Chapter 139. I’ve Fallen in Love with Ryder Hawthorne

Ryder POV

Two weeks have passed since that whole mess went down, and I still feel like shit about it. We should’ve broken up that night. Hell, I was ready to let her walk if that’s what will protect her from the beast in me. But Freya? She fought like hell — coaxed me, argued with me, even threatened to end her own life if I pushed her away. In the end, like always, it all crashed into bed and we fucked the pain away.

A low chuckle slipped out of my throat as I stared at her.. I’ve really changed a lot. Never in my forty-three years did I think I’d be the type to plan a surprise birthday for a woman, or feel this strange warmth in my chest that I don’t even have a name for. But here the fuck we are.

I used to think destiny had me cursed to nothing but darkness. Cold. Empty. No light, no warmth — just power, blood, and shadows. Then Freya crashed into my life like a goddamn wildfire and lit everything up.

I’d found out she never celebrated it. It was us