Chapter 3

_Emma's POV_

I couldn't move. I stood frozen in the middle of my apartment, staring at Ryker like he was the biggest mystery I had ever faced. My mind kept trying to understand what I was seeing.

A few days ago, I believed that monsters only existed in stories. They were things people imagined, creatures that belonged in books and movies, not something that could stand in front of me in my own home.

But now one was standing right in front of me. He was the same man who had turned into a wolf and who had taken a life in front of my eyes.

My thoughts were a complete mess. I had so many questions running through my mind but none of them made sense. Every time I looked at Ryker, I remembered the fear I felt when I saw the wolf but I also remembered the way he had protected me. And that confused me more than anything.

"Why are you here?"

My voice came out shakier than I wanted but I didn't care. I needed answers.

Ryker looked at me. His golden eyes were calmer now but somehow that made him even more dangerous.

"I told you."

I stared at him in disbelief. "No, you didn't."

I pointed toward the broken window behind me. "Someone just broke into my home. Someone tried to kill me. And you are standing here acting like this is just another normal night."

His jaw tightened slightly. "It is not normal."

"Then explain it."

The room fell silent. I watched him carefully, waiting for an answer but Ryker said nothing. And his silence told me everything. He knew something. My heart sank as I took a step closer.

"You know who that man was."

For a brief moment, his eyes moved away from mine. Only for a second....but I noticed.

"You do."

His gaze returned to me and there was no point in hiding it anymore.

"Yes."

The answer made my stomach twist. I crossed my arms, trying to hide how nervous I felt.

"Then start talking."

Ryker looked at the man lying on the floor.

"He was a Hunter."

I frowned. "A hunter?"

"Not the kind you are thinking of."

He walked closer to the attacker and looked at the tattoo on his wrist.

"They hunt people like me."

I stared at him. I was trying to process what he had just said. "People like you?"

The room became silent. Then my mind went back to that night. The impossible sight of his body changing into a wolf. My stomach twisted as the truth I had been avoiding finally came out.

"Werewolves."

The word felt strange leaving my mouth. But Ryker didn't deny it. He didn't laugh or tell me that I was crazy. He simply stood there, accepting it. And somehow, that scared me more than anything.

"So they came here because of you?"

His expression changed slightly. "No."

I narrowed my eyes. "Then why?"

For a moment, he said nothing. Then his golden eyes met mine.

"Because you saw something you were never supposed to see."

I froze. The memory rushed back all at once. The sound of bones cracking, the dark fur covering his body and the creature that should not have existed.

"So this is because of you."

My voice became bitter.

"I was living a normal life before I met you."

Ryker didn't answer right away. The silence between us only made my anger grow.

"I knew it."

I shook my head. "Everywhere you go, danger follows."

Something flashed in his eyes. For a moment, I thought that he was hurt by my words. But it disappeared so quickly that I wondered if I had imagined it.

"No. You don't understand."

"Then explain."

Ryker looked at me for a long moment, like he was choosing his words carefully. Then he finally spoke.

"The moment you saw me, you became part of my world."

I didn't know why those words affected me. The way he said them made my heart beat faster. It was not because they sounded sweet or romantic. But it was as if he was warning me. Like stepping into his world meant there was no easy way back.

"I don't want to be part of your world."

His expression softened slightly. "I know."

That answer surprised me. I expected him to argue or tell me that I had no choice. But, instead, he looked almost sad.

"I don't expect you to trust me."

"Good."

The corner of his mouth lifted slightly. "You're very stubborn."

I narrowed my eyes. "Did you just insult me?"

"No."

He looked at me calmly. "I think it's the reason you are still alive."

I opened my mouth to respond but no words came out. Because as much as I hated admitting it....he was right.

My eyes moved to the wound on his side. The same place where he had been bleeding before.

"You are hurt."

Ryker looked down at the injury like he had forgotten it was there.

"It's nothing."

A short laugh escaped me. "Of course you would say that."

His eyes lifted toward mine. "What?"

"You turn into a giant wolf, fight someone, get injured and then you stand here acting like it's just a small scratch."

A small smile appeared on his face. He looked like he was trying not to laugh.

"You are angry."

"Yes, I am angry."

He studied me with a strange expression. "Why?"

The question caught me off guard. I opened my mouth to answer but nothing came out.

Why was I angry?

Was it because he scared me?

Because my normal life had turned into a nightmare?

Or was it because, despite everything, I couldn't ignore the fact that he was hurt?

I hated that I cared. I hated that a part of me was worried about him.

"I don't know," I finally admitted.

He smiled once again. "You worry about me."

Heat rushed to my face and I immediately looked away. "I do not."

"You do."

"I only care because you are standing in my apartment bleeding."

His smile grew slightly. "That is still worrying about me."

I glared at him. I was annoyed by how easily he twisted my words.

"You are impossible."

"And you are adorable when you are angry."

My eyes widened. For a moment, I forgot what I was going to say. Did he really just flirt with me?

"Did you seriously just say that?"

Ryker looked completely calm like he hadn't just made my heart skip.

"Yes."

I stared at him in disbelief.

"You are unbelievable."

"I have been called worse."

For some reason, that almost made me smile. I quickly looked away and forced myself to remember who he was.

He was the man who belonged to a world I knew nothing about.

__________

I reached for my phone. I needed something that made sense in this impossible situation.

"I am calling the police."

Ryker immediately stepped forward. "No."

I stopped and looked at him. "Excuse me?"

His expression remained serious. "They can't help you."

"How do you know?"

His eyes moved toward the broken window and then back to me. "Because they don't know what they are dealing with."

I held my phone tighter. "Maybe I should let them decide that."

Before I could unlock my phone, Ryker reached for my hand. I reacted instantly and pulled away.

"Don't touch me."

The moment I said it, he froze. Then, without arguing or getting angry, he released me immediately.

That surprised me. He could have stopped me. He was stronger and faster than me. But he respected my choice.

"You are afraid of me."

His voice was quiet, almost like he already knew the answer.

I looked at him. "Shouldn't I be?"

For a brief moment, something changed in his golden eyes. It seemed that my words had hurt him.

"I suppose I deserve that."

His answer caught me off guard.

Suddenly, a loud crash came from outside. I jumped at the sound and before I could even react, Ryker moved closer. His entire body became tense. His eyes were focused on the window as if he was listening to something I couldn't hear. He looked like a predator ready to protect its territory.

"What was that?" I whispered.

"Nothing."

I stared at him. "That did not sound like nothing."

His gaze remained fixed on the window for another moment before returning to me. "You need to leave."

I blinked. "Leave?"

"Yes."

I looked at him in disbelief. "With you?"

"Yes."

A nervous laugh escaped me. I couldn't believe that he was serious.

"You think I am going anywhere with the man who turned into a wolf?"

Instead of getting offended, Ryker simply looked at me. "No. But I think you are smart enough to understand that staying here is more dangerous."

I hated that he was right. My eyes moved around my apartment. I looked at the broken window. This had always been my safe place but tonight proved that it was no longer safe.

"I don't trust you."

"I know."

"I think you are dangerous."

"I know."

"Then why are you so calm?"

He looked at me. "Because I know that I won't hurt you."

My heart skipped for a second and I immediately ignored the strange reaction. I looked away.

"I still need protection from you too."

A small smile appeared on his face.

"That is fair."

____________

I walked into the kitchen. I was still trying to convince myself that following a werewolf was the least dangerous choice I had.

Ryker followed me with his eyes. He was watching my every move.

"What are you doing?"

"Preparing."

His eyebrows lifted slightly. "Preparing for what?"

I ignored his question and opened the kitchen drawer. After searching for a moment, I grabbed the biggest knife I could find. I held it tightly in my hand.

"If you try anything, I will use this."

For a few seconds, he just looked at the knife. Then, unexpectedly, he laughed.

"You think that will stop me?"

I pointed the knife at him. "No, but it will make me feel better."

He shook his head. "You are unbelievable."

"Thank you."

"That wasn't a compliment."

"I decided it was."

His smile grew wider and I hated that seeing him like this made him look less like a monster. For a moment, he just looked like a normal man.

I quickly pushed that thought away. I couldn't forget what he was.

Finally, I took a deep breath.

"Fine."

Ryker looked at me. "Fine?"

"I will come with you. But only until I figure out what is happening."

"That's great."

I narrowed my eyes. "And I am keeping the knife."

His gaze dropped to the weapon in my hand. "I noticed."

"And if you try anything..."

"You'll stab me with a kitchen knife."

"Exactly."

A small smile appeared on his face. "You really think you can threaten me?"

"No."

I looked him directly in the eyes. "But I think you are curious enough to let me try."

For a second, he said nothing. Then he smiled.

"You know me well."

"I don't."

His expression became serious again. "Not yet. But you will soon enough."

Something about those words made my chest tighten. Before I could ask what he meant, Ryker turned back toward the attacker. He crouched down and looked at the tattoo again.

"What is it?"

He didn't answer.

"Ryker?"

He stared at the mark. Then he whispered:

"This is a warning."

My grip tightened around the knife. "From who?"

His eyes lifted to mine. "People who won't stop until they get what they want."

"What do they want?"

Ryker looked at me. "I don't know."

He stood. "Come on."

I hesitated. But I had no choice so I followed the man I feared.