Ryker had an arduous day. Investing his time in resolving internal pack issues—finances, waterworks, electricity, approval to build, and so on. Matters he had pushed aside for several days. He didn't realize how much he had to follow back on until it was nearly dark.

When he finally could break away from everyone, he was more than relieved and a little eager? He had been thinking about Mary all day and every time he thought about her, he mentally scolded himself for it.

Who the hell cares if she was comfortable in her cabin?

Why did he need to make sure she receives clean sheets?

Why was it his concern that Abraham and Gary follow her around today, making sure she was comfortable with his pack members?

Then he told himself it was his duty. Even thinking about that excuse made him want to beat himself up. Duty? Since when did he give two fucks about duty?

At the end of the day though, Ryker walked past her cabin. When he saw the lights in her home were not on and it looked empty, he stopped to knock on her door. There was no sound on the other side.

Now, his mind was flying with a million questions. He had specifically told Abe and Gary to give her a tour around the area and bring her back. How the hell was it taking them this long?

Then his mind wandered to other things. Did they run into trouble? Was the pack giving them a hard time?

Shoving his hand into his pocket, he pulled out his cell phone and dialed Abe's number, but there was no answer.

Left with no choice, Ryker waited for their return. An hour went by before he heard talking in a distance. From the animate conversation, it was obviously the three of them he heard. His head lifting to look in the direction he was hearing them from.

They looked amicable together. None of them noticed him until they stood before him.

It didn't take long before Abe and Gary left. They dropped Mary's shopping bags on the kitchen counter before they left.

Now, it was just Mary and Ryker. Pink tinted her cheeks. Her eyes were glassy from fatigue and judging from the alcoholic smell that mixed with her scent, she was a little buzzed or drunk.

"I understand that drinking on my first day here is not a good impression. I should have known better and just gone out to do what I set out to do, but I didn't realize how quickly these drinks up in these necks of woods can be. I don't know what you guys put in there, but it is delicious, "she rambled.

Ryker watched her sway on her feet while talking.

"I told myself one drink, you see--- I just remembered, I met a kind elderly male. He is a sweet male. Gave me some eggs. His name is Luis, do you know him?"

Of course, Ryker knew him. Luis and Doris were a sweet couple who settled in his pack for many years now. The two were wandering rogues that found each other before they came here. They have a son was about Mary's age.

Mary continued to ramble and waving her hand. Turning on her feet, she was walking in a zigzag manner to the living room sofa. Plopping down, she sighed, leaned her head back, and closed her eyes.

"Lord, I will need to get used to all this walking. I am exhausted and out of shape, "she grumbled and then fell silent with her eyes closed.

For a few minutes, he thought she had fallen asleep, but then she shoots up from leaning against the sofa and looked at him.

"There is something—something I need to tell you," she blurted.

Standing up, Mary walked to stand in front of him. Ryker couldn't resist the attraction. Oddly enough she looked adorable. Talks a little much, but adorable.

Taking a deep breath, she said slurred her words so quickly that he didn't catch what she said.

"Iwantedtokissyourbrothernotyou," she explained.

"What?" he said immediately afterward.

She sighed heavily and cupped his face with her hands. Guilt eating her up like she was nothing at all. A soft, drunk smile appeared on her face while she continued to caress him. Ryker would not lie. Her touched set his body on fire.

"At the ball, I thought you were your brother," she grumbled.

Understandable. Many people always get them mixed up.

"I thought you were your brother, that was why I kissed you, "she said a little slower.

Hot coils of jealousy burned through his veins. Even anger. He was upset!

"You wanted to kiss my brother, and you ended up kissing me?" He repeated angrily.

Ryker didn't know what to say. He had just overheard that she didn't mean to kiss him. She had wanted to kiss Abraham.

Jealousy riled up inside of Ryker. It filled him so quickly that his temper spiked. He took two steps and stood in front of her. Grabbing onto the back of her neck swiftly, he pulled her drunk body close. Mary gasped as soon as he pulled her close. Fear establishing inside of her, but also lust. He looked like a dangerous devil about to crush the very life inside of her, but the fire in his eyes...they were entrancing.

Did he just hear her correctly? Many females have vied for his attention. What game was she trying to play? His brother and he may look a lot alike, but to be used in this kind of way—to be mistaken for his brother---Good God, Ryker was extremely pissed and embarrassed.

"I can explain," she started immediately. "I didn't mean to kiss you. Truly. I wanted to kiss your brother because, I saw him at the Ball. He was cute and sweet. We exchanged a few words and he—"

"Don't speak another word," he said through clenched teeth, his fingers digging into the back of her neck. She whimpered softly from pain? Or was it from the growing ache between her legs?

"Please! I'm sorry! Don't kill me!" she pleaded. The anger in his eyes was astonishing. The calm ambiance from early disappeared. Ryker looked ready to tear her apart, which was why she quickly spat out a plea for her life.

His anger simmered a notch, and he sputtered a word, "What?"

Her frantic eyes found his again. She had her hands on his chest to stop him from coming in any closer, but those dainty hands burned holes through the lapels of his suit to his skin.

"I wanted to kiss your brother. I thought I saw him slip into the room you were in. It was dark, I didn't think, and I kissed you," she murmured slowly and lowered her eyelashes shamefully. "I didn't mean to, but..."

"But what?" he asked before scoffing and releasing her. He walked away because he wasn't sure if he wanted to kiss her or strangle her for her mistake. The thought of her kissing Abraham grinds his anger, but the thought he wasn't her first choice made him even angrier.

Mary rubbed the ache from her neck and moved to follow him. He was moving away from her. Retracting and pulling away and oddly, Mary didn't want that.

"You wanted to kiss my brother?" He couldn't even say the sentence without feeling rage crawling to the surface.

He began pacing. The territorial instinct in him wanted to seek his competition and kill. One way to only claim what he believes was his.

"I did at first..." She drawled from behind him.

"Why?" He spun around to glare at her.

"Well, you are an Alpha!" Mary suddenly snapped. Throwing her hands up as if the answer was an obvious answer.

"What the fuck does a title got to do with anything?" He moved closer to her.

Mary sighed once again while swaying on her feet.

"I'm tired and not thinking things through. I'm going to bed, "she announced.

As soon as she walked up to him, Ryker swept her up into his arms. On instinct, Mary wrapped her arms around his neck just like the first night he carried her to the cabin. Feeling a little comfortable and the need to soothe Ryker's anger came to her naturally.

She touched one side of his cheek to gain his attention.

"Please don't be angry with me. I just thought because you are an Alpha, you will never go for someone like me. You are way out of my league. I feel like a piece of dust in your presence. That was why I had kissed Abraham. At least then, I may still have a chance."

Those pretty little hazel eyes of his softened a little.

"You are not out of my league, Mary. Remember, you are beautiful, "Ryker replied gently.

She shook her head, "No. You don't have to lie. I know that I am not beautiful."

Ryker opened her bedroom door and entered the room. Walking to the bed, he gently laid her down before removing her shoes.

"I can do it!" She shoots up from the bed.

"I got it." Ryker shoved her hands away. "I am not lying, Mary. Why do you think I kissed you back?"

He looked up to see she was twiddling her fingers nervously.

"Because I kissed you. You have no choice. You are a very kind male, Ryker. You helped me so much. I can never thank you enough. When you kissed me back, you--- "she paused.

"I didn't pity you. I kissed you because I wanted to, "he argued.

Mary looked up at him with glazed drunk and tired eyes.

"Oh, " she replied

Ryker moved to sit on the edge of the bed next to her. Lifting one of his hands, he cupped one side of her face before looking at her in the eyes.

"I kissed you because I desire you," he murmured huskily.

His hand moved to the back of her neck and pulled her into a deep kiss.

If her intention was to kiss his brother, Ryker swore that he would do everything he can to make her forget that thought. Also, he snuck a little punishment into the kiss. The kiss was instantly feverish. He slid his tongue across the seam of her lips to which she gladly opens in allowance. Ryker can taste the sweet tonic in her mouth.

He threaded his fingers through her hair and deepened the kiss. Thrusting his tongue inside and sliding it across hers. Distantly, Ryker heard Maru moan. Her hands moving up to cling onto his arms for support.

When he pulled back, Mary sighed with a lazy smile on her face.

"One more, "she pleaded.

Ryker was immediately pleased. She wanted more from him. Her response was for him, but he knew not to proceed further. Mary needed to sleep, but he promised himself silently that tomorrow he will take her around. Maybe having her around his brother wasn't such a good idea after all.

Leaning forward, he brushed his lips over her swollen lips.

"It's time for bed. I will see you tomorrow, Mary, "he breathed against her lips before tucking her in and leaving her.