Markie

The Last Day*

Ryan's POV

I'm supposed to leave today... I can't do it! The ceremony is over, but Markie hasn't decided. I can't leave without her answer. She rejects me or accepts me, and I'll know what to do, but right now, I'm in limbo.

"You packed Ryan?" Dad asks, looking into Alic's room.

"I need to talk to you." I say. He looks concerned but nods and enters, closing the door.

"What's up, son?" He asks, sitting on the bed beside me.

"I need to stay longer." Straight to the point. I need this settled quickly.

"I don't think Alpha Aaron will allow that." He tells me. An my panicked look, he asks, "Why do you need to stay?" I look away. I figured I'd have to tell him to get this to work, but I don't want to hurt Markie.

"I found my mate." I mumble. I look over at him. His jaw is hanging open, and his eyes look full of joy.

"That's amazing, Ryan! She can come back with us this is great!" He beams at me.

"No, Dad... she's not ready for all that... she hasn't accepted me yet." I tell him.

"Why not?" He asks.

"It's not mine to tell... but I don't want to leave her. Will you help me?" I beg.

"Of course... we need to talk to Alpha Aaron." With that, he stands up and just about drags me out the door.

"You ready to head out, Rhydian?" Alpha Aaron asks my Dad as we enter his office.

"That's actually what we came here to discuss, Aaron." His eyebrows rise as he leans forward.

"What is the meaning of this Rhydian! You know how I feel about Alphas on my land. I like you. We're family now. Don't make me change those opinions." Alpha Aaron is straight up scary! I know Dads dealt with him before, but he is powerful if he says leave, and we don't heads will roll.

"Calm down, Aaron... we were going to leave but you see my boy here found his mate!" Dad says. At that news, Alpha Aaron's demeanor softens.

"Congratulations, pup... I don't see the problem here. You want a ceremony before you leave? We're already set up for it." Alpha Aaron smiles at me. I look to my Dad, and he nods, telling me to explain.

"The problem, Alpha... is that she hasn't accepted me or rejected me... I can't leave her without a decision, but I don't want to force myself on her. I want to stay until she decides." I tell him.

"Why hasn't she accepted you?" Alpha Aaron asks.

"I'm sorry, sir, but it's not my place to say." I say.

"Name?" He asks.

"Sir?" I don't want to pressure her. Having her Alpha confront her that is pressure!

"You can't expect me to let you stay if I can't confirm your story. I need to know who she is." Alpha Aaron looks so intense it makes me shake.

"Markie Sue Bliss." I state... "please Alpha don't push her! I don't want her to feel forced or threatened. I want her to want me." My voice trails off on my last sentence as my eyes drop to the floor.

"Don't worry, boy. If I thought you were forcing anything on little Markie, I'd snap your neck rather than talk to you." I hear my dad growl, but Alpha Aaron ignores him. "But I do need to talk to her." He stands up and walks to the door. "Come along, pup!" He says, and I jump up to follow.

I stand on the porch with an Alpha on either side of me.

"Rhydian, wait out here... I don't want to scare her." Alpha Aaron says. My dad rolls his eyes but steps aside. As he takes a seat on the porch swing, Alpha Aaron looks to me. "Ready Ryan?" I nod, and he knocks on the door.