Ryan looked at her silently for several minutes.El hoped he could understand her concerns.
“There’s nothing more I want than for you to feel like home here.We haven’t done much to make you feel at home either.I will be introducing you to the pride tonight, thentogetherwe will come up with a plan to help you feel more at ease here.If you want to redecorate or build something new, I’ll do whatever it is.”
“It’s not the décor or the house, it’s the fact that I feel like an outsider.I want to meet the people and learn the ways.I am the mate to the Alpha as you said, and it’s time I start acting like it.Hiding me away up here isn’t doing us any favors.I’ve been hiding for too long.”
“You’re right.That all changes starting tonight.Times like this.I wish my mother was different.She knows all the women and could help you adjust, but if anything, she’s probably spread lies about you.I hate that.I wish she were more like Shawn’s mother.”
“I may never be close with your mother, but I can be close with your people.Maybe what you’ve been missing all this time while being an Alpha is your mate to help you.I wouldn’t want to rule alone.Together, though, we can hopefully make this a better place.”
Ryan pulled her against his body and found her lips.The kiss was gentle and full of passion.El didn’t want to be the mate to a Pride Alpha, but if she was one, she was going to do her best.Ryan finally pulled away and let his forehead rest on hers.
“There’s one more thing, Ryan,” El said, gently knowing he wasn’t going to like what she had to say.
“You want to go search for my mother,” he responded.
“Yes, I think we should.”
“I’ll need to attend to things for the pride gathering tonight with Adam.Go find Trip; he is the best tracker.”
“Okay, thank you.”
“Thank you,” he said.
El gave him a kiss on the cheek and turned to leave, just as she was about to open the door, Ryan stopped her.
“The pride gathering will be at eight tonight.Do you want to know your punishment beforehand?”
“Would you tell anyone else?”El asked.
“No.”
“Then I will see you at eight, my love.”
“Be safe,”
“I will.”
El put the worry of what was awaiting her to the back of her mind, as she went to find Trip.He wasn’t hard to find.El turned the corner of the hallway and smacked into his chest.
“Gosh, well speak of the devil,” she laughed stepping back.
“I hope I’m not the devil,” he said, raising his eyebrow and giving her a devilishly handsome smile.
“No, just a little ornery.Anyway, Ryan said we could go do a search for his mom,” she told him.
“I figured you’d get him to cave.I’ll take off now,” Trip said.
“Maybe you didn’t hear me, Ryan saidwecould go search, so you have to take me with you,” she chirped proudly.
“Can you track?”he asked, his tone wasn’t demeaning, so El tried not to take offense.
“I haven’t, but I’m sure I could.I just sniff, right?”
“There’s much more to it than sniffing.I suppose there’s no talking you out of coming?”
“Nope,” she said letting the ‘p’ pop a little extra at the end.
“Fine, come on, mate, I’ll let you watch the master at work,” he laughed.
