I woke up the next morning in my own bed with a killer headache. I groaned while I trudged over to the window to shut the blinds from the bright light streaming in. I sat back down on my bed and grabbed my phone to see missed two missed calls and a voicemail from Stella, a text from Andrew, and a text from an unknown number. I opened Andrew's message first.

"Okay." Huh? I opened the message from the conversation to see that he sent something along the lines of seeing Ryder carrying me out of the party when he got there and checking if I was okay. The next message was Ryder telling Drew that he had my phone and he was taking me home.

Next, I looked at the text from the unknown number to read: "Hey Ash this is Trevor. Stella made it home, just wanted you to know."

Well that was reassuring to say the least because I definitely didn't remember anything from last night past all the drinks I had with Stella. I laid back on my bed, deciding that Stella's missed calls and voicemail were an act of her drunkenness. I groaned at the pounding in my head and then realized it was someone knocking on my door before opening it.

"Hey," Natalie had greeted. Even though I just woke up, I was already too tired to deal with her. She set a glass of water and a bottle of Advil on my night stand before sitting at the foot of my bed. "So what all did you get into last night?"

I sighed. "None of your business," I mumbled before popping a few pills in my mouth and washing it down with the water. She probably saw Ryder carry me in last night and knew my state enough to know to bring me pain meds and that's all she needed to know in my opinion.

"I guess you're right," she replied sadly and then stood back up. "Let me know when you're starting to get ready for the dance. I'd love to help you with your hair or take pictures or something."

"Yeah?" It was in this moment that I realized as much as I remembered Dad explaining womanly functions of the body or taking pictures at every life milestone, Natalie had missed moments of being a mother that included talking about boys or doing my makeup and anything else for that matter.

Before I actually accepted or rejected her request, my phone rang and I looked over to see Ryder's name. Natalie reluctantly got up and exited my room while I answered it.

"Babe?"

"I am so incredibly sorry for whatever I did last night," I told him in a groan.

"Now you sound like me," he chuckled, causing me to roll my eyes. I still felt my head throbbing. "Don't worry. Other than seducing me and pissing off Colin, you didn't do anything too crazy."

I immediately added "apologize to Colin" on my to-do list even though I didn't know what exactly I did. Why oh why did I even take his stupid herb to make me human for a night? Suddenly, I heard the doorbell ring and I wondered who it could be this early.

"Open the door, darlin'," Ryder ordered. "I come bearing gifts."

Even though I was dressed in last night's clothes and hadn't even washed my face or brushed my teeth, I galloped downstairs and saw Natalie opening the door for Ryder. I don't know if I noticed the large bag in his hand first or the amazing smell it had, but my eyes widened and he held it out for me without addressing my mom standing there.

"The greasiest tacos in town usually cure a nasty hangover," he presented with a smile. I just took the bag from him and headed to the kitchen, assuming he would follow me inside. I got to the kitchen's counter and poured out a dozen tacos wrapped in foil.

"I thought I got enough for the household, but I guess not," he laughed at me while I instantly devoured one of the delicious bean and cheese tacos. God, did I love Ryder more in this moment. I looked over to see him take a seat next to me at the bar in complete amusement. I slowly lowered the breakfast offering from my mouth.

"Oh, morning," I finally greeted.

"Good morning," he chuckled and reached a hand over to cup my face. His ran his thumb along my cheek and any headache I had was gone. Okay, maybe having a True Alpha as a boyfriend had its perks when he could just suck up all my pain by one touch.

"So what did I get into last night?" I asked him and continued to eat.

"Well judging by the fact that you slept so soundly you didn't even change into pajamas, I think you can figure it out," he teased, causing me to glare.

"Yeah. I got that, Einstein," I nodded. "What'd I do to Colin?"

"I don't know exactly, but—"

"Yes you do," I accused.

"Okay I do, but that's between y'all," Ryder admitted and stood from his seat. He even raised his hands above his shoulders in defense. "I'm just here to drop of tacos and check up on you."

"Uh huh..."

"Honest," he swore, putting a hand over his heart. I rolled my eyes and moved on to my next taco. "I have a question for you though."

"Oh so you have a question but you can't answer one of mine?" I asked with a smirk.

"Okay, what's new?" he noted and I figured that was a fair point. He usually dodged my questions anyways. "Are you wearing the same white number tonight that you wore to the game or something else?"

I studied his face for a moment.

"Ryder Ramon, are you trying to match my dress?"

Even though his skin was a medium complexion, I saw him blush slightly in embarrassment and I let out a laugh. He was adorable.

"Okay, that's it. I can just take my tacos and go—"

"Come on," I pleaded and grabbed his arm in his false sense of leaving. He grimaced and stayed back. "My dress is purple."

"And we're back to purple," he noticed and tied it to the walls of my room. He neared me and put one hand on the back of my chair and the other on the counter. A flirtatious smile grew on his handsome face. "Can I get a specification? Violet? Lavender? Plum?"

He neared me with each version of purple and I was starting to giggle. But then the front door opened to reveal a curfew-breaking Andrew trying to sneak in.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, directing his question at Natalie instead of his usual victim named Ryder. I forgot she was even here.

"Cassie had plans, but she had to go to a meeting at the police station so thought I should wait up for you guys," Natalie expressed and warranted a scoff from Andrew while he walked in, took three tacos off the counter, and then disappeared into his room without so much of a greeting to me or Ryder.

"What's his—"

"I don't know," I interrupted because talking with Andrew wasn't exactly pleasant these days. But were we not going to talk about why Cassandra was needed at the police station? Why wasn't either alpha alarmed at that?

"Well I'm gonna go buy a dress shirt in every shade of purple I can find, and you just tell me which one I should wear because I can't be a homecoming king escorting his mix-matched girlfriend to the dance," Ryder told me. This was a reminder of just how excessive he was, because any sane boy would just buy one white shirt and an array of possibly matched ties.

"Oh!" I exclaimed because I remembered something. "I have something of yours."

"Is it...you?" he asked in a frown.

"Cute," I commented before hopping down from my seat and running upstairs to claim his crown and sash that I left here after the game. I was sure he was supposed to have them for his whole king-honoring moment at the dance. But when I was coming downstairs, I overheard Natalie talking to him. I just lingered midway down the stairs.

"You can tell her," Natalie told him. Tell me what?

"I have enough to deal with," Ryder muttered to her in an arrogant scoff.

"Well I changed my mind and she needs to know...by tomorrow," she insisted. "So tell her."

"You tell her," Ryder ordered in a stern voice. "I am not ruining another night with her because of this or because of you."

I frowned, wanting to know what they were even talking about because they didn't even know each other long enough to have secrets between them. But when I emerged from retrieving Ryder's belongings, I could tell that there was tension between the both of them.

"Here you go," I told him.

"Thanks," he breathed and forced a weak smile. Something was definitely up more than what's been bothering him and I didn't know what it was. He had been having ups and downs the past few days regarding something other than the constant worries of being an alpha werewolf. But then again, this was a teenager who had to end the life of his best friend. Maybe he was dealing with that all while making secrets with the newest person in town. But even as I looked up at him and tried to find weakness in his eyes or demeanor from feeling guilty about lying to me or being in cohorts with my secretive mother, there was nothing but sadness. And even though Natalie had approached me this morning with grief over her abandonment, she shifted in nervousness. I still acted my part as if I hadn't heard their short conversation and walked Ryder to the door. "I'll pick you up at five. We can go eat and—"

"We don't have to eat," I told him. "And I'm sure Bailee or Stella or my mom—whoever is helping me get ready—won't be done by at least six."

Ryder frowned maybe at the mention of my mom. "Why would it take that long to get ready? You're already beautiful as is," he complimented. I wanted to roll my eyes at the cheese ball standing in front of me but he was too sweet and leaned over to kiss my cheek. He nudged my waist and looked down at me. "Call me when you want me."

"I always want you."

"You know what I mean," he laughed and then pulled away. I watched him near his car and then remembered something. I called out his name and he rolled his passenger side window down and leaned over to acknowledge me.

"This doesn't mean I said 'yes' to being your date!" I joked.

I heard him laugh and saw his brilliant smile from here before he yelled back: "Yes it does!"