“You have been staring at that same spot for five minutes.”
Riven looked up from the knife he had been cleaning.
Jace was standing across from him, arms folded, wearing the kind of grin that usually meant he had already figured something out and was enjoying watching Riven pretend otherwise.
“I haven’t.”
“You have.”
“I haven’t.”
Jace raised an eyebrow.
Riven looked down at the knife again.
Silence settled between them for a few seconds.
Then Jace laughed.
“You know, for someone who scares half the werewolf world just by walking into a room, you’re surprisingly easy to read.”
Riven gave him a flat look.
“Careful.”
“There it is.”
“What?”
“That look.”
“What look?”
“The one you give me when you’re deciding whether killing your best friend is worth the paperwork.”
Riven smiled, shook his head and returned his attention to the knife.
They were sitting inside their cabin, just as they had countless times before.
The fire burned quietly in the hearth, filling the room with warmth while the evening settled over the forest outside.
For once, there was no immediate threat, council soldiers or enemies yet his mind wasn’t entirely in the cabin.
It kept drifting back to the forest.
To her.
Nyra.
He remembered the first time he had seen her.
He had expected to find someone in danger.
Instead, he had found an Omega fighting four rogues alone.
She had been exhausted, but she hadn’t stopped.
She had been outnumbered, but she hadn’t surrendered.
Even now, remembering everything made something inside him settle.
His wolf stirred lazily.
‘You are thinking about her again.’
Riven ignored him.
‘You have been thinking about her all day.’
Still nothing.
‘And yesterday.
And the day before that.’
“Enough, Tristan.”
Jace looked at him.
“Did I say something?”
“No.”
“Then who are you talking to?”
“My wolf.”
Jace nodded thoughtfully.
“Right. Of course.”
Riven narrowed his eyes.
Jace immediately looked away.
“Don’t you dare”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You were about to.”
“I was only going to say that Tristan probably has more sense than you.”
Riven gave him a warning look.
Jace grinned.
The silence returned.
For a while, they simply sat there.
Then Jace broke it.
“So…”
Riven sighed.
“No.”
“I haven’t even asked anything.”
“I know what you’re going to ask.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
Jace leaned back in his chair.
“Fine. I’ll ask anyway.”
Riven waited.
“How’s your mate?”
Riven looked at him.
“She isn’t here.”
“I know that.”
“Then why ask?”
“Because I want to hear you talk about her.”
Riven shook his head.
“You’re annoying.”
“And you’re avoiding the question.”
Riven leaned back.
“She is fine.”
Jace smiled.
“That sounded suspiciously fond.”
Riven ignored him.
He remembered the way Nyra had looked at him when they first met.
She hadn’t been impressed by his reputation.
She hadn’t trembled because of his name.
She hadn’t immediately fallen into the usual behavior people displayed around him.
She had simply looked at him.
Questioned him.
Thanked him.
Then told him she had somewhere important to be.
Most people would have been desperate to stay close to him after seeing him.
Riven’s eyes drifted toward the window.
He wondered where she was now.
Had she eaten?
Had she found somewhere safe to sleep?
Was she still training?
Was she getting enough rest?
His wolf stirred again.
‘Go see her.’
Riven frowned.
“She told us she has something important to do.”
‘But we can still check on her.’
Riven remained silent.
‘You want to.’
“I know.”
Jace looked over.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
A few minutes later, Jace stood.
“I’ll be back.”
Riven glanced at him.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to get something to eat before you decide that surviving on nothing but your terrible cooking is a good idea.”
“My cooking isn’t terrible.”
Jace stopped at the doorway.
“Riven.”
“What?”
“You once burned water.”
“That was one time.”
“You somehow burned water.”
Riven rolled his eyes.
“Just go.”
Jace laughed as he stepped outside.
The door closed behind him.
The cabin became quiet.
Riven stared at the fire, once again, his mind returned to Nyra.
This time, he didn’t fight it.
He had spent most of his life walking his own path.
He understood what it meant to have something important enough that nothing else could come before it.
Nyra had that same fire.
He liked that about her.
His wolf gave a quiet chuckle.
‘You really like her.’
Riven sighed.
“Obviously.”
‘Then go see her you dummy.’
Riven looked toward the door.
He considered it for a moment.
Then he smiled faintly.
“Well…” He stood, “I did say I would leave her alone to continue her mission.” He grabbed his coat.
His wolf immediately perked up.
Riven reached for a piece of paper and wrote a quick note for Jace.
He placed it on the table where Jace couldn’t possibly miss it.
[Note]: Went out for a run.
I’ll be back soon.
He paused.
Then added:
Don’t burn anything while I’m gone.
Riven stared at the note.
“Perfect.”
He stepped outside.
The cool forest air hit his face immediately.
He closed his eyes and breathed deeply.
The forest was quiet but there was something else beneath the familiar scents of trees, earth, and distant wildlife.
Something his wolf recognized.
Riven opened his eyes, Tristan was already alert.
‘She’s nearby.’
Riven’s expression changed.
He had expected that.
Still, hearing it made his heartbeat quicken.He stepped farther into the forest.
‘That way.’
Riven followed.
He didn’t run at first.
He walked through the trees, allowing his senses to guide him.
The farther he went, the stronger the familiar scent became.
‘Nyra.’
His wolf was practically impossible to calm now.
‘Faster.’
Riven shook his head.
“You’re impatient.”
‘You are too.’
Riven smirked.
“Maybe.”
Then he broke into a run.
The forest blurred around him as he moved between the trees.
He knew this part of the forest well.
He had spent years learning every trail, every clearing, every place where an enemy could hide.
Somewhere ahead, Nyra was doing exactly what he expected her to be doing.
Training.
Riven slowed as he approached a familiar clearing.
He heard movement.
A sharp breath.
The sound of something cutting through the air.
Then a dull impact.
And again.
Riven stopped behind the trees.
He could see her now.
Nyra was alone in the clearing, practicing her strikes.
Her movements were quick, determined but not precise enough.
Riven watched silently for several seconds.
She threw another punch.
He frowned.
Her stance was too open, Her weight was too far forward, If an experienced fighter had been standing in front of her, they would have taken advantage of it immediately.
She threw another strike.
Riven stepped out from behind the trees.
Nyra didn’t notice.
She raised her fist again, Riven moved.
He caught her wrist before the punch could land.
Nyra’s eyes widened, She reacted instantly.Her other hand came toward him but Riven caught that one too.
For a moment, they simply stared at each other.
Nyra blinked.
“Riven?”
He released her wrists.
“Hello.”
“What are you doing here?”
Riven shrugged.
“Just passing by.”
Nyra stared at him.
He stared back.
Then Nyra folded her arms.
“You were passing by?”
“Yes.”
“In the middle of the forest?”
“Yep.”
“To this exact clearing?”
Riven nodded.
“Yep.” He stressed the ‘p,’ giving it a distinct, audible pop.
Nyra narrowed her eyes.
“You’re a terrible liar.”
For the first time that evening, Riven actually smiled.
“I never said I was here to see you.”
Nyra raised an eyebrow.
“You didn’t have to.”
He glanced toward the spot where she had been training.
“You’re doing that wrong.”
“Excuse me?”
“Your stance, it’s wrong.”
She looked down at her feet.
Then back at him.
“It’s been working for me.”
“It worked against four rogues?”
Nyra went quiet.
Riven’s expression became serious.
“You survived because you’re fast and strong. But if you meet someone more experienced than you, those advantages won’t always be enough.”
Nyra looked toward the weapons lying nearby.
She knew he was right.
She just didn’t like hearing it.
“So what are you saying?”
Riven stepped into the clearing.
“I’m saying if you’re going to keep training like this, you need to learn how to fight properly.”
Nyra crossed her arms.
“And you’re offering to teach me?”
Riven looked at her.
“I haven’t said that.”
A small smile appeared on Nyra’s face.
“Then why are you here?”
Riven didn’t answer immediately.
His wolf chuckled inside him.
‘Good question.’
Riven sighed.
“I’ll show you.”
Nyra’s smile widened.
“Show me what?”
Riven moved into a fighting stance.
“How badly you’re doing.”
Nyra stared at him.
Then she laughed.
“Seriously?”
Riven’s expression remained completely calm.
“Come on.”
Nyra stepped forward.
She raised her fists.
“Fine.”
Riven’s eyes sharpened.
“Try to hit me.”
Nyra smirked.
“You sure about that?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t complain when I do.”
Riven’s mouth twitched.
“I won’t.”
Nyra charged.
Riven knew immediately..
this was going to take much more work than he had expected.