Ryan’s POV
As soon as Karen hung up, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. That call had been short. She asked me Where I was, and I told her I was on a business trip. I guess that was the only thing she wanted to know.
Aurora and I had just finished eating when she decided to hit me with a question I wasn’t expecting.
“Where are you from?” she asked, her voice soft but curious.
I blinked at her for a moment, trying to decide how to respond. “Shadowhaven,” I said simply, keeping my tone neutral.
She tilted her head slightly, clearly intrigued. “Where is Shadowhaven? Where’s it located?”
“It’s… somewhere very far away,” I replied, keeping my answer vague.
Her lips formed a small “oh,” and she nodded like she was satisfied, but I could tell she wanted to ask more. I wasn’t about to give her any more details, though. It’s not like she’d figure it out, but I didn’t want to open that door.
After a moment of silence, she looked at me again and said, “We should go to bed early. We have a big day tomorrow.”
I nodded in agreement, but then I noticed her eyes darting around the room, lingering on the bed and then the sofa. I knew exactly what she was thinking.
“I’ll take the sofa,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “You can have the bed.”
Her reaction was immediate. “No, no, that’s not okay,” she protested, shaking her head. “I’ll take the sofa, and you can have the bed.”
I smirked at her. “Or,” I said slowly, “we can share the bed. It’s wide enough.”
Her eyes flicked to the bed, then back to me. She hesitated for a moment before giving a small nod. “Okay,” she said softly.
“If you’re not comfortable with it, just say so,” I added, giving her an out.
She shook her head quickly. “No, I’m fine. It’s okay.”
I couldn’t help but smile. Yes, she had to be okay with it because, honestly, I wanted to be on that bed with her.
Without saying another word, I stood up and walked over to the bed. I sat down first, leaning my back against the headboard, and then stretched out, making myself comfortable. When I looked over at Aurora, she was still standing there, fidgeting slightly.
I patted the spot next to me. “Come on, Aurora. The bed’s not going to bite.”
Her face turned a lovely shade of pink, and she muttered something under her breath before slowly walking over. She climbed onto the bed cautiously, like it might swallow her whole.
She lay down on her side, as far away from me as possible, her back to me. I couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
“What’s so funny?” she asked, her voice muffled against the pillow.
“Nothing,” I said, still smiling. “Just… you’re acting like I’m a monster or something.”
“I’m not!” she shot back, turning her head to glare at me.
“You kind of are,” I teased, enjoying the way her cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red.
She huffed and turned back around, pulling the blanket up to her chin. I could hear her muttering something about how annoying I was, but I didn’t mind.
“Goodnight, Aurora,” I said after a moment, my voice soft.
“Goodnight,” she mumbled, her tone still a little annoyed.
I leaned back against the headboard, closing my eyes. Sharing a bed with her might’ve been a mistake, but it was one I wasn’t about to regret.
****
I woke up earlier than I expected, amazed at my self-control. Sharing a bed with Aurora could’ve gone a completely different way if I wasn’t careful, but here I was, calm, collected, and not having to wrestle with Draven for control. My wolf was unusually quiet, which was rare, but I wasn’t going to question it.
You’re welcome, Draven said smugly.
I rolled my eyes internally and turned my attention to Aurora. She was still asleep, facing me this time. Her face was so peaceful, so angelic. It was like the moon goddess had sculpted her herself. My chest tightened for reasons I didn’t want to explore.
A strand of her hair was splayed across her face, hiding her features. Before I could stop myself, I reached out and gently brushed it away. Her skin was so soft, her scent so intoxicating.
You’re playing with fire, Draven teased.
Ignoring him, I got out of bed quickly and headed for the bathroom. I needed a cold shower.
When I was done, I came out, towel draped around my neck, to find Aurora sitting up on the bed. She looked up and smiled. “Good morning, Ryan.”
“Good morning,” I replied, my voice still gruff from sleep. “How was your night?”
“It was good,” she said, a small blush creeping up her cheeks. “Yours?”
“Decent enough,” I said. “I showered first so you’d have space to do… you know, your girly stuff.”
She laughed softly. “Thank you. That’s thoughtful of you.”
I arched a brow. “Thoughtful? Or just me being practical?”
“Gentlemanly, actually,” she said, still smiling.
Gentleman indeed, Draven snorted in my head, practically rolling over with laughter.
I shot back at him silently. Shut it.
Turning my attention back to Aurora, I shrugged. “We can never know.”
She gave me a curious look, but I didn’t let it linger. I quickly dressed and grabbed my things, while Aurora started packing for the day. When I was done, I left her to finish getting ready.
Outside the suite, I pulled out my phone and dialed Cornel, one of my pack members stationed in the human world. Most of the pack, about 60% lived among humans, blending in seamlessly.
Cornel answered on the second ring. “Boss,” he greeted.
“I need you to arrange an apartment,” I said. “Something comfortable and furnished, perfect for a girl. I’ll send over the decor preferences later.”
Cornel didn’t miss a beat. “Is this for Karen? I’ll need to know her style.”
I exhaled sharply. “It’s not for Karen. Just do what I asked, Cornel. She’s nineteen. That’s all you need to know for now.”
“Understood,” he said, dropping the teasing tone. “I’ll get to work right away.”
Satisfied, I ended the call and checked the time. It wasn’t too early to call Caleb. He answered on the first ring, as usual.
“Missing me already?” Caleb’s voice was dripping with amusement.
“In your dreams,” I shot back. “Just checking in. How’s it going?”
“You’re being so caring,” he teased. “What’s the occasion? Did Aurora soften you up already?”
I rolled my eyes. “Goodbye, Caleb.”
“Aw, don’t be like that!” he said, laughing as I hung up.
Shaking my head, I couldn’t help but smile. Caleb could be annoying, but he was a good friend.
Needing a moment to myself, I headed to the suite’s bar and poured myself a drink. After finishing it, I decided it was time to check on Aurora.
When I reached the door, I realized I’d left the key card inside. Brilliant. I knocked and waited, knowing she’d hear me.
Aurora opened the door, but something was off. She just stood there, her face pale, her eyes wide.
“What’s wrong?” I asked immediately, my instincts kicking in.
She didn’t answer right away, but her lips parted slightly, and I knew something had shaken her. Draven stirred in my mind, growling low. Whatever it was, I wasn’t going to let it slide.