Ava walked beside Ryker, her mind racing with questions. "What did Kaida mean when she said I'm the Alpha's mate?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ryker's expression turned serious. "In my world, the Alpha is the leader of the pack," he explained. "And the Alpha's mate is...well, it's a complicated concept. But basically, it means you're connected to me, and that makes you a target."
Ava's eyes widened. "Connected to you?" she repeated. "What do you mean?"
Ryker hesitated, as if unsure how to explain. "It's a...a supernatural thing," he said finally. "Let's just say that when an Alpha finds their mate, it's a powerful bond. And in our case, it seems like you're my mate."
Ava's mind reeled. Mate? Supernatural? What was going on? "What does it mean for me?" she asked, her voice shaking slightly.
Ryker's expression softened. "It means you'll be protected," he said. "And cared for. But it also means you'll be in danger. There are those who'll want to hurt you to get to me."
Ava's heart skipped a beat. Danger? Protected? What had she gotten herself into?
Ava took a deep breath and asked, "So, what exactly are you? A werewolf?"
Ryker's eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, Ava thought she saw a flicker of something in his gaze. "I'm a Lycan," he said, his voice low and smooth. "We're...different from werewolves."
Ava's curiosity was piqued. "Different how?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ryker's expression turned thoughtful, and he began to explain the differences between Lycans and werewolves. Ava listened intently, fascinated by the world she was slowly uncovering.