Help! I Became A Guy In A BL Novel!-Chapter 263: Journey Back

Ronan stood a few steps away from the small gathering of soldiers working to recover from the tense border skirmish. His long white hair still shimmered faintly with sweat, the remnants of battle running cold under the midday sun.

Raphael had gone to organise the injured troops, leaving Ronan a rare moment alone with Riven. As Soren strode away, ready to regroup his own men, he had to address his soldiers, Ronan’s gaze shifted to his mate.

Riven lingered by the horses, he did not even know that wolves had horses! But it made sense, they couldn’t hold swords with their wolf paws. They used horses only during the war.

His black hair was left dishevelled around his green eyes, his wolf ears flicked at Ronan’s presence. Ronan moved quietly toward him, taking Riven’s hands in his own. The crowd of soldiers—wolves, leopards, lions—seemed to fade away as Ronan brought Riven’s hands to his lips.

He paused, inhaling deeply at Riven’s wrist, where scent glands spoke softly of mate bonds and memory. Then, he pressed a gentle kiss to the same place. "Was I late?" he asked in a low voice, the question heavy with both relief and apology.

Riven watched Ronan’s icy blue eyes and shook his head. "No," he replied, his voice soft. "You came just in time."

Ronan exhaled slowly, relief like a tide receding from his ribcage. "Catalina," he murmured, nodding toward the retreating figure of the Lion princess. "You helped us avert the worst."

Riven studied the tall, regal silhouette of Catalina as she strode away with her brother. Ronen looked at Riven, not knowing what to say for a second. Whatever he had in mind, whatever he wanted to ask, and things he did not think of asking were all covered by Soren.

Ronan’s eyes softened. He leaned in, brushing his nose against Riven’s cheek. This was a stolen moment, hidden by golden beams of late afternoon sun. He pressed a light kiss to Riven’s temple. "You need to make it up to me," he whispered.

Riven’s breath caught. Soren had taken him away yesterday. They had some... Quality alone time. But now Ronan was back, and he intended to make up for the time he lost. It was his turn now.

"Hmm?" he prompted, tilting his head to study Ronan’s face.

Ronan squeezed Riven’s hands again and motioned for him to follow. Riven stopped admiring the horse in front of him and instead followed Ronan to his horse. It was an incredible steed with ebony fur.

Ronan brushed a strand of black hair behind Riven’s ear. The gesture was tender—alpha to omega, mate to partner. "Do you want—" he began, searching Riven’s face. "Do you want to ride back with me? Alone?"

Riven’s eyes brightened. "Yes," he said, almost breathlessly. "Yes, of course."

’If I go back with Soren, I’m afraid I’ll crumble like foil if he interrogates me again.’ Off with Ronan he went!

Ronan first helped Riven up onto the horse and then followed.

"You know, I could ride my own horse..." Riven whispered.

"Do you know how to ride horses?" Ronan asked with an eyebrow raised.

"..." Well, he kind of knew... He learnt it from Leon, but for obvious reasons, he could not reveal that. So he shall just pretend not to know how to ride a horse. It was a good call, had Riven tried to ride a horse, there was a high chance he would have fallen flat on his face. He had only one lesson.

Ronan’s arms circled around his waist instinctively, drawing him close as he nudged the horse into a smooth trot. He let Raphael deal with the aftermath of the war.

The horse’s gait was steady beneath them, and Riven relaxed into the curve of Ronan’s body, his back pressing into his Alpha’s chest. One of Ronan’s arms stayed around him, the other guiding the reins with easy control. Every now and then, Ronan would lean forward and nuzzle against Riven’s shoulder or cheek.

"You smell like Soren," Ronan muttered into his ear, voice teasing but with a tinge of jealousy.

"Is that why you’re rubbing yourself on me?" Riven mused. He was not mad about it. Why would he deny the touch of a hot man? In fact, he leaned into Ronan’s arms more.

The ride was peaceful, the wind soft against their faces. The scent of pine trees and wildflowers drifted in the air as they moved through the wooded path leading away from the border.

For a while, neither of them said anything. Ronan’s warmth at his back, the soft rocking of the horse, and the fading tension of the day made Riven feel like he could finally exhale. Ronan’s fingers traced idle patterns on Riven’s stomach, his grip firm but affectionate.

Riven felt a bit hungry, but he did not say anything. They were in the middle of the forest. Thankfully, the capital of the wolf clan was not too far away from the border, unlike the Lion kingdom’s capital city.

The journey had been long, but Riven didn’t mind. Being tucked into Ronan’s arms on horseback felt strangely comforting, even as his body ached from the tension of battle and negotiation. The wind brushed through his hair, and his mind had finally begun to settle. That is, until—

Grrrrrowl.

It interrupted the peaceful journey.

Riven flushed, slapping a hand over his stomach. "Oh god."

Ronan, ever the attentive Alpha, chuckled against his ear. "You’re starving."

"Maybe a little," Riven said sheepishly. He hasn’t eaten anything since last night. Turns out, an impending war isn’t the right mood for a nice hearty breakfast in the morning.

Without a word, Ronan pulled the reins and guided the horse toward a clearing off the main path. Once tall trees and soft underbrush sheltered them, he dismounted fluidly and tied the horse to a low-hanging branch. He looked back up at Riven, who blinked down at him.

"Stay here," Ronan said firmly. "I’ll find us something."

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