Ryan POV
I drive Fallon to Mayhem's Wolf Pack. She sits silently, thinking. I know she has been through a lot. I wish I could help her more, but as her watcher and friend, it is my duty to be here and protect and allow her the chance to figure her magic out on her own. It is hard to sit back and watch.
"Do you know him? My father, do you know him?" Fallon asks me. Her words break as she asks about her father, and I can hear the worry coming from her. How much more can she take? Who am I kidding? She is a reaper and a badass. She can figure this out.
I slow down and make a turn onto a dirt road. We hit a few bumps before I pull off on the side of the road. "I know your father. Everyone knows him. He is a good wolf. I have heard stories about his affair with the reaper, but sometimes people and wolves talk when they should listen. It is best you ask him any question you have, not me or Libby. Speak freely with him and honestly. Your father will tell you what you need to know," I say.
Fallon looks out the window. She hides her face from me. I am not sure if she is crying or just letting my words sink in. "I am stronger than I was, but I am still trying to figure this out," Fallon says.
She looks back at me and then at the clock on my dash. "It's midnight," I say. Fallon moves over closer to me.
"Guess what that means?" Fallon says, laughing.
I put my arm around her. "It means it's your birthday. Happy Birthday, Fallon," I whisper. I move the hair that has fallen into her face and wrap it behind her ear. She is so beautiful. Would it be wrong of me to fall in love with her? I am only a few years older than her, but I am charged with protecting her.
We sit in silence for a moment, looking into eyes of each other. We both think the same thing, but I know this is not the time. Romance is not what she needs; she needs me to protect her and help her train to be a reaper. Romance can come later.
"Ryan," Fallon says softly. I snap back to her. I was thinking way too hard about how easily I could fall in love with her. I look at her. She is beautiful.
"Yes," I say softly.
Fallon moves closer to me. She kisses me softly on the lips. "When this is over, we will talk. Until then, protect me and be my friend," Fallon says.
I open the door to the truck and go around to open her door. She jumps out and waits for instructions. I try to keep my mind on the mission, but it is hard not to think of her as a mate. The moment our lips touched, I knew Fallon was my mate, but I cannot tell her, not now. She has to focus.
"Stay close to me. You may hear howling and running in the woods, but do not fear them. It's just the territory wolf guards and young wolves out for a run. We will walk to the gate and ask permission to come in and see your father," I say.
Fallon nods her head and stays close to me. She bumps into me several times as we walk. "I am not afraid," she keeps saying, but I know the howling is frightening to her.
"Your part wolf Fallon; embrace it," I say.
Wolves are running along the wolf territory, watching us. They know me, but not Fallon. The wolves are getting curious. By the time we reach the gate, I can hear the whispers. Fallon is glued to my side.
"Ryan, who is that with you, and what do you want?" a guard calls out. I look to see who the guard is walking toward us. He is looking Fallon over and licking his lips.
"She is here to see her father. This is Fallon, the new reaper. Fallon, this is Chapman," I say.
The guard stops in front of Fallon and me. His body language changes from looking at her like a snack or something to play with to a wolf who knows this little lady can kick his ass. She might not know it yet, but she could take out every guard on the gate.
Fallon remains silent. "Does he know she is coming?" Chapman says.
I look at Fallon, who is visibly nervous. "No, he does not know she is coming, but she must see him. Today is her eighteenth birthday. You know decisions have to be made, and she wants to talk to him," I say.
Chapman looks at Fallon. He huffs a few times. "Alpha is not going to be happy about being disturbed, but since his daughter has come home, maybe it will be okay," Chapman says.
I hadn't planned on telling Fallon her father is the Alpha. I wanted him to lay everything out for her. I also thought that knowledge beforehand might freak her out. By the looks of her right now, she is shaking.
"My father is the Alpha of this pack?" Fallon questions me.
I clear my throat. Chapman walks away, yelling at the guards. "Open the gate. Fallon is here to see Alpha," Chapman yells.
Fallon takes my hand and holds it tightly. "Your father is the Alpha, Fallon. I wanted your father to tell you, but maybe I was wrong withholding that information," I say.
Fallon glues her body to me. I put my arm around her as we walk through the gate. "Do you remember where the pack house is, Ryan?" Chapman asks me.
"Yes," I answer.
"I am going to shift into my wolf form. Fallon, you get on my back. It will be faster," I say.
Fallon lets go of my hand. I shift into my wolf. Fallon stares at me. She takes her right hand and gently touches my fur. "You are so beautiful in this form," Fallon says. Her eyes lock with me. She is my mate. How will I refrain from wanting to be with her?
I kneel down. "Hop on, my lady," I say.
Fallon climbs onto my back. I howl and sprint toward the pack house.