Ryan Lockwood

Thomas bites his lip “yeah..there’s a full moon coming up–and” he sighs, it was fucking hard for him to say it. He’d only ever had to tell one person, and it had been Allison and he was drunk, maybe he should have waited until he had a few drinks in him before he came over. “Dad’s not around–look I don’t want to talk about what happened, or how it happened–because I just can’t. The point is, I’ve only ever turned on a full moon with dad, and I don’t know what to do now that his not around.”

“And?” he lifted a brow, not growing impatient, but growing curious. Where was Thomas going with this? “Alright, no questions - got it.” Ryan held his hands up. It’s not like he had ever shared how he triggered, why should Thomas have to? “You don’t want to turn alone.. Understandable. As luck would have it I’m an alpha, you’re welcome to join me and my pack? No chains, we go far enough out and we don’t stray away from the group, kinda just keeps everyone calm. I haven’t had a bad full moon ever with those people” he nodded. Not trying to show off, just trying to calm Thomas’ mind. 

Unable to resist, Esther took a deep breath and reached out to take his hand, forcing him to stop walking and look at her. “Do you wish we could have worked out?” Esther asked in a quiet voice. For some reason she needed to know how he felt about her and them. Though, it was really selfish of her to ask such a thing. She watched as the emotions played on his face when she admitted who the person was. Of course he would be angry about it. “I know I can handle him, though I actually think he might have left town. I haven’t seen him in a few days, I just can’t help but feel scared. He makes me turn back into the girl I used to be when I was with him.” She admitted further. “Ryan, I’m not going to tell you. I don’t want you to do something reckless.”

Glancing down at her hand, he thought over her question and breathed out quietly. “Whatever went wrong is on me. It’s on the life I lead and all the trouble I still seem to land myself in. I’m unreliable, I keep secrets and I tend not to trust very many people. If I was the person you thought I was, then I wouldn’t have to wish we could have worked out, I’d of been good for you, and because of that, we would have just worked.” Ryan smiled softly, lifting her hand up to kiss her knuckles. Letting go of her hand he nodded his head for them to start walking again and crinkled his nose in irritation. “Okay, but if you want him gone, just say so. I’m certain I’m not the only one who would give you that offer either.”

Thomas takes a deep breath, he didn’t really have a choice at this point. He didn’t want to have to burden Allison with this, he was sure she had enough going on. He could feel the full moon coming, and while he didn’t want to have to ask Ryan for help, his pride welling up, whispering in his ear that he should turn around and walk away, that he can handle it on his own, but the truth is he knows he can’t. His never turned without their father their beside him, helping him, and now that the older man wasn’t around, he needed help, as much as it pained him to admit. It was the truth. 

“Ryan..” he says carefully hiding all emotion as walks up to his older brother “can we talk?” he asks. [ @ryanlockwolf ]

Fiddling with his phone, Ryan leaned against his car, trying to contact a friend of his to no such luck. He barely noted the approaching figure until they spoke, and he lifted his head up - surprised to see his brother. “Tommy” he greeted back, crinkling his forehead. 

“Yeah, sure? .. Something up?” he asked, sure that he wouldn’t be talking to him otherwise. 

“In some ways.” She admitted. “I think she has what every girl wants most at the end of the day.” Her cheeks only grew hotter at his admission. “Oh… well, thank you.” She couldn’t help but smile. “Good point.” She lowered the cup onto her lap, wrapping her hands around the glass. “For fun? Well, I write- you know… and I like to read. I love exploring. Seeing new things and trying new things. I’m a big thrill seeker.” 

“Tell me, are you warm or just nervous?” he asked, putting her on the spot as he flashed her a taunting smile. Watching her lower the cup, he tilted his head, mentally noting her ability to take notice of his words. Most others would have just laughed and ignored him. “A thrill seeker?” Ryan’s smile only grew wider as he nodded at her words. He liked that she was open to new things, it was trait he believed every person should have. “You’re full of surprises.”

Nathan choked out loudly, crying from laughing so hard. “Poor guy… and then to top it all off I fucked the girl he had the biggest crush on since kindergarten.” He took the joint, taking a long drag and then laughed even more. “Oh man… that was a fun night.”

“I always wondered why he hated us but, I see it now” he chuckled, grabbing his beer and moving over to the couch. “We didn’t have a care in the world back then. Well, I’m pretty sure you still don’t actually” he joked, taking a drag of his joint before sitting down. “So what’s the plan. Smoke, drink and fuck your way through life?”

“It would be easier if you hated me.” Esther admitted. “I know it’s selfish of me, but I really wish you hated me. When you’re like this I can’t help but feel a rush of emotions. Emotions that I shouldn’t feel.” Her voice grew more quiet, before she swallowed loudly. “He came into town. My ex.”

“I was happy to play that part, Esther, but you looked startled, I couldn’t help but offer to walk you home.” Ryan sighed quietly. “Besides, you just need to remember that I keep a lot of secrets, and that’s why we don’t work. I think you know deep down I’m no good for you” he half smiled, glancing over towards her. Almost halting in his tracks, Ryan’s face turned sour as he kept on looking forward. He didn’t need to ask if it was the same ex who had hurt her, but what did confuse him was why he was breathing. Something would have to be done about that. “I see” he muttered. “You have the strength to fight him, Esther. The fear is emotional, it clouds your judgement, but you can take him down easy, afraid or not.” Ryan attempted to comfort, but his words didn’t come across how he wanted them to. All he knew was that he had to track this guy down. “What’s his name?”

“I honestly don’t care as long as it involved a four course meal that you are paying for.” Erin grinned.

“Four course? I think you have eyes bigger than your belly, but I’ll pay for whatever you can manage to eat” he shrugged, nodding his head towards his car. He didn’t mind paying, it wasn’t like he didn’t have enough money to spare. “So, will I be wounded if I ask if the only reason you came to see me was for food?” Ryan chuckled, opening the passenger side door.

Anything involving getting stoned these days is what Nathan cared about. He nodded at the offer. Gladly accepting. “Sounds good with me, man. I got nothing else to do…so getting shit faced with my boy is the plan.” He grinned, slapping Ryan’s back.

Turning to the draw, Ryan began rolling them up a couple joints, letting out a quiet chuckle. “When was the last time we did this?” he asked, before laughing once more as he finished them up and handed one to Nathan. “Hey, remember when I brought you to a party a few years ago and we set the kitchen on fire, then blamed it on David? He was so wasted he still thinks it was his fault, he had to pay for damages and everything.”

Still feeling hot all over, she managed to look up at his eyes again. “She can say anything that’s on her mind. With no filter. She can ask anybody anything, she doesn’t ever stay curious for long and- she’s very confident. She can just walk up to anyone she desires and just tell them…and if she went to a bar and she was getting oggled, she’s tell that person how that makes her feel rather than asking a stranger to pretend to be interested in her.” She said chuckling, looking at the drink that was unexpectedly placed in front of her by the bartender. ‘On the house.’ He smiled before walking off again. “Oh… another.” She smiled, taking the drink down as she was starting to like the confidence it seemed to be giving her. 

“And do you want to be like her?” he asked. “For the record though, I’m not pretending.” Ryan curved his lips up into a soft smirk, but that soon shifted as he eyed the bartender curiously. It was clear she was getting tipsy, for someone who never really had alcohol before it was to be expected. “You know if you drink too much too fast you’ll end up with your head in a toilet and a spinning room” he smiled boyishly, hoping she would listen to his warning. Taking a sip from his glass, he leaned forward. “What do you do for fun, Raven?” he asked curiously. 

“Want something? Now, what could I possibly want?” Erin hummed, shooting a smile towards her older cousin. “I mean… I’m getting pretty hungry. Some food might be nice.”

“Food, huh?” he chuckled. “Alright, yeah -- wanna go somewhere out of town?” he suggested, thinking of the restaurant not far that did his favorite foods. 

She sighed in defeat. She clearly understood where he was coming from. “Yeah…but I could have handled it. So could Riley- and how the hell are YOU so good with a gun… there’s way to many people in here for you to have taken out alone…in fact… way too many people for you to have taken out by yourself…” the only person I know who can do that is Riley… She thought to herself.

“You weren’t here to handle it, Lily, what kind of brother would send a bunch of dick heads with guns after his little sister? I saw red the second they mentioned your name” he frowned and shook his head. “I’m an alpha, Lily, I know how to handle myself and quite clearly, it wasn’t too many people.”

“I wish you didn’t.” Esther admitted, more to herself than him. Being around him made her remember why she had developed feelings for him in the first place. “This is something I need to handle myself. It’s my ghost and my problem.”

“Yeah well people wish for a lot of things that don’t often come true” he chuckled softly. “So you keep saying. I’m not suggesting you can’t handle it, I’m just saying that if you needed any help, the offer is there.”

She chuckled softly, feeling her cheeks going hot again. What was happening? She wondered. “I’m not so sure you can. You can try but then again- I see nothing wrong with you. In fact, I find you quite lovely.” She smiled sweetly. “I think we had the most pleasant talk than i’ve had the rest of tonight. I don’t know why I thought coming to a bar…or club rather alone was a good idea.” She admitted. “I write…poetry.” She said in a whisper, feeling her cheeks go red hot again. “I’ve written a few stories before. One character in particular isn’t afraid to say what’s on her mind. It’s admirable I think… though I couldn’t be as- I couldn’t voice my thoughts like she could.” She said with a single chuckle, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear nervously before bringing her eyes up to his. “We all have secrets… not sure if that always could be a dark thing…” her voice began to trail off, the alcohol must have been kicking in. “I uh- warm… is it warm in here? Or is it just me?”

“nice though it is, You don’t know me well enough to have that opinion.” Ryan smiled. He sat back and sipped his drink, allowing his face to soften into a curious expression. “Now you’ve got me intrigued, what kind of things does this character say that you won’t?” He asked. He nodded his head and looked up at her. "Not always, but secrets tend to be a dark thing in general." Ryan let out a laugh, looking at her in amusement. "I'm not warm."

“Why?’ Esther asked with a tilt of her head. Right now she was confused with how Ryan was treating her. It was almost like he still cared. Did he still care for her? Was there still something there? “Why are you telling me all this? Why are you acting like you care about me?” She asked, unable not to. She walked alongside him and occasionally glanced up  at him before quickly looking away. Spending time with him was turning out to be dangerous. “I mean, thank you for the advice. I’ll be sure to keep it in mind.”

“Well.. why not?” he frowned, until she continued and he realized why she was confused. “I’m not acting. I do care about you.” Ryan corrected her with a shrug of his shoulder. “Good. Even better if you told me why you think you would have to keep something like that in mind?” he suggested. “No shame in needing help, Esther, even if it’s not from me.”