Page 57 of Home With Holden

Because Holden wasn’t just some guy. He was… everything. He was the person who looked at me like I was more than just some kid with no name… no family. He saw me—the real me—and he still wanted me. And for the first time in my life, I believed I deserved to be wanted like that.

The thoughts kept coming, each one louder than the last. Before I knew it, I was up and out the door, halfway across the grounds. It almost felt like my feet had a mind of their own. It wasn’t until I was at Holden’s doorstep that I realized my heart was pounding.

I paused, staring at the door. I knew I could still walk away. I could turn around, pretend none of this had ever happened. But I’d go back to… what? Being alone? Pretending I was okay with just getting by?

No. No, I wasn’t going back.

I knocked, and the door swung open almost immediately, like Holden had been waiting. His eyes widened when he saw me, and for a moment, neither of us moved. His gaze was intense, searching, like he was trying to figure out if I’d come to break his heart or...

“Mylo?” His voice was a whisper, barely audible over the sound of my own heartbeat. “What are you doing here?”

I drew in a deep breath and made myself take a step closer, closing the distance between us. “I… I thought about everything you said. About what you offered. About being your mate.”

His eyes flickered with something I couldn’t quite place—fear, maybe, or hope. He opened his mouth to speak, but I beat him to it.

“And I’m scared, okay?” My voice cracked, and I hated how small it sounded. “I’m scared because I’ve done this before. I’ve taken the risk, and it blew up in my face. I’m scared because this—you—it’s all so big, and I don’t know if I can handle losing it. But I...”

I looked up, meeting his eyes.

“But I want to try. Because I think... no, I know... that this is different. You’re different.”

Holden didn’t say anything. He just reached out, cupping my face in his hands, his thumbs brushing gently over my cheekbones. His eyes were soft, filled with so much emotion it made my heart ache. And in that moment, I knew—I’d never felt safer than I did right there, in his arms.

“Mylo,” he whispered, his voice cracking under the weight of his emotions. “You’re everything to me. I’ll do whatever it takes to make you feel safe. To make you feel like you belong. Just… please, don’t walk away.”

I closed my eyes, leaning into his touch. “I’m not walking away,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

He pulled me into his arms, holding me tight, and I let myself sink into him. The fear was still there, gnawing quietly at the edges of my mind—but it didn’t feel as overwhelming now. Not when he was holding me like this, like I was the most precious thing in the world.

“I’m not perfect, Holden,” I murmured, my words muffled against his chest. “I’ve got so many flaws, so many things that are just… messed up. I don’t even know if I deserve this.”

Holden pulled back just enough to meet my gaze, his eyes burning with quiet intensity. “You deserve everything. You’re perfect—at least to me. You’re strong, you’re kind, and you’re mine. If you’ll have me.”

I nodded, swallowing hard against the lump in my throat. “Yeah,” I whispered, my voice soft but steady. “I’ll have you.”

He smiled, and it was like the sun breaking through the freakin’ clouds—warm and bright and exactly what I needed. He leaned in, his lips brushing softly against mine, hesitant, like hewas still scared I might change my mind. But I didn’t. I kissed him back, my fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt, holding onto him like he was the only thing keeping me grounded.

Maybe he was.

We pulled apart, breathless, and I rested my forehead against his. “I’m still scared,” I admitted. “But I want this. I want you.”

“Then that’s all that matters,” he whispered, his voice low and rough. “We’ll figure the rest out together.”

I smiled—a real smile this time—so wide it made my cheeks ache. “Together,” I repeated. And for the first time in a long time, I believed it. Maybe—just maybe—I’d found where I belonged.

Holden took my hand, threading his fingers with mine, and led me inside. The door closed behind us with a soft click, and yeah, it was sappy, but it felt like I’d shut out the past and stepped into something good.

It hadn’t been easy. But we were here. And it was ours. And that was enough.

We sank onto the couch, and Holden didn’t let go of my hand—not even for a second. He looked at me, his eyes scanning mine, like he was searching for any trace of doubt. Checking if I was really okay, if I was really ready for this.

And I was.

I’d made my choice. I wasn’t backing out now.

“Tell me everything,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I want to know it all—about shifters, about your world… about us.”

He nodded, his thumb brushing gently over the back of my hand. “It’s a lot,” he warned softly. “But I’ll tell you everything. No more secrets.”