Kia's heart surged as he stepped forward, ignoring Max's warning. Rylan's exhaustion was obvious, but he didn't falter; he didn't push Kia away. Instead, when Kia closed the distance and tentatively reached out, Rylan's wolf stirred—not violent, but alert, primal. His body pressed instinctively closer, nose brushing Kia's neck for a split second, fingers twitching like he wanted to grab but held back.
Kia froze, but he didn't pull away. He trusted, somehow, that this man in front of him—the same boy he had once loved—wouldn't hurt him.
Rylan's chest heaved. His muscles trembled, not just from the fight, but from the flood of emotions threatening to spill over. He looked Kia straight in the eyes—sharp, piercing, but trembling at the edges. His voice was low, rough, but held an undeniable vulnerability:
"Why are you here?"
Kia swallowed, stunned by the combination of power and fragility in Rylan's tone.
"Why now?" Rylan continued, voice quivering just enough to betray the storm inside him. "Why come running when I… when I've changed? When I'm no longer the same boy you broke so easily?"
Kia's own throat tightened. He wanted to reach out, to speak, but he let Rylan have this moment, letting the tension hang between them.
Rylan's wolf shifted again, brushing against Kia like a reminder of what they had once shared—and what lingered beneath the surface, unbroken. His fingers twitched, almost grabbing Kia's hands, almost claiming him, but Rylan stopped himself, clenched his jaw, and let the impulse die.
Finally, he exhaled sharply, his body sagging slightly. Kia stepped closer, placing a careful hand on Rylan's arm. The moment their skin touched, Rylan flinched—but then leaned into it, just enough to betray the longing he had buried for years.
"Because I never stopped loving you," Kia whispered, voice shaking.
Rylan's laugh was harsh, bitter, yet soft at the edges. "Love?" he murmured, almost to himself. "Love nearly killed me."
He tried to push away, to regain control, but his legs wobbled. Kia caught him instinctively, holding him upright. Rylan's body went rigid for a heartbeat, wolf instincts flaring, but then he allowed himself to relax slightly, just enough to press his forehead against Kia's shoulder, breathing in the scent that had haunted him for years.
Max, watching from the doorway, muttered under her breath: "Omo… love is dangerous."
Rylan didn't care. For the first time in years, he allowed himself to be close to Kia, to let some of the storm inside him settle, even if just for a moment. His fists unclenched, his muscles relaxed, and a fragile, raw vulnerability shone through his otherwise intimidating presence.
And Kia held him, steady, desperate to memorize every scar, every tremble, every heartbeat of the man who had been gone from his life far too long.
Author pov
What can I say, love is love, but the heartbreaker does not know what is coming for him 😂. No worries, it is a surprise guys, enjoy😘 🫡