Howl To My Heart

‎If anyone ever asks how I handled discovering that the Alpha of Wolfwater Ridge is my fated mate, here's my official answer:

‎Badly.

‎Because the moment Rowan said the word "bond," I ran.

‎Not gracefully. Not heroically. Just pure, embarrassing flight through the trees, nearly tripping over my own feet while muttering, "Nope, nope, nope."

‎And now here I am hours later sitting in my childhood bathroom, submerged in hot water and an alarming amount of lavender-scented bubbles.

‎If this were a movie, this would be the point where I discover enlightenment.

‎Instead, I'm trying to figure out how to drown out his scent, that intoxicating mix of pine, storm, and stupidly attractive authority.

‎The bubbles don't help.

‎Neither does the glass of wine I may or may not have stolen from the afterparty.

‎"Okay," I mutter to myself, staring at the ceiling. "You can do this. You've outrun debt collectors, survived college finals, and once fixed Jamie's truck with duct tape and sheer desperation. You are not going to be claimed by a moody Alpha with trust issues."

‎The bond hums faintly inside me in response like it's laughing.

‎"Traitor," I tell my chest.

‎There's a knock at the door.

‎"River?" Jamie's voice. Soft, careful.

‎I sink lower into the bubbles. "Occupied!"

‎The door creaks open anyway because privacy in this family is a myth.

‎Jamie pokes his head in, dressed in one of Dominic's oversized shirts, glowing in that post-mating happiness that makes me both proud and mildly nauseous.

‎"You missed the end of the party," he says gently.

‎"Yeah, I had a... nature emergency."

‎"Nature emergency?"

‎"Needed to scream into the woods."

‎Jamie frowns, stepping closer. "What happened, Riv?"

‎I close my eyes. "The Moon Goddess has a terrible sense of humor, that's what happened."

‎Jamie sits on the counter, watching me the way only an older brother can with a mix of amusement, concern, and that infuriating I-know-you-better-than-you-know-yourself expression.

‎"This about Rowan?" he asks softly.

‎My head snaps up. "You knew?!"

‎He shrugs. "Dominic told me he looked like he'd seen a ghost when you walked into the ceremony."

‎"Oh, great. So I'm the ghost haunting his emotional stability."

‎Jamie chuckles. "More like the unfinished business he never dealt with."

‎I groan and splash water in his direction. "Don't poetic-analyze me. I'm trying to break a celestial curse with bubble bath and denial."

‎Jamie grins. "River, you can't fight the bond."

‎"Watch me."

‎He sighs, but there's a glimmer of sympathy there. "I know it's complicated. But maybe it's not a curse. Maybe it's just... timing."

‎"Yeah, the Moon's timing is impeccable. She waited until my life was barely functioning before throwing in him."

‎Jamie stands, crossing to the door. "You can't avoid it forever. The bond doesn't just fade. You'll have to talk to him."

‎I sink lower, bubbles nearly reaching my chin. "No, I don't. I'll just... outstubborn fate. That's my new life plan."

‎Jamie shakes his head with a fond smile. "You're impossible."

‎"I come by it honestly," I call after him as he leaves.

‎The door clicks shut. Silence fills the room again except it's not entirely silent.

‎Because somewhere deep inside, I can feel him.

‎Rowan.

‎It's faint, like a heartbeat echoing in the distance, but it's there. Steady. Relentless. Every time I try to block it out, it only gets stronger like the bond's reminding me who it belongs to.

‎I press a wet hand over my heart, whispering to no one, "I'm not ready for this."

‎And that's when the knock comes again, firmer this time.

‎I freeze. "Jamie, I swear if you..."

‎"River."

‎Rowan's voice. Deep, smooth, unmistakable.

‎I sink into the water like that might make me invisible. "You have got to be kidding me."

‎"Open the door," he says quietly. "Please."

‎The "please" undoes something in me.

‎I sigh, grab a towel, and shuffle over to the door, still dripping bubbles and regret.

‎When I open it, Rowan's standing there tall, composed, but his eyes... they're wild. Like he's been pacing outside for hours trying to figure out how to breathe.

‎"You shouldn't be here," I say, tightening the towel around my waist.

‎"I couldn't stay away," he admits. "The bond..."

‎"Don't say it," I cut in. "I'm fragile, wet, and unarmed."

‎He huffs a quiet laugh, but there's tension in every line of his body. "River, we need to talk about what's happening."

‎I meet his gaze, pulse hammering. "What's happening is that the Moon got bored and decided to make a comedy out of my life."

‎Rowan takes a step closer not touching, but close enough that the bond thrums between us again. "This isn't a joke to me."

‎"I know."

‎My voice is small, and I hate it.

‎For a moment, neither of us moves. The air between us feels heavy, electric, the kind that could either burn or heal.

‎Finally, Rowan exhales, his voice quieter now. "I'll give you space. But don't run from this, River. We both know it won't let you."

‎He turns and walks away before I can answer.

‎And I stand there, dripping on the floor, heart pounding in sync with his fading footsteps.

‎I glance at the mirror. My reflection looks exactly how I feel, undone, glowing faintly under the moonlight seeping through the window.

‎"Guess I'll need more bubbles," I mutter. "And maybe a miracle."