Aurora’s Pov
When I heard the knocking, my heart jumped into my throat. My palms were sweaty as I tightened my grip around the baseball bat I had bought earlier that day. It felt silly, holding a piece of wood as a weapon against someone like Ryan, but it was better than feeling helpless.
I didn’t want to see him, but here he was. He knocked again, calling my name, his voice steady yet firm. “Aurora, I know you’re in there. Open the door.”
My heart raced as I stood near the door, willing my breathing to quiet down. Maybe if I stayed silent, he’d leave. But then, his voice became more commanding, “Open the door, or I’ll break it down.”
Panic set in. I pressed myself against the wall, clutching the bat tighter. He wouldn’t actually break the door, would he?
The sound of the lock snapping answered my question. My knees almost gave out as the door swung open, and there he stood. Ryan, in all his infuriating, terrifying, breathtaking presence.
When his eyes landed on the baseball bat in my hands, he smirked. The audacity. He actually laughed, a low, amused chuckle that made my cheeks burn with embarrassment. “A baseball bat, Aurora? Really?”
I raised the bat higher, though my arms trembled. “Don’t come any closer, Ryan! I swear I’ll-”
“You’ll what?” He stepped inside, shutting the broken door behind him. “Hit me? Come on, Aurora. We both know that won’t work on me.”
His tone wasn’t mocking. It was calm, almost gentle, and that only made me angrier. “You’re not human, Ryan! Nothing about this is normal! You… you can kill me with the snap of your fingers, and I wouldn’t even see it coming!”
His smirk faded, replaced by a somber expression. “Aurora, nothing has changed. I’m still me.”
I let out a bitter laugh, my hands gripping the bat so tightly my knuckles turned white. “Everything has changed! Everything, Ryan! How can you stand there and say that to me? You’re not human. Your fiancee isn’t human. Karen isn’t human. Even Jamie isn’t human! My life… my life is a freaking mystery right now!”
I was shaking by the time I finished, my voice rising with every word. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them back. I couldn’t let him see me cry.
Ryan stepped closer, his movements slow and deliberate, like he was approaching a scared animal. “Aurora,” he said softly, “give me the bat.”
“No,” I whispered, my voice trembling.
“I won’t hurt you,” he said, his tone steady and calm. “You know I won’t.”
Against my better judgment, I froze. Something about his voice, the way he looked at me, made my grip on the bat falter. Before I could react, his hand gently wrapped around mine, and he eased the bat out of my grasp.
He set it aside and reached for my hand, his touch warm and grounding. “Come here,” he said, his voice still soft.
I didn’t resist as he led me to the couch. My legs felt like jelly, and I was too scared to fight him. Deep down, I didn’t believe he would hurt me, not physically, at least. But my mind was still reeling from everything I’d learned, and being so close to him only made it worse.
I sank into the couch, and Ryan sat beside me, his eyes locked on mine. “Aurora,” he began, “I know this is a lot to take in, but I need you to trust me. I won’t let anything happen to you. Ever.”
My voice was barely above a whisper. “How can I trust you when I don’t even know who you really are?”
His jaw tightened, and I saw the flicker of pain in his eyes before he spoke. “You do know me, Aurora. I’m still the same man I was yesterday. The same man who…” He stopped himself, looking away for a moment. “I’m still Ryan. That hasn’t changed.”
I wanted to believe him. I really did. But my fear, my confusion, my anger, they all clouded my judgment. I stared down at my trembling hands, unable to meet his gaze.
“Just… give me time,” I said, my voice cracking. “I need time to process this.”
“You can have all the time you need,” he replied. “But I’m not leaving you, Aurora. Not now, not ever.”
And just like that, the walls I’d tried to build around myself started to crumble.
“I know I talked about taking you to Shadowhaven,” Ryan said, his voice soft but steady, “but I’m going to give you time to trust me before introducing you to the elders and my pack.”
Relief washed over me. “Thank you,” I murmured, my voice almost trembling.
I hesitated for a moment before gathering the courage to ask, “Can I… ask you for something? A favor, maybe?”
Ryan leaned closer, his piercing eyes locking with mine. “Sure,” he said, his voice warm.
As he closed the distance, my breath hitched. God, he was beautiful. It was almost unfair how someone could look like him. For a fleeting moment, a wild thought crossed my mind, a thought I quickly shoved away. I couldn’t. I wouldn’t. But oh, how I wanted to.
Clearing my throat, I forced my thoughts back on track. “Can you… turn into a wolf right now?”
Ryan froze for a second before throwing his head back and laughing, a full, deep, genuine laugh that echoed through the room. It was the first time I’d ever heard him laugh like that, and it left me speechless.
“What’s so funny?” I asked, my cheeks heating with embarrassment. “Never mind, if you can’t do it, just forget I asked.”
He shook his head, still smiling. “No, no, it’s not that. I can. I just didn’t expect you to ask for that.”
“Okay,” I said, crossing my arms. “Can you do it or not?”
“Do you want to see a full transformation,” he teased, “or just half?”
I bit my lip, thinking it over. “Half,” I said cautiously. “I think I can handle half… for now.”
Ryan chuckled again, the sound softer this time. “Alright, little one. Are you ready?”
“Yes,” I said quickly, but as he stood, I found myself instinctively backing up toward the other couch.
Ryan raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his expression. “Are you scared, little one?”
“No,” I said, even though my voice betrayed me. “Just do it.”
He nodded and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, they were glowing red. My breath caught as I watched claws extend from his hands, his sharp fangs appearing, and his face becoming partially covered in coarse, dark hair.
I slapped my hands over my mouth to stifle the gasp that escaped. My heart was racing as he stepped toward me, but as he did, I instinctively shut my eyes, unable to face the sight any longer.
A few moments passed, and the room grew eerily quiet. Slowly, I opened my eyes to find Ryan standing there, back to normal.
“You’re not ready to see me like that, Aurora,” he said, his voice carrying a tinge of hurt that made my chest tighten.
“I’m sorry,” I said quickly. “I thought I could handle it.”
“Just give me time,” I whispered, my voice soft.
Ryan smiled faintly. “I’ll give you all the time you need,” he said. “But… I want to ask for a favor.”
“Sure,” I replied, my brows furrowing slightly.
He hesitated for a moment, as if carefully choosing his words. “Before you can adjust to everything… to me… I need you to stay close to me.”
I tilted my head, waiting for him to continue.
“Move in with me, Aurora.”