....
Ryder's declaration sent shockwaves through the room, like a stone cast into still water.
The pack members whispered and gasped created a wave of sound while George's face darkened, his eyes flashed with anger and resentment.
Amy's smile faltered, her eyes welling up with tears as she took a step back, her gaze fixed on Crystal with a mix of hurt and accusation.
Crystal's cheeks flushed as she met Ryder's gaze, her heart racing with a mix of emotions: surprise, curiosity, and a spark of hope. She felt like she was standing at the edge of a cliff, staring into the unknown.
She had spent her life by the sides, always overlooked while fading into the background. Now every eyes was on her - because of him. Because he saw her
The athletic girl who had defended her earlier stood tall beside her, a look of interest and concern on her face.
Her jaw clenched protectively, like she was ready to step between Crystal and fate itself if needed.
Tara and Rachel exchanged uneasy glances, sensing the power dynamics shifting.
"This can't be true" Tara muttered, her voice barely audible. "The Supreme Leader's mate? It's...it's impossible."
Ryder's eyes never left Crystal's face, his gaze burning with intensity. "Mate" he growled once more as Aiden threatened to take over.
"You are mine to claim" he declared, his voice firm and commanding.
Crystal's eyes moved up to Ryder's face. She felt her knees going weak as their gazes met.
The room was silent, the only sound was the quiet murmur of the pack members.
His stare anchored her in place, as he took a step closer, his movements fluid and confident.
Without a word, Ryder reached out and took Crystal's hand, his fingers intertwining with hers. She felt a jolt of electricity run through her body.
The world around her melted away, leaving only the two of them, suspended in their own world.
Ryder's eyes seemed to bore into her soul, she felt her heart pounding in her chest.
Without a word, Ryder's fingers tightened around hers, drawing her closer.
The pack members whispers and gasps receded into the background, replaced by the sound of Crystal's own ragged breathing.
A wave of surrender wash over her, pulling her into a vortex she couldn't resist.
It was as if she had finally found something she had been searching for her entire life, something that had been missing without her even realizing it.
Ryder's face was inches from hers, his warm breath caressing her skin. She felt a shiver run down her spine as he whispered "You're mine Crystal, forever and always".
His words coursed through her veins and she felt herself leaning into him, as if drawn by an irresistible force. The pack's reactions - George's anger, Amy's tears – all faded into insignificance.
In this moment, nothing else mattered. All that existed was Ryder's intense gaze, his touch and the connection that seemed to pulse between them like a living thing.
Crystal felt herself being drawn into his world, a world she knew nothing about but somehow felt she belonged there.
Edwin and Sarah who had arrived a little bit earlier witnessed this with Ethan by their side with surprise expression etched on their faces.
"That's him?" Ethan muttered, more to himself than anyone else
"She told us someone had introduced himself as her mate" Sarah said, her voice low with disbelief. "But I never thought—never imagined—the Lycan King himself…"
Across the hall, murmurs still rippled through the pack, though none dared speak above a whisper. The weight of Ryder's presence was suffocating, a force that seemed to bend the very air around him.
Finally, Ryder spoke again, this time more quietly but no less intensely.
"I've waited too long to find you, Crystal. I will not let you go."
His words rolled through her like thunder, low and unshakable. She opened her mouth to respond but no words came—only a breathless, trembling silence.
Behind them, George stepped forward, his eyes blazing. "This is not right" he snarled. "She is a nobody! You can't—she's not one of us, Alpha Ryder"
Ryder turned his head slowly, his expression ice-cold. "She is mine. That's all you need to know."
A rumble echoed through the crowd as several wolves backed away instinctively. Aiden's presence pulsed beneath Ryder's skin, on the verge of breaking free.
Elder Harold from the star blood pack stepped on, his voice calm but firm. "Your Majesty" he said, choosing his words carefully, "With all due respect... what happens now?"
The entire hall waited, breathless
Ryder's eyes returned to Crystal, softer now. He looked as if she were the center of his universe
"I will claim her" he said
Crystal's breath caught. "Claim?" The word held promise and danger in equal measure.
Her voice was barely a whisper "What if I'm not ready?"
Ryder's hand gently cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing a strand of hair away.
"Then I'll wait" he said. "But I will never walk away". The sincerity in his voice felt like an anchor in her chaos
The pack watched in stunned silence as the Supreme Alpha — the most feared and revered being among them — lowered his head and pressed a kiss to her forehead. It was not possessive, not forceful, but reverent.
Gasps rippled through the room. Even the fire on the ceremonial brazier flared.
Crystal closed her eyes at the touch of Ryder's lips against her forehead. It was soft and yet it sent a tremor through her core.
A war raged inside her — between the life she had known and the one being offered now, one wrapped in destiny, power and a bond that defied logic.
What frightened her most was that her heart already knew where it belonged.
Ethan whispered to Sarah "Is she going to leave us?", his voice cracked
Sarah didn't answer, her gaze locked on Crystal. Edwin placed a steadying hand on her shoulder, his expression unreadable.
He stared at Ryder with the look of a man who had seen what shouldn't have happened before his eyes.
"I don't know" he said quietly. "But if that man is truly her mate... she might not have a choice."
And somehow the truth would be more terrifying than any threat they had ever known