~ Chapter 15 ~
Ryder’s beast pawed inside his brain. Again. Giving him the most god awful headache that had lasted for days. His skin itched with the urge to transform and his heart ached with the utter need to go to his mate.
Clayr. Her name reverberated through his skull over and over as it had done since his return. He wasn’t sure who’d been more shocked that day: her or him. But when she’d touched him it was obvious that they were soul-mates . . . not just to them but to anyone who witnessed them together.
Cam, Mason, Chastity who’d stopped at the cabin doorway, and more than a few of the Pack who were simply walking by. It was glaringly obvious that they were mates but what did she do when he reached to touch her? She turned and bolted away as if he were the most disgusting creature that existed.
He’d been shocked to the core of his soul at the revelation that they were mates but more than that . . . he’d been devastated at her reaction to his touch. His Panther had howled in pain at her rejection and his heart had almost torn apart within his chest. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, and he’d barely been able to stay on his feet as his legs trembled and shook beneath him.
It was Mason’s strong arm around his shoulder that held him upright that day. Cam’s words that calmed him and soothed his beast because he’d wanted to tear after Clayr and claim her . . . regardless of her rejection.
She was his and he ached for her, morning, noon, and night.
He sought her out, tried to talk to her, but each time she refused to even look him in the eye. Mostly her lips would clamp shut, her head shaking . . . or worse . . . she’d shout at him to leave her alone.
The pain he was in never abated. In fact, it grew worse with each passing day, and he knew it wouldn’t be long before he would go out of his mind with the need to mark her as his . . . to stake his claim on his mate and to love her as only soul-mates can.
“Fuck!” he cursed, his fingers tangling in his long hair, massaging his skull to try and ease the pain.
“Not any better I see.” Mason’s gruff voice startled him, causing him to spin around from his sentry position.
“I’m fine,” Ryder snapped, dropping his hands to his sides, trying to hide the horrendous pain lancing through his brain.
“Ryder, you’re not fine . . . you’re far from fine.” Mason sighed, sadness in his eyes. “I’m sorry you’re going through this. It must be hell for you.”
Ryder still couldn’t believe how close they’d become . . . he and Clayr’s brother . . . who would’ve thought that would happen? “It’s not fun, that’s for sure.”
“Maybe you should go and see Feera? She might be able to help with the headaches.” Mason shrugged. “It’s worth a try.”
“I doubt it.” Ryder shrugged back.
“Anyway, I just wanted to say that Cam wants to see you and me tomorrow, to check something out. I’ll meet you after your shift and we’ll go and see what he wants . . . it’s nothing to worry about before you ask.”
“You sure?” Ryder tilted his head. “I’ve not done something wrong?”
“Nae, don’t get yer knickers in a twist. You’re one of my best sentries. He just wants our opinion on something, that’s all, and as I said, you’re one of my best so I’m taking you along to get your input.”
“Oh, okay, just let me know where and when,” Ryder answered, still a little confused.
“Aye, don’t worry about it and knock off early today. I’ll get your shift covered. I want you to go and see the Healer, Ryder. Those headaches are worrying me. If she canny help, then at least we've tried.”
“Fine,” Ryder snapped, following quickly with. “Sorry, I know you’re only trying to help but I doubt she can do anything. Nobody can . . . it’s my beast that’s causing them, Mason. He just wants what he can’t have.”
Mason’s face darkened, his eyes shadowing with hurt and other emotions that Ryder couldn’t put a name to. “I’ve no idea what’s going on in her head. She’s shut me out and she’s never done that before. I can’t get through to her either. I want to knock some sense into her but I doubt that would work.”
“Nope, it would just make things worse.” Ryder agreed, although he had no idea what would work. He just couldn’t get the look in her eyes out of his head . . . the one where she’d stared at him as if he were some loathsome being that had crept from the depths of hell.
“I’ll see you tomorrow. Hope you manage to get some rest.” Mason tipped two fingers to his temple before disappearing back into the forest.
“I hope so too,” Ryder muttered.
He’d barely slept a full night since arriving back to the Pack and seeing Clayr. Fitful dreams where he chased her for miles, with her just out of reach and her snarling and howling at him, haunted his nights. He tossed and turned, waking multiple times with sweat slicking his body, gasping for breath and his heart thudding in his chest but most of all his cock was rock hard with need only his mate could sate.
A mate that wanted nothing to do with him.
He was in trouble. Big trouble. He’d heard of what happened to Shifters when they’d found their soul-mate and then couldn’t seal their bond . . . eventually they went insane and had to be dealt with.
Yeah, he knew what that meant . . . Cam would have to put him down like a rabid dog. The only question was how long before he lost it completely?