Ruby's Ceremony/ Ryan's POV

"I can't breath!" Ruby says as we get ready for the big day.

"You're going to do great! It's Malak. Come on no need to be nervous." I tell her.

"I know... but oh my! I'm going to have a mate!" She is so excited!

"He's all you've thought about for three years and now you're nervous? Seriously Ruby?!" Rachel grins pushing her.

We get dressed and head to the banquet hall. They didn't want it big just family and friends. The hall was decked out for the ceremony. Alpha Aaron officiated it and a swear he was about to cry. It was beautiful. The way Malak looked down at her... you could see the love in his eyes. When he kissed his mark on her she threw her arms around him. They are so cute!

"You could have that." My wolf reminds me.

"No... I can't." I look over to Ryan and of course while everyone else has their eyes forward on the happy couple he is watching me. I look away. How can he still look at me like that?

Soon music was playing and people were dancing. Food was served. I watch Ruby and Malak. She is attached to his side nuzzling his neck. They are adorable. I am broken from my thoughts by a hand in front of me.

"Dance with me Marker!" Alic says grinning.

I can't do this! I want to support Ruby and Malak. They are my friends. If I dance with him it will hurt Ryan. If I turn him down I'll hurt Alic. This sucks... I should just leave.

"Sorry Alic... I think I'm gonna head out." I say standing.

"Come on!... one dance!" He grabs my hand and spins me around. I laugh as he pulls me into him with a goofy grin. We sway a moment before a hand appears on Alic's shoulder.

"Mind if I cut in little cuz?" Ryan asks.

"No problem." Alic says and his arms are replaced with Ryan's.

"You look beautiful little mouse." He whispers in my ear. I can't help but lean into his touch.

"I told you not to call me that." I whisper back. He sighs.

"I can't help it... you are just so dang cute!" He keeps his voice low as to not attract the attention of the other wolves.

"I need to leave." I break his hold but he doesn't protest. I congratulate Ruby and Malak and leave.

I don't know what to do. Nothing seems right. If I reject him he can move on... but I will be alone. If I accept him he will be stuck with a half hearted mate. That's not fair. I am so screwed up!

Ryan's POV

[This is a shortened version of the story from Ryan's POV it may be repetitive as it is the same story so you can skip the rest of this chapter if you want. If you want some spoilers digging into Ryan's past read the story Ryan to see why he believes he deserves this. Fair warning it may taint your view of Ryan.]

I didn't expect to find my mate here... what are the odds?

She keeps running away. Every time I get a wiff of her she runs... she hasn't even met me and she runs. I'd get it if she knew my past! I'd get it if she did but she hasn't even given me a chance! Who is this girl!

I won't let her get away next time!

●○●○●

"Every time woman!" Here I am in front of a tree again. She uses it to hide her scent but seriously... this is the third time! I know she's in the tree. "It masks your scent but when you do the same thing every time it's pretty obvious where you are."I circle the tree looking for her. I know she doesn't want to talk to me... I don't want to force anything on her but I need to know why? "Come out come out wherever you are." This little game of cat and mouse is killing me. I feel myself growl. I will search every mouse hole for her. I will catch my little mouse. Until she rejects me I will be here for her. "Fine I'll leave."

I walk away then circle back and hide down wind waiting for her. The minutes tick by slowly. I see her step out and it knocks the wind out of me. Before I know what's happening I have her pinned to a tree. Her touch shocks me her scent is intoxicating.

"Hello mate." I breath her in. "I've been looking for you!"

"Hello Ryan" oh my... my name on her lips I can't take it! "I'm gonna go now." She tries to leave and I feel my grip tighten. She can't leave me! Why is she pushing me away!

My wolf is growling in my head. I can't let her see that anger." No." I say fighting him down. "We are going to talk. You are not going to run." I just need her to talk to me! She can't keep running!

"Let me go." She whispers.

"Do you promise not to run?" I ask. I don't want to keep her detained but I can't loose her. I just caught her! "Because I will catch you little mouse."

"Not like I could get away anyway at this point." She shrugs like it's no big deal! Little girl this is the single best moment of my life!

We walk and talk. Her name is Markie Sue... I love it! Just rolls off the tongue! She keeps saying things about me. She doesn't know me. I may have been a jerk before but I am not that any more! Her words hurt... is that what she thinks of me?

Finally she calls me a pup. My wolf hates that. I do too actually. I'm a grown man! She says it again and I snap. I pull her into a kiss that lights up my entire body it feels so good until pain in my cheek stops it. She scratched me! Drew blood! This is not how this was supposed to go!

She is doing this on purpose. Pushing me away. She wants me mad! She wants me to be the bad guy! I can't do this!

"Dang it woman! Why are you fighting me?! If you don't want me reject me now! But at least tell me why you don't want me and the truth! You know Alphas get a little hot headed and push me to it just to have a reason to hate me but that's not the real reason. So tell me the truth and I'll back off!" I rant to her. I won't force her but I need to know why? Why won't she give me a chance?

I see her thinking over what to say. When her words finally come I feel like I've been shot in the chest. "I'm in love." I can't believe it. My mate's heart belongs to another wolf! I can't... I mean... I deserve this... after what I've done this is just Karma.

"You love another wolf?... and he's just gonna reject his mate for you? That's low! I mean taking someone else's mate!" I am mad. I've done similar toyed with people's emotions but to actually take someone else's mate! No I'd never do that!

"It's not like that he is good, kind, smart, sweet. He has a good heart!" She argues. Shes defending this mut! No way a good person messes around with someone else's mate!

"No he's not! If he had rejected his mate you'd be with him now. So let me guess he hasn't found her yet and you are here hanging on his every word. He's stringing you along and is going to throw you away as soon as he finds her! Think little mate! Has he made any attempt to mark you as his own? No?... he's using you... wait! Are you sleeping with him!?" The thought just occurred to me. He is using her... how far has this thing gone!? I'm gonna kill this dog if he lays a hand on her!

She takes my hand and I jump. Her touch suprises me but calms me as I look into her eyes. She assures me she has never been with anyone and that calms me even more... but that just means she really loves him. She doesn't want me.

"Reject me... you want him then reject me. Free me because I can't do it. I care about you too much. If he will make you happy I'll stand aside. It will kill me but I'll do it. I can find some power hungry bimbo to mate and give me an heir. I won't love her but..." she cuts me off with a growl. Oh no! She can't have it both ways reject me and be possessive?

"No! You don't get to do that! You can't say you want someone else then growl when I talk about moving on it isn't fair!" But maybe she won't reject me... maybe she does care.

"None of this is fair... it's not fair that I can't love my mate... it's not fair that you have to deal with me... it's not fair that he doesn't... he..." she begins to stammer and stops.

"You called me mate... he doesn't even know how you feel does he?" She wants me!

"No."

that makes it worse. If she was in a relationship and he was going to claim her and take care of her at least she'd be happy but if it's just her... he could break her heart at any moment and I would be on the far end of the country unable to help her.

"Are you going to reject me?" I need to know if she has any feelings for me at all.

"I can't" her words cause me to breath a sigh of relief. I have a chance.

"Then tell him... if he accepts you I will leave. I will let you have a happy life... but until you do I'm not going anywhere... Goodnight little mouse." I kiss her hand and leave.

She needs to know that all I want is her happiness... but also that I will fight for her. One meeting and I already love my little mouse.

The next day I train with Alic, Uncle Clay, and Uncle Fen. Alpha Aaron and his boy Ti joined a bit too. Let me tell you training with two Alphas a True Beta and Uncle Fen who has Alpha blood nearly killed me! I think Alic and Ti agree with me too. By the time we get home I am beat and a sweaty mess. As soon as I walk in the door it hits me. She is here. Her pure rose scent is so fresh! Everyone describes their mates scent with two smells but her.... no just the one. And not a cut rose one fresh on the bush thorns and all. A garden of roses overwhelming me with their scent.

"Oh sorry! This is my cousin Ryan! Ryan this is Marker or actually Markie." Alic says pulling me out of my thoughts. I don't want to push her and no one other than Ruby knows we've met so I play along.

"Marker?" It seems like an odd nick name... wonder how she got it? "Nice to meet you." I say offering my hand. She takes it but pulls away all to quickly.

"Nice to meet you Ryan." I guess she doesn't want them to know about us... not mine to tell. I'm already in it's her decision.

Alic asks her to eat with us but she declines. It hurts but I know this is awkward for her. Alic pushes and she starts to blush staring at him... Alic?! She then looks to me and I tell her to stay... I need to know if my suspension is correct.

She agrees but then my sister mentions Markie having a mate. It makes me smile knowing they were talking about me until my little mate says she doesn't want to talk about it. Once the food's done we all sit down to eat my entire family and my mate.

It was all just chit chat and rather plesent until Ruby opened her big mouth. Shes the only one I've talked to about Markie and since Markie is her best friend I'm gonna say they talked. I love my cousin but she can't shut up! She starts asking about mates and being in love with someone else. I know she's only doing this because Markie is here. I was ticked off until she turned to Alic asking if he'd reject his mate for someone else. Markie's reaction confirmed my thought as she began defending him trying to keep him from answering. She needs to hear his answer so I jump into the conversation.

"Come on Alic." I watch my mate for a reaction. "I'm curious now! Would you?"

"Ummm... well... I don't know. I mean I'm curious about who my mate is. Everyone says how amazing it is to find her but... if I don't I could see accepting someone else." Alic answers. My little mouse begins to squirm.

"We're talking like right now. If you had someone you like that wants to be with you but is not your mate would you reject the possibility of your mate leaving her alone forever in order to be with another girl?" Ruby pushes.

"You know I've never thought about it. So let's just chalk it up to I'm glad I'm not in that situation." Alic says. But you are... He won't do it... no way my little cousin gives up on his mate at 19.

I watch her through the rest of dinner. She avoids my eyes but I know she knows I'm watching. I turn down desert, go up to Alic's room and out the window. I can't let them know I'm following her.

"So Alic?" I ask knowing the answer. She turns around head inches from my chest.

She conforms my belief. She is in love with Alic. He's a good guy. Honestly she deserves someone like him but she got stuck with me. I can't even be mad about it. If he was a creep I'd be able to beat him down but Alic?! Nope I can't hurt him! He doesn't even know he's doing it! By the end of out talk she apologizes to me. She hasn't done anything wrong but I can see the pain in her eyes. I want to hug her and never let go but she runs off closing her door leaving me alone again.