Ryan’s Pov
I was left dumbfounded.
She wants to be in my bed? She wants to have s*x??? I wouldn’t hesitate to take her right now.
But she’s wounded.
“What did you say?” I asked her as I brought my face closer to hers. I heard her heartbeat quicken.
“Nothing,” She answered softly.
“I heard what you said, I just want you to repeat it. What did you say, Aurora?” I asked again.
She just moved her head signaling that she said nothing.
I was calm. Really calm. But my wolf Draven wasn’t, and the little guy in my pants was straining painfully, I just have to be calm.
She shouldn’t have said what she said. Now I’m thinking about all the dirty things I’m gonna do to her when the right time comes.
Damn it Ryan. Focus!
Aurora had gone quiet, just staring at me. Her eyes held something unreadable, a mix of curiosity and something else I couldn’t quite place.
“Why are you staring at me?” I asked.
She blinked, as if she hadn’t realized she had been doing it. “I want to ask you something.”
I let out a small sigh. “You always do. Go ahead. You don’t have to ask for permission.”
“Oh,” she muttered, hesitating for a second. Then, finally, she spoke. “How old are you?”
I raised an eyebrow. “That’s what you want to know?”
She instantly backtracked. “Oh, I’m sorry for asking. If you don’t want to tell me, it’s okay.”
I shook my head, a small smirk forming. “Calm down, Aurora. You really do speak to apologize, don’t you?” I let her fidget for a moment before answering. “I’m twenty-nine. I’ll be thirty in six days.”
Her eyes widened. “Six days?” She looked almost panicked. “And I’m just here, wounded. What am I going to get for you? I…”
“You don’t have to get me anything,” I cut in. “It’s fine.”
She tilted her head, studying me. “So, you’re not worried that you’re quite a bit older than me?”
I chuckled. “Even if you complained about it, I wouldn’t let you go.”
She let out a soft laugh. “You wouldn’t?”
“Not even if I were sixty,” I said, amused by how quickly she was catching on.
Her expression turned thoughtful. “So, how do werewolves celebrate birthdays? Do you guys have some special tradition?”
“I don’t celebrate mine,” I admitted. “Never have. It’s just a happy birthday and then the day moves on. No need for a celebration.”
Her lips pressed together. “Well, we are definitely celebrating this one.”
I shook my head. “You’re wounded, and you need rest. You should sleep.”
She huffed but didn’t argue.
“When you wake up, I’ll introduce you to my uncle.”
She lifted her head slightly. “Your uncle?”
“Yeah. His name is Eliok.”
“Sorry to ask,” she started cautiously, “but is he a werewolf too?”
“Yes.”
She seemed to process that for a moment before asking, “Is he your father’s brother or something?”
“Not really,” I said. “He and my father were best friends before he died. After that, he stayed here. I wanted him to. He’s like a father to me.”
Aurora gave me a small nod, her expression softening.
*****
Aurora’s voice was soft when she asked, “When am I going to meet Selene? The one who saved me?”
I shrugged. “Whenever you want. If you want to meet her now, I can arrange for it.”
Her eyes widened, and she shook her head quickly. “No. I need to take a good bath before meeting anyone.”
I smirked at her reaction. “And how exactly do you plan on bathing?”
She blinked at me, as if realizing she had no idea. “Uh…”
I leaned forward slightly. “I can do it,” I said, teasing.
Her eyes widened in amusement. “Nope.”
I chuckled. “Aurora, it’s nothing.” I made sure my tone was playful, but she still shook her head, crossing her arms like a stubborn child.
“Nope,” she repeated.
“I’ve seen you almost naked,” I reminded her.
I saw her cheeks redden.
“Almost, Ryan, Almost. My answer is still no,” She said as she laughed lightly.
I sighed dramatically. “Fine. The maids will help you. You don’t need to worry.”
She relaxed a little at that, but then I noticed something. Her eyes weren’t meeting mine anymore. Instead, they were fixed lower. On my lips.
It was turning me on. Why is she doing this to me?
She licked hers slowly before saying, “Is it weird if I ask you to kiss me?”
My breath caught for a second, but I quickly recovered. “No, it’s definitely not weird.”
“Then kiss me.”
I didn’t need to be told twice. In a heartbeat, I closed the space between us, capturing her lips hungrily. She tasted like something sweet, strawberry juice, maybe. Her soft scent filled my senses, pulling me in deeper as my fingers tangled in her hair.
I was lost in her. Completely.
Then, I felt her flinch.
I pulled back instantly, my heart hammering. “Did I hurt you?”
She winced slightly but shook her head. “No.”
I searched her eyes, and what I saw there made my body heat up all over again. She wanted me as badly as I wanted her. But I had to wait. She needed to heal first.
Before I could say anything else, a knock sounded at the door.
“The maids,” I told her.
She gave me a confused look. “How did you even send for them? You haven’t stepped out.”
“I mind-linked the head maid,” I said simply.
Her lips parted slightly in awe. “Werewolves are really cool.”
I smirked. “So… does that mean you’re ready for me to watch you change?”
Her face turned red. “No, no, I’m not ready yet!”
I laughed and turned to the door. “Come in.”
The grand doors opened, and three maids stepped inside. They bowed their heads in unison. “Alpha.”
One of them turned to me. “Her bath is ready in the other room, Alpha. We can take her there now.”
I frowned. “No. Prepare the bath here, in my room.”
They exchanged nervous glances, clearly hesitant. That hesitation alone irritated me. Why would they even question me?
I stood up, my expression hardening.
Immediately, they bowed their heads lower. “We’re sorry, Alpha. We’ll prepare it here.”
“Good.”
When I turned back to Aurora, she was smiling softly at me. I sat beside her, taking her hand in mine. She rested her head on my shoulder, and we waited in silence while the maids worked.
It took some time.
Women had the most complicated bathing routines, and honestly, it amazed me. All these different oils and scents, it was unnecessary. But if it was for my little one, then It is nothing.
After a while, I noticed the maids standing off to the side, not saying anything. I arched a brow. “What?”
One of them hesitated before speaking. “We’re done, Alpha. We can take her now.”
I nodded. “Then do it.”
Another maid hesitated. “Alpha, you’re still here. She needs to bathe…”
I tilted my head, my voice turning dangerously calm. “Are you asking me to leave?”
Three of them instantly panicked. “No, Alpha!”
“You can do whatever you need to, but I’m not leaving this room.”
Aurora’s small voice cut through the tension. “Ryan…”
That one word was all it took to soften me.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Fine. I’ll go.”
But I didn’t like it. Not at all.
As I stepped out, irritation bubbled in my chest. Those maids got to see her, but I couldn’t.
Damn it.