Shadows of the moon - Book 2 in the Moonlight series

Chapter 6: A Quiet Step Forward

“So, about that offer for ice cream.” I shrugged, forcing some lightness into my voice. “You like ice cream, right?”

Ryland blinked, his sharp gaze narrowing for a split second like he thought it was a distraction. But then, to my surprise, the storm clouds in his golden eyes cracked, the weight he’d been carrying easing just enough to let something warmer through. Something softer. Boyish, even.

“Uh… yeah,” he said, the words coming out slower than usual, as if I’d caught him completely off guard.

From beside me, Kara choked on a laugh, her sharp features lighting up with wicked amusement. “Wow. That was easy. Ryland, you’re not even trying to hide how whipped you are.”

“Not helping, Kara,” I muttered, though my cheeks flushed with heat.

Ryland, on the other hand, just looked baffled—and maybe a little embarrassed. His hand rose to scratch the back of his neck, his expression caught somewhere between exasperation and disbelief.

Griffin, of course, didn’t miss a beat. He leaned lazily against a nearby tree, crossing his arms over his broad chest. “God, this is nauseating,” he drawled, his tone dripping with mockery. “She’s not even twenty, Ryland. Calm down before you give yourself an aneurysm.”

My patience snapped. I shot Griffin a sharp glare, irritation prickling at the edges of my frayed nerves. “Griffin.”

He smirked, completely unfazed. “What? It’s true. I’m pushing thirty, and watching this is physically painful.”

“Don’t you have somewhere else to be?” I snapped, my voice flat with exasperation.

“Not really,” he replied smoothly, his grin widening like he was enjoying every second of this.

Ryland’s jaw ticked, the tension rippling through his shoulders unmistakable. His golden eyes darkened, and I knew he was seconds away from delivering a scathing retort or, worse, stepping into Griffin’s personal space like the dominant alpha he was.

Before he could escalate things, I looped my arm through his, tugging him gently but firmly. “Let’s go,” I said, keeping my voice steady as I pulled him toward the packhouse. “Before I regret offering you ice cream.”

Ryland resisted for only a moment, his muscles coiled and tense beneath my touch. But then he relented, his shoulders easing slightly as he let me lead him away. The tension in the air lingered behind us like an unfinished storm, but the further we walked, the quieter it felt.

I didn’t look back, but I could feel Griffin’s smirk like a brand on my back and hear Kara’s laughter following us into the night.

The packhouse was quiet when we stepped inside, the heavy walls muffling the celebration outside. The hum of voices and laughter faded into a low murmur, replaced by the soothing stillness of the empty halls. The air here was cooler, stiller, wrapping around me like a blanket I hadn’t realized I needed. I drew in a slow breath, the tension that had been coiling inside me all night easing just slightly.

Ryland followed me in, his presence steady and grounding but careful, like he thought I might bolt if he said the wrong thing. His gaze lingered on me, warm and weighted, tracing every flicker of my expression like he was cataloging it.

“You still want ice cream?” I asked over my shoulder, leading the way to the kitchen. I tried to keep my tone light, but it came out quieter than I intended, the words catching faintly in my throat.

The corner of his mouth twitched, the hint of a smile breaking through his otherwise unreadable face. “Only if you’re joining me.”

I rolled my eyes, but there was no real annoyance behind it. “Fine. But I get the chocolate.”

“That’s not fair,” he said, a teasing lilt softening the gravel in his voice. “What if I want chocolate?”

“Then you should’ve moved faster.”

A quiet laugh rumbled from his chest, low and rich. “You’re something else, you know that?”

I didn’t respond, but my lips twitched faintly. The easy rhythm of the banter settled something in me I hadn’t realized was wound too tight.

I opened the freezer, digging around for the ice cream while Ryland leaned against the opposite counter. His arms crossed loosely over his chest, and even though his posture was relaxed, I could still feel the tension beneath it—his careful watchfulness, the way he was waiting for the moment I’d tell him to leave.

But I didn’t.

When I pulled the tub of chocolate ice cream from the freezer, I grabbed two spoons from the drawer, ready to settle into something easy and mundane. But before I could turn around, I felt him—Ryland, stepping up behind me, his presence washing over me like a wave of heat.

He was close. Too close.

The air around me seemed to thin as his chest brushed lightly against my back, the warmth of him seeping through the thin fabric of my hoodie. His scent—earthy, woodsy, unmistakably him—wrapped around me, making my pulse race. Before I could move, his head dipped, his lips grazing the curve of my ear as his deep, rumbling voice whispered low and intimate, “You’re so beautiful, Scarlett. You don’t even realize it, do you?”

The words hit me like a bolt of lightning, every nerve in my body igniting as his voice lingered, low and rough and full of something I wasn’t ready to name.

My breath caught, my fingers tightening around the cold tub of ice cream as the rest of me burned. “What are you—”

The words barely made it out before he moved. In one smooth, confident motion, his hand slid past mine, plucking the ice cream tub from my grasp while I was still caught in the haze of his words.

I spun around, my pulse pounding in my ears as he stepped back, holding the tub like a prize. “Seriously?” I managed, my voice a mix of disbelief and something unsteady that I couldn’t quite hide.

Ryland smirked, a slow, devastating curve of his lips that only made the fire in my chest burn hotter. “What?” he said, his tone maddeningly casual. “You were distracted.”

“You distracted me,” I shot back, trying to ignore the way my heart was still racing.

“Worked, didn’t it?” His smirk deepened, his golden eyes glinting with amusement—and something darker, something that made my stomach flip.

I lunged for the tub, but Ryland was faster. He shifted it easily out of reach, his long arm lifting it above his head like it weighed nothing.

“Ryland,” I warned, narrowing my eyes as I tried again, only for him to sidestep effortlessly, the tub still firmly in his grasp.

“You really want this back?” he teased, his voice dropping slightly, the heat in his tone unmistakable.

“Yes,” I said through clenched teeth, glaring up at him.

His grin widened, and before I could react, his free arm looped effortlessly around my waist. The world tilted as he lifted me off the ground like I weighed nothing, holding me securely against him. My hands flew to his shoulders instinctively, my breath catching as I found myself eye level with him, suspended in his hold.

“Ryland!” I gasped, my voice caught somewhere between outrage and something dangerously close to laughter.

“Careful,” he murmured, his voice low and velvety, sending a shiver down my spine. “You don’t want to spill your precious ice cream.”

Before I could respond, he turned and set me down on the counter in one smooth motion, the cold surface pressing against the backs of my thighs as I blinked up at him in stunned silence.

But he didn’t step back.

He leaned in instead, one hand braced on the counter beside me, the other still holding the tub of ice cream. His golden eyes burned as they met mine, his face so close I could feel the heat radiating off his skin. The air between us crackled, alive with the hum of the mate bond, every spark and pulse of it drawing me closer, pulling me under.

Ryland’s gaze dropped to my lips, his voice a whisper, rough and intimate. “You drive me insane, you know that?”

Before I could answer—or even think of an answer—he tilted his head just enough for his lips to brush against mine. Barely. It wasn’t a kiss, not really. Just the faintest, most agonizing touch, like the flicker of a flame.

But it was enough.

Electricity shot through me, sharp and undeniable, lighting up every part of me as my breath hitched. My hands tightened instinctively against his shoulders, and for a second, I thought he might close the distance, might claim my lips fully and let the sparks between us ignite into something I couldn’t control.

But he didn’t.

He pulled back just enough to meet my gaze, his golden eyes glinting with something triumphant, his lips curving into a wicked smile. “Careful, Scarlett,” he murmured, his voice low and teasing as he held out the tub of ice cream. “Wouldn’t want this to melt.”

I stared at him, my pulse thundering in my ears, my skin still buzzing from his touch. My fingers brushed against my lips before I could stop myself, like I was trying to ground myself, trying to convince myself it had really happened.

Ryland’s grin widened, clearly pleased with himself as I snapped out of it. I snatched the ice cream from his hand, glaring at him to cover the heat still burning in my cheeks.

“See?” I said, scooping out a bite with as much dignity as I could muster. I forced a smirk as I raised the spoon to my lips. “You’re not completely selfish.”

Ryland chuckled, low and warm, leaning back against the counter as if he hadn’t just turned my world upside down. “I’ll take that as a compliment,” he said, his voice still laced with amusement. “I like learning about you, you know.”

His words hit deeper than they should’ve, and I felt my cheeks heat again. “Everyone likes ice cream,” I muttered, shoving another bite into my mouth to avoid looking at him.

“Not what I meant,” he replied softly, his tone turning earnest, but he didn’t push it.

His gaze lingered on me, steady and warm, and for once, I didn’t mind the weight of it.

And as I sat there, still trying to recover from the rush of sparks and heat that had just passed between us, I realized I didn’t want to mind it

He chuckled, a sound that warmed the cool stillness of the kitchen. His shoulders eased for the first time in hours, and the tension in his expression softened. “Don’t let me not being selfish get around. I’ve got a reputation to maintain.”

The quiet that followed wasn’t uncomfortable. It wasn’t heavy, either—not like the silence in the woods or the charged tension outside. It was… easy. The kind of quiet I hadn’t felt in a long time with a hint of passion.

Ryland watched me carefully as he took a bite, his gaze steady and unreadable. “You’re different tonight.”

I paused, the spoon halfway to my mouth. “What do you mean?”

He hesitated, his golden eyes narrowing slightly like he was trying to choose his words carefully. “You drag me in here. You didn’t bite just about everyone’s head off again, which is rare. And now you’re actually… here. With me. You’re not running.”

The observation made my chest tighten. I looked down at the ice cream, my stomach twisting faintly. “Maybe I’m tired of running,” I murmured.

Ryland’s expression shifted, the sharp lines of his face softening, but the intensity in his golden eyes only deepened. A slow, devastating smile curved his lips—predatory, teasing, and entirely too knowing.

“Good,” he murmured, his voice dropping to a low, velvety rumble that sent a shiver down my spine. “Because, Scarlett, I’ll never stop chasing you. A wolf doesn’t give up on his prey.”

The words hung in the air between us, warm and electric, wrapping around me like a physical thing. My pulse stuttered, heat rising to my cheeks as his gaze stayed locked on mine, unwavering and full of promise.

My breath caught, and for a second, I couldn’t speak. Couldn’t move. It wasn’t just the words—it was the way he said them, low and deliberate, like he was carving them into the very fabric of the moment. Like a vow.

The words hit me harder than I expected, like they’d slipped past my walls before I could stop them. My pulse fluttered faintly, and I didn’t know how to respond, so I didn’t. I took another bite instead, letting the silence stretch between us again.

After a moment, Ryland sighed, setting his spoon down and leaning forward on the counter, his arms braced against the edge. “I never thought the bond would be like this,” he said softly, his voice quieter now, tinged with something unsteady.

I blinked, glancing up at him. “What do you mean?”

He hesitated, his fingers running through his dark hair, before he looked at me again. “Mates. The bond. It’s not supposed to be this complicated.”

I frowned. “You’re going to have to explain that.”

He let out a quiet laugh, the sound almost self-deprecating. “I’m not great at this, but… mates usually find each other and it’s like—instant. They’re happy. Perfectly in sync, right from the start. They mark each other, and that’s it. It’s supposed to be easy. Natural. Like breathing.”

“Mark each other?” I asked, my voice a little sharper than I intended.

Ryland’s gaze flickered, and he sat up straighter, realizing I didn’t understand. “It’s… a werewolf thing,” he said carefully. “When mates bond, they mark each other. A bite. Here.” He gestured to the curve of his neck, where his pulse thudded beneath his skin. “It’s permanent. A connection. It doesn’t hurt—not in a bad way, anyway.”

My stomach turned faintly, and I swallowed hard. “So that’s what’s supposed to happen? Instantly?”

“Yeah,” he said softly, his gaze locking onto mine. “But with us… it’s different. It’s not easy. And I’m sorry for that.”

“Why are you apologizing?”

His expression softened further, and the sincerity in his voice made something ache deep in my chest. “Because I don’t want you to think I expect something from you. You’ve been through enough, Scarlett. I don’t need you to be perfect. I just want you to feel safe. Even if it takes a lifetime.”

The weight of his words pressed against me, something unsteady shifting inside. He meant it—I could see it in the way he looked at me, in the quiet patience etched into every line of his face.

And for the first time in a long time, I let myself believe him.

“You’re way too serious,” I said finally, pointing my spoon at him to break the tension. “How about you stop talking about werewolf romance rituals and eat more ice cream before it melts?”

He blinked, caught off guard, before a low, surprised laugh escaped him. “You’re unbelievable.”

“Thank you,” I said primly, stealing another bite before he could.

He shook his head, grinning faintly. “You know, I think this is the most you’ve talked to me in months. I’ll take it.”

“Don’t get used to it,” I shot back, though my voice lacked its usual bite.

From the doorway, Kara’s voice cut through the moment. “Oh, this is adorable. You two sharing ice cream like you’re in some cheesy romantic movie.”

Ryland groaned, dropping his head into his hands. “Kara, go away.”

“Scarlett,” Kara said, ignoring him entirely. “Are you going to feed him a spoonful next? Should I start planning the wedding?”

“Out,” I said flatly, though my face burned.

Kara laughed, winking as she disappeared down the hall.

Ryland looked up, his cheeks faintly flushed. “She’s insufferable.”

“She’s not wrong,” Griffin’s voice called from somewhere nearby, his tone dry. “This is nauseating.”

“Why are you still here?” I shouted toward the hall.

Griffin didn’t reply, though I swore I heard his chuckle echo faintly down the corridor.

Ryland groaned again, but when I looked at him, he was smiling. Really smiling, his golden eyes warm and steady.

“What?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

“Nothing,” he said, shaking his head. “I just… I didn’t think tonight would go like this.”

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

His gaze softened, his voice dropping to something almost tender. “It’s a good thing, Scarlett.”

And for once, I believed him.