Chapter 62

Ryan's POV

I was heading off to see Elder Fritz with high nerves. I had a feeling that he wanted me to meet Diana Clark today, even though I had no desire to meet her this soon.

As I proceeded down the boulevard, my mind wandered back to the interaction with Dylan and Alyson. I had to keep reminding myself that Dylan had been a good friend to us, and a good trading partner. It was hard to see him and Alyson interacting again, especially since I'd told him to take care of her if anything happened to me.

Part of me wondered if he'd wait around until my early death and swoop in to find her. I hated the idea, even if I would rather have her happy and safe than lonely and depressed for the rest of her life once I died.

The curse of Alexanders was truly oppressive. Maybe I would live till thirty, or if I were lucky, I would see forty and Alyson and I would have twenty years together.

She was being so loving towards me lately, and I relished it. It sounded like if I were to become Alpha, she might become my mate, which made me want this even more than I had before.

As I entered the elder's mansion, I thought that I heard sniffles from somewhere. Suddenly, I ran into Stephanie who had tears in her eyes that she tried to hide.

"Stephanie? What's wrong?" I asked, alarmed at her pained expression and eyes swollen and red from tears.

She whimpered and hid her face from me. "Excuse me, I have a broken heart." She clutched her hand to her chest and ran past me out the door.

"Did someone hurt you?" I called after her but she was gone. I wondered if she had a suitor who'd treated her badly, and I grew angry. That boy better watch out if I heard who he was.

In Elder Fritz's meeting room, he sat alone. The others were about to arrive. "Is your Stephanie, okay?" I asked. "She was crying when I saw her."

He looked sympathetic, but only said, "It's a hard day for her, poor girl. But never mind, this meeting is not about her. I will go and find her later."

"She seemed upset." I said.

Elder Fritz shrugged it off. "It's inevitable at this point."

Other elders arrived, and then to my surprise, the Luna came in leading a she-wolf in a cloak with a large hood over her head to conceal her face. I knew it had to be Diana, and I was a little frustrated that they were already presenting her to me. What was the rush? I thought we had two years.

I had never had a good look at Jennifer. Her long wavy blonde hair hung to her waist, she had purple eyes that were remarkably similar to Alyson except sharp and sinister as she glared around at anyone. Each time an elder looked at her, she'd force a fake smile as if she were pleasant, but her lips were tight and pursed any other moment.

When she noticed me watching her, she stared at me long and hard before she pretended to greet me with a hand gesture to indicate that I may bow to her. I did not. Even if I should, I would not ever pay respects to her.

She looked cross as she whispered into Diana's ear. I could not see anything of the girl but a pointed chin poking out from that large hood.

Elder Fritz had a thrilled expression. He was standing with his parrot bobbing on his shoulder, welcoming in the other elders for this uncomfortable spectacle.

I realized that they wanted to present her in person and hope that I would like her, but perhaps also, I would not be so rude to reject her to her face. It was a predicament. Thinking of Stephanie crying, I did not want to make this poor girl sad like that.

I sighed. I had to be open, honest, and I would be with Alyson. I would be as gentle as possible for sake of this young she-wolf's feelings.

"Now that we are all here, please let us introduce Diana Clark."

All eyes were on me and her. Jennifer touched the girl's hand and she jumped a little before taking off the hood. While her features could have been pretty, her skin lacked the color of health, and she had deep bags under her eyes slightly hidden with white powder masking her skin texture.

Her ashy light brown hair hung limp with a slight patchy wave. She had a pointed chin and feminine shape to her face, but at the same time was gaunt from ill-health. I thought of Alyson's suspicions. They had dressed her in a flattering blue dress to match her eyes, and a large cloak that hid how terribly frail she was.

Her smell was not bad. It was her blood, but it was also tainted somehow in a way that I could not explain.

I realized I was staring dumbfounded for too long. I nodded my head to her, and said. "Nice to meet you, Diana."

Her eyes were cast down, she fidgeted shyly. Her voice was small and mousy when she responded as if she'd been practicing, "It's a pleasure, Ryan Alexander."

All the elders seemed to lean in around us. While I usually respected them, this scenario was ridiculous. They presented this sad creature to me as a valid future mate when she was sick, could not everyone see it?

I closed my eyes for a moment, searching for her in visions. While I had seen her in visions for Jennifer, I had not looked for only her before.

In a flash, I glimpsed blood from a wound on her wrist draining into a golden bowl, but then the Luna interrupted me.

"Ahem," She cleared her throat. "Do you not like my cousin, Ryan?"

She said my name as if we were acquainted.

I opened my eyes abruptly, realizing that I might be too obvious.

"Yes, yes, what do you think of this she-wolf?" An elder urged from behind me.

I felt sick from this presentation. I certainly did not want to be cruel to her, but I had to be honest. Diana was looking more to the Luna for permission than to me for any approval.

I had to think carefully to answer and remain diplomatic and kind.

"I thank the elders for their concern, and I thank Diana for coming here today." I said even if it were a stretch as she was a pitiful creature, and this was a terribly awkward situation. "If I may speak to the elders without the presence of the ladies, I would greatly appreciate it."

They were all leering around me. The Luna narrowed her eyes at me. "Anything you say, can be said to us."

None of this was Diana's fault. I really wanted to avoid hurting her. "I prefer to speak to only the elders."

"If you don't like her than say it,' Jennifer spat. "You are a poor excuse for an Alpha candidate if you cannot even see the quality of a blood candidate presented before you." In her words overflowed the suspicions that I already had a blood provider. "Come Diana, this man is not worthy of our presence."

Despite her objections, she stormed seeming terribly offended. Her foul mood so well matched with Jacob, I believed that he must have found the perfect mate with her. Diana scampered after her.

I released a long exhale once they were gone.

"You can speak freely." Elder Fritz said, his delight was clearly wavering.

"To be frank, I cannot accept her," I said officially. "I thank you and the ways of Alexander for this generous opportunity, but she is not my mate. I feel nothing with her presence in the room."

The mood in the room shifted to disappointed.

'What will you do then? She is the best we have!" One bitter elder shouted at me.

"As discussed, I will find another she-wolf from Clan Clark to be my mate when the time is right."

Elder Fritz was shaking his head. "You should act now, Ryan. Jacob's health is truly questionable at present. We need to know that you can be Alpha, and you have no mate from Clan Clark even lined up at all."

"We would have to approve your choice!" Another elder said, his tone reflecting that I must have offended their process.

I maintained my composure out of respect, but. I resented this spectacle. Even so, it made a lot more sense now that they said Jacob was unwell. That could be good news for Alyson and I, but I was not sure if she would be ready so soon, or if it would be safe for her to come out as Clan Clark.

"I hope to find a she-wolf to match me that you all approve of." I said. "I will look for her." Even though, I already knew who she was, although I was nervous to apply any pressure on her. Alyson never responded well to pressure.

Perhaps, she could see that our moment had come already.