Lenn is breathless as he holds onto the suspended punching bag as Ryker releases his stress, venting with robust exertion. It is as if he is the one taking the hard blows, not the sand filled bag.
He was exhausted, his muscles sore.
He couldn't help the worried feeling poking his guts. Alpha Ryker was stressed, he was mad and angry about something. He was punching the bag harder than usual.
Could it be because of the marriage arrangement or that chicken boy? Something… There is something that bothers him about the Alpha whenever he sees that boy.
Could it be…? No, not possible. The boy's presence is enough to piss anyone off.
"What are you daydreaming about?" Ryker eyes Lenn curiously as he had finally finished smacking the bag. He takes off his boxing gloves, taking a seat by the bench. He drinks a bottle of water, his Adam's apple acting up.
Lenn looks away, ignoring how the sweats cling to the Alpha's black top.
"The Alpha of White Claw Pack has sent a letter agreeing with your request."
Ryker nods, uninterested in the topic.
"He has promised to send a billion to your father, he wants to settle for two more years upfront."
"He is a fool to accept such an offer," He bends the plastic bottle water into two, "A city like us suffers inflation and deflation every single day. How will that benefit any of us if he stays on the land for two more years?"
"Does that mean you cheated him?"
Ryker scoffs, "He is the one who doesn't understand my contract and request but eagerly accepts it because he is threatened after hearing what Royce did to the other Pack Alpha. He couldn't have given in just because I beat up a Beta in his Pack."
"Are you insinuating that Alpha Royce has won this round?" Lenn clenched his fist, thinking of many ways to make Mylo suffer for interrupting his Alpha that day.
Ryker lets out a breathy short laugh, finding Lenn's sense of reasoning awful.
"Is that what you were day dreaming about?"
"Are you alright? You seem… not okay."
Ryker is surprised at the Beta's response, even his pheromones were spiked with worry, "Do I give the impression of not being okay?"
"No, Alpha." Lenn bows respectfully, "I would never say that… I don't mean it in that way, Alpha. You are meeting your fiancé in a few hours and you do not like girls. You hate to be around them."
Ryker replies curtly with a nod, knowing the preparations going on outside. Royce is overseeing the ceremony to make sure everything goes perfect, while he hides away in the Pack's training ground.
~
A few hours later Ryker is standing beside Royce, his father and Alpha Greta, the current Luna of the Waning Moon Pack.
His father had remarried after he and Royce had turned five years old and went into seclusion.
They waited with smiles on their faces, well except Ryker who would rather not be here.
Alpha Danica enters first with a warm appearance, a striking beauty and confidence. Her body is slender with a sharp waist and good hip ratio. A beautiful almond shaped lips and a genuine smile. She bows, greeting the family elegantly.
Royce smiles politely, his eyes glistening with joy. He gently held her wrist, kissing the back of her hand, "Accept my warm welcome, Alpha."
Danica bows, her posture calm and neutral. She bows directly at Ryker, who impolitely looks elsewhere, ignoring her existence.
Alpha Colton clears his throat, welcoming Alpha Vita whose smile is vibrant like the sun. She is attractive with seductive upturned eyes. Her long slick green gown sits perfectly on her body, aligning everything womanhood is made of. She bows, greeting the family in a majestic manner.
Ryker doesn't spare her any glances, his jaw clenched, his eyes looking forward into nothing.
Royce steps forward and presses a kiss on the back of her hand, welcoming her.
Soon, they're seated around on the large table with pedestal decorations. Beautiful white and green flowers placed in the center matching other floral arrangements around the table with candles giving a sweet homely ambiance.
The plates are made of Ivory with top design napkins placed on them.
"I welcome the both of you to the Northern City," Alpha Colton is relieved at the beautiful girls with Luna qualities.
This makes him feel rest assured.
"It's all my pleasure, Alpha," Alpha Vita's voice is melodic as she speaks gently, her eyes flickering over Ryker, "I have heard a lot about The Waning Moon Pack and the City itself. I'm opportune to experience the most historic City for myself. I hope the Alpha will do me the honor of showing me around."
It's awkwardly silent as Ryker doesn't utter any words. He eats quietly, his attention lost on something unknown.
"Ryker!" Alpha Colton slams his fist on the table, aggravated at the son's behavior towards his guests and to not just anyone, his wife to be, "Where are your manners?"
"Honey," Alpha Greta calms Colton down by placing her hand on the Alpha's fist, "Please don't get angry. Everyone has their own ways of bonding with each other. Ryker is one of those," She looks at Vita, "Don't take the Alpha's attitude into heart."
"I wouldn't dare, Luna," Vita's face flushed, hiding her disappointment in not getting Alpha Ryker to talk to her. She looks beside her to see Alpha Royce flirting with Danica, he winks at her while pouring red wine into her glass.
"Everything is prepared for your comfortable stay in our Villa," Royce commended, his tone welcoming, "We are grateful to have this union and we hope to build something even stronger with the three territories."
"The Alpha speaks so well," Alpha Danica praises Royce, "Your intelligence and foresight are spoken about in all territories, Alpha. You are a smoothtalker as they say."
"Oh, don't flatter me, Alpha," Royce laughs heartily, unaffected by the compliment, "Your beauty is enough to make a lame man cry, you are more beautiful than the rumors and pictures."
Alpha Colton smiles contentedly, proudly rooting for Royce.
Ryker looks at Royce and Danica with a criticizing expression, soft chuckles escaping his lips at the scene before him. He stood up and excused himself, "I have somewhere to be."
"You don't dare move from there."
Ryker frowns at his father, "Watch me," He walks out of them with his hands in his pockets.