Chapter 87: Stupid Wolf
Riven felt his resolve crumbling, and he took an uncertain step forward. Just that small movement had Ronan closing the distance, cupping Riven’s flushed cheeks and leaning down until their foreheads touched.
"I’m sorry," Ronan whispered, his voice trembling with sincerity. "I should have never left you."
Riven’s breath hitched, his hands tentatively reaching up to clutch the front of Ronan’s shirt. A small, pitiful sound escaped his lips, and Ronan pulled him closer, wrapping his arms securely around him.
The embrace made Riven’s heart ache, and his body relaxed, finally letting go of his restraint. He hated that he craved this touch so much, but his instincts were relentless. Riven’s ears flattened against his head, and he buried his face in Ronan’s shoulder, trying to calm his uneven breathing.
Riven’s world was spinning. The warmth from Ronan’s touch seeped into his skin, and despite his instincts screaming at him to relax and submit, his mind remained turbulent and restless.
The surge of comfort from being in Ronan’s arms settled some of the ache in his body. That unbearable tension that made his muscles tighten and his mind cloud over was slowly ebbing away.
As the crushing anxiety of separation faded, Riven forced himself to think clearly, to process why his body had reacted so violently this time. He had been through heat many times before, but none had ever made him physically reject anyone else’s touch—not even Soren’s. It didn’t make sense.
But the more he considered it, the more the answer seemed glaringly obvious. Now, he was not a smart cookie, but this felt like the most logical conclusion.
This wasn’t just a normal heat. It was something else entirely—triggered because Ronan had entered his rut. A special kind of heat, one meant for bonded mates. It was a reaction of his body to Ronan’s presence, heightened because their bond was resonating.