Howl To My Heart

‎If ignoring a magical bond counted as cardio, I'd have a six-pack by now.

‎I'd spent the entire night pacing my old room at Grandma's cabin, mainlining caffeine, and Googling things like "How to break a fated mate bond without dying." Spoiler: the internet had nothing. Unless I wanted to try moonlight herbs, blood rituals, or "talking about my feelings." Hard pass.

‎By the time sunlight crept through the curtains, my brain was fried. I pulled on the first hoodie I found, black, oversized, coffee-stained and made my way to the kitchen.

‎The smell hit me first. Freshly brewed coffee, buttered toast... and cedar smoke. My stomach sank.

‎"Morning," came a deep voice from the counter.

‎I froze mid-step. "No. Nope. You're not here. You're a hallucination brought on by caffeine withdrawal."

‎Rowan turned, looking unfairly put-together for someone who'd probably been up all night dealing with pack gossip. "Unfortunately for you, I'm very real."

‎He was standing in my kitchen, sleeves rolled up, cooking eggs like some kind of domestic fever dream. The Alpha himself, all muscles and quiet authority, flipping breakfast like he owned the place.

‎"What are you doing here?" I demanded. "Invading my personal space counts as an act of war."

‎He raised an eyebrow. "Jamie asked me to check on you. You ran off last night."

‎"I'm fine," I lied, grabbing a mug. "Totally fine. Just peachy. The universe didn't bond me to the guy who used to call me 'Chatterbox' in gym class or anything."

‎"River..."

‎"Don't 'River' me. You're in my kitchen. You're making eggs. You're not supposed to be making eggs!"

‎His mouth twitched. "Would you rather I left you to starve?"

‎"I'd rather you left," I muttered, pouring coffee with unnecessary force.

‎Rowan leaned against the counter, watching me. His scent cedar, smoke, something faintly electric filled the air, wrapping around me no matter how far I stood. My wolf purred in the back of my mind, traitorous little furball.

‎He said quietly, "You didn't sleep."

‎I shot him a glare. "Are you stalking my REM cycles now?"

‎"I could feel it," he said simply. "The bond, it keeps tugging when you're upset."

‎My hand stilled. "Don't do that."

‎"Do what?"

‎"Act like you care."

‎His expression flickered, pain shadowing his eyes. "I do."

‎For a heartbeat, the room went silent except for the faint hiss of the pan. Something heavy hung between us, old history and unspoken apologies. Then I shook my head and set the mug down.

‎"Nope. Not doing this. You don't get to play the concerned Alpha after everything that happened."

‎"I was a kid," he said, voice low. "Angry. Confused. I took it out on you because I didn't understand what you did to me back then."

‎I snorted. "You mean talk?"

‎He met my gaze, steady. "No. Because even then, I felt something. And it terrified me."

‎My breath caught. "Don't."

‎But his eyes didn't waver. "You were the only one I couldn't control. And I hated that. I hate that still."

‎That did it. My heart betrayed me, stuttering in my chest like a bad engine. I turned away. "You should go before Jamie catches you here. Or worse Grandma."

‎Rowan actually smiled, a small, real thing. "Your grandmother likes me."

‎"She hexed you once."

‎"She missed."

‎I bit back a smile I didn't want to have. "Get out, Alpha Asshole."

‎He chuckled softly. "You're impossible."

‎"Flattery won't save you."

‎He grabbed his jacket and paused by the door. "River, whether you like it or not, this bond won't fade. You'll feel it getting stronger. You'll feel me." His voice softened. "Just don't fight it alone."

‎I stared at the empty doorway long after he was gone, the air still humming with his presence. My wolf was restless, pacing beneath my skin, and for the first time, I wondered what would happen if I stopped running from it.

‎---

‎Rowan's POV

‎The forest always smelled cleaner after sunrise, mist clinging to pine needles, the faint heartbeat of the pack pulsing through the land. But Rowan barely noticed any of it. His thoughts were a storm.

‎He shouldn't have gone to see River. Not when half the pack was already whispering about the "bonded Omega." But he couldn't stay away. The pull had kept him awake all night, sharp and constant, like invisible threads tying their hearts together.

‎He stopped near the training field, where Dominic was giving orders to the younger wolves. Jamie waved from across the clearing, all smiles and post-mating glow. Rowan managed a nod before heading toward the edge of the woods.

‎He needed space. Air. Distance from the bond.

‎But even here, River's scent clung to him. Coffee and rain. Reckless laughter and stubborn pride.

‎A memory flickered, River in high school, cornered by his own sharp tongue, eyes bright with defiance. Rowan had shoved him into that damn closet, not out of cruelty but confusion. Because even then, his wolf had wanted to claim him. And Rowan had panicked.

‎Now, years later, fate had dragged him right back into that feeling. Only this time, there was no running from it.

‎Rowan clenched his fists, grounding himself. "You deserve better than this," he muttered to no one.

‎But the bond pulsed in his chest, steady, insistent, unrelenting.

‎---

‎River's POV

‎By noon, I'd convinced myself it was fine. Totally fine. The Alpha had invaded my kitchen, cooked breakfast, confessed feelings, and left me emotionally scrambled. But everything was fine. (Lies.)

‎Then Grandma appeared at the doorway, holding her tea like some smug oracle. "You smell like cedar."

‎I groaned. "Please tell me that's just a metaphor."

‎"It isn't." She smiled knowingly. "The bond is awakening."

‎"Fantastic. I was hoping for a plague, but this'll do."

‎She chuckled. "You can't run from the Moon, River."

‎"Watch me."

‎But as I stalked off toward the woods, I felt it again, the pull, the thread between us tightening like a heartbeat.

‎And somewhere far off, I could've sworn I heard Rowan's voice carried on the wind.

‎Low, rough, and full of promise.

‎"You'll come back to me, River Quinn. One way or another."

‎