Lenn is breathless as he holds onto the suspended punching bag, as Ryker releases his stress, punching the bag with brute, venting with robust exertion.
It is as if Lenn is the one taking the hard blows, not the sand filled bag.
He was exhausted, his muscles sore.
He couldn't help the worried feeling poking his guts. Alpha Ryker was stressed, he was mad and angry about something. He was punching the bag harder than usual.
Could it be because of the marriage arrangement or that chicken boy?
Something… There is something that bothers the Alpha whenever he sees that boy.
Could it be…? No, it's not possible. The boy's presence is enough to piss anyone off.
"What are you daydreaming about?" Ryker eyes Lenn curiously as he has finally finished smacking the bag.
He takes off his boxing gloves, taking a seat by the bench as he drinks a bottle of water, his adam's apple acting up and down.
Lenn looks away, ignoring how the sweats cling to the Alpha's black tanktop.
"The Alpha of White Claw Pack has sent a letter agreeing with your request."
Ryker nods, uninterested in the topic.
"He has promised to send a billion to your father and he wants to make a settlement for two more years upfront."
"He is a fool to accept such an offer," Ryker bends the plastic bottle water into half.
"A city like us suffers inflation and deflation every single day. How will that benefit any of us if he stays on the land for two more years?"
"Does that mean you cheated him?"
Ryker scoffs, "He is the one who doesn't understand my contract or my request but he eagerly accepted it because he is feeling threatened after hearing what Royce did to the other Pack Alphas who did not pay up their revenue. He couldn't have given in just because I beat up a beta of his Pack."
"Are you insinuating that Alpha Royce has won this round?" Lenn ball his fist, thinking of many ways to make Mylo suffer for interrupting his Alpha that day.
Ryker lets out a breathy short laugh, finding Lenn's sense of reasoning awful.
"Is that what you were day dreaming about?"
"Are you alright? You seem… not okay."
Ryker is surprised at his beta's response, even his pheromones were spiked with worry, "Do I give the impression of not being okay?"
"No, Alpha." Lenn lowered his head respectfully, "I would never say that… I don't mean it in that way, Alpha. You are meeting your fiancé in a few hours and you do not like girls. You hate to be around them."
Ryker replies curtly with a nod, knowing the preparations is already going on outside.
He also knows that Royce is overseeing the ceremony to make sure everything goes perfect, while he hides away in the Pack's training ground, punching bags.
~
A few hours later, Ryker is standing beside Royce, his father, the Alpha King and Omega Greta, the current Luna of the Waning Moon Pack.
His father had remarried after he and Royce had turned five years old and went into seclusion.
They waited with smiles on their faces for the arrival of the princesses. Well, except for Ryker who would rather not be here. He did not wear a smile on his face at all.
Alpha Danica enters first with a warm appearance, a striking beauty and a air of confidence around her.
Her body is slender with a sharp sleekly waist and a good hip ratio. A beautiful almond shaped lips and a genuine smile. She bows her head slowly, greeting the family elegantly.
Royce smiles politely, his eyes glistening with joy. He gently held her wrist, kissing the back of her hand, "Accept my warm welcome, Alpha."
Danica bows her head, her posture calm and neutral. She bows directly at Ryker, who impolitely looks elsewhere, ignoring her existence.
Alpha Colton clears his throat, welcoming Alpha Vita whose smile is vibrant like the sun.
She is attractive with a seductive upturned eyes. Her long slick green gown sits perfectly on her body, aligning everything womanhood is made of. She bows her head, greeting the family in a majestic manner.
Ryker doesn't spare her any glances, his jaw is clenched, his eyes looking forward into nothing.
Royce steps forward and presses a kiss on the back of Vita's hand, welcoming her as Ryker did not care to do so.
Soon, they are seated around on the large table with pedestal decorations. They are beautiful white and green flowers placed in the center of the table, with a silver chandelier of candlesticks accompanying them.
The plates are made of Ivory, with top design napkins placed on them.
"I welcome the both of you to Northern Lantern City," Alpha Colton is relieved at the beautiful girls with Luna qualities.
This makes him feel rest assured.
"It's all my pleasure, Alpha," Alpha Vita's voice is melodic as she speaks gently, her eyes flickering over Ryker.
"I have heard a lot about The Waning Moon Pack and the City itself. I'm opportune to experience the most historic City for myself. I hope the Alpha will do me the honor of showing me around."
It's awkwardly silent as Ryker doesn't utter any words. He eats quietly, his attention lost on something unknown.
"Ryker!" Alpha Colton slams his fist on the table, aggravated at Ryker's behavior towards his guests. And not just to anyone, his wife to be.
"Where are your manners?"
"Alpha?" Omega Greta calms Colton down by placing her hand on the Alpha's fist.
"Please don't get angry. Everyone has their own ways of bonding with each other. Alpha Ryker is one of those people that bond differently with people," She looks at Vita, her gaze gentle, "Don't take the Alpha's attitude to heart."
"I wouldn't dare, Luna," Vita's face flush shyly. She hides her disappointment as she was not able to get Alpha Ryker to talk to her.
She looks beside her to see Alpha Royce flirting with Danica, he winks at her while pouring red wine into her glass.
"Everything is prepared for your comfortable stay in our Villa," Royce commended, his tone welcoming, "We are grateful to have this union, and we hope to build something even stronger with the three territories."
"The Alpha speaks so well," Alpha Danica praises Royce, "Your intelligence and foresight are spoken about in all territories, Alpha. You are a smoothtalker as they say."
"Oh, don't flatter me, Alpha," Royce laughs heartily, unaffected by the compliment, "Your beauty is enough to make a lame man cry. You are more beautiful than the rumors and the pictures."
Alpha Colton smiles contentedly, proudly rooting for Royce.
Ryker looks at Royce and Danica with a criticizing expression, a soft chuckles escaping his lips at the scene before him.
He stood up and excused himself, "I have somewhere to be."
"You don't dare move from there."
Ryker frowns at his father, "Watch me," He walks out of them with his hands in his pockets.