Dear Alpha, You Are Not My Type!

CHAPTER 5 - DARE HER

Ryder

Sitting on the edge of my bed, my elbows rested on my knees, and my hands were clasped tightly together, knuckles pale with the tension. I couldn’t get her out of my head. Ariana. Her name alone made my pulse quicken, though not in the usual way I’d expect when thinking about my mate. No, it wasn’t just lust or even the excitement of knowing we were fated. It was frustration—an endless loop of irritation that gnawed at my mind.

She’d rejected me. Boldly. Publicly. I had never been rejected by a girl in my life. I was Ryder Blackthorn, future Alpha of the Silvermoon Pack. Girls usually threw themselves at me, hoping to even catch my attention. But Ariana? She’d looked me dead in the eyes and declared I wasn’t her type.

“Not your type?” I muttered under my breath. My wolf growled in the back of my mind, still seething at the memory. I could feel him pacing restlessly, his anger simmering, just as mine was. How could she say that? And then… she had the nerve to tell me she was already with Ethan?

That was the part that kept gnawing at me. Was it even true? Ethan was her best friend—everyone knew that. They’d been close for years, practically grew up together, but I never sensed anything more between them. There was no spark, no possessive scent marking between them. But what if I’d been wrong?

“What if she really is with him?” I muttered to myself. The thought alone sent a jolt of anger through me. My wolf even growled louder now, the idea of Ariana—my mate—being with someone else making him bristle. It couldn’t be true, right? There was no way she’d actually choose him over me.

But… What if she did?

The idea churned in my gut like poison, and I clenched my fists tighter, trying to shake the thought away. I didn’t want to admit it, but the doubt was there, creeping in, messing with my head.

“Yo, Ryder!” Asher’s voice broke through my thoughts, and I barely registered him until he slapped me on the back, hard enough to knock me forward a bit. “You look like you’ve been hit by a truck, man. What’s with you?”

I shook my head, trying to clear the fog of frustration. “Nothing.”

Asher snorted. “Bullshit. You’ve been staring at the floor like it’s gonna give you answers for the last hour. What’s going on? Girl trouble?”

I gritted my teeth, not wanting to admit what was bothering me. But this was Asher. He’d been my best friend for years, and there was no point in pretending. “Ariana,” I finally muttered.

Asher’s eyebrows shot up, and a slow, knowing grin spread across his face. “Oh ho! The mate who rejected you, right?” He laughed, leaning back against the wall and crossing his arms. “Dude, I heard all about it. Word’s already spreading around campus. The great Ryder Blackthorn got rejected by a girl. Never thought I’d see the day.”

My wolf growled at his mocking tone, but I forced myself to stay calm. “It’s not funny.”

“Not funny? Man, it’s hilarious!” Asher chuckled, completely unbothered by my glare. “I mean, come on. You? Rejected? You’ve got every girl on campus practically swooning over you, and the one girl you actually want doesn’t give a damn.”

I ran a hand through my hair, frustration bubbling up again. “She said she’s with Ethan.”

Asher’s grin faded slightly, and he straightened up. “Ethan? Her best friend?”

I nodded, the words tasting bitter in my mouth. “Yeah. She said they’re together, and that’s why she doesn’t want me.”

Asher let out a low whistle, his expression shifting from amusement to mild concern. “Damn. That’s… unexpected.”

“You don’t believe it, do you?” I asked, looking at him intently. I needed someone to agree with me, to tell me it was all a lie.

He shrugged. “I don’t know, man. I mean, they’ve been close for ages, but I never thought it was anything more than friendship.”

“Exactly.” I leaned back, my frustration evident. “I think she’s lying, trying to push me away. But… what if she’s not?”

Asher’s eyes narrowed slightly, and I could see him thinking it over. Then, suddenly, his face lit up with an idea, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “You want to know for sure?”

I frowned. “Obviously.”

He smirked. “Then I’ve got the perfect plan. It’s simple, really—dare her to kiss him. In public. In front of everyone. If they’re really together, she’ll do it, no problem. But if she hesitates… well, then you’ll know it’s all an act.”

My stomach twisted at the thought. The idea of watching Ariana kiss another guy—especially Ethan—made my blood boil. My wolf let out a low, dangerous growl, clearly repulsed by the thought of another man’s hands or lips anywhere near our mate.

I shook my head. “No. I don’t want to see that.”

Asher rolled his eyes. “Look, man, I know it sucks, but it’s the only way to know for sure. You’ll either catch her in the lie, or… well, you’ll know you’ve got real competition.”

“Competition?” I scoffed. “Please.”

Asher chuckled. “Hey, you’re the one who’s all worked up over this. If you’re so sure it’s fake, prove it.”

I clenched my jaw, hating how logical his stupid suggestion was. I didn’t want to see Ariana kiss Ethan. Hell, I didn’t even want to think about it. But I needed to know if she was serious about him or just messing with me. Because if she was lying, if this whole “dating Ethan” thing was just to piss me off, then I could call her bluff.

But if it was real…

I didn’t let my mind go there.

I glanced at Asher, who was still grinning like he’d just solved world hunger. “Fine,” I said through gritted teeth. “I’ll do it. I’ll dare her.”

“Atta boy.” Asher clapped me on the back again. “Trust me, you’ll get your answer real quick.”

I nodded, though the knot in my stomach tightened at the thought. Whatever game Ariana was playing, I was going to beat her at it. She thought she could just reject me, pretend to be with someone else, and I’d back off? No. That wasn’t how this worked. She was mine—whether she wanted to admit it or not.

I’d prove to her that she couldn’t just push me away.

And when I did, she’d have no choice but to face the truth: we were mates, bound together by the Moon Goddess herself. No fake relationship, no lies, no games were going to change that.

I smirked, my confidence returning. Whatever Ariana thought she was doing, she’d underestimated me.

“Let the games begin,” I muttered to myself.

Asher grinned beside me, clearly enjoying the drama that was about to unfold. “Oh, this is gonna be fun.”