Chapter 6

Rhys

The moon hung low over the forest, casting a silver glow on the snow-covered ground. I stood at the edge of the clearing, my wolf restless beneath my skin, claws itching for release. Around me, the Thorne pack gathered, their wolves brushing against one another in easy camaraderie. Their energy was infectious, a palpable current running through the group. My chest tightened as I watched them, that hollow ache of longing creeping back in. This wasn’t my place. This wasn’t my pack.

And yet, my wolf didn’t seem to care. He paced inside me, eager, drawn to the vibrant energy swirling around us—drawn to her.

Hannah padded up beside me, her golden-brown wolf a stark contrast to the black expanse of mine. Her amber eyes gleamed in the moonlight, playful, determined. She nudged me with her nose, a soft, insistent push that said everything she didn’t need words for.

Come on. Run with me.

I huffed, shaking my head, the weight of my past holding me back like a chain around my neck. My wolf wanted to follow her, but I took a step away. She didn’t let up. Her tail wagged, and she yipped playfully, her warmth chipping away at the cold wall I’d built around myself.

Before I could second-guess myself, I let the shift take over. My wolf surged forward, muscles stretching and fur bristling as he shook out the tension in my limbs. Hannah shifted beside me, her wolf brushing against mine, and the connection between us hummed, deep and undeniable.

Then she took off, a golden streak through the snow, her tail flicking like a dare. My wolf didn’t hesitate. I bounded after her, the forest blurring around us as the ground rushed beneath my paws. The cold air bit at my fur, sharp and invigorating, and for the first time in years, I felt… free.

The pack moved as one, a seamless rhythm of bodies and energy coursing through the trees. My wolf found his place among them, his usual wariness replaced by something lighter, something that felt dangerously close to joy. Hannah stayed close, her wolf darting in and out of my periphery, always there, always pulling me forward.

When she glanced back at me, her amber eyes sparkling with mischief, my chest tightened with something I couldn’t name. The bond between us hummed louder than ever, a pull I couldn’t resist, and for a moment, I let myself give in to it. To her.

We wove through the snow-dusted forest, our wolves moving as one. Her sleek form darted ahead, playful and nimble, while I stayed close behind, matching her pace with ease. The crisp winter air bit at my fur, but it only invigorated me further. She glanced over her shoulder, her movements teasing and light, daring me to catch her. I surged forward, the thrill of the chase sparking something primal and fierce within me.

The trees blurred around us as we bounded over fallen logs and scattered soft powder beneath our paws. The world felt distant, reduced to the rhythm of our run, the bond between us, and the quiet understanding that lingered in every shared glance.

By the time we circled back to the lodge, my wolf was exhilarated, his usual guardedness momentarily forgotten. The pack shifted back to their human forms, their laughter and chatter filling the air as they shook off the snow and headed inside. I lingered on the edge, slower to follow. The joy of the run was already fading, replaced by the familiar weight of uncertainty.

Inside the lodge, the warmth wrapped around me, but it didn’t reach the cold knot forming in my chest. The pack gathered around the hearth, voices rising and overlapping in a symphony of camaraderie. It was too much—the easy laughter, the sense of belonging. It was too good. And I didn’t deserve any of it.

I stayed near the door, half-listening to the conversations, until a familiar voice cut through the noise.

“You need to be careful with him, Hannah,” Ryan said, his tone low but firm. He was standing near the fire, his back to me, but his words were clear. “We don’t know anything about his past. About what he’s running from. Is he really good enough for you?”

“I understand why you’re worried,” Hannah began, her voice calm but resolute.

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 with every 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.