Page 8 of Falling for My Shifter Stranger

My wolf is on edge, protective and bristling at their judgment. She doesn’t understand why they can’t see what I see—the quiet strength in him, the goodness he tries so hard to hide. But I know this isn’t easy for him, being here. Staying. It’s a small miracle he hasn’t bolted yet.

I cross the room, weaving through the cluster of pack members until I’m standing in front of him. He doesn’t notice me at first, too caught up in his own thoughts, but when I place a hand on his arm, he stiffens. His gaze snaps to mine, and fora moment, I see the storm behind his eyes—conflict, hesitation, and something deeper. Something raw.

“Relax,” I say softly, offering him a small smile. “You look like you’re ready to run.”

“Maybe I am,” he mutters, his voice low and rough. His eyes flicker to the crowd, then back to me. “This isn’t exactly my scene.”

“Give it a chance,” I urge, my fingers brushing lightly against his sleeve. “They just need to get to know you. And once they do, they’ll see what I see.”

He huffs a quiet laugh, but it’s bitter, humorless. “And what’s that?”

“A good man,” I say simply. “Someone who belongs here, whether he believes it or not.”

His jaw tightens, his gaze softening just enough to make my chest ache. For a moment, it feels like we’re the only two people in the room, the hum of conversation and laughter fading into the background. The mate bond pulls at me, a tether drawing us closer, and I can feel it in him too—the way his wolf stirs, restless and wanting.

But before either of us can say more, Ryan’s voice cuts through the air like a blade. “Dinner’s ready! Grab a seat before Jenna eats all the bread rolls.”

“I heard that!” Jenna, his human mate, calls back, her laughter breaking some of the tension in the room. She shoots me a wink from across the lodge, but even her warmth can’t fully diffuse the weight of Ryan’s gaze as he looks at Rhys.

I grip Rhys’s hand as we take our seats at the long dining table, the wood polished to a warm shine and adorned with evergreengarlands and flickering candles. The food smells incredible—roasted meats, steaming vegetables, warm bread—but the tension in the air is impossible to ignore. Rhys sits stiffly beside me, his movements measured, his eyes scanning the room like he’s waiting for someone to pounce.

Ryan, seated at the head of the table, doesn’t waste any time. “So,” he says, leaning back in his chair with a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “Rhys, right? You’ve been here a few days now. What brings you to Whispering Pines pack territory?”

The room falls silent, every pair of eyes turning to Rhys. My wolf growls low in my chest, but I force myself to keep my expression neutral, my hand tightening around Rhys’s under the table.

“Just passing through,” Rhys answers evenly, his voice calm but firm. “Didn’t mean to intrude.”

Ryan’s smile sharpens, his alpha presence pressing down on the room like a weight. “Passing through, huh? And yet, here you are, sitting at my table, getting cozy with my sister.”

“Ryan,” I warn, my voice cutting through the tension like a blade.

“What?” he asks, feigning innocence. “I’m just trying to get to know the guy. Isn’t that what you wanted, Hannah?”

Rhys sets his fork down with deliberate care, his silver-gray eyes meeting Ryan’s head-on. “I don’t want any trouble,” he says, his voice steady but laced with a quiet intensity. “I’m here because your sister asked me to stay. If it’s a problem, I can leave.”

“You’re not going anywhere,” I say firmly, my voice loud enough to draw a few startled glances. “Ryan, back off. Now.”

Ryan’s jaw tightens, his alpha authority bristling in the air. “Hannah, you don’t know anything about this guy. For all we know, he could be—”

“Enough!” I push back my chair, standing so fast it scrapes against the floor. “Rhys is my guest, and I will not stand here and let you treat him like some kind of criminal. He’s done nothing to deserve this.”

Ryan stands too, towering over me, but I don’t back down. My wolf surges forward, protective and fierce, and for once, I let her. “I’m your alpha,” he says, his voice low and dangerous. “And your brother. I have every right to protect you.”

“I don’t need protecting,” I snap, my voice steady even as my heart pounds. “Not from him.”

The tension crackles, the air thick with unspoken challenges. Finally, Jenna places a calming hand on Ryan’s arm. “Ryan,” she says softly, her voice a balm against the storm. “Sit down. This isn’t the time or place.”

Ryan glances at her, his expression softening just enough for him to back down. With a frustrated growl, he drops into his chair, and the room slowly comes back to life, conversations resuming in hushed tones.

I don’t sit back down. Instead, I turn to Rhys, who looks like he’s barely holding himself together. “Come on,” I say, tugging on his hand. “Let’s get out of here.”

He doesn’t argue, following me out of the lodge and into the crisp, quiet night. Snow crunches under our boots as I lead him into the woods, the cold air biting at my cheeks. We don’t stop until we’re far from the lodge, the murmurs of the pack fading into silence.

“I’m sorry,” I say, turning to face him, my voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling inside me. “That was completely out of line.”

“You don’t have to apologize,” he says quietly, his tone wrapped in a kind of weary detachment that makes my heart ache. “He’s just doing what he thinks is best.”

“That doesn’t make it okay,” I insist, stepping closer. “You don’t deserve to be treated like that.”

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