Chapter 4 The shadow at Her Door

Aiden's entire body changed.

One moment he was a man with strained breath and soft eyes...

the next, he was a weapon.

Muscles coiled.

Shoulders tense.

Every sense sharpened.

Gold bled into his silver irises, glowing like embers. His nostrils flared, and a low sound-almost a growl-rumbled from deep in his chest.

Maya froze behind him.

She didn't need to understand the supernatural world to know one thing:

Something was outside.

And it wanted her.

"Aiden..." she whispered, voice trembling.

"Stay behind me," he said, low and deadly.

Her fingers curled into his back without thinking. He stiffened for a moment-almost startled-then he relaxed, as if the contact steadied him.

Thunder cracked.

Wind howled.

Then-

A shadow moved across her window.

A fast, blur-like movement that made Maya's stomach drop.

Her voice shook. "Is that a-"

"Yes," Aiden said darkly. "Rogue."

Another growl, closer this time, reverberated from outside. Maya flinched, clutching Aiden harder.

He covered her hand with his, squeezing gently.

"I won't let anything touch you," he murmured. "Not while I'm breathing."

A warm shiver shot down her spine.

Her heart thumped painfully.

Suddenly, something slammed against her front door-

a body, full force.

Maya screamed.

Aiden didn't even blink.

Instead, he stepped forward, slipping her behind him with a smooth, protective motion like it was instinct-like she belonged there.

"Get back," he warned the creature outside, voice turning into a dangerous snarl. "You have three seconds."

The rogue wolf snarled back from the other side of the door.

Before Maya could even blink, Aiden shoved his palm into the door, bracing it as claws scraped violently against the wood.

Her breath hitched.

"Aiden... they're trying to get in-"

"I know." His voice was calm-too calm. "They won't."

"How can you be so sure?"

He looked back at her over his shoulder, expression a mix of confidence and something darkly protective.

"Because I'm between you and them."

A beat.

"That's all the guarantee you'll ever need."

Heat rushed through her chest, mixing with fear, confusion, and a strange, overwhelming trust she shouldn't feel.

Another slam hit the door. Harder.

Aiden's jaw twitched. "They're testing me."

"Testing you how?" Maya whispered.

Aiden's eyes glowed brighter. "Testing my strength. Testing your scent."

"S–scent?"

"You smell like you touched me."

His voice dropped to something sinful, intimate, primal.

"Like me."

Her breath stopped.

"They want to see if I'll give you up," he said. "They want to know how far an Alpha will go for his mate."

Maya's heart slammed against her ribs.

"Aiden, I'm not your-"

"You are," he said quietly. "Whether you accept it or not."

The door rattled again, and Aiden snarled-

an inhuman, terrifying sound that vibrated the air.

Maya stepped back, startled by the sheer power radiating from him.

His bones cracked-

a shift fighting beneath his skin.

Not fully transforming, but close.

He was holding himself back for her.

"Aiden-are you okay?"

His breathing was ragged. "My wolf wants out."

"Is that... dangerous?"

"For them," he said simply.

Suddenly-

silence.

The wolves outside stopped scratching.

Aiden went perfectly still, head tilting slightly-listening.

"What?" Maya whispered.

"They're waiting," he murmured.

"For what?"

Aiden's expression darkened.

"For the second wolf coming toward your house."

Maya's blood ran cold. "There are more?"

"Yes," he said. "And this one... isn't rogue."

Lightning illuminated his face.

He looked lethal.

"Who is it?" she whispered.

Aiden's voice became a low growl.

"Lucian."

The name tasted like poison on his tongue.

"Lucian?" Maya repeated.

"He's the Alpha who wants my territory."

Aiden's fingers curled into fists.

"And now he wants you."

Maya's heart slammed painfully.

"Me? Why?!"

Aiden turned to her fully, gripping her shoulders with both hands, eyes fierce.

"Because taking a mate-especially a Luna-breaks an Alpha. He thinks if he steals you..."

His voice grew lower, strained.

"He'll destroy me."

Maya's stomach twisted. "Aiden... I can't do this. I'm not ready for-"

"Look at me," he whispered.

She forced herself to meet his eyes.

He cupped her face gently-such contrast to the violence around them.

"You don't have to be ready," he said. "You just have to trust me."

"I barely know you," she whispered.

His thumb brushed her cheek softly. "Your soul knows mine."

Her breath caught.

Suddenly-

a knock.

Soft.

Slow.

Deliberate.

Different from the violent attacks before.

Aiden's entire body locked.

"That's him," he whispered. "Lucian."

Maya's blood froze.

"Aiden... what do we do?"

His eyes met hers-dark, furious, protective, terrified of losing her.

"Stay behind me," he said.

Her voice shook. "And you?"

A slow, dangerous smile touched his lips-like a man who had already decided violence.

"I'm going to show him," Aiden whispered, "that coming after my mate was the worst mistake he ever made."