Page 11 of Falling for My Shifter Stranger

I didn’t wait to hear the rest. My chest tightened, the familiar sting of guilt settling in. Their next words blurred together, lost in the roaring in my ears. All I heard was my own voice, my own doubts, telling me I was a fool to think I could ever have this. Have her.

I didn’t remember leaving the lodge, but suddenly I was back at the cabin, shoving my meager belongings into a bag. My hands shook as I zipped it closed, the ache in my chest growing withevery passing second. This was the right choice. The only choice. I couldn’t stay here. I couldn’t drag her down with me.

But my wolf fought me every step of the way, snarling and pacing in my mind, refusing to leave his mate. He didn’t care about the past or the weight I carried—he only knew that she was ours. And deep down, I understood. I’d never wanted anything, anyone, as much as I wanted Hannah. The thought of walking away from her felt like ripping my soul in two. But I loved her too much to let her get caught in my shadows. She deserved better than the broken man standing here now.

The door slammed open behind me, the sound like a gunshot in the quiet night. I whirled around to see Hannah standing there, her cheeks flushed from the cold, her eyes blazing with anger and hurt. She took one look at the bag in my hand and growled, low and feral.

“What the hell are you doing?” she demanded, her voice shaking with barely contained emotion.

I set the bag down slowly, meeting her gaze. “I’m leaving. It’s for the best.”

“The best for who?” she snapped, stepping closer. “Because it sure as hell isn’t for me.”

“Hannah—”

“No,” she cut me off, her voice rising. “You don’t get to do this. You don’t get to decide what’s best for me or for us. That’s not how this works.”

Her words hit me like a blow, but I forced myself to stand firm. “I’m trying to protect you.”

“From what?” she demanded, her eyes searching mine. “From the pack? From my brother? Or from yourself?”

I didn’t have an answer. I didn’t even know if there was one.

“You’re my mate,” she said, her voice trembling but firm. “I don’t care about your past, Rhys. I don’t care what anyone else thinks. All I care about is you. And if you can’t see that, then you’re the one letting your past win—not me.”

Her words hit me like a thunderclap, shattering the barriers I’d spent years fortifying. The truth in her voice left no room for denial, and the weight of the bond I’d tried so hard to resist pulled me closer to her. I took one step, then another, until the space between us disappeared and her warmth seeped into me.

“You’re right,” I said, my voice rough with emotion. “You’re my mate.” Saying the words out loud made them real in a way I hadn’t been ready to face, but now there was no turning back. “I’m scared, Hannah,” I admitted, my throat tightening. “I don’t know how to do this. How to be… enough.”

Her gaze softened, and she reached up, cupping my face in her hands. “You don’t have to be perfect, Rhys. You just have to be here. With me.”

I closed my eyes, letting her words sink in. She deserved everything—everything I thought I couldn’t give. But I couldn’t let my past define me anymore. She was my mate, my home, my second chance. I wouldn’t fail her. I wouldn’t let the shadows of what I’d been keep me from becoming the man—the wolf—she needed.

When I opened my eyes, she was still there, her expression fierce and unyielding. “I’m not going anywhere,” I said, my voice steady. “Not without you.”

Her smile was radiant, and when she wrapped her arms around me, I knew I’d made the right choice. For her. For us.

For the first time in years, I felt like I’d finally come home.

Chapter 7

Rhys

I stand just outside the door of the Whispering Pines pack house, the cold morning air biting against my skin, but it’s nothing compared to the nerves twisting in my gut. Hannah’s hand is warm in mine, her touch grounding me like it always does, but even that isn’t quite enough to calm the storm inside me. I’ve faced wild predators, harsh winters, and countless miles of solitude, but this moment—walking back into that house and asking to speak with Ryan—feels like the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.

“Hey,” she says softly, tugging on my hand until I meet her gaze. Her amber eyes shimmer with unwavering warmth and determination, like she’s willing me to believe in myself the way she does. “You don’t have to do this alone. I’m right here.”

I nod, swallowing hard. “I know. But this is something I need to do—for us.”

She studies me for a moment, her expression softening as a small smile curves her lips. “Okay. Let’s go.”

Inside, the house is already alive with the low hum of pack life. Wolves mill about, chatting over steaming mugs of coffee, their laughter and easy camaraderie filling the air like a comforting blanket. A few heads turn as we step through the door, andthough the curious glances are less guarded than they were when I first arrived, I still feel the weight of their attention pressing down on me.

Ryan is in the kitchen, a mug in hand and a tired but content look on his face as he talks with one of the pack elders. When he notices us, his expression shifts, his brow furrowing slightly as his gaze flickers between me and Hannah.

“Ryan,” I say, my voice steadier than I expected despite the nerves coiling in my chest. “Can we talk?”

His eyes narrow slightly, but he nods, setting his mug down and leading me into a quieter room off the main hall. Hannah starts to follow, but I stop her with a glance. “I’ve got this,” I tell her, my tone firm but grateful. Though she hesitates, she eventually nods and squeezes my hand before letting me go.

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