10/12&20/17

Kristin was soon met with two guards standing on the bottom of the stairs.

They looked at her in surprise, not expecting their Luna to barge into the prison at any given moment.

"Luna?" one of them spoke, looking confused.

"Hey guys," Kristin wasn't sure what to say to get through. Was there a secret password she had to say or something? She had never went down to the prison in her pack before. She tried to remember what Rickard had done when he brought her down, but unfortunately her brain had blocked that memory from her mind.

"You want to go to the cells?" He asked, giving her a weird look.

"Yes, if you'll please excuse me," Kristin waved them aside so she could pass through.

"Where's the Alpha?" the other guard asked as she squeezed through.

"No idea," she shrugged and left them down the hallway.

It was a long walk, she hadn't remembered the dark hallway being this long.

Suddenly a flashback of Rickard dragging her through this same hallway flashed through her mind, making her stumble.

She reached out to steady herself against the wall and continued to slowly walk forward. This would surely make her nightmares worse, she thought.

She finally saw the end of the hallway, and knew that around the corner would be the cells.

Taking another step forward, her heart pounding in her chest, she didn't expect to feel someone grab her.

She gasped as hands grabbed her waist and pulled her back into his chest.

"What the hell are you doing?" Ryder's voice was mixed with concern and anger.

"Let me go," Kristin pried his hands off of her and took a step back.

"Are you crazy?" Ryder asked with knitted eyebrows, "Why are you down here?"

"Because I'm trying to fix it!" she yelled back.

"Fix what?" Ryder watched her cautiously, in case he had to stop her from running to the cells again.

"I'm facing my fears so I won't panic anymore," she took a step back, towards the end of the hallway.

"That's going to make it worse!" Ryder pointed behind her.

"Well I don't know what else to do, besides not be the Luna anymore," she tried to keep her eyes from stinging.

"The pack needs you Kristin, you have to be the Luna," Ryder tried taking a step towards her but she took another step back.

"Just find someone else, then," she said, like it would be the easiest option ever.

Ryder raised his brows, "I hope you know that's impossible."

"Yes, unfortunately," she muttered.

"It's impossible because you're the only Luna I want."

She narrowed her eyes at him, "Nice try."

"I'm serious Kristin!" Ryder quickly stepped behind her so he was blocking the path to the cells.

"You're only saying that because we're mates. I'm sure you'd rather not have a weak human as a Luna," she rolled her eyes, surprised she had fought back the tears this long.

"Kristin," Ryder made her look at him, "What you went through down here, what you witnessed," he shook his head, "If I was in your position, I would be going crazy."

"I am going crazy, obviously," she said, defeated, pointing towards the cells.

"No you aren't. This is just you dealing with the past. Do you realize how much you've gone through? And you're still here, with me. You're a great Luna," he struggled to put his thoughts into words for her. She wouldn't ever realize how much he admired her strength.

"I'm not a great Luna, I haven't done anything."

"You have without even knowing it. Do you know how many people told me they were lucky to have you as their Luna?"

Kristin scrunched her brows at him.

"They said they're glad to finally have a Luna again, and you remind them of my mother."

Kristin was shocked to hear this to say the least. Who exactly had told him this? He couldn't be making it up, Ryder wouldn't ever lie about his mother.

"You are strong, Kristin," he continued, willing her to believe him.

She shut her eyes, putting her face in her hands. She felt the warmth of Ryder's arms around her as the tears started to fall.

"I'm sorry I made you feel like you had to fix something," she heard him murmur in her ear.

"Did you seriously just apologize?" she mumbled into her hands, with a small smile.

"I know, it's crazy," he retorted, pulling her closer to his chest, "I'm sorry I'm such a d*ck."

"Well, at least you admitted it," she said quietly, making him chuckle.

"So are we somewhat okay now?" he hesitantly asked.

"Somewhat," she sniffed, pulling away.

She wiped her tears, not wanting him to see her cry. She hated when anyone saw her cry.

"Are you sure?" his forehead creased as he looked at her.

She nodded. She was still going to make sure he included her with the rogue situation, but right now she was too tired of arguing with him.

"I want to go to town," she spoke when they walked back into the lobby.

Ryder hesitated, "I have to stay here for another meeting."

Kristin glared at him, "Seriously?"

"I promise this one has nothing to do with the rogues," he quickly replied.

"Well I wanted to go by myself anyway," she said bitterly, needing to be alone to keep herself sane. What had seemed like a great day earlier had quickly turned sour.

"Kristin," Ryder's voice stopped her from walking away. There was something hidden in it, almost like he was saying 'you said we were okay.'

"What?" she asked when he seemed to be thinking about something. Or mind linking.

"You need guards with you," he said, knowing she'd not like this arrangement.

"Ryder," Kristin sighed, not wanting to go back to having guards babysit her whenever she left the pack.

"I'm serious Kristin. You're the Luna now and Lunas have guards."

Kristin thought for a moment, "Why don't Alphas have guards?" she accused.

Ryder scrunched his brows at this, surprised by her question, "Because..." he shook his head.

"Mhmm?" Kristin raised a brow at him.

"You need a guard," he said like it was final.

"I don't want one, just let me go by myself. I'll text you if something happens," she tried convincing him.

"You'll text me if something happens?" he repeated sarcastically, "What help will that be? If something goes wrong and you text me it'll already be too late."

"Fine, just don't worry about it. I'll be okay on my own," she began walking towards the doors.

"The rogues are snooping around the outskirts of our territory," he clenched his jaw.

She stopped by the door and faced him, "Now you tell me about the rogues? Thanks," she muttered sarcastically.

Ryder rolled his eyes, losing his patience, "I shouldn't even be letting you go."

"Why do you make it sound like you have control over me? I can do whatever I want," Kristin put her hand on her hip.

"You know I could make you stay if I wanted," he replied, clenching his jaw.

Kristin frowned at his comment, turning to walk out the doors.

"You're wrong," she said when she saw him following her, "And if you ever 'make me' do anything I'll make you regret it."

"Is that so?" he replied, this time teasing her.

"It's not funny, I'm going by myself."

Ryder pulled her back to him, "Can you please take a guard with you? It'll save me from worrying."

"Why would you worry about me?" she shrugged, making him roll his eyes.

"Because there are rogues who do not exactly like me or this pack on the loose. That means if they get the chance to use you against me they will. Plus there is no guarantee they won't hurt you."

"Maybe I would have known this if I was at the meeting," she accused, even though she already knew the rogues were out there and they were dangerous.

Instead of arguing with her, Ryder grabbed her waist with one hand and used the other to cup her cheek.

"Why do you have to be so stubborn?" he shook his head, glancing down at her pouting lips, "I'm not letting anything else happen to you, and if giving you guards will keep you safe, then that is what's going to happen."

Kristin was about to argue back when an idea popped into her head.

"Okay, fine," she wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him towards her, "But on one condition."

"What?" Ryder impatiently asked, not liking her taking the control.

"I get to chose my guard."

•. •. •. •. •.

Chapter Forty Five.

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