"Wade." My dad was still staring at the front door. His eyebrows furrowed as he instructed my brother, "Take your sisters and brother upstairs. Now."

My brother nodded, waving for us to follow him but just as we were headed up the stairs, the alpha made his entry into our home—no knock whatsoever which was unlike him. But he looked so frazzled, so it was a bit understandable as to why the alpha looked around the room in panic until his eyes settled on my dad.

"Angus! Angus, I need you!"

My dad glanced at me then back to the alpha as he frowned, "How can I help?"

The alpha shook his head, muttering that with the new visitors on the territory of Carmel, Alpha Beaumont was going to need his best Warrior at his side. He looked strained when he admitted, "I don't know what this means for the pack yet, Angus. But I'll need you at my side as you are one I depend on most. You know more than anyone that I look to you for guidance about everything."

I raised an eyebrow, glancing at my dad whose jaw tightened as the alpha kept praising that my dad was the only friend the alpha could count on. That my dad was the most trustworthy. I feared gravely of what would happen to my dad—all of my family—if the alpha found out about me.

Alpha Beaumont looked at us Gomez children, now realizing we were standing there. The alpha's attention settled directly on me. His eyebrows rose in surprise. I lifted one of mine, glancing to the side at a frowning Wade before looking back to Alpha Beaumont and greeting him.

Brushing off my greeting, my alpha became concerned and pointed at me as he claimed to have heard that I was the one who ran out of the meeting hall before the first meeting was over. I blushed, hoping he wouldn't question as to why I suddenly fled. Instead of questioning me about the incident, Alpha Beaumont asked if I was alright. I quickly nodded, thanking him but that I was just not feeling well that day. That I thought I was catching something.

The alpha hummed, his eyebrows furrowed again as he nodded then looked over my siblings. Alpha Beaumont pointed out to my dad how much we'd grown. He grinned a bit, complimenting how proud Dad must be.

Dad nodded, grinning, "I am. And they know how much I am."

"Well then..." the alpha returned back to the matter at hand. "I apologize, Edith," he directed towards my mother with a nod. "—for rushing into your home unannounced. It was not intended."

"Of course not, Alpha." Mom gave a small nod of understanding. She stood beside my dad with a small glance up at him. Mom looked back to the alpha. "But you seem to be in distress with what's going on. It's only understandable with the visitors showing up so suddenly."

Alpha Beaumont nodded, eyebrows furrowed again. He looked out the open front door where his pack members had returned to their day. They weren't as concerned about the newcomers as before which he seemed to be okay with.

"With this... Quail wolf nonsense," Alpha Beaumont grumbled. "I now have to sit through a negotiation meeting to compromise with George Hannibal, of all people, to discuss this matter without getting any more gray hairs!"

I had to place my hand on my little brother's shoulder without looking at him when he chuckled at the alpha's words. Cody glanced up at me, lowering an eyebrow and without turning I shook my head to silently tell him to not laugh.

Cody faced the alpha who gave him a playful narrowed-eyed stare. "You laugh now, boy. But one day, you too you shall have gray hairs sprouting from strange places!"

That only made my little brother grin, chuckling with a nod, "Of course, alpha."

Alpha Beaumont chuckled back. His sounded a little tired. He frowned, looking to my dad.

"Why do I fear that this is only going to be the beginning?"

My dad remained quiet, unsure of what to say to his alpha and friend. The alpha asked my dad about his thoughts on first seeing the other pack at our gated community. Dad raised an eyebrow, shaking his head that he wasn't very trusting of the other alpha though he didn't want to seem disrespectful.

"No, of course not," Alpha Beaumont frowned in understanding.

We turned to the front door, my heart squeezing tightly, when Ridge appeared. He jogged up the porch steps and breathed out heavily, "Dad! Alpha Hannibal is getting impatient. Keeps saying you are stalling."

His green eyes shifted instantly my way, catching my gaze. Ridge didn't say anything. He didn't move. Not for a few moments until he heard his father grumble. Ridge shook his head and turned back to his dad who hadn't noticed our eye exchange. I'm sure only Eden and my sister noticed.

Alpha Beaumont sighed, nodding, "Right." before giving his son a pointed look and that Ridge was to be mindful of his pack members. He gestured in our direction. Ridge just stared before his lips pulled into a tight line and then nodded. He stiffly approached my siblings and me while his dad spoke to my parents about something.

Ridge went over to my older brother first. He held out a hand to Wade and my brother extended his own. They shook hands as Wade nodded, "Ridge." Ridge returned the greeting before shifting his gaze to my sister.

Cece's jaw clenched a bit. The muscles contracting to keep herself composed. My sister lifted her chin a bit, enough to barely be on the verge of defiant as she ignored his extended hand towards her.

"Hello, Ridge," was all my sister snipped out.

Ridge lowered a brow, retracting his hand slowly when my sister didn't take it. He decided to let it go, unsure of how to take my sister's attitude. Instead, he moved on to my little brother with that crooked grin.

"Cody, my man!" Ridge held up a hand for my brother to high-five. My little brother excitedly began talking about the new visitors to Ridge and that Cody was hoping for some sort of showdown between the alphas. The Beta raised his eyebrow again, clearly amused with my brother's animated conversation. He chuckled and crossed his arms. The movement showed off his defined biceps straining against the sleeves of his shirt.

Cody put up his fists like he was going to box with someone and punched the air a few times, shifting his feet around in a bounce.

"I'm sure you'd be the champ in any fight, Cody," Ridge grinned, ruffling my brother's hair. I noticed Cody didn't slap at Ridge's hand as he would anyone else. A small rosy tint spread across Cody's cheeks and found that peculiar only because of how my little brother's gaze lingered on Ridge when the latter didn't notice.

The moment Ridge's emeralds turned to me, I felt it. I dropped my gaze from looking at Cody, now my face flaming as I still remembered what happened between Ridge and me. I really hoped he would have just skipped over me and said hello to Eden. Better yet, I wish the alpha would call Ridge over to leave my house. That'd be so much better.

"Hi, Gianna..."

My face felt more hot hearing the rasp in his voice. It was so appealing to my ears. Ridge unknowingly knew how to make my heart soar and feel crushed at the same time.

Without looking up, I gave a small nod and mumbled, "Beta." before peering up through my lashes at the slow frown etching onto his handsome face. Ridge didn't seem to be pleased with my greeting, but I mean, what did he expect?

I swallowed hard, looking at Eden with a small smile when she took hold of my hand at my side. I faced Ridge when he let out a long sigh before moving on to my friend next to me. Ridge smiled, nodding when Eden respectfully greeted him first and inquired on how he was doing.

When I returned my attention to the adults nearby, I could see my dad saying something to the alpha before the latter asked if it would be too much trouble to have my dad tag along for the meeting. Alpha Beaumont pointed out that Alpha Hannibal was waiting on him so impatiently. My dad looked at my mom, who smiled up at him endearingly, then Dad caught gazes with me. I worriedly wondered what he was thinking and planning to keep my secret safe.

After a moment, Dad looked at the alpha and nodded that he would be of any assistance needed. They both headed towards the door and the alpha stopped to look at his son, calling him along. Ridge turned and did something surprising. He suggested that he might stay here with my family. To look after them while the fathers were at the meeting.

My eyebrows shot up, eyes widening and I look at my sister and Eden. They had curious looks on but I was still focused on Ridge. He pointed out that he wouldn't be any help in the meeting anyway. His dad looked surprised—join the club, Alpha—but then hummed, giving a look my dad's way. My dad shrugged that Ridge had a point and it was best to not have too much alpha testosterone in one room anyway.

The alpha agreed, letting his son know, "I'll send for you." before he and my dad left the house.

Mom was now offering Ridge something to eat and drink and he grinned that he'd love that. My older brother was sitting down at the table and gestured Ridge to join him. Cody took it upon himself to run over and sit down next to Ridge. Wade looked at us females and I could feel Cece and Eden staring at me. They were waiting to see what I would do and so I did the thing I had been doing with Ridge and that was hide.

I politely excused myself, avoiding looking at Ridge and turned on my heel to head up the stairs. I had given my sister and friend a look that suggested I wanted to be left alone as I passed by to not make it weird or seem rude with our unexpected guest.

My steps up the stairs quickened when I heard Ridge's question where the bathroom was. We didn't have one downstairs. We would have renovated one but the broom closet was constructed as a place to have Cody practice hiding if we were ever in danger. That left the bathrooms upstairs.

When I reached my room, I could smell him reaching the top of the steps. I quickly shut my door and went over to sit on my bed. Frowning, I stared at my hands on my lap. With everything that was going on, it was hard to keep track of my emotions. I didn't really know what to feel in my situation with so many parts to it. There was finding my mate and then the rejection which led to dealing with the intimacy between Ridge and Molly and even their engagement. And now... well, now I was probably in grave danger because of my secret.

I blew out a small sigh, deciding that I needed to work through everything or I'd feel even more overwhelmed than I was. Standing up, I tugged off my blouse and went over to grab a t-shirt that was more loosely fitted. Halfway to my dresser though, a knock at the door made me rush and grab the first shirt I could. I yanked it over my head and went to answer.

On the other side was Ridge who stood with his shoulders raised a bit and his hands tucked into the pockets of his jeans. We held each other's gaze for a moment before Ridge averted his eyes to the floor. He cleared his throat, apologizing for bothering me but that he really wanted to speak to me. He glanced up at me for a reply.

I frowned, taking in his unreadable expression again. My heart clenched in my chest, the ache he constantly gave me reminding me that being alone with Ridge was never a good idea. So I swallowed, shaking my head that I didn't think that was a very good idea.

Ridge's eyebrows pinched as his head tilted a little. "Gianna. I just—"

I sighed again, shaking my head that I didn't want to talk to him. That I was trying to play my part in this whole rejection fiasco by avoiding him and Molly at all costs. That I was trying to give Ridge what he wanted and that was me out of his life.

Having Ridge in front of me, my eyes unable to keep themselves from admiring how beautiful Ridge grew up, I knew I had to reel myself back in. I didn't want to get caught up in another steamy make out with Ridge so I walked over to my closet and searched for my sketchbook I kept near the back.

"Feel free to leave as you please, Ridge." I called from inside the closet. "I think my family can handle themselves considering who our parents are. So no worries on your part."

With my sketchbook and a square blue woven basket of art supplies in my arms, I walked back into his view. I raised an eyebrow, giving him a pointed look as I stressed, "I'm sure Molly wouldn't be very happy to have her mate anywhere else other than attached to her hip."

I set my basket on my bed, taking a seat in the middle of the mattress and placing my sketchbook on my lap. Glancing over by the door, Ridge was still there. He looked uncomfortable standing there and I narrowed my eyes a bit. That side of me that hated seeing anyone feeling uncomfortable kicked in and I knew Eden and my sister were right about my being too good of a person. I personally think I was just a damn doormat and couldn't switch it off even if I wanted to.

I sighed, shutting my eyes and sat up a bit. "I'm sorry," I told him.

Ridge looked at me and I offered a small smile, letting him know that I shouldn't be so disrespectful towards him. That he hadn't said anything that warranted that kind of behavior.

When I didn't think he was going to say anything and might have taken that chance to flee, Ridge glanced down the hall and then looked back at me. He asked if it would be okay that he sit here with me. I raised an eyebrow and Ridge quickly offered to stay on the outside of my room.

"So you're just going to stand there? What for?" My nose scrunched, not understanding why he didn't just go downstairs. Away from me.

Ridge cleared his throat, shrugging a bit and glanced at my painted wall with the tree. He didn't answer my question. Instead, he nodded at the tree that he had mentioned to his mother. I looked at my painting, admiring it before squinting at Ridge. He told his mom about the painting and how really creative I was. Even if it was a compliment, I stayed quiet as he didn't seem to be done speaking. Ridge pursed his mouth to the side, explaining that his mom had agreed with him. That she showed Ridge a few drawings I had made for her for Mother's Day when I was younger.

I didn't remember any of that until now. It was actually kind of sweet that the Alpha Female kept them all this time.

Ridge paused, pointing at the floor as he looked at me. He was silently questioning me and I just shrugged. Ridge took it as an 'OK'. He sat down right outside my room like he said he would. Ridge pulled his phone from his back pocket, setting it aside to sit more comfortably. Biting his lip, I averted my gaze to my sketchbook. I didn't want to start anything between us. My finger traced along the edge of my sketchbook, fumbling with the corner of it.

"Um..." I tucked my hair behind my ear, my eyebrows dipping as I shrugged a shoulder. "Tell—Tell your mom she's sweet for keeping my drawings."

Ridge nodded that he would and then we fell silent again. He sat there, though, while I opened my art book and began sketching away. When I would glance up at him to see if he was going to leave, Ridge remained where he was. He was still looking at my tree, like it took this long to really take it in.

Dropping my gaze back to my book, my pencil skimmed along the page, leaving a trail of lead behind.

"What are you drawing?" he asked all of a sudden.

"Don't worry about it," I mumbled, still sketching. After a second, my eyes lifted a little to see him looking down, frowning a bit. Ridge looked uncomfortable again.

Why was he torturing himself? Why didn't he just leave?

I am not sure why I did it. Perhaps it was because of the 'pull' between us or maybe because this was the first time that Ridge and I were able to be decent towards one another minus my rude comment a minute ago. I engaged in conversation with Ridge, asking him what his favorite color was. Perhaps it was a random question to ask but he replied anyway after I looked at him for a second.

Ridge blinked a few times, startled by my engagement and then stammered, "Um... Blue."

"Mm," I nodded, finishing my sketch and now taking a dark black marker to outline my drawing with. Not looking at him helped to talk to Ridge. Otherwise those beautiful green eyes of his would be so damn distracting.

"What kind of toppings do you like on your pizza?" I asked.

The silence was not doing it for me and so I came up with questions to toss Ridge's way. In turn, he'd ask questions back. I wasn't sure how long we sat there talking. Long enough, I'm sure, as I was almost done coloring my drawing.

I was almost done with the finishing touches of shading when I heard Wade's voice in the hall.

"There you are, Ridge! We were beginning to wonder if you were clogging our toilet!"

Ridge sucked in a breath, eyes wide and face turning red as he scowled my brother's way who I couldn't see. I muffled a laugh with my hand and Ridge's face turned even more red as he glanced my way. He stood up, grabbing his phone to pocket again. Ridge assured my brother that he was not doing anything to our plumbing. Instead, he was just having small talk with me.

Wade's head popped into view and I pursed my mouth to the side, giving him a small wave. My brother narrowed his eyes, switching between me and Ridge. He made it a point to say that our dad didn't allow boys in my or Cece's room. Not without special circumstances—aka our mates—but even then it was a 'hell-no'.

"Wade!" My eyes widened under furrowed eyebrows and my brother narrowed his eyes more. He playfully bared his teeth to give me a small growl.

"I'm your brother, Gigi. I'm supposed to fend off any boys near my baby sister!"

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, OK. But you don't need to worry about this—" I nodded in Ridge's direction. "—boy. He's engaged, remember? To his mate?"

Wade pursed his lips, narrowing his eyes still at me. He said it didn't matter because a boy was a boy and I was his little sister. His protective instincts kicked in when I was around.

I rolled my eyes again then raised an eyebrow at Wade. We both looked at Ridge when his voice broke into our conversation when he frowned at me, "What do you mean 'this boy'...? There were—You've had other boys around?"

My neck craned forward, eyebrows rising high. I blinked a few times, scrunching my nose before shaking my head to scoff, "What? No!"

But my brother eyed me, digging again to make sure that I didn't have any boys in my room.

"Wade!" I cried again. I frowned at the two of them, demanding that they both leave. "You've overstayed your welcome. The both of you! Now scram!"

I stood off my bed and headed to my doorway as Wade and Ridge were still trying to interrogate me about any and all times I've had boys in my room.

"Arrrrghh!" I groaned, tipping my head back.

Looking back at them, I huffed that they were impossible! I shoved my brother's head out of my door and he yelped as he stumbled back a bit. I gave Ridge a look to move his foot off my threshold and I swear he was deliberately keeping his foot there. Tapping my foot impatiently, I decided to just nudge his foot out of the way. It was the only way to slam my door shut.

I could hear my brother and Ridge on the other side, their voices muffled. I rested my head on the back of my door, shaking it slowly and closed my eyes. What the hell was that?

After a minute the hallway got quiet and I assumed the two males left. I was wrong.

The knocks on the door were small but I had a feeling I knew who was on the other side. Slowly, I opened my door and tilted my head to rest against the edge of it. "Yes?" I sighed to Ridge.

He was standing alone in the hallway now. My brother nowhere in sight which surprised me considering the whole 'no boys' thing a minute ago.

The muscles in Ridge's jaw contracted as he seemed to be figuring out what to say. I raised an eyebrow, frowning as I waited for him to speak.

"This is getting so much harder..." he whispered all of a sudden, closing his eyes tightly. And then all of a sudden, his head bowed as it always did when he was getting those headaches. He pressed his hands against his temples, groaning as he knelt down.

Worried, I knelt in front of him and coaxed, "Ridge... These headaches seem to be getting worse. You really need to tell your family about this. They'd be worried sick if something happened to you and they had no idea about the pain you're in."

Ridge shook his head after a moment, still bowing his head. He muttered that I would be looking out for his pain when he completely brushed off mine. Ridge lifted his head to meet my gaze. He swallowed hard, shaking his head that he'd had to reject me because he'd already met his mate—I held back making a face because I knew the truth about that—and here I was trying to help him.

I noticed that he didn't mention his sleeping with Molly putting me in pain and I frowned, wondering whether he didn't mention that on purpose to not be an asshole or because he genuinely didn't realize what was happening. There was no way he didn't know... right? I mentally noted to talk to Cece about that later.

Shrugging my shoulders, I admitted that it was a fault of mine that I couldn't just drop when I wanted. It was something I would have to learn, I guess. Ridge stared at me, those green eyes looking in mine as I saw the way his pupils pulsed again.

A part of me wondered if maybe it was the true mate bond trying to break through for Ridge. Our mate bond. And I wondered if maybe because I hadn't fully accepted the rejection, Ridge had been getting these massive headaches. Perhaps if I accepted, it would ease these headaches and my own suffering... and it would allow Ridge to move on with Molly, and I... and, well, I would be able to finally move on.

Swallowing the lump that lodged in my throat, I averted my gaze and frowned that maybe to make it easier, he and I should not have these little moments anymore. I sighed, resting my arms on my knees. "Are you alright now?" I asked, nodding back when he nodded that he thought so.

Ridge explained that the headaches started that first day of seeing me in the park. That ever since the headaches were getting more frequent, and he didn't tell his parents because there was enough to worry about than a few painful aches. His gaze met mine, and he sighed, "I know I have no right to ask... but... but please, Gianna. I want to talk to you more than just playing twenty-questions."

He glanced down the hall, lowering an eyebrow. His green eyes met my brown ones.

"You can name the time and place. I'll respect your boundaries after this."

I looked at the space between us, lips in a tight line and sighed through my nose while thinking about the repercussions of meeting up with Ridge. It couldn't be helped that I did want to be near him... even if it was for one last time.

"Okay," I nodded, keeping my attention on the floor. "Let's meet tonight then. Around 8:30. Meet me at the clearing of the forest and then we can take a walk through it where no one would see and get suspicious."

The Beta smiled, a knee-buckling smile that I would embed into memory from here on out. We both straightened and Ridge tucked his hands into his pockets.

"I'll see you then?" he asked in confirmation, and I replied with a nod before he started down the hall.

Before I shut my door, I remembered something. "Ridge, wait!" I called out of my room. He had been halfway down the stairs—almost out of sight—but then he came back up with a curious frown. I held up a hand, asking him to hold on before running back into my room and grabbed my sketchbook to tear out the drawing I was working on during our awkward back and forth.

Ridge came back to my room, his eyebrows lowering when I held out the page to him. He stared at it as he reached for the page, asking what it was. He turned the page around as it was upside down when I handed it over. Ridge's eyes widened a bit, blinking a few times... and then he just stood there, staring at the drawing I made of him sitting like he had earlier. Behind him was the tree I painted on my wall, fairy lights included.

When Ridge looked up from the drawing, I could only offer a coy grin. I shrugged a shoulder that now he could have a tree on his wall too.

"I mean... If you want that is," I added quickly.

Ridge looked at the drawing again with a breathy, "Gianna... Thank—Thank you." He looked at me again. "I love it. Really."

My gaze dropped from his and my eyebrows furrowed, staring at the drawing. I could feel my face grow hot and I tucked my hair behind my ear letting him know in a mutter that he didn't have to keep it if he didn't want to.

"Consider it... Consider it an— an engagement present, so to speak."

We looked at one another, that understanding of our unfortunate dilemma brought to light again. It helped me remember that I wasn't supposed to be friendly with him. Especially because of Molly who would not be happy with him around me.

Ridge swallowed, biting the corner of his lip and nodded. He quietly thanked me again.

I wasn't expecting him to make a small step forward to lean down to plant a quick kiss on my forehead. It was barely felt but it still made my eyes widen, watching Ridge take his leave. He looked over his shoulder at me then hurried down the stairs.

Unsure how long after he was gone that I remained where I stood, I was still staring off at the empty staircase with so much confusion. Until tonight, I wouldn't find out what it was Ridge needed to speak to me about. I was frightened because of how much stronger this bond was becoming. I was coming to the realization that Ridge Beaumont was a force of nature I wasn't prepared for.

Something told me—I could feel it—that Ridge might be the death of me.