Chapter Fourteen

Ryan’s Pov

I leaned back in my chair, staring at the door as it closed behind her. The soft sound of her retreating footsteps echoed faintly in my ears, but her presence lingered, like a scent that refused to fade. Draven stirred restlessly in my mind, his voice low and insistent.

“She’s different. You feel it too.”

I clenched my jaw, shutting my eyes. Her scent had been overwhelming, soft, delicate, and yet, it tugged at something primal inside me. I couldn’t ignore the way her shy glances had sent an inexplicable warmth through me. It wasn’t like me to be affected, especially not by someone as... fragile as Aurora.

“She’s human,” I reminded him silently, hoping to silence the wolf.

“So what?” Draven snapped back. “She belongs to us. You know it as much as I do.”

The thought unsettled me. If she was meant to be mine, she would feel it too. But Aurora’s demeanor was all wrong…she was nervous, scared even. No recognition, no pull. Just... silence.

I ran a hand through my hair, letting out a frustrated sigh. This wasn’t supposed to happen.

The door creaked open, breaking my thoughts. Caleb strolled in, his usual smug grin plastered across his face.

“Screening her yourself, huh?” he said, leaning casually against the edge of my desk. “Since when do you play mentor?”

I gave him a cold look, but he didn’t take the hint. Caleb never did.

“She’s new,” I said curtly. “Needs guidance.”

Caleb raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by my excuse. “Guidance? You’ve had dozens of assistants before. None of them ever needed ‘guidance.’” He smirked. “So what’s different about this one?”

“She’s inexperienced,” I said, forcing my voice to remain calm. “I don’t trust anyone else to handle her training.”

Caleb’s smirk deepened. “Uh-huh. And it has nothing to do with the way you’ve been staring at her like she’s the last drop of water in a desert?”

I shot him a glare, but my silence only seemed to amuse him more.

“Look,” Caleb said, folding his arms, “I get it. She’s... intriguing. But you’re playing with fire, Ryan. She’s human. This... whatever you’re feeling? It’s not what you think it is.”

“I don’t know what it is,” I admitted reluctantly. Draven growled in disapproval, but I ignored him. “But it’s... overwhelming. I can’t explain it.”

“Maybe because there’s nothing to explain,” Caleb said, his tone more serious now. “She’s not your mate, Ryan. If she were, she’d feel it too. You know that.”

I didn’t respond. The truth in his words stung, but it didn’t ease the storm raging inside me.

“Look,” Caleb continued, “I’m not saying you can’t care about her. But don’t lose yourself chasing something that isn’t real.”

He left after that, leaving me alone with my thoughts. Draven growled softly, his voice laced with defiance.

“She is ours,” he insisted.

But was she?

I didn’t know.

And that terrified me.

****

After Caleb left, I leaned back in my chair, trying to focus on the work in front of me, but it was impossible. Draven’s restless pacing in my mind didn’t help.

“You’re thinking too much,” he growled.

I ignored him, picking up a file and flipping through it aimlessly. The scent of her still lingered, as though she’d left a piece of herself in my office.

It wasn’t long before the door opened again. Caleb walked in, a more serious expression on his face this time.

“I forgot to mention something,” he said, pulling up a chair and sitting down uninvited.

I raised an eyebrow. “What now?”

“I’ll be out for a few days,” he said, leaning back in the chair. “My grandparents sent for me. Apparently, they think I’ve been neglecting them.”

“That’s because you have,” I said dryly, trying to keep the irritation out of my voice.

Caleb chuckled. “Fair point. Anyway, I’ll be leaving tomorrow morning. I should be back by the end of the week.”

“Fine,” I said with a shrug. “I’ll manage without you.”

“Actually, about that...” Caleb hesitated, which was unusual for him. “One of our friends Micah is coming to help out while I’m gone. You remember him, right?”

I frowned, trying to place the name. Micah was a strong warrior, loyal and dependable, but it had been years since I last saw him.

“He’ll be staying here for a few days,” Caleb continued. “He’s bringing his wife along too. Apparently, she insisted on tagging along.”

I sighed, already dreading the chaos Caleb’s absence would bring. “And when were you planning to tell me this?”

“Now,” Caleb said with a grin. “Don’t worry, Micah’s solid. He won’t be a problem.”

“Let’s hope not,” I muttered, pinching the bridge of my nose. “And his wife?”

Caleb shrugged. “I don’t know much about her. But she shouldn’t be an issue.”

“And why exactly are they coming here?” I asked, my tone sharper than I intended. I didn't like to have so much company

“Micah’s been trying to reach you for weeks,” Caleb said, leaning forward. “He wants to discuss some pack matters, but you’ve been... difficult to reach.”

“I’ve been busy,” I said curtly, though I knew it wasn’t entirely true.

Caleb smirked. “Well, now you’ll have to face him. Consider it karma.”

I scowled, but Caleb only laughed as he got to his feet.

“Don’t worry,” he said, heading for the door. “You’ll survive. Try not to scare them off.”

As the door closed behind him, I felt a strange sense of unease settle over me. Draven growled softly, his presence a steady hum in the back of my mind.

“They’re coming,” he said, his tone unreadable.

I didn’t know if that was a warning or a promise.

I buried myself in work. It wasn’t about the money. I had enough of that to last several lifetimes. It was about distraction, keeping my mind from drifting back to her. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get her out of my head.

Draven wasn’t helping either.

“You’re trying too hard to fight it,” he rumbled, his voice a low growl in the back of my mind. “She’s ours. Why can’t you just accept it?”

I didn’t respond, shutting him out as best as I could.

Two hours passed before I even realized it. Her scent hit me first….soft, sweet, and entirely hers. It grew stronger, more intoxicating, as she approached my office door. I knew it was her before she even knocked.

“Come in,” I said, my voice steady, though every nerve in my body felt like it was on fire.

The door creaked open, and there she was. Aurora stood in the doorway, stiff and hesitant, as if she were afraid to move.

“You don’t have to stand there like a statue,” I said, motioning to the chair across from me. “Sit down. Make yourself comfortable.”

She walked in slowly, her movements tentative, like she was stepping onto a minefield. When she finally sat down, she kept her hands folded in her lap, her eyes fixed on the edge of my desk.

I leaned back, trying to appear casual, even as her presence was overwhelming me.

“How are you feeling?” I asked, my tone calm but distant. “Are you healing well?”

She nodded quickly, her voice barely above a whisper. “Yes, sir. Thank you for asking.”

“Good,” I said. “You should feel free to speak your mind around me. This job will require you to communicate openly. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir,” she said again, her eyes darting up to meet mine before quickly looking away.

I went on to explain her duties, how to handle my schedule, what information to prioritize, and which matters required my immediate attention. She listened intently, nodding along, her focus unwavering.

But the more I spoke, the harder it became to ignore the pull I felt toward her. Her scent, her presence, it was too much. Draven was restless, pacing and growling, pushing against the barriers I’d tried so hard to keep in place.

“Let me out,” he snarled. “She’s right there. She’s ours.”

I gritted my teeth, my hands clenching into fists under the desk.

“Sir?” Aurora’s voice broke through my internal struggle, and I realized I had stopped talking. She looked at me with concern, her head tilted slightly.

“Leave,” I said abruptly, my voice sharper than I intended.

She blinked, confused. “Sir?”

“Leave,” I repeated, more firmly this time.

She stood quickly, her movements stiff and uncertain. “Yes, sir,” she said, her voice trembling slightly as she turned and walked out.

The moment the door closed behind her, I exhaled a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

“Coward,” Draven growled, but I ignored him.

I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes and willing the tension in my body to dissipate. But even as I tried to regain control, her scent lingered, a constant reminder of what I couldn’t have and what I wasn’t sure I could resist.