Chapter 32

Ryan's POV

Alyson still slept beside me; her beautiful face was peaceful in the morning light. I dared not wake her. I knew that she wanted to come with me, but it would be far too dangerous. It was possible that Jacob would send wolves to intercept and kill me before I arrived. I would have to travel quickly and carefully, and it was better if I were alone.

I could not risk anything happening to her, I could not bear it. I was touched when she opened up last night, even though she didn't tell me any specific people, I knew that if I were to gain power in Crowalt, I could help her with her revenge. It was important.

And maybe once the revenge was behind her and settled, she would agree to be my mate. Maybe she could smell it as sure as I could.

I rose quietly from the covers; it wasn't even daybreak yet. I was antsy, and I needed to prepare for my departure. I decided it would be best to be ready even before I tell her that I would leave alone because then I would be ready to go, and she would not be.

I felt a tinge of guilt, but I knew this was for the best. She would be angry at me again, but at least she would be safer, and maybe I could make her see reason this time. We had connected last night, I felt surer about that.

While I would travel to Crowalt alone, I would need Michael to meet me there. I wanted some support, and who better than my beta.

Which left me in a precarious situation. Who would watch over Alyson to make sure she didn't follow me? I could think of only one person who might be able to convince her, and it wasn't Michael, even if I wasn't going to have him meet me there.

I knocked on Dylan's door. It was early morning, and I heard some shuffles and grunts before I knocked again.

The door swung open, and Dylan wearing no shirt with messy hair and mad squinting eyes glared out at me.

"What time is it? Even the Moon Goddess sleeps now, surely." His snarky approach shifted. He blinked at me as if he didn't believe his eyes.

"I need to talk to you."

"Now?" Dylan rubbed his eyes and yawned. "Are you about to take off again? Where's Alyson?"

"I won't quite yet," I said. "Can we step outside, take a walk, I want to talk to you as friends." I threw it in. I didn't hate the man, but we both knew I was not a fan of his presence.

He was shaking his head but agreed. "Let me put on a shirt at least."

We stepped out into the dark world. Starstream Pack still slept; a tiny sliver of sunlight broke on the horizon.

"Well, isn't this romantic," Dylan said with a chuckle. "I'm surprised you've asked me for this sunrise."

I snorted. "Let's be serious for a moment."

"I've yet to see you be not serious," he said.

I rolled my eyes, remembering Alyson's laughter, and my jealousy. I did not find Dylan funny, but she seemed to. I hated it. At the same time, I didn't really smell any indication that she liked him more than as a friend. All her more seductive glances were only towards me.

We walked out away from the other houses, stepping casually through the dark forest. Crickets chirped around us, my wolf woke under the cover of night, wanting to run and hunt, but I calmed him. I needed to be a man now.

"I told Alyson that I'm going to Crowalt, and she thinks she's coming with me." I said.

"That must mean that she's not actually going with you." Dylan said.

"No, she can't for her safety. If I make it there without any problems, and I challenge my uncle. If I lose, I could be killed. And whoever is with me would also be in serious danger at best, and tortured and killed at worse. I've seen visions of her being tortured, and I worry that might be her future. I need to protect her. I can't allow that for her."

Dylan was nodding thoughtfully. "Why are you telling me now? Like this, instead of talking to her?"

"I might need your help. I could trust Michael with this, but I need him to meet me, and besides, Alyson likes you better, I think she might listen to you, or at least that you could persuade her not to follow me."

"I am incredibly charming," He agreed.

I rolled me eyes. "I trust that you won't do anything." I said with more warning to my voice. "I know you're a good man and would do what's right by her."

"Look," Dylan said, his tone more serious, "I do like Alyson, but if you've ever seen her while you're away, you'd know that her heart is yours. Her mind drifts towards you in that dreamy way she is always looking for the door, and hoping you come back. I can't compete with that."

My nerves settled a bit. I didn't know that. I was deciding to trust Dylan and Alyson that they wouldn't betray me, and this solidified it. If I still had life in my veins, I wanted to spend all my days with that she-wolf. I was poisoned with her; I could never forget her. But she needed to be safe.

"Besides," He added with a laugh, "I've seen the way that you kill, and I don't really want to die."

"Will you take care of her while I'm away?" I asked. "Make sure that she doesn't follow me."

"I'll see what I can do," he said. "She's pretty stubborn, but she's not so unreasonable. You have to tell her though. I don't want that responsibility. I will do this, but you have to talk to her first. I don't want to break the bad news and then try to persuade her; you know how that would look."

He made a good point. "You're a good man." I said.

"I try to be."

I was surprised how this goofy, kind of arrogantly obnoxious wolf also had a portion of him that was so honest and open. Perhaps that was why Alyson enjoyed him.

"I'm not sure exactly how I will prevent her." Dylan said.

"Maybe distract her with more of the herb business thing," I suggested.

His eyes shone with an idea, and I was confident that he'd be fine.

"One more thing, Dylan." I said, I could not believe what I was about to say, or how I could even think it. "If I die, promised to take care of her for me. I could see her being really happy with you. But only if I die." I threw in warning at the end.

Dylan didn't look at me, and there was absolutely no humor in his face when he said, "I would never wish her that heartbreak, but I would be honored. I promise that, if need be, I will take care of her."