Girl With The Alpha Mate

Chapter 5

Ryker's POV

The following Monday...

"Hello, gorgeous." I smile at her as I walk up to our seats in class. She is wearing a sweatshirt with a hood up. I thought it was too hot out today for humans to wear sweatshirts. Maybe I'm wrong; werewolves do run hotter than humans.

"Hey. What's up?" she says, not looking up from her phone. "Hey, the boys loved the cereal you picked out." She slightly looks up at me, but the hood still hides most of her face. I don't like that.

"That's good!"

"Who would have thought that you have the pallet of a 3-year-old?" Alyssa teases me.

"Hey-" I fake offense as she giggles.

"You know the professor will make you take your hood off." I point out, wanting her to take her hood off so I see her entire face. I want to see her pretty face. I need to see my mate.

"Class is about to start" She ignores me, resting her cheek on her hand and leaning on the table. I was right the professor makes her take her hood off, but she rests her face in her hand all off class, obscuring my view of her pretty face.

Class finally ends, and Alyssa quickly packs up her stuff and leaves without saying anything.

"Alyssa, wait up" I run to catch up with her in the parking lot. She already has the hood on again.

She stops walking and looks at the ground as I run up to her. Now she won't even look at me. What did I do? "I didn't mean to scare you or upset you." I apologize. I bend some to look her in her eyes. She reacts a second too late, looking further away from me.

No, tell me I did not see what I think I just saw. I rip the hood off her head to see I'm right. "Alyssa, what the f**k is on your face?!" I yell, getting angry.

"It's nothing." Alyssa denies pulling her hood back up.

I pull her hood back down. "Where did that bruise come from?" I ask, pointing to the dark bruise on her eye.

"Yeah. I was running late this morning and didn't have time to put enough makeup on this morning to cover it," she says, putting her hand over her bruised cheek.

"When I saw you this weekend at the store, were you wearing makeup to cover it then?" I ask, feeling a pit in my stomach.

"Yeah," she says nervously.

"Why didn't you tell me? What happened?" I ask. Dex shoves me to the back of my mind as my eyes change to black. "Who did this to you? I'll kill them".

"It's not a big deal." she denies.

"You have a bruise on your face," Dex growls, and I know my eyes are red right now.

Alyssa looks at me with wide eyes. "Ryker, you're eyes," she says nervously.

"Something hurt you, and I'm going make them pay."

"Ryker, you're scaring me," Alyssa says. For the first time, Dex and I notice that we are holding onto her arms tightly. She looks terrified.

I take back control from Dex, and my eyes go back to green as I let her go. "I'm sorry. I don't want to scare you. But I don't want you getting hurt. What happened?" I ask.

"One of the boys elbowed me in his sleep," Alyssa says. I know she is lying.

"A 3-year-old doesn't have that kind of strength," I comment.

"Maybe it wouldn't leave a mark on you, but it did on me. It was just an accident," she says.

"It's a Luke, wasn't it? I'm going to kill him." I huff.

"No, you are not. Listen to me, Ryker. I'm fine. Trust me. Just leave it." She says sternly, pointing at me.

"Are you sure?" I ask.

"Yea. It was an accident. I just didn't have time to cover it up this morning." she shrugs.

"So it was just an accident?" I double-check.

"Yes." she nods.

"Her heart rate spiked. She's lying still." Dex growls in my head. She's definitely hiding something.

"Ryker- Ryker, if you're just going to stand there and stare at me, I'm going to go," Alyssa says, breaking me out of my thoughts.

"What? Sorry. I got distracted. Do you need a ride?"

"Kaylin can give me a ride when she gets out of class." Alyssa shrugs.

"Nonsense. I'll give you a ride."

"Are you sure?" she asks.

"Yeah. I want to" I nod.

"That would be great, thanks." she smiles at me.

We make polite small talk all the way to her house, where I park in the driveway. "Well, thanks for the ride," she says.

"No problem"

"Do you want to come in and hang out? We could work on the calculus homework together." she offers.

"That sounds good," I agree.

"Go on inside. I got to get the boys from next door at Gigi's- Ummm, Luke's house. His mom watches the boys while I'm in class. She's got to leave for work soon, and her job is stressful, plus watching the boys, I want to give her a little time to relax. So make yourself at home. I'll be right over." she explains, holding out her house keys. Alyssa hops out of the car and starts walking towards Gigi's house to get the boys, and I follow her.

"GiGi! Boys! I'm home!" Alyssa calls out as I follow her into her neighbor's house. "Hey Bry!" she says happily as a child runs into the room to hug her.

"Hey, Mommy." he smiles up at her. "Cereal guy!" he smiles at me, making Alyssa laugh.

"His name is Ryker," Alyssa explains to him.

"You can call me cereal guy" I smile at him.

"You pick good cereal," he nods excitedly.

"I know, dude. I'm an expert."

"Hey, you're back early. Did Kaylee not go to her last class?" an older woman about my mom's age walks into the room.

"Yeah, she did. Ryker gave me a ride home. Oh, this is Ryker" Alyssa introduces me.

"Hi, Ryker. I'm GiGi. Luke and Kaylin's mom." she reaches out to shake my hand.

"And a second mom to the boys and me," Alyssa adds.

"It's nice to meet you." I shake her hand.

"Luke didn't give you a ride?" Luke's mom asks.

"No. I don't want him around the boys yet. I don't trust him." Alyssa whispers to her.

"That's understandable. He was selfish and irresponsible, leaving the boys at home alone so he could go to a club. Honestly, with how he has been treating you recently, I say break up with him. I know he is my son, and I love him and whatever, but you should end it." Gigi says seriously.

"Where are the rest of the boys?" Alyssa asks.

"Still asleep. Bry didn't want to take a nap, so he and I have been hanging out, isn't that right, Bry?" Gigi says to Bryson.

"That's right, GiGi." he gives her a thumbs up.

"Ok, I'll go get one and take him and Bryson home, then come back for the other two," Alyssa says.

"I can help. That's why I came over here," I offer.

"Thanks." Alyssa smiles at me.

"You know where they are. I'm going to go get ready for work." Gigi waves goodbye.

"Ok, they're right this way," Alyssa says, then starts leading me to the other side of the room, only to stop walking when the front door opens.

"What is he doing here?" Luke asks, standing by the front door and crossing his arms.

"I'm just getting the boys, and we are going back to my house to do homework. The boys are asleep still." Alyssa explains.

"Need help?" Luke asks.

"No. I don't want you near them right now." Alyssa says, pushing Bryson slightly behind her.

"Look. I'm sorry," he says, suddenly running his hands thru his hair, but I can't help but notice Alyssa move suddenly or the fact that she is carefully tracking his hands with her eyes.

"Did you just see her flinch?" Dex growls in my head. I'm taking that as proof that Luke is the one that gave that bruise on the side of her face. I'm going to kill him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alyssa's POV

"Can we talk?"

"No, you already said everything you needed to on Friday night. I'm a little talked out." I said, crossing my arms over my chest.

Luke looks at my face for a second, then brings his hand up to my cheek and gently wipes his thumb across the bruise on my cheek. "That looks bad." he sighs. He looked into my eyes but never moved his hand. "I never would have done that if I was sober. You know that. I love you, and I love the boys. I would never hurt any of you." Luke says, sounding sad.

"But you left them alone where they could have gotten hurt. And you hurt me." I point out.

"Alyssa-"

"You may not have meant to, but you did." I cut him off. "I can take a bruise. We both know that." I say, moving his hand away from my face. "The thing that I can't get over is after everything.... you still did that in front of the boys. You might not remember it, but I remember you sitting by my bedside in the hospital and crying, promising never to hurt me like they did and protect the boys and me..... I believed you at the time. Now I'm not so sure. So please just leave me alone." I explain.

"Are- Are you breaking up with me?" Luke asks, sounding hurt.

"Luke-... I don't know." I answer honestly.

"Please don't do this. It was one mistake."

"Just give me some time, please," I sigh. I don't know what I'm going to do.

"But I love you." he pleads.

"I love you too. But right now, I don't want to be anywhere near you." I explain.

"I'm so sorry," Luke says sadly. I want to hug him so bad. He stuck with me thru everything, and I love him so much, and I know he loves me. I'm very sad right now, and I could really use a hug from my best friend. It sucks that Luke is my best friend, though. "I love you, Alyssa."

"Alyssa... Alyssa..." I shake my head, coming back to reality, looking at Ryker, standing in front of me, looking worried. I look around the kitchen, coming back to reality from reliving the conversation Luke and I had in the halls of school this morning. That was a hard conversation to have.

"What?" I ask.

"I just asked if I could help with anything. But you looked pretty out of it. Everything ok?" Ryker asks.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine." I answer, going back to get the boys' snacks ready. Man, that conversation with Luke at school earlier really messed me up. "Their snacks are almost ready. Will you tell them to come in here?" I ask

"Sure," Ryker says, still looking at me skeptically, slowly turning to walk out the door to get the boys from the living room.

Ryker and I get the boys seated, and they start eating their snacks as Ryker and I lean against the kitchen island, waiting to see if they need help with anything.

"So, is this your house?" I can faintly hear a guy ask from the living room. Who is that?

"No. Lys! Boys!" Kaylin calls out. Ok, so he is with her. That's fine.

"In here," I answer

Kaylin and a guy with dreadlocks in a burgundy tank top that I've never seen before walk into the kitchen. "Hey, I didn't see you after class. I wanted to make sure you were ok and see if you needed help." Kaylin says.

"Thanks. Ryker gave me a ride and helped with the boys." I explain.

"Hey, Ryker. Thanks for getting her home." Kaylin says. "Alyssa, this is my friend Micah. I met him at the club on Friday when Luke was being an ass, and I happened to run into him at school today. He tried to help me, so I figure I owe him so that we will hang out." Kaylin says.

"Ok. Ryker and I can go upstairs to do homework, and the boys can play up there." I explain. "Right, Ryker?" I ask. He and Micah are still standing there silently, staring at each other. Micah suddenly looks upset at me, but he isn't looking at me. He is looking at the bruise on my face. Dang, it.

"Ryker," I call him again.

"What?" he asks, turning to me and looking surprised.

"Is that ok?" I ask.

"Is what ok?" he asks, looking confused.

"We can go upstairs and work while the boys play. Micah and Kaylin can hang out down here. She wants to bake some muffins." I say.

"If that's ok with you two?" Kaylin jumps in. They both nod.

"Ok, just take some with you for you, Gigi, and Luke." I remind Kay.

"I'll take some for mom and I. Luke can go f**k himself." Kaylin rolls her eyes.

"Agreed," Ryker nods.

"Ok, boys, let's go upstairs to play," I say, shooing all the boys out of their seats towards the door. I turn back for the space cadet. "Dylan, pay attention, buddy. We're going upstairs." I pick him up from his chair and set him on the ground. They all runoff. "Kay knows where everything is. If you need anything, holler. Other than that, make yourself at home. I only ask that you don't leave any knives or sharp objects lying around. The boys, especially Bryson, tend to find trouble. Ok. I'm going upstairs." I explain to Micah.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A couple of hours later...

"Do you hear that?" I ask, sitting up straight on the couch and looking around.

"No? I don't hear anything." Ryker says, looking at me like I'm crazy.

"Exactly. That's never a good sign." I explain. "Boys! Whatever you're doing, stop it!" I yell at them since they're just in their bedroom across the hall from the bonus room we are doing homework in.

Ryker busts out laughing, holding his stomach. "What?" I ask

"My mom used to do that when I was a kid. If she thought we were too quiet. She always knew when we were up to something," he laughs.

"Kids are loud. They're only quiet when they are asleep or trying to hide something from you." I explain.

"You're right."

"Oh my. It's getting dark outside. What time is it?"

"A little after 7 pm," Ryker says, checking his watch.

"Crap. I haven't even started cooking anything for dinner. The boys normally are eating right now. I'm sorry we didn't get very far with the homework."

"No problem. I understand that you have other responsibilities," he says.

"Sorry, they kept interrupting us so much," I apologize.

"I don't mind," Ryker says.

"I better go throw together dinner real fast. Your welcome to stay if you want," I offer.

"I have a better idea. Why don't you and the boys come over to my house for dinner?" Ryker says.

"Oh no. I don't want to impose."

"My mom is cooking, and she cooks enough for an army. Literally. We have plenty of food and extra help for the boys. You could even have someone watch the boys for an hour or so, so you have enough time to do your homework uninterrupted. Plus, we have other kids and a little play area for them to play in." Ryker says.

"Are you sure? Your mom wouldn't mind?" I ask.

"I'm sure. She won't mind at all. I'm sure we can figure out some way to get all of the boys in my car."

"I have a car. I leave it with GiGi, so if she needs to take the boys anywhere, she can without having to lug around four car seats." I explain.

"Oh, that makes sense." he nods. "Look before you say no. I want you to come. Plus, my mom loves kids."

"How do you know she will be ok with it? You haven't even asked her. Unless you do this with many girls and small children, bringing one person unannounced might be annoying, but bringing five unannounced is rude." I say.

"She would never hate you. But if it makes you feel better, I'll double-check with her," he says, pulling out his phone. "See? There. Done." he says, holding up his phone and showing her an instant reply of 'Yes!' "She's totally fine with it." Ryker says.

"Thank you."

"I'll help you round up the boys and get them into the car. Then you can follow me to my house." Ryker says.

"Ok, thanks." I smile at him.

"No problem," Ryker says, putting his hand on my knee. Am I a bad person?

"I know you like me." I blurt out. Ryker looks at me, confused. "I know you like me. I don't want to lead you on or give you the wrong impression. I just want to know that you're wasting your time. This is my life for the next 15 years, at least. I'm never going to have the chance to be a normal 21-year-old. All my life is the boys and using what remaining friends I have as free babysitters, and I don't want to use you." I explain.

"I don't care. Use me. I just want to show you that you are worth it." Ryker says, patting my knee.

"I disagree," I say, moving out of his reach.

"I don't care. I just want you to be happy. Whether that's with me, Luke, some other guy, or even alone. I just want you to be happy." Ryker says.

What do I say to that? "Come on. Let's go eat." Ryker says.

After a long drive across the city and thru the forest, I finally pull up to this HUGE mansion in the woods. It's big enough to be a boarding school. Where am I?

I unload the boys as Ryker walks out of the house. "Watch this, Mommy!" Bryson says, climbing a nearby tree lining the driveway.

"Be careful, bud. I don't want you to get hurt." I tell him as I finish unloading his brothers.

"Come here, little man," Ryker says, picking Bryson out of the tree.

"I wanted to climb the tree." Bryson pouts.

"How bout we go inside and eat instead?" Ryker says.

"Yeah!" Bryson agrees.

"Have any trouble finding the place?" Ryker asks me.

"No. You live really far out in the woods, though. Your house looks nice, though"

"I know I saw. Alright, boys, listen up. This isn't our house, so we have to be on our best behavior-" I stop and point at them.

"Or else we no ice cream for all day," Aiden says sadly.

"Or else no climbing on things." Bryson sighs.

"Or else time out," Callum answers.

"Or else no tv," Dylan says, playing with a leaf he pulled out of his pants. Why? Oh well, not the time.

"Good boys." I praise.

"Wow, you have them well trained," Ryker comments.

"It's the same speech I give them every time I drop them off at GiGi's house to go to school. They know their punishments; they're tailored to each one because they all have their own individual likes and dislikes. Got to make the punishment fit the crime." I shrug.

"Smart," Ryker says. Ryker opens the door and leads us inside to a huge grand entrance.

"Well, thank you," Ryker says as a middle-aged woman walks toward us.

"Hey, I'm Ryker's mom," she says, extending her hand.

"Hey, I'm Alyssa." I shake her hand and then go around introducing the boys.

"I've heard a lot about you."

"You have?" I ask, looking towards Ryker, who looks at the floor smiling to himself. He's blushing some.

"Hey, why don't I show you boys a really cool place to play while we wait on dinner to be ready?" Ryker says to the boys. "I'll have someone watch them while we finish up homework fast," Ryker explains. I nod hesitantly.

~~~

"Perfect timing dinner is ready," Ryker says, checking his phone as we finish the last of our homework.

"I should go get the boys. It's nice of that girl to watch them. I should thank her." I say, standing up off the couch we are sitting on.

"I'll tell her. The boys are already downstairs, ready to eat." Ryker says, standing up too. Ryker puts his hand on my back and leads me out of the room. This is a HUGE house.

"That was good. Thank you, Ms.-" I thank Ryker's mom as I clean food off Dylan's face as we all finish eating.

"Just call me mom. I'm basically all these guys' mom." she smiles at me.

"That was great" Steven nods.

"We should invite Kaylin next time." Micah smiles.

"Who is Kaylin?" Ryker's mom says, wiggling her eyebrows.

"She is my best friend. She helps me with the boys a lot." I explain.

"Well, she sounds great. She is welcome here anytime," She says to Micah.

"Why don't we go outside, boys? We can play on the playset," Ryker says as he stands.

"Can we, mommy?!" Bryson asks excitedly.

"Sure. Go play while I help clean up dinner; then we have to go. It's getting late." I say.

"Sweet!" Aiden cheers.

"Steven, mind helping me carry the plates to the kitchen on your way out?" Ryker's mom asks, standing up and grabbing plates.

"I can help you wash them," I say, standing up and grabbing some plates too.

"No, no. I got it. I find doing dishes relaxing." she says.

"Let's go play with the boys," Ryker says, standing up and taking the plates from me and putting them back on the table. Ryker and I walk out to this little fenced-in playground behind the mansion so the boys can play.

"Relax"

"What?" I ask, looking at Ryker.

"Relax. You look really tense," Ryker says. "This playset is made for children and has a fence around it. They're safe. They're not going anywhere." Ryker reassures me as I look back at the boys playing, ensuring they're all ok.

"I know. I just worry. They're so many of them, and they're so small. And there is only one of me." I explain.

"Well, I'm here. I'm watching too. Nothing's going to happen." Ryker reassures me.

"We should probably get going. It's getting late. I need to get the boys ready for bed soon." I explain, standing up from the bench we are sitting on.

"Stay a few more minutes. Let them get out the last of their energy, so they will be easier to put to bed." Ryker says, grabbing my hand and pulling me back down to my seat.

"Ok," I sigh. "Thanks for inviting us over for dinner and helping me with homework. And thanks for being so patient when the boys kept interrupting us working earlier," I say, looking at my hands in my lap.

Ryker hooks his finger under my chin and makes me look up, looking him in his eyes. "Hey, listen to me. It's ok. I don't care. I will do anything to make you happy, and the boys are safe. You don't have to thank me for showing basic human kindness to you." he says, looking at me intently.

"But-"

"No. I know that Luke hasn't treated you well for a while now and somehow convinced you that it's your fault and you're not worth it. And I know he hit you, and that's the real reason for the bruise on your face. But I think you're worth it. And I'd never do that to you." Ryker continues. How did he figure it out?

"Ryker-"

"Mommy!" Bryson yells. I pull away from Ryker and look at Bryson, who is running toward me with a big smile. "Let's play hide and seek," he says happily.

"Ok. Go hide. I'm going to count to 10. 1-" I say, closing my eyes. I turn back to Ryker and open my eyes to see him already smiling at me.

"What were you saying?" he asks.

"2," I call out to Bryson. "Ryker, I don't know. I -... It's complicated." I sigh.

"As much as I hate it, I know that Luke matters to you," Ryker says.

"He does." I nod.

"I just want you to know you have options," Ryker says, leaning in and moving some hair behind my ear.

"10," I say, turning back to the boys. "Apples, peaches, pumpkin pie, whose not ready, holler I! Ready or not, here I come," I say, standing up.

"What?" Ryker asks.

"The game." I point towards the boys.

There is Aiden on the swing, Callum licking mulch, Dylan on the slide, and Bryson... Bryson. I don't see him. "Where is he?" I start to panic.

"I don't see him either," Ryker says, sounding serious now and looking around.

"Bryson?" I call out, walking around looking for him. "Aiden, where is your brother?" I ask.

"He wen that way," Aiden says, pointing behind him towards the woods.

"Crap. That was Bryson, the escape artist. There isn't anything he can't escape if he wants to." I try to explain, looking around the playground, still not seeing him.

"He wouldn't climb a fence, would he?" Ryker asks.

"That's exactly what he would do. Boys, stay here." I panic. I hop over the back fence and take off, running towards the woods.

"Wait, Alyssa," Ryker calls out after me.

I keep running into the woods, searching for him frantically. He is only three; he won't last overnight in the dark alone. I need to find him. "BRYSON!" I yell.

"Bryson! Come out wherever you are!" I yell while running. "Come on, baby. We have to go home. Bryson!"

"Bryson, where are you?!"

"Right here, mommy" I run around a tree to see Bryson with his back to me, looking directly at a bush.

"There you are. You had me worried sick" I kneel, hugging him close to me. He's ok. I'm so relieved. A low growl erupts from the nearby bush.

"I think there is something in that bush." Bryson points.

"Let's go back to the house," I say, standing up, grabbing Bryson's hand, and backing away some.

There is another low growl as I hear twigs snapping. There is definitely something in that bush.

"Do you remember how to get back to the house?" I ask Bryson.

"Yes," he says.

"Ok. When I let go of your hand, I want you to run back to the house as fast as possible. Once you get there, get your brothers and hide. Do not stop for anything. Do you understand me?" I explain calmly.

"Yes." Bryson nods.

"Good." I take a deep breath. "I love you and your brothers, Bry. Now go." I say, letting go of his hand. Bryson takes off, running back towards the house.

The growls get louder and louder. I hear more twigs snapping. f**k. f**k. f**k. I don't know what is making that noise, but I need to keep it focused on me long enough for Bryson to get to safety. I estimate another 60 seconds before he will have made it back.

Come on, Alyssa, you're fine. You're going to be fine—15 more seconds. Maybe I can slowly back away. Oh my god, it's walking out of the bushes. It's staring at me. What is it? I can see its red eyes, and it's tall. Please don't come any closer to me. No, no, no, don't come closer to me. Wait.... is that- Is that a wolf?

There is no way I'm outrunning that. Ok, Alyssa. You're going to die. But that's ok as long as Bryson and the boys are safe. Just hold on long enough for them to be safe. I hope Bryson listened and got his brothers to go inside. I can see it's getting ready to pounce. Alright, here we go. This is going to be painful. Just keep him occupied for-.

"Alyssa!" I hear Ryker yell from a distance. No! The wolf pounces at me. "Duck!" Ryker says. I instinctively fall to the ground in time to see Ryker jumping over me, and his clothes tear away as he... turns into a wolf.

What the f**k! Ryker just turned into a wolf too! He is fighting the other wolf. Please don't get hurt, Ryker!

I can't watch this! I can't watch Ryker get hurt because of me! Please don't get hurt, Ryker! Please don't get hurt, Ryker! I'm too scared to run. I feel like I'm frozen in place, but if I open my eyes, I don't know what I'm going to see. But I'm too scared to open my eyes. And despite being inches from death, all I can think is - please don't get hurt, Ryker!

"Alyssa! Alyssa! You have to get out of here!" I feel someone shaking me.

Please don't get hurt, Ryker! Why is it quiet? Oh no! They're dead, and I'm next. I feel the warm air of something breathing on me—a wolf. A wolf is in front of me. It looks like the black wolf that Ryker turned into. Ryker wouldn't hurt me. Please let it be Ryker. I take a deep breath and open my eyes. Why does it hurt to breathe? I see a huge black wolf with some matted, bloodied fur sporadically around his body. Gosh, every movement hurts. Why- Oh gosh- My eyes close on their own.

"Alyssa!" I hear someone call as I feel hands on me. I know that voice is Ryker. "It's ok, stay with me."