I lightly traced Ryder’s features in the photo with my fingers and then noticed something peeking out from behind the frame. I removed the wedding photo from the wall and uncovered a hidden secret.
Behind the large frame were countless photos of me. I couldn’t help but ponder whether Ryder had fallen for me long before I first met
him.
Some of the earliest pictures were from my high school years, before I met August. As I examined the images, I was shocked and amazed to realize he had been watching over me for decades.
My heart began to pound wildly.
Ryder returned from a business meeting and found me quietly sitting on the couch, surrounded by dozens of my photos. His long- hidden secret was exposed.
He was stunned. He walked up to me nervously, like a pup caught doing something wrong, and said softly, “Honey, you found…”
He didn’t dare meet my eyes. He knew better than anyone that what I hated most was being lied to.
I felt playful and hid the smile tugging at the corners of my mouth, deciding to tease him a little.
“If you liked me for so long, why didn’t you chase me earlier? Who knows? I might have fallen for you back then, and we wouldn’t have missed all those years.
“If I had been in love with you from the start, I couldn’t imagine how happy I would’ve been. You took some pretty good shots. From now on, you’re in charge of all my photos.”
Ryder froze in place as if he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. But the very next second, he pulled me into his arms with overwhelming joy. “Honey, you’re… you’re not mad at me?”
I was confused. “Why would I be mad?”
“I was a creep, watching your life from the shadows. A total pervert who didn’t even have the courage to approach you.”
I stopped him sternly before he could go on. “Don’t talk about yourself like that. To me, you’re the most charming werewolf in the world. You’re my one and only mate, the person I’ll entrust my whole life to. You’re nothing like a pervert!”
He was always so cold and composed, but he actually cried when he heard my words. “Honey, I never dared to hope you’d love me back. Just having you by my side was already more than enough for me.”
I covered his mouth. “Don’t say nonsense like that. The one I love is you. You’ve already taken over my heart completely.”
I could never quite understand why Ryder was so insecure in front of me. He was clearly the pride of the pack, admired and pursued by
countless she–wolves.
But I had, by chance, learned about his past. He was an orphan, taken in by the former Alpha.
From then on, he underwent strict and relentless training. It was that upbringing that shaped his distant, icy personality.
He had always believed that his adoptive father didn’t truly care for him. But in truth, his adoptive father had placed deep hopes and expectations on him.
In a sudden flash of
It had been deep wounded.
“emory, I remembered the very first time I met Ryder,
the
where he was undergoing harsh training. I had gotten lost and stumbled upon him. He was alone and
I saved him and wrapped his injuries with trembling hands. “Hi, I’m Sophia Miller. Are you okay?”
He had looked so disheveled back then, pain etched across his face as he groaned in agony. I never imagined the werewolf from that day was actually Ryder.
Now I understood. It was those early experiences that left him with such a deep sense of insecurity. Yet, it didn’t matter.
Soon, we’d be welcoming our second pup into the world. I was willing to spend the rest of my life proving to that sensitive soul that I loved him deeply. One day, I knew he would believe it.
