Scarred by Moonlight

Chapter 16: Momo and Okarun

The clang of the dungeon door echoed in the empty corridor as Ryker stepped out into the night air. His body was sore, his mind exhausted from a day full of tension and stress. The rogue threat had been dealt with, but the weight of everything—Olrun, the pack, Ashley—was starting to crush him. Usually, after days like this, Ryker would have welcomed the solace of his bed, where Ashley would be waiting for him with her usual comfort. Hers was the only scent allowed in his sheets, but it had been so long since she'd come over that it was fading. Dammit he missed his waifu.

His thoughts drifted to her, the image of her in her purple and black fuzzy pajamas, her silk bonnet perched on her head like it was some kind of crown. That stupid Jujutsu Kaisen tee shirt with Gojo Satoru on it, her so-called “husbando,” always made him roll his eyes. But tonight, the thought of her in that outfit made him smile. He imagined her lounging next to him on the couch, raving about Straw Hat Luffy’s latest antics, her loud voice filling the room. Or watching her dance across the kitchen, singing Megan the Stallion lyrics as she made snacks for them. Dammit he missed her!

But that was before their fight. That was before everything went to hell. Before he broke the only good thing in his world.

Freki, his wolf, growled softly inside his chest. "You haven't seen her, Ryker. You know you want to. If you don’t go see her, I’m going to start humming ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ until you lose your mind. The choice is yours. You go get our oktaku or I Rick Roll your ass into the nut house."

Ryker sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Don’t threaten me, man. She's never forgiving us." Freki was relentless, and Ryker knew the wolf meant business. Lately, his wolf had become obsessed with Ashley. Freki was in love with her, and every moment they spent apart was a stab to his pride.

Ryker couldn’t blame him. Ashley was amazing, and they had something special, even if he’d messed it up. She was smart, funny, and the most beautiful nerd that he'd ever met, and he'd hurt her. Freki resented him for that. And honestly, Ryker didn’t blame him either.

Olrun’s words echoed in his mind. “Ry, maybe... go see your mate, man.”

Was it that obvious? Did everyone know how much he missed her? He thought he could drown the feeling in random women, but the bed had never felt more empty. His nights had become a revolving door of faces he didn’t care about. He didn’t want them.

He wanted Ashley—her sassy attitude, the way she’d curse at the TV when Luffy was distracted for the hundredth time, her rants about how she’d be dead of old age before One Piece ever ended.

Freki’s growl rumbled again, insistent and impatient. "If you bring anyone else into your bed tonight, I swear to the gods I will force you to shift and bite the b***h. You’ll never want to be near another woman again."

The thought of it made Ryker shudder. His wolf was serious, and it wasn’t the first time Freki had threatened to take matters into his own hands. With a sigh, Ryker gave in. Without realizing it, his feet were already carrying him toward Ashley’s door. He could smell her—vanilla and peaches, a scent that made his heart thud in his chest. Gods, she tasted as good as she smelled too. Ryker could practically hear her soft moans echoing in his ears. Hers were always different, like the first rays of golden sunshine breaking through after a storm.

Before he could knock, Freki’s growl was there again, stronger this time, urging him forward. "The hell are you waiting for? She's in there! Knock, you clown."

He knocked. Softly at first. No response.

He knocked again, this time louder.

Still nothing.

With a sly grin, Ryker pressed his ear against the door and smirked when he heard the upbeat opening theme of Dan Da Dan. The anime they always watched together on Thursdays. She was still watching it without him. She was so stubborn. Gods, he loved her.

“Oh my God!” he shouted dramatically. “You’re watching Dan Da Dan! Without me! Is nothing sacred, Ashley?!”

Inside, he heard a muffled groan. “Ryker, you’re gonna disturb my neighbors,” came her voice, laced with annoyance.

Ryker grinned wider. “I’ll disturb everyone in the building if I have to,” he teased, his voice light but carrying an edge. “Let me in, or I’m going to start googling spoilers.”

Ashley didn’t answer, but Ryker could hear the faint sound of her shifting inside. He grinned. He had her now.

YouI wouldn’t dare,” she called back, her voice filled with defiance.

“Oh, I will!” he shouted. "In the next episode, Turbo Granny—”

Ashley flung open the door, her face flushed with irritation, but Ryker couldn’t help but admire her. There she was, wearing her Gojo Satoru tee shirt, the one she always claimed was her ‘husbando,’ paired with those ridiculous purple and black fuzzy pajamas. The sight made his heart thump faster. A f*****g masterpiece.

“Really?” she snapped, hands on her hips. “You’re gonna spoil it just like that? I hate you.”

Ryker stood there, towering over her, unable to stop the smile tugging at his lips. “I missed you,” he admitted softly, his voice surprisingly vulnerable.

Ashley folded her arms, not looking at him. “You’ve got a funny way of showing it.”

His heart sank. “Ashley, please. Let’s talk.”

She glanced up at him, her gaze cool but not cold. “I’m seeing someone else now, Ryker.”

Her words hit him like a punch to the gut. He opened his mouth, but a growl spilled from his lips before he could speak, “Hard to date a dead man. What's his name? I'll introduce his colon to my steel toes.”

Ashley laughed, her beautiful, bold laughter. Ryker was pissed but he loved that sound, even if she was taunting him. “What?” she cooed. “You can’t handle a taste of your own medicine?”

The tension hung thick between them, but Ryker took a step closer. “I can’t, Ashley. You’re right. I'm so f*****g sorry. But I’ll do anything to fix this. Punish me, scream at me, whatever it takes. But I’m begging you. I’ve been a f*****g i***t, and I know it.”

He dropped to one knee, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll buy you flowers every damn week. I’ll give you full access to my phone. I’ll shout my love from the top of the packhouse if that’s what it takes. Just… please forgive me. I'm dying without you, baby.”

Ashley stood still, her face unreadable. “You’ll have to earn it, Ryker. I won’t just take you back because you say you’re sorry. You mess up again, I hear even a rumor about you sleeping around—”

“I swear on everything that I won’t,” Ryker interrupted, his voice firm and full of resolve. “I won’t even look at another woman. I’ll make Grayson look like a damn amateur when it comes to devotion. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Ashley narrowed her eyes at him, "Whatever it takes? So if I wanted to move into the Beta penthouse and redecorate?"

Ryker grows her hips and buried his face in her stomach. "I'm give you the black card and have movers here get your s**t tomorrow morning." He looked up into her eyes. "Baby I'll let you paint my bedroom Gojo blue if you want. Just please forgive my dumb ass."

A slow smile curled at the corners of Ashley’s mouth. “Then I guess I’ll have to see if you can live up to that promise.” She stepped aside, opening the door fully. “Did you watch last week’s episode?” she asked, a mischievous glint in her eye.

Ryker couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face. “I’m ready to watch it with you.” He stood, scooping her into his arms and carried her inside as she giggled.

The door closed softly behind him, but this time, it felt like a new beginning.