CHAPTER 237: INTERRUPTED?

Ronan dashed through the dense underbrush, his silver fur glistening under the pale moonlight. He wanted to finish up the business as soon as possible. Getting all the affairs in order was something that will take a while, but it was fine. He was willing to do it.

But as he raced, something shifted in the air, a sensation that made him halt abruptly.

His paws skidded against the forest floor, the sudden stop sending him tumbling head over heels. He rolled to his feet, shaking off twigs and leaves, and it hit him like a thunderbolt.

Riven. The name echoed in his mind, stirring something deep within him. He closed his eyes, focusing, and there it was, a pulse, a heartbeat that was unmistakably Riven’s. It was exactly like before, when he first met him, he went to look for him, and he felt Riven’s wolf call out to him.

It dawned on him: whatever he had been chasing, whatever business had lured him away, paled in comparison to this. Riven was heat, a beacon calling him home. He did not even feel a flicker of guilt for abandoning his task, there was one ultimate truth in this world for him, and that was that he needed to be with Riven.

Ronan spun on his heels, muscles coiling as he prepared to sprint back. Every stride brought him closer to the manor, to the one who held his heart. The air thickened with anticipation, his instincts guiding him through familiar trails.

He could almost smell Riven’s scent mingling with the crisp night air, a heady mix of wildflowers and something uniquely him.

The manor loomed ahead, its silhouette framed by the moon’s glow. As he neared, Ronan slowed, his heartbeat echoing in his ears. He transformed back into his human form, the shift both exhilarating and grounding. He could feel the raw energy of the wolf still coursing through him, but he needed to be human now, to embrace Riven fully.

Ronan stepped into the manor, and while doing so, he observed how quiet it was. However, this was normal, he did not like having too many servants around, and he enjoyed solitude. But this time... This time it felt like a bad omen.

As he climbed the grand staircase, he could not shake off the uneasy feeling. At the top, he spotted Troy, standing awkwardly in front of Riven’s door. The awkward tension hung in the air, which only seemed to confirm Ronan’s suspicions.

"Master," Troy said, hesitating as if the words were heavy on his tongue. "I tried stopping him... But he just pushed past me." His eyes flickered with guilt, but Ronan understood.

Ronan nodded, his heart pounding louder with every passing second. "You did the right thing," he murmured, though the words felt inadequate. He had been away too long, and Riven was in heat, a primal urge ignited by their separation. Stopping him now would only cause pain. They all knew that.

Troy stepped aside, the weight of his choice evident in his posture. "I didn’t know when you’d be back," he admitted, a hint of remorse lacing his voice. "I thought... I thought he needed to be free."

Ronan’s muscles tensed, he knew what was about to happen, and he hated it. He did not want to go into that room. But he had to... He just-

With a determined breath, Ronan approached Soren’s door, its presence like a portal to both hope and despair. He could feel the heat radiating from within, thick and palpable, wrapping around him and sending shivers down his spine, not in a good way. It was intoxicating and terrifying all at once.

Ronan opened the door, and the scene before him made him want to avert his eyes but he couldn’t.

Ronan opened the door, and the scene before him slammed into him like a freight train. Riven was straddling Soren, their bodies entwined in a way that made Ronan’s heart drop. The sight was jarring, yet he realised they hadn’t gone all the way. A flicker of relief along with a hint of betrayal, swept through him.

He took a deep breath, grounding himself in the chaos of emotions swirling inside. Compromise. That was the lesson he had learned. Here in this moment, he had a choice to make, and he refused to give in to anger, not with Riven, not here, not now. It wasn’t Riven he hated, but the situation... Well, he hated Soren, too.

Riven’s gaze snapped to Ronan’s, eyes wide with shock and confusion. In that moment, he looked lost, as if he couldn’t comprehend the reality of what was happening. Ronan’s heart ached, but he understood Riven.

The heat clouding Riven’s mind was powerful, overpowering. It twisted his instincts, he remembered that feeling himself... When he went through a rut.

"Riven..." Ronan said softly, his voice steady despite the tempest around him. He saw Riven’s expression shift from shock to uncertainty, the flicker of recognition sparking in his eyes. Ronan knew without a doubt that Riven wouldn’t have pursued this if not for the heat.

He wouldn’t willingly do this to him under his own roof.

And he would be right. Riven’s main goal is to get laid sure, but he would have never done this if not for the heat. Because of their separation and reuniting, this triggered the heat that was buried within Riven.

With deliberate calmness, he began to unbutton his shirt, watching as Riven’s gaze flickered between him and Soren. It was an invitation, a declaration.

He stepped toward the bed, shifting the atmosphere. He was also going to take part in this. He felt the tension in the room shift, the air thick with anticipation. Riven’s breath hitched, and he looked between Ronan and Soren.

But upon understanding Ronan’s intentions, Riven looked relieved as he gulped and removed himself from the position he was in. This made Soren frown.

Ronan smirked, he definitely enjoyed that anger and annoyance on Soren’s face. He just interrupted them. And he would consider that as a win.