Chapter Five

Ryan’s Pov

After I commanded Aurora's boss and his men to leave, my wolf eyes flared momentarily. The group of men who had dared to harm Aurora scurried away in terror, their drunken bravado dissolving into frantic footsteps. I turned my gaze back to Aurora. Her trembling frame collapsed as I reached for her, and she fainted into my arms.

I caught her effortlessly, my strong arms wrapping protectively around her small figure. With gentleness, I scooped her up, cradling her as though she might break.

Caleb, my beta and closest friend, followed swiftly, concern etched into his features.

“What the hell was that?” Caleb hissed, his voice low and urgent. “You showed your wolf side! Do you realize how reckless that was? You risk exposing us all!”

My expression didn’t waver as I carried Aurora towards my car. “They’ll be too drunk or terrified to tell a coherent story. No one will believe them anyway,” I replied coolly, brushing past Caleb.

Caleb’s mouth opened, ready to argue, but he stopped himself. Instead, he trailed behind me, shaking his head. We reached the sleek black SUV parked discreetly in the alley. I gently placed Aurora in the backseat, her pale face peaceful despite the bruises all over her skin.

“She needs medical attention,” I stated, my voice sharp with command. “Call a human doctor. A female. She’s not going anywhere near our people.”

Caleb sighed but pulled out his phone. “Fine. But you're making this more complicated than it needs to be.”

“Just do it,” I snapped, my tone brooking no argument.

As we drove through the city, Caleb glanced at me. I sat in the back, my intense gaze fixed on the unconscious girl beside me.

“You’re staring at her like some deranged stalker,” Caleb muttered. “If she wakes up and sees you like this, she’ll freak out.”

I ignored the comment, my expression unreadable. I kept staring at her and was afraid that she would disappear from my hold.

When we arrived at the penthouse, the doctor was already waiting. She was a sharp, no-nonsense woman in her mid-thirties, her medical bag slung over one shoulder. I ushered her in with minimal pleasantries, my towering presence making the small doctor glance nervously at me.

I laid Aurora down in one of the rooms and waited for the doctor to do her job.

She introduced herself and got right into examining Aurora.

“She has a concussion,” Doctor Shirley said after examining Aurora. “It’s mild, but she’ll need rest. Her bruises will heal in time, but she might experience some discomfort for a few weeks, and as it stands now, she needs new clothes.”

I nodded curtly. “Do whatever you need to ensure her recovery.”

Doctor Shirley gave me a puzzled look but didn’t question my overbearing tone. She began dressing Aurora’s wounds.

I smirked but didn't reply. Instead, I turned to Caleb. “Get her some new clothes. Make sure they're comfortable.”

Caleb raised an eyebrow. “What, you don't trust me to pick something for her?”

“Just do it,” I said, my tone leaving no room for argument.

With a huff, Caleb left, muttering something that wasn't heard. I returned my gaze to Aurora, my gaze softening. She looked so fragile and breakable. My possessive nature flared as I thought about the men who had dared to harm her. They were lucky I didn't kill them on the spot.

In no time, Caleb came back and handed the clothes he brought to the doctor to help change Aurora's torn outfit.

“What’s this?” Doctor Shirley asked, frowning as she pulled out an oversized sweatshirt and a pair of baggy sweatpants. “You bought clothes for a woman, and this is what you picked?”

Caleb flushed under her scrutinizing gaze. “I don’t know her size,” he mumbled. “Besides, I’ve never… you know… bought clothes for a woman before.”

Doctor Shirley shook her head, muttering something under her breath as she placed the clothes on a nearby chair. I, who had been standing silently by the window, glanced at the bag, my jaw tightening. “Next time, Caleb, use your brain,” I said icily, though my eyes softened as they drifted back to Aurora.

Caleb threw up his hands in exasperation. “Fine, next time I’ll call a fashion consultant.”

Doctor Shirley snorted but quickly masked it with a cough. “She’ll be fine,” she reassured us. “Make sure she drinks plenty of fluids and eats nutritious meals when she wakes up. I’ll check on her in a few days.”

“Now you'll have to excuse us. I have to change her clothes now,” Doctor Shirley said to both of us.

The thought of seeing Aurora naked ignited a spark in my body. I quickly turned to another direction.

“Be fast with it, she needs to rest,” I made the statement and left the room with Caleb.

****

After Doctor Shirley was done, I escorted the doctor out, ensuring her swift departure. The moment she was gone, my demeanor shifted. My possessiveness surged as I returned to the room where Aurora lay. Caleb watched me with a mix of curiosity and unease.

“You’re acting strange,” Caleb said cautiously. “She’s just a human.”

My gaze snapped to my beta, my wolf flashing in my eyes. “She’s not just anything,” I growled. “She’s… mine.”

“Remember you have a Luna,” Caleb said as he held up his hands defensively.

I gave him a deadly stare, and he remembered his place.

“Alright, alright. I’ll leave you to your brooding. But we need to talk about the rogues. They’ve been crossing into our territory more frequently. We can’t ignore it.”

My expression hardened. “Double the patrols. Station guards at every entry point into our land. If the rogues persist, capture them. I want to know who’s behind these incursions.”

Caleb nodded. “Consider it done. But you know this won’t stop until we find their leader. They’re testing us.”

My lips curved into a dangerous smile. “Then we’ll show them why testing us is a mistake.”

***

The rest of the evening passed with Caleb organizing the defensive measures while I kept a silent vigil over Aurora. I couldn’t explain the pull I felt towards her. It was primal, consuming, and entirely beyond my control. Every protective instinct within me roared to keep her safe, to claim her as my own. But for now, I would wait. She needed time to heal.

As the moon rose high in the sky, I finally stepped away from my desk. I entered the room where Aurora rested, her chest rising and falling in steady rhythm. For a moment, I simply stood there, my heart pounding in a way that unsettled me. I leaned down, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

“Rest well, little one,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. “We have a long way to go.”