Chapter 5 5

~ Doris's POV ~

My heart was hammering so hard I thought it might jump out of my chest.

I couldn't believe what had just happened on the field. In front of the entire pack, Alpha Ryder had looked straight at me and said the words no one ever expected.

"She's my Luna."

Me.

The one everybody calls "a loser" right in my face.

I stayed close to him as he guided us through the crowd, my arms tight around his waist. His body was solid, like a wall between me and the rest of the world. Even so, I felt their eyes burning into my skin, no one tried to hide it.

"Why her?"

"A mute Luna? Seriously?"

"She can't even speak during meetings, how's that gonna work?"

"Ryder must've lost his mind tonight."

"Probably felt sorry for her. Charity case."

"Clara Anthony would've been perfect, at least she can open her mouth."

Every word stabbed a little deeper, I pressed my face harder against Ryder's shirt, breathing in the clean smell of vanilla and something warm.

His hand rested gently on my back.

We finally reached my family near the edge of the gathering. Dad stood up straight the second he saw us coming and for once he didn't look angry.

He actually stepped forward and shook Ryder's hand.

"Alpha," Dad said, voice low and formal. "Welcome."

Mom stayed sitting, arms crossed tight over her chest, watching everything like a hawk.

Her lips were pressed into a thin line, I knew that look. It meant trouble.

Before I could even catch my breath, Mom grabbed my wrist and yanked me a few steps away, pretending she just wanted to "fix my hair" or something.

The second we were out of their earshot she leaned in close.

"How did you do it?" she hissed. "How did a useless thing like you trick the Alpha into picking you? You think you're special now? You're still bad luck and always have been."

Her words landed like slaps but I kept my eyes on the ground, staring at the patches of my worn gown.

What was I supposed to do? what would I say to the woman who'd spent years telling me I was nothing?

She dragged me back to the group and sat me on a low wooden bench in the corner.

Every time Ryder glanced over, she flashed him that big fake smile she saves for important people but when she looked at me? Nothing but cold stares.

I curled my fingers into the edge of my dress and tried to disappear inside my own head. Why me?

The question kept spinning around and around. Did Ryder even know I was mute? Like, did he really know? Or did he just see a quiet girl and think it was cute? What happens when he finds out I can't give speeches, can't yell orders, can't even argue back when someone insults the pack?

A shadow fell over me, I looked up and there he was-Ryder, tall and calm with those dark eyes watching me like I was the only person in the whole world.

"You okay?" he asked softly.

I swallowed hard and nodded once. It was all I could manage.

He crouched down a little so we were closer to eye level. "Can we go somewhere quieter? Just to talk? There are a few things I need to say before we move forward."

Before I could even think, Dad jumped in. "Our house is close by we can go there."

Ryder nodded. "That works perfectly."

The walk home felt like a dream. Ryder kept his hand on my lower back the whole time. Like he was saying I've got you without using words.

Dad actually walked beside us instead of ahead like he usually did, he kept stealing little glances at me, like he was seeing me for the first time.

When we got inside, Mom rushed to offer Ryder the good chair and a glass of cold water.

He thanked her politely but didn't sit, he stayed standing, looking around our small living room like he was measuring it.

"I don't want to drag this out," he said, voice steady. "Doris is my chosen mate now and that means she's my Luna."

"Tonight she becomes my wife in the eyes of the pack, I'm taking her with me when I leave but first I want your blessing. Both of you."

The room went dead quiet.

Then Vanessa exploded.

She'd been sitting in the corner pretending to scroll on her phone, but now she jumped up so fast the chair scraped the floor.

"Are you serious?" she snapped, staring at Ryder like he'd lost his mind.

"Her? The mute girl? You're the strongest Alpha in three territories and you pick her? She can't talk! She can't lead! She's... she's nothing! Look at her, she's plain, she's awkward, she's basically a charity case."

"I mean, even the beggars in the market have more dignity than her!"

I felt my face burn, I shrank back against the wall, wishing I could melt into it.

Ryder didn't even blink, he just looked at Vanessa calmly, like she was a barking puppy.

When she finally ran out of breath, he spoke.

"I heard you," he said simply. "But my decision isn't changing."

Mom saw her chance, she quickly stood up, smoothed her dress, and gave Ryder her sweetest smile.

"Alpha, please," she said in that soft, fake-nice voice she uses when she wants something. "Can I talk to you for a second? Alone?"

He nodded and followed her to the far corner near the kitchen doorway.

I stayed where I was, but the house is small. I could hear every word.

"Look at her, Alpha," Mom started.

"She can't speak, not even a single word. How is she supposed to be Luna? The other packs will laugh at us and they'll think we're weak."

"She's messy, dirty and a sl*t just like her real mother was with no class but Vanessa?" Mom waved a hand toward my stepsister.

"Vanessa is beautiful. She's confident and she can talk to anyone, charm anyone. She's exactly what a Luna should be."

My chest hurt so bad I could barely breathe.

Ryder let her finish, then he answered, voice low and even.

"Mrs Anna," he said, "I'm not picking a Luna because she's pretty or loud."

"I felt the bond with Doris, I looked at her and I knew that's it. No one and not you, not Vanessa, not the whole pack is going to change my mind. Unless Doris herself gives me a reason not to trust her, she's coming with me tonight."

Mom went quiet, I could almost hear her teeth grinding.

Ryder walked back over to me, his eyes softened the second they met mine.

"Doris," he said gently, "go pack a few things. Whatever matters to you. We're leaving soon."

I shook my head a little. My hands felt shaky as I signed the words slowly so he could understand: Nothing important to pack.

He studied my hands for a second, then nodded like he got it.

A tiny smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Okay. Then we'll get you new things and whatever you need."

I looked around the tiny living room one last time, the spot on the wall where Henry had drawn a stick-figure wolf when he was six.

This place had never really felt like home for nineteen years.

Just then the back door banged open.

Henry came running in, cheeks red, grinning so wide it almost split his face.

"Doris!" he shouted. He threw his arms around me and squeezed tight. "You're gonna be Luna! Luna! Can you believe it?"

I hugged him back just as hard. Tears stung my eyes.

He pulled away a little, still smiling. "I'm so happy for you, sis. You deserve this. Go be amazing. And visit me, okay? Promise?"

I nodded fast, throat too tight to even try signing.

Henry glanced at Ryder and gave him a shy little wave. "Take care of her, Alpha. She's the best."

Ryder dipped his head. "I will."

Henry gave me one more quick hug, then stepped back.

I took a long, shaky breath. The air tasted different somehow, like the start of something new.

Ryder held out his hand.

I looked at it for a second, then I placed my smaller one in his.

His fingers closed gently around mine.

Together we walked out the door.

I didn't look back.

For the first time in my life, I wasn't running away from something.

I was walking toward something better.

And for once I wasn't walking alone.

Vanessa ran over and bent close, her voice low enough that only I could hear.

"Enjoy it while you can," she whispered. "You're stealing my place, and I won't let you keep it."

She smiled sweetly, then turned and walked away.