Red

Chapter 16: New Friends

He left early for patrol the next day. I took calls from Leo and reports from the guys until lunch.

I made three sandwiches on the first floor when Ryder and Alec walked in. I slid the plates over to them as they sat at the bar.

Ryder leaned over and kissed my cheek as he sat down. Sitting beside them, I heard a sniff. Looking over, Alec was sniffing, like obnoxiously like a dog. He got up, slowly coming my direction. Ryder was almost as freaked out as me, putting his arm around me protectively with a deep frown, eyebrows drawn like mine.

Alec's eyes widened in surprise before a devious grin spread over his face. "First comes love." He sang, skipping out of arms reach. "Then comes marriage." He grabbed his plate, raising his voice so we could hear him as he skipped out the door. "Then comes a baby in a baby carriage!" My eyes narrowed as his back disappeared from sight.

What the . . . ?

Ryder chuckled behind me. He must be crazy too. His arm wrapped around me. "I've marked you; you smell like me now love." Ohhh. That makes a lot more sense. Alec was just being a childish moron. Case closed. "Speaking of," grabbing my sandwich, I looked back up at him. "That mark makes you an official Luna." A what? Choking on my sandwich, Ryder rubbed my back gently with a deep frown. "I'm planning on introducing you officially in three days." His voice was a little nervous and a little worried.

Okay. I can do this right? Who am I kidding? My mate's mother wants me dead. Who knows what the rest of them will think. Grabbing a drink of water I turned to stare right at him. "Ryder, I'm not the Luna-type . . . if that's even a thing. I can't pretend to belong here." His grip on the counter increased visibly.

"You don't have to fake anything. You ARE a Luna and you DO belong here." He practically growled the words at me. He looked at his watch and growled. "I have a meeting. We'll talk about this when I get back." He declared walking out the door.

Pissed off I grabbed my jacket and walked out the back door. I was going for a walk.

Accidentally walking around the house I passed the backyard. I saw Ryder but he didn't see me. Natalie was there, blond hair blowing in the wind, brushing against him because of how close they were standing.

It shouldn't make me mad. That's what reason told me, but I'd lost all reason the moment I decided to stay.

Now I couldn't get Ryder out of my head and I didn't like her simply for being so close to him.

Scolding my self for thinking that way I ran off so I wouldn't look at them anymore.

About an hour later I heard water and followed it to a small lake. The view was breathtaking. Scatterings of mountains rose up behind the trees lining the far side of the crystal blue lake.

To my left I noticed a girl with long, raven black hair, curled over a sketchpad. She sat up as I approached. Looking over her shoulder I took in the black and white charcoal rendition of the scene before us.

"That's really good." I told her. Turning back hesitantly, she nodded before going back to her work. Sliding down the tree beside her, I glanced at her work again. "Mind if I join you?"

This time she set down her charcoal pencil and looked up at me with shockingly blue eyes, much like the water before us. "You're human?" I nodded and she turned back to her work. "You shouldn't talk to me, you're mate won't like it." She warned.

Leaning my head on the tree I scoffed. "Well then he can write down his complaint and shove it up his ass." The corner of her lips pulled up when I said that.

Shaking her head, she grabbed a second sketchbook and pencil and handed them to me. "Thank you." I told her, flipping to a clean page after admiring her works a moment.