12. Ryan

"Well, you certainly made a right mess of that," Hayley said. She was waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs.

I was in no mood for her bullshit. "Mai had to know the truth."

"Your brothers are making bets on how long it will take for her to forgive you, you know."

"I've got two years!" shouted Sam from the dining room.

The thought that she might never forgive me hit me, and I stumbled just as Jem walked toward me.

"Hayley, leave Ryan alone."

She whirled to him. "Of course, that's your reason for living these days, isn't it? To ruin all my fun."

"Hayley—" Jem took a step toward her, his hand outstretched.

"Don't bother, I'm not interested," she said and strode out of the front door.

Jem watched her go, his face full of regret. They really needed to get their shit together. This ongoing feud between them was hurting the whole Pack.

Jem turned to me. "Mai will come around."

I nodded, but I wasn't sure he was right.

"You tightened security around the compound?" I asked.

"Of course. She isn't going anywhere tonight."

"Not when you dramatically carted her out of here and forgot her crutches." Derek appeared, carrying them.

"Fuck!" I yanked a hand through my hair. What if she needed to come downstairs? I had effectively trapped her in her room.

"Don't worry, I'll leave them outside her door," Jem said, watching me carefully. "She needs time, and so do you."

My wolf was restless, stirring within me. He was eager to escape; the emotional turmoil of today causing him to push against the boundaries of my control.

"I need to run," I muttered, the urge to Shift growing stronger by the second. Jem nodded, understanding my need for release.

"Go ahead. We'll keep an eye on things here," he reassured me, his hand briefly clasping my shoulder.

With a grateful nod, I headed out the door and out of the compound. The cool night air was soothing on my heated skin. But I didn't want soothing. Mai was right. I should have told her years ago. I should never have hidden it. All of this, all those years that she'd been out there, alone, and it was my fault.

I slipped into the forest behind the compound, feeling the call of the wild grow stronger within me. The need to let my wolf take over was overwhelming, and I could no longer resist the urge. I tore off my clothes, not caring where they fell, and took a deep breath. I felt the power of my wolf coursing through my veins, and I willingly relinquished control. My bones cracked and shifted, rearranging themselves to accommodate the change. The pain was intense, but I welcomed it. My skin prickled as thick fur sprouted from my skin, quickly covering my body in a dense, warm coat.

My face elongated, transforming into the muzzle of a wolf, my human teeth giving way to the sharp fangs of a predator. My ears shifted to the top of my head, becoming pointed and alert, twitching with every sound that filled the forest. My fingers and toes formed the powerful paws of a wolf, equipped with claws that could tear through flesh with ease.

I could feel my senses heightening, my wolf's instincts taking over. The scents of the forest became more distinct, the sounds of the night more vivid. My connection to the earth beneath my paws was electric, and the energy of the moon above filled me with a primal strength.

I retreated into my mind and let my wolf take over. My powerful limbs propelled me through the dark forest, the scent of damp earth and pine filling my nostrils. My heart raced as I leaped over fallen logs and dodged low-hanging branches, the exhilaration of the run providing a break from the heavy emotions filling me.

As I moved through the woods, Mai's beautiful face was etched into my mind. The thought of her forgiveness was both tantalizing and terrifying, and my wolf growled in frustration. He was clear that I should have told her as soon as I knew she was my mate. The memory of that moment when I'd realized that she was the one was burned into my soul.

It was an evening in late September. Mai had just turned seventeen. The sun was setting, and the sky was a deep orange. I'd been out for a run, on two legs this time, and stopped to catch my breath. In the distance, I saw Mai talking to Hayley, a frown on her face. They never did get along. I needed to talk to Jem about it again. I knew something wasn't right there, but Jem refused to listen. He loved Hayley and couldn't see the way Mai reacted whenever she was around.

I wiped the sweat from my brow. Mai shifted to the side, and the sun's rays caught her face. My wolf stirred in excitement. I stepped closer, watching as the light danced off her delicate features. As if sensing my presence, Mai looked up at me with a questioning expression on her face. Our eyes locked for one brief moment before she turned away, but it was enough for me. It was like a thunderbolt had struck, and I stumbled backward, unable to breathe. Time stopped. I don't know how long I stood there, caught in that moment, but when I looked up, Mai and Hayley had gone, and I was left with the absolute certainty that I had just found my true mate.

The wind howled through the trees as I ran, remembering that moment. I pushed myself harder, my muscles rippling beneath my fur as I raced through the moonlit night, seeking solace in the freedom of the run. My wolf had wanted to go straight to her that day, and we almost did, but then Jem had found me. I told him where I was going, and he grabbed hold of me. I punched him in his jaw when he told me I couldn't say anything to her. My wolf was going crazy, but Jem always did have a way with words. He convinced me that Oliver would kill her if he knew. That keeping it hidden was the right thing to do. That it was the only way to keep her safe. He was wrong, though. We both were.

Eventually, exhaustion began to set in, and I slowed my pace, panting heavily. I couldn't go far; my wolf needed the run, but he wouldn't allow me to be long without checking on Mai. I turned back and headed for my clothes.