Aurora’s Pov
I was left alone in Ryan’s room because he had a meeting with Karen, Karen’s parents, and Nara. I felt nervous, though I had no idea why.
I wonder what they are talking about.
“Are you still here with us?” Leila asked.
I totally forgot I was with them. They had been keeping me company while Ryan went about his business, and I was grateful for that.
“Yes, of course, I’m here,” I told her.
“What did I say last?” she asked.
Uh-oh.
“Okay, you got me. I wasn’t paying attention.”
“Why?” Mira asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Is something bothering you?” Leila added.
I smiled at their concern. I was really lucky to have made such caring friends.
“I’m fine,” I said, offering them a reassuring smile.
“Can I ask you guys something?”
“Sure!!!” they said together, way too excited for a question I hadn’t even asked yet.
“What do you think I should get for Ryan on his birthday? It’s in five days,” I asked.
“You’re already the best present he could ask for,” Leila said, grinning so widely that if I smiled like that, my cheeks would definitely cramp.
“Look at that body, best present ever,” Mira said.
“We’ve never actually…”
“No way! Don’t tell me you guys haven’t slept together yet!” Mira gasped dramatically.
I felt my cheeks heat up instantly. I knew this was not the kind of conversation I should be having, but I also didn’t start it, so technically, I wasn’t responsible for stopping it either.
“No, we haven’t,” I admitted.
“Then it’s settled! Do you think you’re ready to do it?” Mira asked, leaning way too close to my face.
“Wait, how old are you guys?” I laughed, trying to deflect.
“I’m 18,” Leila said proudly.
“I’m 17. I’ll be 18 in three months,” Mira added.
“That works. Have you guys ever tried it before?” I asked.
“No, no, no!” They both shook their heads aggressively.
“Wait, you’ve never tried it with anyone? Even when you are human?” Mira asked, looking at me like I was a unicorn.
“No, I haven’t.”
“Perfecttttttttt!” she squealed, practically vibrating with excitement.
“Now we know the perfect birthday gift! You’ll throw him a small party, and we’ll get Elder Elliot to help arrange it,” Leila suggested.
“And I know the perfect cake flavor for him!” Mira added.
Their excitement amused me. I barely knew them, but I already loved them.
“You guys didn’t even ask if I’m ready to do it,” I pointed out, pressing my lips together.
“No need to ask. We already know you are,” Leila smirked, elbowing Mira.
“Of course! We see the way you look at him,” Mira teased.
“I do not look at him in any way,” I tried to argue, but my voice betrayed me.
“We knoooowww…” they sang in unison.
“Okay, okay, fine! You guys might be right. But how do I even start?” I sighed dramatically.
“Drumrolls!!!!” Leila screamed, clapping her hands.
“You’ve come to the right teachers,” Mira declared, rubbing her palms together like some evil mastermind.
“You guys have no experience, so how do you know?” I asked, raising a brow.
They linked arms and grinned. “We just know. Trust us.”
“Now, step one!” Leila announced.
“What is it?” I asked, suddenly nervous.
“You need a killer outfit. Something that will make him fall head over heels for you,” Leila said, pretending to faint dramatically.
“Yes! We must find the perfect fit!” Mira agreed.
I couldn’t stop giggling at them.
“I don’t think I’d do that,” I said softly.
“Oh, you would,” Mira countered with a mischievous grin.
“But are you healed enough?” Leila asked with concern.
“Yes, by six days from now, I’ll be even better,” I assured them.
“Perfect!” Mira clapped her hands.
“We’re sneaking out tomorrow to buy the outfit, without Alpha knowing,” Leila whispered dramatically.
“I don’t think we can get past him,” I pointed out, already picturing Ryan catching us red-handed.
“Don’t worry. We’ll come up with a plan. Trust us!” Mira said confidently.
I was about to argue when the door opened and Ryan walked in.
Leila and Mira shot up from their seats like soldiers standing at attention. I bit my lip to hold in my laughter.
“Alpha,” they greeted with a bow, their voices way too serious.
Leila blinked at me and subtly mouthed, “Tomorrow.” Then, both of them waved goodbye and practically ran out of the room.
Ryan walked straight to me, grabbed my waist, and pulled me up from the bed, locking me in his arms as he placed a soft kiss on my lips.
“Hey, little one. Miss me?” he murmured against my lips.
“Certainly not,” I teased, trying and failing to hide a big smile.
Of course, I missed him, but he didn’t need to know that.
“Really?” He pouted, pretending to be wounded.
“Stop being dramatic,” I laughed.
He leaned in closer, pressing another kiss to my lips.
“What were you guys talking about,” he asked, still holding me tight.
“Girls talk,” I said, as I made a sign that my lips were sealed.
He pulled me closer and closer, like a magnet drawn to metal or in this case, like a wolf drawn to his completely flustered mate.
His eyes roamed up to my hair, and for a second, I wondered if there was something in it. A leaf? A small bird? A secret treasure map?
But before I could ask, he kissed me again.
Oh. Oh wow.
It wasn’t just any kiss, it was the kind that made my toes curl, my brain short-circuit, and my heart do the cha-cha. My hands instinctively clutched his shirt, because let’s be real, my knees were already betraying me.
But just as I was about to melt into a happy puddle, I pulled back, gasping.
And that’s when I noticed it. His eyes. It was glowing red.
Like he was about to transform into something very supernatural, or maybe he was just really into this kiss.
Did I panic? Nope.
I reached up and cupped his cheeks, giving him a small peck. “You look like you just stepped out of a horror movie,” I whispered with a teasing smile.
“And that looks so hot,”
Ryan chuckled, his grip on my waist tightening. “And you look like a little snack.”
Blush level: critical.
Before I could respond or combust, the door suddenly burst open.
“Oh wow,” Karen’s voice dripped with venom. “So here you are, having the time of your life.”
I practically jumped away from Ryan, but before I could fully escape, he grabbed my hand, keeping me close.
Fantastic. Now I looked like a guilty toddler caught stealing cookies.
Karen crossed her arms. “Did he tell you what he did to me? Or was this your plan all along?”
I blinked. “Uh… what?”
Ryan sighed, already looking exhausted. “Karen, leave.”
She ignored him and turned to me, eyes filled with fire. “So he didn’t tell you? Huh.”
Okay, now I was getting annoyed. “Tell me what?”
Karen let out a dramatic huff. “Ryan rejected me. Because of you, Aurora.”
Wait. What?
I frowned. “I’m sorry… what?” When did I become the evil mastermind of this drama? Was there a script I forgot to read?
“You’ll pay for this,” she spat before storming out, slamming the door so hard that even the walls seemed to flinch.
The room was silent for a beat.
My heart was beating too loud, I didn’t know what to say or what to do. Did I cause someone’s heartbreak?
Ryan exhaled, rubbing his temples. “Aurora, don’t blame yourself, we weren’t meant to be together and I told her a long time ago before you came into my life.”
“I just feel like I caused everything,”
“No, it is solely my decision. Not because of you,”
That made me feel a little bit better to know I’m not the cause.
“So… where were we?”
Before I could even process what he meant, he pulled me back into his arms, making my heart go into full gymnastics mode.
I gulped. “Uh… w-we were… um… discussing cake?”
He smirked. “I don’t remember that.”
Well. Neither did I. But at this rate, if I stayed in his arms any longer, I was going to turn into a flustered mess.
And he knew it.
Ryan leaned in, his voice husky. “Admit it, little one. You missed me.”
I scoffed, pretending to be unaffected even though I was two seconds away from combusting. “Certainly not.”
He raised a brow. “Liar.”
I pouted. “Stop being dramatic.”
He chuckled, pulling me even closer. “Make me.”
And then he kissed me again.
Welp. RIP me.