The Alpha and the Mistake

Ryder had put in another movie, but I was falling asleep about halfway through. I woke when I'd rolled on my bad shoulder and hissed with the stinging pain. "You okay?" Ryder asked. "Want me to get a pillow or something to support your shoulder."

"No, I'm fine. I should probably go back to my room and go to bed." As me being half asleep wasn't proof enough, I yawned loudly.

Ryder grinned but held me to him when I tried to get up. "We could just lay here for a while. I like this, and the couch is big enough."

"But I'm falling asleep."

He shrugged. "Yeah, me too, but I don't want you to leave."

I started to laugh, despite the fact I kind of didn't want to leave either. "Werewolves are so weird."

Ryder grinned again. "So is that a yes? Will you stay with me? It doesn't have to be here, we could go to your room or mine."

That sounded a little too... "Uh..."

"I'm talking about going to sleep, nothing more. Only doing it together."

"Sure, I bet that's what you say to all the girls," I told him, sitting up.

Ryder actually snorted. "They wish."

I glanced over my shoulder at him and narrowed my eyes. "Oh really?"

"Yep, but this offer is for one girl only - you."

It was stupid, but it was flattering. I returned Ryder's smile. "Okay." Why not? YOLO, and all that right?

"Okay? Really?"

"Yeah, but let's go. I'm tired, and my head is starting to hurt."

hand and helped me up. He laced his fingers with mine as we walked down

What was I thinking? I was going to sleep in Ryder's bed while he's sleeping too...at the same time? Ryder sat on the bed, taking off only his shoes before pulling back the covers and lying down. I blew out a

my waist and pulled me to him until my back was against his chest. "Just sleeping, that's all," he said, sounding tired. "Do you want me to leave the lamp

what am

be hating. There is a lot of people afraid of the dark

like you're talking from

"Maybe."

him over my shoulder.

to make fun of me are

"No, of course not."

hesitated. "I was afraid of the dark until I was fourteen. It's true." I gave him a dubious look. "Why would I dare make up something like that? My rep would be ruined if it got out. I hadn't shifted yet, so my night vision sucked. I always had this paranoid

my best attempts not

you

"I'm not."

smiling, that's like silent

smiling because I was laughing at you. It's just I

He grinned again. "So what are you afraid of Brook and don't go

can deal with heights, but I get dizzy, and I love swimming. I guess what scares me is thunderstorms. You know, the really big ones

don't have too many of those here." Ryder hugged me to him some more. "Night Brook. Thanks

"Night and no problem."

get up," someone said,

hide under

morning, so

me? Four in the morning? Why are you bothering me at

and agreed to do kitchen duty when starts

in fright as I looked at myself in the mirror. My goose egg was a lovely shade of purplish-brown. My face, in general, was pale and puffy. Man, even my eyes were all crusty, and let's not talk about my hair. Did Ryder saw

myself sinking. I'm sure Ryder is re-thinking whole mate thing now. I sighed and turned on the water, letting it warm up. This whole girlfriend/boyfriend or mates

I went right back into the bathroom, filled up a glass of cold water. With silent, evil laughter I poured it over his head.

managed to make it downstairs without killing myself. I came sliding into the kitchen, earning strange looks from Beth and Rose. I ran next to Beth and ducked behind the island. She gave me one of her death glares, but I