LOGINKael The request hung heavy in the air between us. Thunder rumbled again outside, louder this time, and the first fat drops of rain began to patter against the windows. My gaze dropped to the vulnerable line of his throat, to the spot where my mark would sit — permanent, claiming, impossible to hide.My cock twitched at the thought, but it wasn’t just lust. It was something deeper. Fiercer. The need to protect him, to claim him, to tell the world he was mine the same way I already felt it in my bones.I stepped closer, one hand sliding to the back of his neck, thumb brushing over the spot he’d offered. My voice came out rough. “Riven… you’re sure? Once I do this, there’s no going back. Everyone will know.”He didn’t flinch. Those teary eyes stayed locked on mine, full of fear and fire all at once.I swallowed hard, heart hammering. The alpha in me roared to sink my teeth in right there, to taste him and bind him to me. But I forced myself to stay gentle, pressing my forehead to his i
KaelWe were still pressed close against the wall, the heat between us building again. Riven’s breath ghosted over my lips, and I leaned in, ready to lose myself in another deep kiss. My hand tightened on his waist, pulling him closer.Then the flashes hit — bright, blinding bursts of light cutting through the dark alley. Camera shutters clicked rapidly.We both jerked apart. I squinted against the glare and caught the blurry shape of a person at the mouth of the alley, camera raised. Before I could even think, they spun around and ran.“Shit!” I growled, pushing off the wall to chase after them.Riven grabbed my wrist hard, yanking me back. “Don’t bother.”I turned to him, frustration boiling in my chest. “What? We were just photographed, and you’re saying I should let that go?”He sighed heavily and leaned back against the bricks, looking exhausted but strangely resolved. “Maybe it’s time I just come out to the world about my sexuality. I think I’ve given enough fucks already. How a
Riven“It’s not your business, Faye,” Nico frowned.She laughed softly. “I am certain you were the one that called him so you guys can get back together. And I am also sure that he was the one that caused the fight. He is a piece of shit who doesn’t deserve you.”“Blah blah blah,” Nico said in mockery, rolling his eyes.She frowned at him. Kael just shook his head. “Why do you guys have to always fight whenever you meet? It has been two months since we came together like this, the three of us. Let’s just have fun, okay?”Kael noticed I wasn’t really there. My mind had drifted far away. “Hey?” he called, touching my shoulder gently. “Are you okay?”I looked up and whispered before I could stop myself, “I… thought you guys were dating.”They all looked at me.“What?” Nico asked.I swallowed hard. “Never mind.”Faye laughed. “Wait… I think I can make sense of what you said. Did you think I was dating Nico? Why would you even think that? I mean, he is not even my type.”Nico rolled his ey
97 RivenI froze for a second, then forced a small, tired smile. “Yeah. That’s me.”The driver looked excited. He quickly pulled out a piece of paper and a pen. “It is nice to meet you here,” he said softly. “Can I please get an autograph?”I frowned. After everything that had just happened, asking for an autograph felt completely out of place. The driver noticed my expression and spoke quickly. “My daughter is a huge fan of yours. We had a little fight yesterday, and she has refused to talk to me. Giving her your autograph might help mend the rift between us.”My heart softened at that. “I am sorry if—”“No, it is fine,” I said. I took the paper and signed it quickly. I handed it back to him. “I hope you guys amend your issue soon. And tell her I am glad to hear she is my fan.”The driver smiled and nodded. “I can assure you that she will be so happy.”I nodded and watched him drive off. I went inside my house, sat on the sofa, and smiled a little as I remembered what the man had sai
RivenThe man wouldn’t let go. He grabbed my wrist tightly, his grip strong and insistent. “Let me go!” I screamed, trying to yank my arm free. My heart pounded so hard I could hear it in my ears. “Please!”No one on the bus moved to help. A few people glanced over, but they quickly looked away, pretending they saw nothing. Maybe they were scared of him. He was an Alpha, after all, and his scent was heavy with lust and aggression.Before he could pull me any closer, someone shoved him hard from behind. The man stumbled forward, releasing my wrist. I looked up and saw my father standing there, panting, eyes blazing with anger. He was dressed all in black, the same outfit I had vaguely noticed someone wearing a few times this week.“Dad?” I stuttered, shock freezing me in place. “What are you doing here?”He didn’t answer. The bus stopped at the next corner. He grabbed my hand and pulled me off with him, practically dragging me onto the sidewalk. The man yelled something from inside the
RivenI woke up slowly the next morning, the memories of last night flooding back immediately. The way Kael’s words had lit me on fire through the phone, the way I had come so hard just from his filthy messages and the sound of his voice in my head. A small, shy smile tugged at my lips as I lay there, staring at the ceiling. My body still felt warm from the memory. I ran a hand through my messy hair and yawned, stretching carefully.But the smile faded fast when I remembered what day it was. My heat could start any time now. I could already feel the subtle changes — the way my scent was growing stronger, more noticeable, even when I wasn’t bleeding. The suppressants I had been taking were barely holding it back anymore.I got up, took a double dose of the suppressants with a glass of water, and hoped they would be enough. Then I showered, dressed in simple clothes, ate a quick breakfast of toast, and left the house. I caught a taxi to the hospital, my leg bouncing nervously the entire
RivenI lay in bed after dinner and a long shower, staring at the ceiling. The house was quiet now that Mom had gone to sleep in the guest room. My body was exhausted, but my mind wouldn’t shut off. The memories from practice this afternoon kept replaying, no matter how hard I tried to push them aw
KaelMay arrived not long after I called her. The moment she stepped inside, she stopped in the doorway, eyes widening at the state of the living room.“What happened here?” she asked, looking around at the scattered bottles, the half-empty glass on the table, and the general mess I’d left in my ha
KaelMay left in the afternoon after making sure I ate and took my medicine. I felt much better. The fever had finally broken, even if I was still a little weak. I made a simple dinner, turned on the TV, and settled on the couch to watch soccer. Even as a hockey player, I loved the game. The tactic
RivenThe next day, I woke up and immediately checked my phone. The team had posted about today’s practice. They had a friendly match scheduled against another squad later in the week. My chest ached as I scrolled through the updates. I wished I could be there, skating with them, pushing myself lik







