Chapter 21: Riven

Annabeth's POV ~

“So...” Riven started, then stopped. Tried again. “Is it true? That you’re his mate?” He finally asked.

I wasn't expecting the question which made me choke.

I choked on air. Coughed and Mrs. Halloway patted my back gently.

“Riven! Watch your mouth, Would you? Look what you've caused now.” she scolded.

“What? Everyone’s talking about it here!” Riven said, defensive. “The guards, the staff, even the wolves on patrol. They say The Enforcer even refused the princess because of the human girl. That he’s going to start a war, all for her.”

I looked down at the oatmeal. My reflection stared back at me, pale and tired.

“I don’t know what exactly I am to him,” I said quietly. The truth tasted bitter. “Mate. Prisoner. Problem. Take your pick.”

Riven was quiet for a moment. Then he said, “You know He's changed. Looks different if I might add, ever since you came.”

I looked up sharply. “What?”

“Whenever the Enforcer walked through these territory, everyone went quiet, scared. Even the senior wolves. But when he came back with you that day...” Riven hesitated, searching for words. “He seemed different. Kinder to us.”

My throat tightened. I didn’t want to hear this. I didn’t want to care.

Riven leaned forward, lowering his voice like he was sharing a secret. “He told us once that a mate isn’t something you choose. It’s something that chooses you. And when it happens, it changes everything. Even for someone like him. And I guess he was right cause it's changing him.”

I swallowed hard. “Don’t say things like that.”

“Why not?” Riven challenged, but there was no aggression in it. Just curiosity. “It’s true. And for what it’s worth... I think you might be good for him.”

I almost laughed. Me. Good for the Lycan Enforcer. The man who built his reputation on blood and fear.

“That’s insane, I'm a human, remember?” I said.

“Maybe.” Riven shrugged. “For now.”

The kitchen fell silent except for the soft bubbling of the pot.

What did he mean by that?

I didn’t know what to say to that. So I didn’t say anything.

Mrs. Halloway broke the tension by pushing a second bowl of oatmeal toward Riven. “Eat up. You’ll need your strength. Kael has you on border patrol tonight.”

Riven groaned but picked up the spoon. “Fine. But can I ask you one more thing, Annabeth?”

I sighed. “Do I have a choice? Ask away.”

“Do you miss your old pack?” he asked. No malice. Just genuine. “Do you miss your previous home?”

The question hit deeper than the mate one.

I closed my eyes. For a second I could smell the flowers back at the valley of Red Moon and campfire smoke when ever I went camping with Tommy and his friends. I could hear Tommy’s laugh. I could see the Red Moon flag flying over the cabin.

“Yes,” I whispered. “Every second.”

Riven nodded. He didn’t say I’m sorry. He didn’t say it’ll be okay. He just nodded like he understood me.

“I believe you'll be able to visit there someday,” he said, standing up. He pushed the empty bowl away. “But... Since you're still here, if you ever need someone to talk to who isn’t Enforcer Kael or Mrs. Halloway, I’m around. I'm very fun to talk to and I don’t bite. Much.” He grinned at his own joke.

I almost smiled back. Almost.

“Thanks,” I said instead. It was the most I could manage.

Riven nodded and left the kitchen, his footsteps light on the floor.

Mrs. Halloway watched him go, then turned to me. “He’s a good kid,” she said softly. “One of the few who doesn’t see you as a threat and is genuinely pleased to have you around.”

I picked up my spoon again. The oatmeal was cold now. I ate it anyway.

“I can't believe anyone here would see me as a threat, I'm but a poor defenseless human,” I said quietly.

“You're much more than that, dear,” she replied. “But trust isn’t built in one day. It'll take a while for them all to trust you. They must know you're completely loyal to the Enforcer.”

I didn’t answer. I just kept eating.

Completely loyal.... As if there was many options left for me.

When I finished and set the bowl aside, I found myself looking toward the door Riven had left through.

I would really love to stroll the full grounds of this fortress.

The door to the library opened down the hall. My head snapped back ready to see who it was but I really didn't need to because I felt it inside me. Who it was already.

Kael.

I heard his footsteps before I saw him. Slow. Measured. Stopping just outside the kitchen door. I quickly looked down at the counter.

He didn’t come in and I didn’t look up.

But I could feel him there. Watching. The way he always watched.

Mrs. Halloway cleared her throat and went back to stirring her pot. Pretending she didn’t notice.

Seconds stretched. Ten. Twenty.

Then Kael’s voice, low and rough from sleep, came from the doorway.

“Riven was here?”

“Yes but He’s gone now, Kael,” Mrs. Halloway answered without looking up. “Talked to the girl briefly and Left.”

There was a pause. I could feel Kael’s eyes on me. Burning.

“Did he... bother you?” Kael asked me, coming closer to me now. The question was casual. Too casual.

I finally looked up. He stood close by, at the opposite side of the counter, hair messy from sleep, shirt half-buttoned, shadows under his eyes. He looked like he hadn’t slept either.

“No,” I said honestly. “He didn’t. He was kinda nice.”

Kael’s jaw tightened. Relief flickered across his face before he masked it.

“Good, though I hope you forgive him for his intruding questions.” He stepped closer to me. The air seemed to grow colder. “Riven is young. He doesn’t always know boundaries.”

“Neither do you,” I said before I could stop myself.

Kael stopped. His eyes met mine. For a heartbeat, neither of us breathed.

Then Mrs. Halloway cleared her throat loudly. “Breakfast is ready, Enforcer. Oatmeal’s still warm.”

Kael’s gaze didn’t leave mine. “I’m not hungry for food Mrs Halloway.”

I held his stare.

The air tightened between us, heavy and dangerous.

Mrs. Halloway cleared her throat and busied herself with dishes, giving us space without leaving entirely. Smart woman.

I broke eye contact first. I couldn’t handle the intensity in his gaze. It felt like he was seeing right through me, past the anger, past the fear, to the part of me that... that wasn’t hating him as much as I should be. To the part that wanted him so badly.

I stood up from the stool, the wood scraping against the floor. “I’m going back to my room. I should freshen up proper for the day.”

Kael didn’t stop me. He just watched.

As I walked past him, his scent hit me strong. It was something wild. So wild It made my knees feel weak. I wanted nothing more than to be in his arms that very moment. I would give anything for him to kiss me again like he did in his lair.

I paused at the doorway. Didn’t turn around.

“Don’t follow me,” I said quietly.

“I won’t,” he replied.

And to my disappointment, he didn’t.

I walked down the hall, my heart pounding, and I hated that part of me that was disappointed he wasn’t following me.

~