Alecia sat on the wooden bench out in the park. Today was her study date with Ryder, and she found she wasn’t even thinking of her books. The wind danced around her, ruffling her clothes and playing with her hair. A smile curved at her lips, Ryder would be there any second. He had called, wanting to study at his apartment, but she knew it would be wrong be alone with him so she’d suggested a picnic. She shivered. He might be a nice guy, but still, anything could happen. One look at his gray eyes and she’d crumbled. How could someone be so handsome, like he was a Greek statue? A silver Bugatti pulled into the street in front of the park. Alecia bounced on her feet, as the warm feeling spread through her. She placed a hand on her cheek. Her mother always said a woman’s face glowed in the presence of her beloved. Did hers? The car stopped in front of her and Ryder opened the door and came out from the driver’s side, dressed in a dark blue T shirt and jeans. She shook her head. Even today, in clothes as simple as a jeans and T, he still looked very intimidating, and every inch as handsome. “Hey.” He held up a bag of pretzels and two cans of soda “You didn’t get those at McDonald’s” “Nah, the Ritz.'' She knew the place he talked about. It was somewhere Helen had taken her once, and all she could afford was a plain ham sandwich and water. Ryder brought out a blanket and spread on the floor. They sat on the blanket, and talked as Alecia worked on a paper. Children raced in circles in front of them. Their laughter filled the air as a few birds flew overhead; their dark shapes standing out against the white clouds that filled the sky. Alecia wiped a trickle of sweat from her brow and reached for her soda can. She took a few sips of the sharp liquid, letting it slip down her throat. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Ryder focus on her, his eyes roaming up and down her body. The whole date, she had caught him staring at her, studying her as if she was a painting to be admired. She set the cup down and turned to him. A full smile stretched across his face as he took the pencil out from behind his ear, put it in the book and closed it. He leaned back on his hands. “Break time.” She chuckled. “We’ve only been working for an hour.” “I study best in spurts.” Mischief danced in his eyes. What was he thinking about? Alecia closed her laptop and put it in between them. He better stay on his side. “What do you want to do when you finish school?” He asked. “I’m going to teach like my mom.” Ryder nodded. “I can see it. But why?” She shrugged her shoulders and leaned back. She wanted to be like her father. “My Mom is so good at providing stability as well as leadership. Children need that, and sometimes they don't get it at home. Ever since I was young I’ve watched her take a troubled young man under her wings and help him find a path. So many became productive members of society, so I guess I want to mold young children’s minds and.…” “You could always be a mother.” She laughed. “Women born of my mother don’t just sit around popping out babies.” No, her mother was first from her family to go to college, and she's built a legacy for herself as a teacher. She taught me that women were to be a man’s partner, not his at-home help.” He chuckled. “With a mother like that, how did you become so timid?” Alecia rolled her eyes and looked at the floral blanket they sat on. White lilies covered it, reminding her of her plan. “I have another goal, I want to keep.” “What’s that?” Alecia brought her knees close to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. The timing didn’t feel right, like she was rushing things, but she wanted to get things over with, before she lost her nerve. “I want to be a virgin when I get married.” His eyes brightened. “You’re a virgin?” Alecia looked out into the distance, slowly rocking back and forth. A child threw a ball over the head of another little boy, making him race after it. Ryder was happy, maybe even excited. “Why wait till marriage?” he asked, the tips of his lips pulling up into a tight smile. “Because I only want to sleep with the one for me. And marriage is the only way to insure that.” Ryder sat up and crossed his legs Indian-style. He looked at the white blossoms on the blanket she had brought. Completely pure just like her. He kept inviting her to his apartment for one reason and one reason only. One that she had never given and had no plans to. But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t. How long could he wait until he either wore her down or left her in rage? He looked at her light blue eyes and felt his body warm. He didn’t care. There was something about her that drew him, like no other girl had. “Well, you know what you need to do,” he said. “What’s that?” “Only date guys who’ll respect your decision.” “That is what I plan to do.” She picked up the laptop, a sharp focus in her eyes. Ryder tilted his head to the side. “Alecia, I’d respect your decision.” That should have brought a smile to her face, but she just looked at her laptop, tapping one of her fingers against it. “I mean it, Ryder. I will dismiss you from my life if you try anything.” “You don’t have to worry about me.” She knit her brows and turned to him. “How many people have you slept with?” “Two,” he answered. “And only girls I had serious relationships with.” She narrowed her eyes as they roamed over his face. He focused on keeping his eyes straight, just like how his father taught him. She smiled and her body relaxed. She believed him. “Alecia, I wouldn’t tell people you’re virgin.” “Why? I’m not ashamed of it.” “Yeah, but virgins are a rarity.” He bit down on the side of his lip. “You don’t want the wrong guys preying on you. I’ll have to keep punching people.” A blush appeared on her cheeks. “Break time is over.” She opened her laptop and began working on her paper. She was his. Alecia leaned her cheek into her hand, while the professor walked to the front of the room and began sorting through papers. Soon the lecture would begin. Her plan hadn’t worked, but did it matter? Ryder had only found her decision admirable. Another sign of his worthy character. She bit down on her eraser, tasting rubber. Maybe her parents fear of werewolves was unfounded. She giggled with the thought of his warm breath hitting her face as he kissed her cheek. Yes, just like in the romance novels. True love sometimes connected two very unlikely people, and in the end, love conquered all. “Hey, why haven’t you called me back?” Helen sat next to her, breaking into her thoughts. Her brown hair was pushed back into a ponytail. Red blotches filled her cheeks, contrasting with the yellow dress she was wearing. Alecia sat straight and clenched her textbook. “I was busy. I spent the whole weekend with Ryder.” “I thought you said you were only going to go out with him once.” Alecia shrugged. “I think he’s a nice guy.” The redness spread across her friend’s face as tears swelled in her eyes. “He sleeps with girls and dumps them. I’ve told you that. Is that your definition of nice?” “I told him that I wanted to wait until I got married, and he said he was cool with that.” Helen laughed and turned to the front; a tear slipping from her eye. Alecia looked at her notebook. What was she going to do about this friendship? How could she be friends with someone she didn’t trust? She would have to figure out something soon, especially since she had found someone more exciting to fill the void college had created in her. But there was one thing she wanted from Helen. The conversation between Ryder and Gabriel's father nagged at her. “Helen, Gabriel's father called Ryder and apologized for his son’s actions. I don’t understand why he didn’t apologize to me.” Helen raised her eyebrows. “You have no idea who you’re dating.” “Who is he?” Helen turned around and stared straight into Alecia's eyes as if she had the biggest secret to tell. “Gabriel's father called Ryder because he doesn’t want Mr. Hendrix to be mad at him.” “Why?” “Ryder's father practically owns the president, he put him in power, and he has over thirty three Alphas in this country that owe allegiance to him. He has some big plan for the country, where werewolves would rule, but only werewolves who owe allegiance to him.” Helen held up two fingers, which were twisted together. “I once heard my father complain that the President wouldn’t make a decision without consulting Mr. Hendrix.” Alecia's mouth fell open. She couldn’t believe what she had heard, although she had recently met so many people with political connections, but this seemed too big. A part of her mind was apprehensive about werewolves rulling officially, but it had been unofficial already . . . “I wonder why Ryder didn’t tell me that.” “I don’t know. But that is why so many girls fall for him. They’re all attracted to his connections.” “And he likes me.” A smile seeped across her face. Helen laughed, shaking her head. A couple students glanced their way. “Alecia, you’re stupid if you think he likes you. He’s got his mate picked out, not by the moon goddess or anything that stupid, but by his father. Her name is Taylor and she lives in Los Angeles. He’s just messing with you.” Tears swelled in Alecia's eyes and she tried to say something but the professor stepped to the podium and began explaining the key points of argumentative writing. Alecia picked up her pencil and drew a circle on the crisp white paper. Was Helen telling her the truth? But she couldn’t be. So many of the things she had told her proved to be mere myths the girl invented. There was only one way to find out. As soon as class was over, she would call Ryder. Once the lecture had finished, Alecia grabbed her books and ran out the door before Helen could say something. When she got to her room, she slammed her door shut and called Ryder. He wasn’t there, but she left him a message, saying she really wanted to talk to him. Alecia lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Her history book was open on the floor. She had a test tomorrow, but she couldn’t bring herself to study. None of it made sense. She doubted that Ryder had a fiancée, since Helen's word was as reliable as weather predictions. Yet, it still nagged at her. What if he did? Then that would mean he was just fooling with her. His show of affection was not genuine, and she was headed for a heartache. She bit on her fingernail, just as her phone rang. She snatched it from the bedside table and flipped it open. It was Ryder. “Hey,” she said. "I’m downstairs.” Alecia hung up the phone, put her shoes on and was about to run downstairs when her phone rang again. “Why did you hang up?” he asked. “I’m on my way downstairs.” She closed the phone. Her heart beat against her chest as she fled down the room. In a couple minutes she would have her answer. Please let it be no. She didn’t want to face the hurt. She raced down the stairs and threw open the door, fixing her eyes on his face “Who’s Taylor?” she said through a breath. Ryder didn’t flinch, but stood there with his hands crossed in front of him – his brows knit. “Taylor Swanset?” “Who is she?” “My ex. We broke up last month.” Ryder didn’t turn his eyes up or even twitch; he just stared straight at her. “I found out she had a girlfriend.” The corner of his right lip tipped in a smirk. “Oh.” Alecia looked at the sidewalk. He’d answered too quickly to be lying nor did he look away. Once again Helen's word proved to be false. What was she going to do about that friendship? “Who told you about Taylor?” he asked. Alecia hid her hands behind her back and rubbed her fingers together. “Helen told me that you were going to marry her.” “I was. The only person I’ve talked to about this is Lucas, so Helen probably didn’t know we broke up.” “Oh. I guess you were hurt.” “Nah, I knew the breakup was coming, so I got over her real fast.” She stared straight into his eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me your father was close to the President?” The corners of his mouth twitched and his eyes darken. “I guess Helen told you that, too.” Alecia took a step back. He looked annoyed, maybe angry. Had she pushed too far? And she hadn't even mentioned his father's future plans for werewolf rule. Was his connections an off-limit subject? She should have waited until he brought the subject up. “Yeah, why didn’t you tell me?” He smiled as the darkness fled his eyes. “Girls have a habit of being with a guy just because of his connections. I wanted you to like me for me.” A warmth filled her. She took his hands. “I’m glad I didn’t know. I like spending time with you.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it, sending tingles all through her. “Want to get some dinner?” he asked. Alecia bit on her lip, chewing. She had a history test tomorrow, but she so wanted to spend time with him. She could always study later. “Sure.” Ryder stroked her cheek, watching it redden. Her eyes were wide, wavering. The lamp light overhead flickered in them - highlighting the innocence. Better not try for the lips again. He leaned in and kissed her forehead. A giggle escaped from her lips. He should call her ‘Bubbles.’ “Good night, Princess,” he said. “Good night.” She turned for the door, slipping behind it as her hair swayed to the side. That girl was like candy. Way too sweet. He walked to his car. Once in the driver’s seat, he picked up his phone and dialed Helen's number. His free hand clenched the steering wheel, his fingertips drumming against it. Alecia knew about his father. What else did she know? Probably little. Very few knew what lay behind that man’s steel eyes. Not even his own family, or the people he bought. Helen picked up on the third ring. “Hey Ryder,” she said. Her voice dripped honey. She was probably pulling out her favorite piece of lingerie, hoping he was on his way. “Listen whore, stop trying to screw things up for me.” “Ryder,” Helen cried out. He bent his head to the side as a heat pushed through him. “Helen, you were easy sex, and that’s all you’ll ever be.” “You player,” Helen shouted. “You’re the one that allowed it.” He hung up the phone and drove to his apartment, taking slow deep breaths, but he couldn’t calm himself down. If she was here…. He squeezed the wheel. He would never. He wasn’t his father. Another pair of blue eyes tinged with fear filled his mind. He pushed the thought away. He would think of Alecia and those plump red lips. He’d claim them before too long. He just needed to find the right distraction and then she’d let him.