CHAPTER 57: SURRENDERING TO THE PASSION

Ronan and Leia arrived at the hidden training arena. The sky had turned red and the birds were returning home. Since the place was in the middle of the forest, they could hear the various sounds of animals.

Leia stepped out of the rented car. She glanced to her right to meet Ronan’s gaze.

"You used to train here all by yourself?" she asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.

Ronan nodded, his eyes scanning the familiar terrain. "Yes. It’s quiet here... far from distractions. That’s why I like it."

Leia took a few steps forward, her hands locked behind her back as she absorbed the peaceful atmosphere. "I can feel that," she murmured. "There’s something serene about this place."

"Then I guess I’ll be learning a few defense moves from you," Leia said with a playful smile, her tone light but sincere.

"Definitely," Ronan replied, a faint grin tugging at his lips.

As Leia scanned the clearing, her gaze landed on a quiet corner nestled beneath the trees. A pair of intricately carved wooden benches stood side by side, their surface worn smooth by time. Beside them stood a small wooden structure—modest but solid, its weathered frame blending seamlessly into the forest around it.

"That looks cozy," Leia murmured, gesturing toward the benches and the dwelling. "Did you build that too?"

Ronan nodded. "Yeah."

"That’s a lot of hard work," Leia remarked with admiration as she began walking toward the small wooden house.

Ronan trailed behind her and soon took a seat opposite her at the bench, keeping a respectful distance between them. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, his eyes observing her side face quietly.

Leia ran her fingers along the edge of the bench, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. "It almost feels like you used to live here," she teased lightly.

"Yes. When it used to be difficult to live with my family. It was my second home," Ronan replied without hesitation.

Leia stared at him, her smile slowly fading into disbelief. She hadn’t expected her lighthearted joke to echo a truth buried in Ronan’s past.

"You’re serious?" she asked softly. "And no one worried about you staying out here alone? What about at night, weren’t they even a little concerned?"

Ronan leaned back slightly, his gaze drifting to the trees swaying in the evening breeze.

"Why would they be worried?" he said with a shrug. "My father never cared what happened to me. And my mother... she was sick most of the time. She barely had the strength to take care of herself, let alone worry about me."

Leia’s heart sank suddenly.

"Not even Lucien or Kieran came with you here?" Leia asked, her brows furrowing with worry. "Weren’t you scared being all alone in a place like this? I’ve heard that some wolves, especially during their early transformations, can lose control and attack others. What if something had happened to you?"

Her voice was laced with concern, her eyes searching his face for an answer that could ease her anxiety.

Ronan looked at her, a faint, almost bitter smile forming on his lips. "Lucien and Kieran had their own paths to walk. We’ve all been raised differently, Leia. I got used to the silence... and the risks. Maybe that’s why I like this place so much. Nobody had any expectations from me anyway. And my Dad, he never even wanted me. So, it didn’t matter to me if I was attacked or died or whatever happened to me."

Leia fell silent for a moment, absorbing the weight of his solitude. It wasn’t just bravery, Ronan had survived things no one should have faced alone.

"You did have a tough life. Even with your parents around, you still ended up living through so much alone," Leia said softly, her eyes fixed on him with a gentleness that carried both sympathy and admiration.

"Yeah... it was hard in the beginning," Ronan admitted, his gaze drifting to the tall tree in front of him. "I used to wonder why things were so different for me; why other kids had the warmth of their parents while I had to grow up fast, alone. But eventually, I just... stopped expecting anything. It hurt less that way."

"Even that takes incredible strength, Ronan," Leia murmured. "You’ve suffered quietly for so long... yet you didn’t let it twist you. You didn’t let bitterness win. That says everything about who you are."

She leaned in slightly. "You still carry a heart full of loyalty and warmth, even if you hide it. You give everything to your pack without asking anything in return. Like I said before, you should be proud of yourself."

Ronan met her eyes, those soft hazel eyes that always seemed to read him deeper than words could reach. His gaze gradually dropped to her lips, which glistened faintly in the evening light.

"Leia," he whispered her name.

"Yes?" she replied, her brows lifting in curiosity.

Ronan raised a hand and gently cradled her neck, his thumb brushing tenderly along her cheek. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver down her spine.

"Can I kiss you?" he asked softly.

Leia’s heart pounded like a drum. She instinctively bit the inside of her lower lip, unsure of what to say, caught between the sudden intimacy and the vulnerability in his voice.

"Why do you want to kiss me?" she asked, searching his expression for the truth.

Ronan’s thumb paused for a moment as he leaned just slightly closer. "I don’t know," he admitted, honesty flickering in his eyes. "But I think... I’ve started liking you."

"Don’t jest," Leia said quickly, brushing it off with a half-smile, assuming Ronan was teasing again.

But Ronan didn’t back away this time.

He leaned in and pressed his warm lips to hers, taking her by surprise. His kiss was gentle but firm, carrying an emotion that silenced every doubt. Pulling back just slightly, his eyes locked with hers.

"Why do you think I’m joking again?" he murmured in a serious voice.

Before she could process his words or form a response, his lips captured hers again, this time more deeper than the last time.

Leia didn’t resist his advances.

However, her heart thundered in her chest as her hands moved instinctively, wrapping around his neck. She melted into the moment, surrendering to the passion that surged between them.

Her lips parted, inviting his tongue to meet hers, their kiss began to deepen. At the same time, the world around them had vanished.

Leia felt her lungs giving in, so her hands moved down to his chest. Ronan understanding the need for the oxygen, pulled away. The two of them gasped for air.

’What did I do? I wasn’t supposed to let my guard down! Why am I getting swayed by both him and Kieran?’ Leia thought. She rose to her feet and bit her bottom lip.

"I-I think we should..."

She didn’t even have finished her words when a loud growl came from the deeper part of the forest.

"A wolf is around," Leia said.

"Hmm." Ronan had stood up too and gazed around himself. "He’s not close. Too far," he replied and walked to Leia.

"Come, let’s go inside the wooden house," Ronan said and held her hand. As they reached the door, he opened the lock on it and they walked inside.

"You always carry the key with you?" Leia asked, a hint of surprise in her tone.

"Yeah," Ronan replied simply, locking the wooden door behind them. "There’s a hot spring nearby too," he added, tossing the key onto the small table.

Leia’s eyes widened. "What? This place just keeps surprising me. It’s full of natural beauty," she said, looking around the cozy interior of the wooden house.

Ronan watched her with a soft smile. "It’s one of the reasons I come here. Peace, silence... and the comfort of solitude."

Leia nodded slowly, her gaze drifting to the bed positioned near the floor-to-ceiling window. Drawn by the serenity of the place, she walked over, sat on the edge of the mattress, and eventually lay down, sighing softly in comfort.

"Can we stay the night here?" she asked, turning her head to look at Ronan, propped up slightly on her elbow. "But... what about food?"

Ronan leaned against the wooden frame of the door, arms crossed casually. "We’ve got some noodles stocked here," he said with a faint smile. "But realistically, it’s probably better if we drive back to the hotel."

Leia pouted playfully. "But I thought it would be fun staying the night here," she muttered.

He chuckled. "If I knew you’d want to stay, I’d have brought something better than instant noodles. We don’t have either water here."

"Then, will we come here tomorrow?" Leia asked, lying back on the mattress with a soft thud, her gaze fixed on the wooden ceiling above.

"Sure, we can," Ronan replied, his tone gentle as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. His brows furrowed slightly when he noticed several missed calls from Kieran. Without delay, he tapped on the screen and brought the phone to his ear, waiting as the call rang.

Leia turned her head slightly, watching him in silence, sensing the sudden shift in atmosphere.

"You called? Is everything okay?" Ronan questioned.