Ryder wanted to forge ahead and take turns driving to see Cassey so we could get there in a day. I won out, telling him that it would be easier on both of us if we took our time. Three days of driving so we could get to Watson Lake midday. Unless we were planning on jerking Cassey out of her family's hands, we also had to come up with a plan to get her to the king and queen.

My stomach knotted at the thought. But it was nothing at the sensation that came when Ryder told me that if we were making stops, we were stopping in Valemount: the town where the werewolf hunters had relocated to.

"I think we can make it further than that," I protested.

"It's already going to be over seven hours of driving, George, I thought you wanted to break it up a little."

"I do." I just didn't want to stop in a town full of werewolf hunters.

"I know you probably don't care, but there is amazing mountain biking in the area and I really want to go. Obviously, this isn't a vacation, but I haven't had a second where you haven't been threatened or we haven't been chasing someone, or we were considering killing each other. I just want a couple hours, that's all."

I opened my mouth to protest, but I wasn't entirely sure what I was going to say. I hadn't told him about my meeting with Dawn. What was I supposed to say? That I had met with the head of the whole operation, but it was alright, there was nothing to be worried about? Was I supposed to risk Dawn's safety or his?

I told myself that he would be in human form and in a touristy area. He would be fine. And if this was going to bring him a pinch of joy, I was in no position to deny it. We packed our belongings – Ryder just repacking his trusty duffle bag – and set off.

The world fell away for a time. he bought me coffee when I pointed out a small café. I asked him about his mountain biking. And, at one point, a song came on his playlist that I actually knew. I had never sung in the car with anyone before, but I let my soul pour out of my lungs then. It wasn't a song I would have listened to on my own accord, but I heard my brother blaring it through the walls of my childhood home. It was gritty and rough, and it felt good to get it out.

When the song ended, there was no room for embarrassment. Ryder was looking at me with a slack jaw and wide eyes.

Valemount came quickly despite the fact that Ryder always made sure I had a hot drink in my hand and therefore had to take frequent bathroom breaks. The conversation was steady and made the time pass quickly. So did the warmth of his strong hand on my thigh. I said something that made him give my leg a squeeze and I felt like I couldn't speak for several moments after that.

It was late in the evening when we checked into the hotel. It was nothing special. But when Ryder took off his tee shirt and laid on the bed, I felt like I was in the lap of luxury. A better woman might have turned away. I was not a better woman. I took my time, studying the sharp line of his jaw, the curve of his collarbones, the quiet definition of his abs and the arrows that seemed to be drawn by his hips. Christ, was it even legal to be this attractive.

"Are you done?" he asked, but a taunting hand swept down his stomach.

"No, you're mine and I will stare you as long as I please."

He lifted his head from the mattress slightly, a single eyebrow raised. "What did you say?"

"You're mine, Ryder."

His head tipped back at that and I was able to catch a glimpse of his teeth capturing his lower lip. I knew the feeling. To be his, it was an incredible thing. To feel his arms around me, the press of his body, the safety and the sensuality, it was too much and not enough all at once.

"I want you to take your pants off and put on a condom," I demanded.

"Is that an order?"

"Do you want it to be?"

The role reversal was delicious for me. I loved having him push me down into the mattress, loved a hard grip on my hair and how he whispered dirty things in my ear when I was right on the edge. But watching him shudder as I slowly slid myself down his length, that was ecstasy. I didn't have the confidence to be rough and powerful like he did, but he was incredibly responsive to everything I did. When I pressed my palms to his chest to stabilize myself, then dug my nails in a little, he hissed. When I nipped at his ear, he outrightly groaned. It seemed anything I did would get a buck of the hips, a curse, or a shiver.

Neither of us lasted long.

We showered together. he tried to be gentle as he lathered the shampoo in my hair, but kept getting his fingers tangled in various strawberry blonde knots. I still treated him to a nice scalp massage though, rubbing my conditioner deep in his hair. We were keeping the world at bay like we always did in quiet moments like this.

But when he washed his face with the hotel-provided soap bar, it all came rushing back.

He curled under the covers. I sat on the edge of the bed in my tee shirt and shorts, my back to him.

"My mom was a dermatologist," I said to the wall. Ryder didn't say anything, but that didn't stop me from continuing. "My dad was always this chronic over-achiever. He always looked his best, always talked about making good impressions. They were this powerhouse couple. Then, my mom started forgetting to buy groceries for us. My dad missed meetings with clients. My mom couldn't drive herself to work. They forgot our names. Doctors could do nothing." Tears rimmed my eyes but refused to fall.

"I'm sorry, George."

"I was so angry and so lost when I was brought in to kill werewolves. I had spent so many hours with doctors and nurses and specialists. Every test came up with no results. Then, suddenly, it was right there. I had something to be take my anger. And I had a solution. I could do something so this wouldn't happen to other people. I thought another daughter wouldn't have to hold her father's hand, begging him to remember her. it sounds stupid now, but I just wanted to fix everything."

"I understand."

"But do you?" My lower lip trembled and the tears finally began to spill. "Because I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought I was saving lives. I wanted these fucking creatures off the earth. I wanted to kill Ajax and Keiko. And I wanted to have the stomach to kill Clementine too. And because I couldn't kill a kid, I'm here. I'm turning in a girl who could make the sun shine during the nighttime if she wanted to because she is an angel. And I don't even know how I should feel. I don't know if I should feel soul crushing guilt for turning her in to Ajax and Keiko or if I should wake up in the middle of the night because I'm haunted by all the wolves I've killed. Because I dream that I killed you. And it makes me fucking sick every morning."

"Georgia," he sighed into the dark. Arms slid around my shaking form and he carefully tugged me so I was lying down beside him. "We do the best we can with the information we have."

"I don't know what is right and what is wrong anymore, Ryder."

"That's life, George. I don't know if I was in the right for killing werewolf hunters that I came across. And even if I find out that I was in the wrong, there's nothing I can do about it now. I just have to trust that I am strong enough to deal with the consequences of my choices."

He was so calm, so sure of himself.

I spent the night wondering if I could handle the outcome. 

~~~Question of the Day~~~

If you were a famous athlete, what sport would you participate in?