Page 12 of Falling for My Shifter Stranger

Ryan crosses his arms as he leans back against the wall, his posture guarded but not hostile. “What’s on your mind, Rhys?”

I take a deep breath, the words I’ve been rehearsing tumbling over themselves in my head. For a moment, I’m tempted to retreat to the safety of silence, but then I think of Hannah—her unwavering belief in me, her fierce determination to make me feel like I belong. I owe her this. More than that, I owe it to myself.

“I wanted to explain,” I begin, my voice low but steady. “About my past. About why I’m here.”

His expression doesn’t change, but he gestures for me to continue, so I do. Slowly, haltingly at first, I recount the story I’ve kept buried for so long—the betrayal, the false accusations, the exile. I tell him about the time I spent wandering, about the bitterness and loneliness that hardened me into someone Ibarely recognized. And then I tell him about Hannah, about how meeting her changed everything.

“She’s my mate,” I say, the words coming easier now, bolstered by the truth of them. “And I know I don’t deserve her, but I’m going to spend the rest of my life proving that I do. I love her, Ryan. I just need you to know that.”

For a long moment, he says nothing, his gaze heavy and unreadable. The silence stretches, and my wolf stirs uneasily, but I hold my ground. Finally, Ryan exhales, running a hand through his hair.

“You’ve been through hell, Rhys. I can see that. And I’ll admit, I’ve been hard on you—probably harder than I needed to be.” He straightens, stepping forward until we’re eye to eye. “But Hannah’s happiness means everything to me. If she believes in you, then I’m willing to give you a chance.”

Relief floods through me, so intense it nearly knocks me off balance. “Thank you,” I manage, my voice rough with emotion. “I won’t let you—or her—down.”

Ryan offers a small, grudging smile, clapping me on the shoulder. “Welcome to the pack, Rhys.”

The words settle deep in my chest, a warmth spreading through me that I didn’t know I was capable of feeling. For the first time in years, I feel something dangerously close to hope.

???

The rest of the day passes in a blur of preparations for the Christmas celebration. By the time night falls, the pack house is alive with the glow of twinkling lights and the rich scent of pineand cinnamon. The pack gathers around the massive tree in the living room, their laughter and chatter filling the space as they settle in with mugs of hot cocoa, boxes of craft supplies, and armfuls of ribbons and glitter.

Hannah stands by my side, her hand resting on my arm as she surveys the scene with a glowing smile. “This is my favorite part of the holidays,” she says, her voice soft with nostalgia. “Making ornaments together—it’s like everyone brings a piece of themselves to the tree.”

I glance down at her, my chest tightening with a warmth I’m still not used to. “It’s… nice,” I admit, the words feeling inadequate to capture the sense of belonging that’s been slowly taking root in me.

She grins, nudging me playfully. “You’re part of it now, you know. Part of us.”

Hannah steps forward and grabs a small wooden ornament from the pile of supplies on the table. She hands it to me along with some paint and brushes, her eyes alight with mischief. “Here. I want to see what you come up with.”

I stare at the blank ornament, a little unsure. “I don’t think I’ve done this since I was a kid.”

“Perfect,” she says with a laugh. “It’s not about being perfect—it’s about having fun.”

Around us, the pack is fully immersed in the activity. A group of kids giggles as they cover themselves—and the table—in glitter, while one of the older wolves carefully carves intricate patterns into a wooden snowflake. Every ornament feels unique, a piece of each pack member’s personality coming through in the shapes and colors.

Hannah’s hands move deftly as she paints a tiny wolf howling at a crescent moon on her ornament. She catches me watching her and raises an eyebrow. “What? Don’t tell me the big bad lone wolf is intimidated by a little arts and crafts.”

I smirk, dipping my brush into the paint. “I think I’ll manage.”

By the time I’m finished, my ornament—a simple, black wolf silhouette against a snowy background—doesn’t look half bad. Hannah beams when I show it to her, her approval sending a rush of pride through me that I hadn’t expected.

“It’s perfect,” she says, squeezing my hand. “We’ll hang it front and center.”

The ceremony begins once everyone’s ornaments are complete, each member stepping forward to add theirs to the tree. When it’s my turn, I hesitate for a moment, the weight of what this represents pressing down on me. But then Hannah’s hand slips into mine, her touch grounding me, and I step forward to hang my ornament near the top of the tree.

The soft glow of the bulbs illuminates the room as the pack bursts into cheers and applause. Ryan steps forward, his voice carrying over the crowd as he officially welcomes me into the pack, introducing me as Hannah’s mate. The room erupts into a chorus of congratulations, and though I feel the familiar tug of discomfort at the attention, it’s tempered by the warmth of the pack’s acceptance.

Hannah leans close, her voice a soft murmur meant only for me. “See? You belong here.”

And for the first time in years, I believe her.

Later, as the celebration winds down, Hannah pulls me away from the crowd, leading me upstairs to her room. The momentthe door closes behind us, the air between us changes, charged with a quiet intensity.

Moonlight filters in through the window, bathing her skin in an ethereal glow that makes her look like a goddess. I drink in the sight of her, my gaze tracing the curves and contours of her body, pausing on the swell of her breasts, the dip of her waist, and the flare of her hips. She's breathtaking, a vision of radiant beauty that steals the breath from my lungs.

She steps closer, her hands finding their way to my chest as she looks up at me, her amber eyes shining with a mix of love and desire. “You did it,” she murmurs, her voice soft but filled with pride. “You faced your past. You’re here. With me.”

---