ANNA’S POV
The guy didn’t even wait a second longer. He bowed quickly, muttering, “Please, forgive me,” before scurrying off like his life depended on it.
I just stood there, frozen, my brows furrowing. People always did that around Ryan, and even though I was seeing it more than once, it still threw me off every single time. The respect, the fear, the way their whole demeanor changed the moment he appeared, it was as if he was someone much bigger than I really knew. Sure, I knew he was the heir to the family’s business, but now, with what I’d just found out from Dad and Mom, that he was also the future Alpha of the pack, it felt like my entire life had been thrown into some new reality that I wasn’t even sure I was ready for.
Ryan reached for me, but I moved away quickly, refusing his touch, and I walked straight off the dance floor. My chest was tight, my head pounding, and all I wanted was air.
Of course, he followed after me, calling my name, his voice echoing through the hall as if he wasn’t even trying to keep things private.
I scanned the place, desperate for somewhere to hide, and when I saw a group of girls slipping into the ladies‘ restroom, I went straight after them. He wouldn’t dare follow me there. At least, that was what I thought.
I was wrong.
Before I could even push the damn door shut, his foot slid between it, stopping me cold.
“Ryan!” I snapped, my chest rising and falling fast.
He didn’t even look the slightest bit guilty. He grabbed my hand and dragged me right out of, the ladies and into the men’s restroom instead, his grip unshakable.
I ripped my hand free the moment he let go, glaring at him with all the fire I could muster, but he stood there as if my anger didn’t even scratch him. Calm, firm, unbothered. Then, without hesitation, he locked the door behind us, and the sound was making my stomach twist because now it was just us, no one else nowhere to run.
“Why are you avoiding me, Anna?” His voice was low, deep, the same tone I’d heard before when he sounded as if something inside him wasn’t fully human anymore. It was scary, strong, commanding
I tried to push past him, heading for the door, but in one swift move he yanked me back and pinned me there instead, his body caging me against the cold wood. His face was so close to mine, and my heart was pounding so hard I was sure he could feel it.
“Leave me, Ryan!” I shouted, struggling against him, but he didn’t move, didn’t budge an inch. Instead, his eyes locked on mine, sharp and searching, as if he was desperate to understand. “Why are you suddenly avoiding me? What the hell did I do?!”
“What did you do?” My voice broke with disbelief. “You seriously don’t know what you did? You ignored me, Ryan! Three fucking days you left me on read, and then when I finally saw you again, you were on a date with Sophie. Sophie! Your betrothed So yeah, go to her and leave me the hell alone!”
His jaw clenched tight, his eyes flickering with something dark before he exhaled hard. “So that’s why you’ve been avoiding me? Because I left you on read?” He shook his head quickly, almost as if he couldn’t believe what I’d just said, and then his tone shifted, softening in a way that was quite enough to make my knees weak. “Anna. I wasn’t ignoring you. I swear, I wasn’t. I was on a business trip, a really packed one. I barely had time to breathe, let alone touch my phone. I didn’t even realize until later that my iMessage wasn’t coming through. My phone got lost. I had no way to reach you.”
I froze for a second, staring at him, trying to read if he was lying, but then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a brand- new phone, an iPhone 17 Pro Max, as if he was making his point. “I would never leave you hanging on purpose. Never.”
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+25 BONUS
The phone looked real enough. And his tone, God, his tone was so genuine that it made my chest ache. But I wasn’t done, not
yet.
“Then what about Sophie?” I demanded, my voice sharp. “Why did you go on a date with her?”
His jaw ticked again, and he let out a bitter laugh that wasn’t funny at all. “That wasn’t a date. She told me her dad wanted to meet with me, and I thought it was the right time to end things once and for all. I didn’t know it was a setup. a trick. And then you saw me there, and you were pissed, and I get it, I swear I get it, but it wasn’t what you thought, Anna. Not even close.”
My lips parted, but before I could say anything, he reached for my waist, pulling me closer, and his mouth brushed mine so softly it nearly undid me. “I missed you,” he whispered, his breath warm against my lips. “I would never ignore you. Especially not now you have my mark.”
His mouth dropped lower, pressing soft, slow kisses against my collarbone, right where his mark was still burning on my skin. “So fucking beautiful. It looks so good on you.”
I shivered, my body betraying me as a little giggle slipped out.
“Stop, Ryan,” I muttered, trying to push him back, but I was smiling despite myself.
He giggled too, the sound was so boyish, so unlike the heavy tension in the room.
“God, I love your giggles,” he said against my skin, and then his mouth was on mine, kissing me deeply, hungrily, as if he had been starved for me these past days. His hands held me firm, like he was afraid I’d disappear if he let go. “I missed you so much,” he murmured between kisses. “You don’t even know. I couldn’t get you out of my head while I was in those meetings. You were all over me.‘
I let him kiss me, let him pour his desperation into me, but I pushed gently against his chest, breathless. “Not here, Ryan. This is the men’s room.”
His lips lingered over mine, his voice husky, low, as if he was almost begging. “Just a little quickie,” he whispered. “Please, Anna. I’ve missed you so fucking much. I’ll be so fast, I swear.”
