Anything but ordinary

Chapter 24-25

Queen of hearts

Chloe

Finally, she is gone! I was celebrating with Kelly and Maria in my room. But they didn't seem to share my joy.

- Now Ryder is a free pray! I'll captivate him and I'll be Luna! - I grinned and poured more champagne in their glasses.

- But Chloe haven't you heard Ryder's howl. It was so heartbreaking and now all the pack acts as someone died -Kelly was staring in her glass while she said that.

- She is right Chloe. I think you went too far.

- Hey bitches! I did nothing! I "saved" her. My idea was different but this way the plan is even better because it was her decision - they got up and left me alone. I screamed after them:

- NO problem just go away I don't need you! – I quickly drank my champagne and mind-linked my uncle.

- Hey guess what happened?

- What happened princess?

- The b***h is gone!

- Wow! I'm glad to hear it. So are you now the new girlfriend of Ryder?

- Not yet he is still in pain but I will help him to recover from it.

- Listen princess there is a little problem. You have a month for this. My Alpha is demanding some progress and the clock is ticking. Meet me in two weeks in our usual place at 10 am and I'll tell you everything if you are not his Luna by then.

- But uncle...

- I must go.

-What did he mean by " you have a month for this"? A month to make Ryder fall in love with me? This is impossible. But I have to try it.

The next day I put on my best make up and ironed my hair. I get in my tightest red dress and walked down to the dungeons. All the prisoners were whistling and saying dirty comments to me but I kept my glance on my goal. The guard opened Ryder's cell for me and I kneed down next to his bed.

- Poor thing! Why are you chained like a prisoner?! - I turned to the guard- Unchain him now!

- Sorry lady I can't, just for the order of the Alpha. -I turned back to Ryder.

- Ryder darling hey look at me. - He was half asleep. I caressed his face and he opened his eyes to me and frowned his eyebrows.

- What do you want here? - he looked at me from my head to toe and I stood up and made a turn.

- I came to cheer you up - I leaned down and gave him a kiss. His muscles flexed and he was growling at me while his eyes turned to black.

- How do you dare to kiss me! - He shouted. - Guards take her away from me and don't let her in again! - The guards walked me out of his cell so  I went back to my room to figure out a new plan.

Ryder

It was already a week after that Ariel left me. That slut Chloe came in two days later and kissed me, seriously what the hell did she think?! My wolf stopped talking to me, he was just wimping and I felt that my heart was slowly turning into stone. I started to hate everything that reminded me of her. The music, dance, laughter and the blue color. I couldn't look at myself in the mirror because even the color of my eyes reminded me of her. My parents let me out of the dungeons and I repainted my room to black. I found there Ariel's note book and it teared my heart again. But this time I had no tears. I was cold like ice. I looked at a book she forgot to take with her, it was a Spanish book the title said " Nunca volverá", I searched in google what did it mean and I painted this two words on my wall with my hands.

This was when Matt and Eric came in.

- Hey Ryder what you...doing.... - Eric's voice faded when he saw me, I lost a lot of weight. My eyes had deep black circles around them and I was standing on my bed with my hands totally white from white wall painting.

- What does “Nunca volverá” mean? - Matthew asked.

- It’s the title of one of Ariel's books, it means " She is never coming back".

- And why are you painting this to your wall? - I knew that I scared my friends but to be honest I didn't give a f**k about it.

- Just a nice reminder - I walked to the bathroom and washed the paint off my hands.

- Come on, my father wants us in his office now - I went out of my room and they followed me. We met Chloe in the corridor she tried to block my way playfully.

- Get out of my way. - I growled.

- Ryder please wait a minute. – she said.

- No.- I walked past her and my friends followed, I heard her mumbling something. We went to my father's office. My mother was standing next to him and he was in very bad condition.

- Dad, what happened to you? - I asked and I was worried but my voice was numb and dry.

- I got attacked yesterday and they hit me with a silver bullet so it will take time to recover. Actually, this is why I called you here. They are planning another attack. I don't know when and I think I won't be able to defend our pack. You have to -I nodded and sat down to talk about the details of the fight. They were just a few rouges and I wasn't worried about them.

- Don't worry about it.

- Ryder, how are you feeling? - my mother looked at me with sadness in her eyes. I knew that I looked very ill and indeed I felt like I was in hell. Every nerve of my body was in pain since I hurt Ariel and I didn't let my wolf to go after her since then he refused to talk to me. He just wimped sometimes and howled in pain. I lost the most important person who meant the world to me and even I was in mourn inside-outside I was cold.

- I'm okay - she frowned her eyebrows and came to me cupping my face in her hands. She softly pulled my head down so she could give a kiss to my forehead but with this, memories stormed me. I held my head and dropped to my knees and just let the memories show themselves. I saw and heard Ariel and the world was gone. Only memories mattered.

* Flashbacks*

" Now tell me why such a cute face is sad all the time in a boys’ night out? "

"You gotta give up the bark and bite.  - When the song arrived to the last "Give up the bark and bite" I pressed my lips against hers. She didn't pull back and suddenly everything disappeared there was only  us and the music."

"You know what they say...After every storm comes a rainbow"

" Ariel Cenke"

"- Listen, Ryder, I don't want to mess with your life. I know you are in love with someone else. I also know that you are very attracted to me because of this thing of yours. But I'm a human, so for now you don't have any duties towards me. You can get up whenever you want and walk away."- From far away I heard my parents' and friends' voices but I wasn't able to concentrate. The memories kept coming and I felt that my face was wet. Perfect I'm crying...

"- Yes a lot! This is going to be amazing! It’s like I just woke up from a long dream and got back my life.

- You are such an adorable weirdo. - she snuggled under my shoulder and looked up at me.

- I know, but this is why you love me!"

"- And they are not alone. - I said. At this moment I heard Roo's angelic voice and my heart fastened, even more, it was already beating fast because of running but now I felt relieved. At the other side of the glade, Ariel appeared from the forest alongside Wilson and my parents they were chatting and laughing."

"She walked to the bathroom but with every step took of a piece of her clothing. I was watching her with my mouth being opened when she arrived at the bathroom door she was showing her naked back and butt to me. Wow... her body is insanely perfect, long legs, firm butt , tiny waist, nice back and long tempting neck. Her tattoos made her even more beautiful. She grabbed her hair in a bun and looked back at me.

- Aren't you coming?" - Someone was shaking me from another world or at least it felt like another one. I just kneed on the floor and relieved my best memories with my one true love.

"- Well my love, today the lady who normally babysits the young wolves after school and kinder garden isn't feeling well. I wanted to give this task for Mathew but I think you are ready for it - she smiled showing her little white teeth like she has beadwork in her mouth.

- Really?! That is so cool! "

"- What are you doing? -I asked her forcing myself not to smile but I completely fail."

"So Ryder, where you at? - she mimicked like she was searching for me. Causing me to grin even more.

Wave your hands, front to back - Tom stood up singing and waved his hand to me. All the other kids followed him. " - I remembered how she looked at me when I shook her and she fell down on the floor... and for the letter that shut down all my dreams and happiness.

"Please take care and be happy ...It looks like you were wrong about me and I was just another storm...

Only yours

Ariel"

I finally came back from my memories and my vision cleared. I was lying at the floor, my best friends and my parents were shaking me and calling my name.

- RYDER! Dude wake up! - Eric screamed.

- My baby don't do this with us! - my mom cried.

- I'm fine, please just stop crying and screaming. - I got back on my feet but my friends jumped in my neck.

- Ryder you scared the s**t out of us! - Matthew said.

- Don't you dare to do this again! - Eric almost choked me with his hug.

- What was that son? - my father stared at me with a worried look.

- I suppose it was my punishment from the Moon Goddess because of what I did... She made me relive all my memories with Ariel. - my father hugged me and whispered in my ears.

- Everything is going to be fine.

Chapter 25

Just a reminder

Matthew

Ryder after his accident buried himself in work. He was eating and sleeping only enough to survive. Every night he had nightmares about Ariel getting shot. So we decided with Eric to visit her working place to be sure she is still fine. It has been for two weeks now since she left the pack. Since then nothing was the same. Our pack worked like a broken watch which only once a day showed the right time. Everyone did their duties but there was no laughing, no music, no playing. Even the walls seemed plainer like Ariel took everything vivid with her...

- Hey are you ready? Ryder is distracted with work so this is our opportunity -Eric said.

- Yes! Let’s go! -we jumped in my car and went directly to the Little Bear. We sat down in the corner and stalked for Ariel. An hour passed and she hasn't shown up. We started to worry about her and I cursed myself for not coming earlier. We were about to leave when she arrived and started her shift. She hasn't noticed us until she came to our table.

- Welcome to the Little Bear what can I bring for you? - she looked up from her booklet.

- Hi guys! - her face lightened up and we stood up to hug her. A huge stone fell from our hearts that she is not angry and she is fine.

- We are glad that you are okay!

- Yes, but the "team" isn't the same without you - Eric said and Ariel's face got a little sad.

- Well a lot of things happened since the last time we saw each other - she grinned. - We have live music show every Wednesday, you should come next week!

- We will see if we can. Actually we have a lot of work to do. Today we also came just to see if you are okay - Eric said and I hit him on the back of his head.

- Why wouldn't I be okay? - Ariel stared at us with a glance that penetrated to our cores.

- Well- Eric started but I shut his mouth.

- Just old friends taking care of each other! - Ariel put her hands on her waist.

- Matthew, you can tell me whatever it is - I sighed.

-Fine, we came because Ryder isn't feeling very well recently and he is having a recurring nightmare about you being hurt. So we wanted to check you just to be sure - her expression softened and she gave us a peck on our cheeks.

- That is very sweet of you. If he asks you can tell him that I'm okay - she forced a smile.

- But are you?

- I miss him, and all of you. But this was the right thing to do.

- Well we also wanted to give you this- Eric brought a pen drive. I didn't know what he was up to.

- What is this? -Eric smiled from ear to ear.

- Just a reminder. We have to go now but we will see if we can come on Wednesday- he got up and pulled me up from my seat as well. We both hugged Ariel one more time and I whispered to her ear.

- Please don't forget that our pack will always be your home! - the tightened her hug.

- I'll keep it in mind! - we left the café and in the car, I just couldn't stand more and asked Eric.

- What was on the pen drive you gave to her?

- A record from their confession night- even my heart clenched. We shared a bitter-sweet smile.

- Man that was our most epic concert!

- Without a doubt! - The rest of the road passed in silence. When we arrived back to the packhouse we crossed with Ryder in the corridor, we passed next to him smelled in the air and looked at us. I was ready to talk ourselves out of this situation when for the first time in the last two weeks Ryder smiled a little and he put his hand in his pockets and walked away.

- What was that? - Eric smelled his coat and mine then grinned.

- Just a reminder.

Ryder

I had no appetite but forced myself to eat so my mother would calm down and I just slept a few hours every night. Whenever I started to sleep I saw the same dream. Ariel got shot and she was lying on the floor dead, what I didn't tell to anyone that in my dream I held the killer weapon. I woke up screaming each night and in a cold sweat. My wolf still ignored me, he only show himself when Chloe tried to get closer to me. She changed a lot since Ariel left. Chloe was trying to be more helpful, she even tried to cook, although it was horrible and the pack asked her not to cook again. She volunteered to take care of the pups after school. She did it for a week when Tom came to me. I was sitting in my office when he knocked on the door.

- Come in! Oh hi, Tom, what can I do for you? - I tried to sound friendly but Ariel took away my joy.

- Alpha Ryder I'm here to ask you a favor. - he was standing in front of my desk staring in my dead eyes. This pup got some nuts, I leaned a little back on my armchair.

- What favor?

- Can you please ask Chloe not to take care of us anymore?

- Maybe - I showed it to one of the chairs in front of me.

- Why should I do that?

- Well apart from Vic, who is her sister, we don't like her. She is acting nice when some adult is around but later she ignores us completely. And she is trying to act as Ariel did – to hear her name I felt like I’ve been stabbed in my heart. I swallowed a wimp.

- I think I can do this favor. I also noticed that she is trying to mimic her accent. It's pretty annoying. - Tom smiled and nodded.

- Thank you, Alpha Ryder! - he got up and left but at the last minute turned back. I glanced up at him.

- Anything else? - he swallowed.

- We miss her too Alpha - he gave me an encouraging smile and left my office.

- I know little one...we all do. - I got up and went for a walk in the packhouse. This is when I crossed with Matthew and Eric I stared at them suspiciously I don't remember if I have seen them today. When they passed me my wolf howled. "MATE" - I turned back and found Eric and Matt staring at me. I smelled that unmistakable scent of monii flowers and salty ocean breeze. We shared a look with the boys and I smiled at them then continued my walk. My sweet mate is close and she is fine. I could've jumped in happiness. During all my walk I was thinking about what to do. If she met these idiots she isn't mad at us. Maybe I can change her mind and reconquer her! With these thoughts, I headed back to my room when I crossed  Chloe.

- Hi Ryder! - Oh that f*****g annoying fake accent.

- Hi. - I looked at her and almost freaked out. She had blue hair! My wolf came out.

- What the hell?!

- Don't you like it? - She asked playfully caressing my biceps. I looked at her hand and it made me shiver but in a bad way. Like when you touch a naked snail.

- To be honest, all your intentions to imitate Ariel and make me fall for you because of them, is pretty annoying and also pitiable. Now can you please take your hand off me before I break it? - she quickly pulled her hand back.

- Thank you. - I walked away and heard her cursing and running away. Well, at least one problem was checked. Now it’s time to get in action. I mind-linked Matt and Eric. I came up to my room and  I noticed the painting on the wall. I grabbed the white paint and throw it all against the wall just at the same time they opened my door.

- We will come back later - Eric said and he was half out of the room when Matt looked at me and hit Eric on his shoulder. I was grinning.  I jumped off the bed and ran to them starting to smell their clothes.

- Ryder let me call the doctor for you, you are not okay - Matt said.

 I was trying to inhale all her scent.

- Where is she? - they looked at each other and then at me. Matt spoke.

- Are you sure that is a good idea to know?

- I don't want to meet her. Not yet. I just want to know where she is.

- She works in a nearby city at a café and lives in an apartment next to it -Eric answered. His answer was like kissing a dead person.

- What are you planning to do? - Matt asked me.

- Well first of all we have a rouge issue to deal with. Was she angry? - I knew that I looked desperate.

- No Ryder. She is fine and ... - Eric held back his breath thinking to tell me or not what was going in his mind.

- And?!

- She misses you, but still thinks this was the right thing to do.

- She is wrong. Don't you see? - I turned around in my black room. - She is the f*****g rainbow of my life. With her every joy escaped from this house and without her my heart is cold like ice. - They knew I was right. I just didn't know how to change her mind.  Eric was reading in my mind he looked at me and said.

- I think I have an idea. Would you like to go for a concert next Wednesday? - I nodded, but Matt's face was troubled. They left my room and I felt that maybe things can go right after all of this.