough to feed all of Alpha Manor, because I know everyone will want some. I take my breakfast up to my room, along with some for Louis, because I know he will be awake by now. He sits up and rubs his eyes as I enter the room.

   "Is that for me?" He asks, as he reaches for the chocolate chip pancakes.

   "Yep, all yours bud, just don't spill anything." We silently devour our breakfast, until Mother calls for Louis.

   "Happy Birthday Ry." He takes the dishes downstairs and then goes to help Mom with the party planning. I mindlessly play games on my phone, until someone decides to FaceTime me.

   "Happy Birthday Ryka!" Ryder yells as soon as I answer his call. He is my best friend and the Alpha of the Sharp Claw Pack. Since he turned 18 earlier this year, he's currently in Germany for some Alpha meetings.

   "Thanks Ryder. When are you coming home? I miss you."

   "Exactly one week. I miss you too. I have to go, duty calls."

"See ya later alligator."

"In a while crocodile." I hang up and fall back onto my bed.

"Ryka, I need you in the Grand Ballroom." Mother links.

"Alright." When I reach the ballroom, all the table cloths from Harley's coronation a week ago, have been changed to silver, pack members are beginning to hang up blush colored bows.

"White roses, or pink?"

"White."

"So the plates should be gold." She mumbles to herself as she arranges the dishes on the tables.

"Do you need help with anything else?" She shakes her head and I trek back up to my room.

"Happy Birthday, Ryka!" Orion, Kaiden, Harley, and Roxy bust through my door.

"Thanks guys." Kaiden sits on a bean bag with Harley on his lap, Orion chooses my bed, and Roxy lounges on the couch.

"Toss me the remote, I'm bored." Roxy says. Orion hands it to her, and she flips through the channels.

*•*•*
Few Hours Later
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"Happy Birthday Ryka!" The Pack screams as I cut the cake. As soon as I take the first bite, everyone takes that as their cue to fill their plate. I survey the crowd, and see an extremely familiar face.

"Riley!" His eyes snap to mine, causing him to smile. He makes his way over to me after grabbing a piece of cake.

"Hey, nice to see you again. Is anyone sitting here?"

"I am." Kaiden towers over Riley as he trembles in fear. I shove Kaids shoulder, knocking him out of his state.

"Leave the boy alone Kaid. He didn't do anything. It's not like you're my mate anyways." I roll my eyes and guide Riley to the chair on the opposite side of me. Kaiden plops into his chair and pulls Harley onto his lap.

"I may not be your mate, but I am your brother. Also, Ryder told me to protect you until he gets back." I huff and continue eating my cake.

"Neither of you are my father, so stop."

"What is all this talk about your father?" Mother asks. She ruffles my hair before sitting next to Riley.

"Nothing Mom." Father makes his way over, sitting next to my mother.

"It can't be nothing if it's about the glorious wolf known as Luke Peterson." He holds his arms out and smirks, as if he owns the world.

"Can you be any more conceited Dad?"

"Honey, that's not conceited. Nowhere near it."

"You're too old to be conceited." I smirk as he growls at me. Our eyes lock into a staring contest, our wolves forcing us into dominating the other. This goes on for a few minutes, before Mother breaks in.

"You two, stop it. You're scaring the poor boy." I look to my left to see Riley bowing his head in submission. I grab his chin and slowly lift his head.

"You alright?" He nods his head and stares down at his plate.

"What's your name, boy?" Father asks. Mother gasps and smacks him on the arm.

"Luke, be nice." She looks expectantly at Riley.

"Riley." He pushes his cake around on his plate, to avoid talking.

"You're from Sharp's pack, correct?"

"Seriously Dad? Chill out, he means no harm. Cmon Riley, lets get you away from this old geezer." I put my arm around his shoulders and lead him to Alpha Sharp.

"Ah, I see you've led the munchkin back yet again." Alpha Sharp ruffles Riley's hair and gestures us to sit next to him.

"Riley Sharp, stop wandering off, you're only 11." Luna Sharp demands.

"He's your son?" I ask. By studying him, I notice he has the same brown eyes as Alpha Sharp.

"Yes, he tends to be very unsocial. In turn, not many people know of him. Ryder takes up most of the spotlight, being a young Alpha after all. Speaking of my first son, have you spoken to him recently? Neither him, nor my Beta, have responded to my calls in the last few days."

"He called me early this morning to wish me happy birthday. That's the first time I've spoken to him this month. From what I infer, he's been very busy lately." My ears perk up as I hear a wolf walking towards me.

"Peterson, What are you doing at Alpha Sharps table?" I recognize the gruff voice as that of my Alpha.

"Returning his son, Alpha." I bow my head in respect. A hand on my shoulder causes me to look up. I'm met with the cheerful eyes of my Alpha.

"I'm not your Alpha anymore, you shall not address me as such. It's fine Ryka, only a joke, carry on."

"You will always by my Alpha, no matter if you hold the title or not." I let out a heavy breath as he walks away to socialize.

"You regard your former Alpha with heavy respect, I admire you, young one." I look across the table, only to be met with the piercing gray eyes of Alpha Silver. She scans the wolves at the table, stopping on Luna Sharp.

"Alpha Silver." The Luna bows her head.

"Stop doing that Claire, I've told you multiple times." Lindsay Silver smiles, embracing her best friend.

"Where's your mate?"

"She's with her sister Luna Black."

"Notify me when Ryder comes home, please?" I ask, Alpha Sharp nods his head as I exit the table. I continue to socialize until the party ends, retiring to my room for the night.

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3/21/19
6/1/19