Chapter Sixteen

Ryan’s Pov

The drive back home was quiet, but my thoughts were anything but. Dropping Aurora off had left a strange ache in my chest, one I couldn’t shake even as the city lights blurred past. There was something about her, the way she carried herself despite her evident struggles, her resolve to work hard, her vulnerability…it was unsettling in a way I couldn’t quite define.

I arrived at Shadowhaven in no time. When I arrived home, Micah and his wife, Uncle Elliot, were present and were waiting for me in the living room. Their warm smiles were a welcome sight after a long day. Micah’s laughter filled the air as he pulled me into a tight embrace.

“Ryan, it’s been too long!” he said, his voice filled with genuine affection.

“Too long indeed,” I replied, the corners of my lips twitching into a small smile.

We caught up briefly in the living room before I excused myself to shower because it was indeed a long day. The hot water was a relief, washing away the tension that clung to me like a second skin. But no amount of scrubbing could remove the memory of today, the way Aurora’s scent had overwhelmed my senses, the way her mere presence had stirred something primal in me. Everything about her was driving me insane.

I dried off and changed into something comfortable before heading downstairs to join the others for dinner. Uncle Elliot had outdone himself as usual; the table was laden with an assortment of dishes, each one smelling better than the last.

As we ate, Micah turned to me with a curious expression. “So, where’s Karen? Haven’t seen her around.”

Before I could answer, Elliot chimed in. “She’s staying with her friend Olivia for a while. Said she needed a change of scenery.”

I nodded, keeping my face neutral, but inside, a familiar guilt began to gnaw at me. Karen’s absence wasn’t just about needing a change of scenery. I knew that much. I had pushed her away, hurt her in ways I couldn’t justify. And now, even the mention of her name felt like a sharp jab to my conscience. But still, she deserved better.

*****

We talked about other things and I was glad that it served as a distraction from thinking about Aurora.

After dinner, Elliot and Micah retired to the study for a private conversation. Micah had always been a storyteller, and I could hear snippets of his voice recounting tales from his town as I made my way back to my room. I didn't have the strength to join them.

“Make yourself at home,” I had told him earlier, and he’d grinned, promising we’d catch up properly later. For now, I needed solitude.

The door to my room closed with a soft click, and I exhaled deeply. The day’s events played over and over in my mind like a broken record. Just one day in Aurora’s presence, and I’d almost lost control. How was I supposed to survive the rest of the week, let alone longer?

Thirty minutes passed in relative silence before a soft knock interrupted my thoughts. I frowned, wondering who it could be. “Come in,” I called, my voice clipped.

The door opened, and Olivia stepped inside. She was dressed in a silk robe that barely reached her knees, her hair tumbling over her shoulders. I raised an eyebrow, my instincts immediately on high alert.

“Olivia,” I said evenly, leaning back against my desk. “What brings you here?”

She offered a small smile, stepping further into the room. “Nothing much. I just thought it’d be nice to get to know you better. You’re Micah’s friend, and I figured we should be familiar with each other.”

I crossed my arms, my eyes narrowing slightly. “We’re familiar enough, don’t you think? You’re his wife. That’s all the familiarity needed.”

Her smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. “Of course,” she said lightly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “I just thought... you know, it wouldn’t hurt to talk.”

Her words trailed off, and an uncomfortable silence settled between us. I waited for her to continue, but she didn’t. Instead, she stood there, shifting her weight slightly, her movements deliberate. It wasn’t just her words that were off, her body language spoke volumes.

My eyes flicked to her robe, noticing for the first time how loosely it was tied. The neckline dipped low enough to reveal more than it should have, and I couldn’t ignore the way she was inching closer.

“Olivia,” I said slowly, my tone carrying a warning.

But she ignored it. Her gaze met mine, a boldness sparking in her eyes as she took another step forward.

“What are you trying to do?” I asked, my voice low and steady, though my wolf stirred uneasily within me.

She didn’t answer. Instead, her hand lifted, reaching toward me as she closed the gap between us, her lips parting slightly as though preparing to…The air grew thick with tension, and every instinct in me screamed to put an end to this.

Before she could make contact, I grabbed her wrist, firm but not enough to hurt her. My wolf surged forward, furious and territorial, and for a moment, I couldn’t hold him back. My eyes burned as they shifted, glowing a vivid golden hue that illuminated the dim room.

“Stop,” I growled, my voice no longer my own.

Olivia froze, her wide eyes betraying her fear, but the fear wasn’t enough to mask the desperation. I stood, towering over her, and she sank to her knees, trembling.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “I’m so sorry. Please, Alpha Ryan. Forgive me.”

Her repeated apologies grated against my ears, but they weren’t enough to cool the storm raging inside me.

“Get up,” I commanded, yanking her up by her arm. She stumbled but quickly adjusted, her head bowed in shame. “Cover yourself properly,” I barked, gesturing to her disheveled robe.

With one sharp motion, I opened the door and all but dragged her out into the hallway. “Micah!” I roared, my voice echoing through the house like thunder.

Moments later, Micah came running, his face pale. Uncle Elliot followed closely behind, his expression a mixture of confusion and concern.

“What happened?” Micah asked, his eyes darting between me and Olivia, who was now sobbing uncontrollably.

I didn’t answer immediately. Instead, I looked at Olivia, who clutched her robe tightly around her, tears streaming down her face. “Explain to your husband,” I said coldly.

Olivia fell to her knees again, clutching at Micah’s pants. “I’m so sorry,” she cried. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done it.”

Micah’s face turned an ashen gray, and he looked up at me, horrified. “Alpha Ryan, I….”

“She tried to seduce me,” I interrupted, my tone sharp enough to cut through steel.

Sensing that he wasn’t shocked, I asked, “Don't tell me you were the one that sent your wife into my room like that?”

Micah stammered, his words tumbling over one another in a chaotic mess of apologies. “I didn’t want her to….I mean, I told her to, but not for that! Alpha Ryan, please, let me explain!”

“For what possible reason would you tell your wife to come and seduce me?” I demanded, my voice rising.

Micah looked like he wanted to shrink into the floor. “We… we wanted a child,” he finally admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

I blinked, my rage momentarily replaced by confusion. “A child?”

“Yes,” Micah said, his hands shaking. “We’ve been trying for years, Ryan. Years. But nothing worked. We went to the witches for help, and they told us they could make it happen, but…”

“But what?” I snapped.

“They said they needed a strand of your hair,” Micah said, his voice breaking. “A fresh one, directly from your head. They said it was the final piece of the ritual.”

My blood boiled, and I clenched my fists to keep from losing control. “You thought this was the way to get it?”

“I didn’t want to do it this way!” Micah Exclaimed, his voice pleading. “I didn’t think you’d agree if I asked. Ryan, I’m sorry. We’re desperate.”

“Desperate enough to betray me?” My words dripped with venom, and Micah flinched.

“You know we and the witches are enemies, but still, you tried to do this?”

Elliot stepped forward, placing a calming hand on my shoulder. “Ryan,” he said gently, “breathe. You need to calm down.”

I wanted to argue, to let my rage burn unchecked, but Elliot’s steady gaze reminded me of who I was or at least who I was supposed to be.

I took a deep breath, forcing the anger to the back of my mind. “This is beyond unacceptable,” I said, my voice quieter but no less firm. “You’ve broken my trust, Micah. You and your wife both.”

Olivia sobbed harder, and Micah knelt beside her, his head bowed. “I know,” he said. “I know, and I’ll do anything to make it right. Please, Ryan. Forgive us.”

I didn’t answer immediately. My wolf growled low in my chest, urging me to unleash the fury I was barely holding back. But Elliot’s hand was still on my shoulder, grounding me.

“We’ll talk about this later,” I finally said, my tone final. “Right now, get out of my sight. Both of you.”

Micah nodded quickly, helping Olivia to her feet. They disappeared down the hall, leaving me standing there with Elliot.

“You handled that better than I expected,” Elliot said after a moment.

I shot him a glare but said nothing, retreating to my room and slamming the door behind me.