Anything but ordinary

Chapter 16-17

Fameney

Ariel

The way Ryder looked at me gave me the courage to stand in front of our future pack. I hoped that he won't be able to wait when I invited him to have a shower together but he is stronger than I thought. I can't tell that same about myself. He is perfect to me, I got very horny when he was standing in front of me totally naked and hoped somewhere deep inside my soul that he crosses the line. As we walked down the stairs with his arm around mine I felt that someone was staring at us from the dark. We arrived at a double door, Ryder let on his hold and looked at me before he opened the door.

- Are you ready?

- Does it change something if I'm not? - I grimaced and he chuckled.

- No, not anymore.

- Then yes. The show must go on. - He smiled showing his perfect white teeth while he opened the door. It was a huge dining room with tables in half-circle, in the head of the table were sitting Anthony and Anne, at Anne's side there was an empty seat between her and Eric. Next to Anthony there also was an empty seat and next to it sat Wilson. He sent a little encouraging wave. Eric and Matthew were staring at me with mouths opened as long as Anne didn't hit the back of Eric's head and he passed it to Matthew. They will never grow up. I looked around the table and found Chloe who was wearing a short tailor-made sequined, wine red dress, with the same colored lipstick. She was staring at me with deep hate so I snuggled a little against Ryder while we were walking to the middle of the dining room. Somehow, I should show this b***h where her place is. Ryder noticed my move and he put one of his arms around my waist. Chloe's face became red and she started to whisper with frustration to the girls sitting next to her. One was a tall, long, blonde-haired girl with a long face and hazel eyes, she was Kelly. The other was a redhead with curly hair and brown eyes, later I learned that her name was Maria. I ignored them for the rest of the night. They are not my main audience. When we arrived in the middle of the room Anthony and Anne stood up and everybody finished their low chatting.

- Dear family and friends! I have the honorable task to present all of you my son's mate and your future Luna… Ariel Cenke! - Anthony smiled at me and I didn't really know what to do. There was no cheering or clapping. Just silent, long uncomfortable silence... Anne broke it.

- Welcome here, Dear!  I really hope that you will find your place, mi casa es tu casa! - I got surprised at Anne's perfect Spanish so I decided to try my luck.

- Muchas gracias por aceptarme a vuestra familia y vuestro hogar. El gusto es mio. ( Thank you a lot for accepting me in your family and your home. It's my pleasure.)

 Anne was amazed and the rest of the room well...surprised. Even Ryder looked at me with his eyebrows pulled up in the middle of his forehead,  but he was also smiling proudly. If we weren't in the same room with his people he would probably hit his chest saying " my girl". I grinned at the thought. We went to our seats and the dinner began. Ryder was sitting between his godfather and father, and I was between Eric and Anne. She turned to me.

- Well carino it looks like you still have some tricks on your sleeve. Where did you study Spanish?

- I was living in the capital of Hungary and working always in restaurants or in tourism-related jobs so I learned it. It is quite helpful by the way - she nodded the asked: May I ask where did you learn Spanish?

- Before I became Anne Shadow my name was Anna Maria Gonzales - she smiled. - It is great to talk to someone in my mother tongue again after so many years. Anthony tried to learn it but he is not into languages and Ryder well...he likes music more than Spanish but at least he learned to play the guitar. Something from my heritage.

- I will try to teach him for you! -Anne pet my shoulder a little and held my hand.

- Dear you will have more than enough to do, I have time.

 After dinner, everybody went to their rooms. Ryder came to me and gave me a kiss in my forehead.

- Roo I still have some job to do with the boys and my father. Please go to our room and just rest, you don't have to wait for me.  I gave him a hug.

- Okay, well good work and don't be too late, this was a very long day. You must have some rest as well.

- I will hurry to you.  He turned around and went for his business. While I was walking back to our room a few people greeted me and we had some chit-chat but nothing too serious. Most of them left with a content smile and I felt that maybe it will be easier to get on their good side. My happiness didn't last a lot, Chloe blocked my way with her minions. She had an evil smile on her face and the corridor was just the four of us.

- Well, well… the little human or may I say bug? - they laughed. The red-haired got behind my back.

- She thinks she is a mermaid look at her tattoos, so pathetic - Kelly pointed at me and they laughed.

- And this dress... Was this really a presentation or just April's fool joke? – Maria asked.

- That was nice Maria! - Chloe basically climbed to my face being just an inch away from my nose and she whispered.

- You better disappear little one. Ryder is mine, you are weak, and little you won't be able to defend and support him.

- Chloe is right. Look at yourself! - I felt like back in high school, just there I was bullied because of my fantasy world and here they bully me because of the real world. I resisted Chloe's look and just said with a poker face:

- I did. Did you? You three look like some w****s from the corner- I heard a slap and then felt the right side of my face burning. Chloe hit me. It hurt like hell and I wanted to cry but no way I will.

- Hey Chloe, this wasn't a good idea – Kelly said with a worried look.

- Shut up Kelly if it’s necessary I will beat her up every day as long as she is here - Maria and Kelly shared a look that said something like " This is going too far". Maria put a hand on Chloe's shoulder.

- Let's go, don't waste your time on her! -they said and I took out one of my earrings carefully and without calling attention, I hid it in my palm and as they were walking away I called Chloe:

- Chloe wait please! - she stopped and turned to me, I put on my best fake " I'm sorry "face and also faked a little fear.

- What do you want? – she grinned with victory. This girl has a really big ego…

- I'm sorry you are right, I'm weak. But I would like to get along with you for Ryder's shake. Can we start over again? - I stretched my left hand towards her, hiding the earring in the right. She laughed at me and took my hand. At this very moment, I grabbed her hand and kicked her knees off her. Chloe fell down the floor and I took advantage of her surprise to slap her hard with my right hand. I knew that she will not feel my normal slap but with the earring, she screamed. Her friends looked at me terrified and many people came out of their rooms. Ryder also ran there. Chloe got up from the floor with a huge scar on her face and she was crying of hurt and anger. She jumped against my neck trying to choke me. But I kicked her off me and she flew in front of Ryder's leg.

- Look what she did to me! - she cried showing her face to Ryder. He looked down then up to me and he saw my red face. It had the form of a palm from my left ear until my chin and his eyes turned black. He wanted to come to me but I sent him a look to stay there. The werewolves who came out of their rooms were staring at me, some of them with admission and others skeptic. Ryder helped Chloe of the floor.

- Go to the pack doctor she will help you - Chloe jumped to his neck giving him a kiss on his cheek.

- Oh thank you! - he got her off himself.

- Maria accompany her- she ran next to Chloe to support her.

 - Kelly, Ariel, to my office NOW! - Kelly was trembling and I put on a poker face.

-The rest of you have a nice night! - he said to the people who came out of their rooms and walked away. Kelly followed him and so did I.  While I was walking some of the pack members whispered to me.

- This was nice! She finally got it! Don't worry we saw almost everything if Ryder gets angry at you we’ll have your back! - I thanked them in a low voice and a shy smile. It looks like standing up for yourself has its advantages. We arrived at Ryder's office. He sat down at the back of his desk, me and Kelly in one of the chairs in front of the table. He turned to Kelly.

- What happened? - she looked like she was mind-linking with someone when Ryder stood up and hit his desk with his hands so hard that both of us shake a little. Talk to me if I'm asking you! What happened? - Kelly was sweating and trembling. I also felt Ryder's power but being a human probably affected me a little less.

- Chloe wanted to talk to her and she hit her.

-Who hit who Kelly? Don't test my patience! -Ryder raised his voice causing Kelly to lower her head.

- Both of them hit the other.

- Don't act like you were stupid Kelly! - I couldn't watch this more, poor Kelly almost fainted of fear.

- Ryder! Let her go, I started this - Ryder raised his brow and Kelly looked at me as  I was some kind of guardian angel. Ryder knew that I was lying but didn't understand why.

- Okay-he smirked.  Both of you can go, but for you… He looked at me. - I will have a few more words later. - Kelly bowed and run out of the room,  I followed her and before I closed the door I told to Ryder.

- Hey handsome- he looked at me being a little pissed off.

 - Thank you! - I saw him smile a little and shook his head. I closed the door and headed to my room when someone grabbed my hand and pulled me in a room. She turned on the lights I knew who grabbed me before I saw her face. It was Kelly.

- Can I help you with something? - I asked and a crying Kelly jumped on my neck.

- Thank you, thank you! I'm so sorry for this and thank you that you saved me. She let me from her hold and sniffed while she asked: But why?

- Because you did nothing and I felt bad seeing you in fear.  Also, I will be your Luna and I must take the responsibility for my actions and protect those who are innocent.

- Chloe was wrong about you, you are going to be the best Luna ever! - She finally calmed down and let me go.

I went back to our bedroom and changed into my PJ's, then went to the bathroom to check on my face that was the moment I heard the door opening.

Chapter 17

Trouble in paradise

Ryder

The dinner went well,  but just a few minutes later that we started to work with the boys and my father, we heard a scream. I got shocked but my wolf calmed me down that it wasn't our mate. My father also heard it and got up from his chair but I stopped him.

- Don't worry I will solve it - Wilson, my father but even Matthew and Eric looked at me with surprise. This was the first time I wanted to solve some pack-related issue without being asked. As I was walking out and closing the door I heard Wilson saying to my father:

- It looks like this little human has a good effect on him- I smiled but he was right I felt like a new person capable of everything as long as I have her by my side. I arrived at the corridor to the scene that Chloe's face was bleeding and she attacked Ariel, but before I could even react, Roo kicked Chloe off her and Chloe landed in front of me. She lifted her face up to me and cried.

- Look what she did to me! - I looked down at her, then up to my beautiful mate.  I noticed that the side of her lovely face was red and also a little puffed up. It had the form of a palm from her left ear until her chin. I felt anger coming over me. We wanted to get revenge for our mate. I felt that my eyes turned black and also a very strong urge to kick Chloe. I wanted to run to Ariel to see how bad her scar was but she sent me a look to stay where I was. I didn't know if she was angry, sad, hurt or felt something else. Her face was completely emotionless. The werewolves who came out of their rooms were staring at her, some of them with admission, and others being skeptical,  but she was just locking eye contact with me. I helped Chloe off the floor and told her with disgust.

- Go to the pack doctor she will help you - Chloe suddenly jumped in my neck giving me a kiss on my cheek. Ariel’s eyelids shook a little in anger but she kept her poker face on.

- Oh thank you! - I got her off myself.

- Maria go with her. She ran next to Chloe to support her.

- Kelly, Ariel, to my office NOW! - I saw Kelly trembling and my dear love still with her emotionless face. I knew this was Chloe's act and also that Kelly is weaker than Maria so I planned to break her, even literally if it was necessary to find out what happened.

-The rest of you have a good night! – while  I  was walking to my office followed by Kelly and Ariel, I overheard some whispers about how cool Ariel was and they made me grin like an i***t. Luckily, Kelly didn't see my face. I was so proud of my mate and waited so much to know what she did. We arrived at my office. I sat down at the back of my desk, Ariel and Kelly took the chairs in front of the table. I turned to Kelly.

- What happened? - She looked as if she was mind-linking with someone. She is probably reconciling the cover story with Chloe. This was more than enough for my wolf to take control over.  I stood up and hit the desk with my hands so hard that I thought I will break it into two pieces, Ariel and Kelly shivered a little.

 - Talk to me if I'm asking you! What happened? - Kelly was sweating and trembling. I was furious. They hurt my mate and she is trying to get along with it. NO f*****g WAY!

- Chloe wanted to talk to her and she hit her - she finally spoke. Kelly was staring at the floor during the whole time and Ariel in my eyes. I swear she tried to calm me down but she couldn't because I saw her beautiful little face hurt and it made my heart ache. I should have been with her and none of this would've happened.

-Who hit who? Kelly don't test my patience! -I raised my voice. Kelly bowed even more and she was trembling with fear. Great!

- Both of them hit the other.

- Don't act if you were stupid Kelly! 

- Ryder! Let her go, I started this - suddenly Ariel stood up and confronted me. What is happening?! I'm trying to protect her and find out the truth and she goes against me? My hands clenched in fists. I raised my brow and Kelly looked at her like she was a guardian angel. I knew that she was lying but didn't understand why.

- Okay  - I smirked.  Both of you are allowed to go, but for you - I looked at Ariel- we will have a few more words later.

 Kelly bowed and ran out of the room my mate followed her and before she closed the door she peeked her head in and told me.

- Hey handsome! - I looked at her being a little pissed off. - Thank you! - Seeing her childish smile I had to smile a little too and I shook my head. What are you up to angel? 

I went back to talk over some things with my father, but he said that I earned my rest he takes care of this. So I ran back to my room to find Ariel in the bathroom checking on her face. I closed the door and walked to her lifting up her face to get a better look. She put her hand on mine pulling it away.

- Don't worry its nothing serious I got worse hits in my life.

 Imagining that she was beaten in her life made me sad and angry my hands clenched in fists again. She saw it and held both of them giving a little peck on each fist.

 - Sssh baby calm down- this was the first time she called me other than my name and this little gesture along with her touch, calmed me down. She walked back to the bathroom to get a wet towel. I took off my clothes and lied in the bed. She crawled next to me. Ariel lied on her back and put the towel on her face. I turned to my side and took the towel from her. Carefully caressed her face and I gave some little kisses on her scar then I put the towel back and hold it there.

- Now you have to tell me what happened.

- Kelly already told you - she smiled. I love her smile.  We slapped each other - she grinned and she peered at me from the corner of her eyes.

- Ariel you have to tell me what happened. I can't let my mate be bullied! - she turned her head to me and with her right hand started to draw circles on my chest. I swallowed heavily due to the desire she woke up in me. I held her hand and stop its movement. I looked into Ariel’s eyes.

- You can't take away my attention. This is serious – she rolled her eyes and bit her lips a little.

- I'm not doing this to get away from your attention… -She squeezed my hand a little and flattered her eyelashes while she looked into my eyes again. -  I'm doing it because I missed you and I love you.

 I gave her a careful kiss and wondered what kind of sorcery she used on me.

-I love you too. Now tell me the truth, love -she sighed then continued:

- Okay so while I was walking back to our room Chloe blocked my way with her minions. She had an evil smile on her face and the corridor was just the four of us – my eyes were getting darker. Ariel frowned and with a more serious voice said:

- Listen if you will get angry I won't tell you – I took a deep breath.

- Okay I will try.

-Where were we? Oh, I know.

 Ariel’s *Flashback*

- Well…well, the little human or may I say bug? -said Chloe

- She thinks she is a mermaid look at her tattoos, so pathetic. - Kelly

- And this dress... Was this really a presentation or just April's fool joke? - Maria

- That was nice Maria! - Chloe basically climbed to my face being just an inch away from my nose and she whispered.

- You better disappear little one. Ryder is mine, you are weak, and little you won't be able to defend and support him.

- Chloe is right. Look at yourself! - They made me feel like back in high school just there I was bullied because of my fantasy world and here they bullied me because of the real world. I stood Chloe's stare and just said with a poker face.

*-----------* I lost my temper and interrupted Ariel.

- HOW COULD THEY talk to YOU like that?! Tonight we presented you as their soon-to-be Luna and they showed no respect! 

-Ryder if you keep interrupting this story will never end.

 -Sorry, continue.

*******************************

- I did. Did you? You three look like some w****s from the corner - Ryder chuckled a little at my comeback. Then I heard the sound of a slap and felt the right side of my face burning. Chloe hit me. It hurt like hell and I wanted to cry but it was no way I would.

- Hey, Chloe this wasn't a good idea – said Kelly

- Shut up Kelly if it’s necessary I will beat her up every day as long as she is here. Maria and Kelly shared a look that said something like " This is going too far". Maria put a hand on Chloe's shoulder.

Ryder snarled and growled but his eyes were still blue so I continued.

- Let's go, don't waste your time on her! -they said and I took out  one of my earrings carefully and without calling attention, I hid it  in my palm and as they were walking away I called Chloe:

- Chloe wait please! - she stopped and turned to me I put on my best fake " I'm sorry "face and also faked a little fear. Ryder grinned again. I love making him proud.

- What do you want? –she asked.

- I'm sorry you are right, I'm weak. But I would like to get along with you for Ryder's shake. Can we start over again? - I extended my left hand to her,  hiding the earring in the right. She laughed at me and took my hand. At this very moment  I grabbed her hand and kicked her knees off her, she fell down on the floor and I took advantage of her surprise to slap her hard with my right hand. I knew that she will not feel my normal slap but with the earring in it , she screamed. Her friends looked at me being terrified and many people came out of their rooms. You also arrived there at that moment. Chloe got up from the floor with a huge scar on her face and she was crying with hurt and anger. She jumped against my neck trying to choke me. But I kicked her off me and she fell in front of your legs.

*-----------------*

- The rest you know already. – she said and took the hand towel off my hand and put it on her face again. I adored this girl more than ever. She defended herself against three werewolves all alone. I pulled her to my chest and she used it as a pillow. I took the towel back and put it on her pretty face to make her pain pass away. She smiled and hugged my waist.

- I still don't understand why you defended Kelly in my office – I shrugged.

- Because I felt sorry for her and she didn't do anything to me. Also because I wanted her to trust me. After we left your office she pulled me to her room -I lifted one of my eyebrows and Ariel sighed into my chest.

Ariel's * Flashback*

- Can I help you with something? - I asked and a crying Kelly jumped on my neck.

- Thank you, thank you! I'm so sorry for this and thank you that you saved me... But why?

- Because you did nothing and I felt bad seeing you in fear, also I will be your Luna and I must take the responsibility for my actions and protect those who are innocent.

- Chloe was wrong about you, you are going to be the best Luna ever! * - She finally calmed down and let me go. Then I came back here and you started interrogating me.

- Can we sleep please? - she asked in a sleepy voice while rubbing her eyes. - Today was very intense. I've been fake kidnapped, presented to a whole werewolf pack, and even fought with one of them. Without mentioning the 13 hours’ flight – I smiled at her and kissed her gently before I said.

- Of course little mermaid. I almost forgot that all these things happened in one day. - I turned the lights off and hugged Ariel close. She whispered.

- Do you also think that my tattoos are childish or pathetic? - I felt sadness in my heart. Chloe not just hit my mate but also made her doubt her appearance. I turned the lights up again and looked deeply into Ariel's eyes.

- Don't say stupid things, you are special and beautiful with every detail you have. I love you and I would never change anything about you.  Ariel smiled at me with her enchanting smile and her magical eyes were full of adoration towards me.

 -Thank you for loving me Ryder. This is the first time in a long time that I feel completely happy and safe.

- That's funny because you are recovering from a fight, miles away from everything you have ever known, in a house full of werewolves - she started to laugh uncontrollably and she made me laugh as well. We slowly calmed a little and she gave me a passionate kiss and turned her back to me. I switched the lights off and spooned with her. When I thought she was asleep I kissed the spot on her neck where I will soon mark her and whispered.

-Mine. - for my surprise, she whispered back.

-And you are mine.