Untie my heart

I did not see that coming Becca

River stepped out of the bathroom, his hair still wet, looking exhausted. We locked eyes and I swear time stands still.

I can see the wide range of emotions swirling in his eyes, it is almost like I can read his mind just by looking into his beautiful green eyes. First, surprise, then, worry, relief, anger, confusion and eventually defeat.

I smile weakly, "River", I sigh, "please come sit we need to talk" I say, looking at him with pleading eyes.

He hesitates for a moment before slightly nodding his head and slowly walking towards me. He sits down slowly, he seems to be moving cautiously, with well thought out movements as if trying to avoid setting me off.

I smile sadly at him, taking my hand and gently placing it on his thigh just above his knee, he flinches slightly, his body ridged.

I took a deep breath before I started to speak, my eyes glued to my feet, "I have never been so scared in my life, when I realized you and Hope were gone, alone and defenseless, I-I.....don't ever do that to me again", I finish while squeezing his leg firmly. I turn to him, looking directly into his eyes, "I don't know what I would have done if something had happened to you guys", I say with tears starting to form in my eyes.

River eyes soften, regret evident across his entire face, he takes a deep breath before mumbling softly, "im sorry.... I-I should not have done that", he says, defeat evident in his tone as he looks to the floor. He stays like that for just a moment, thinking through his next words carefully before looking back to me, "I know I fucked up, I should have never risked Hopes safety like that", closing his eyes tightly he continues, "please Becca don't punish Hope for my mistakes", he opens his eyes, looking deeply into my eyes, pleading with me to take mercy on her. "Do whatever you want to me" he whispers, "punish me, but please don't hurt her, she is all I have", his voice cracking indicating that he is on the verge of crying.

My eyes close tightly, my free hand balls up into a fist, "I will never hurt Hope, ever", I say firmly while opening my eyes again. "I love her like my own sister...River...." I continue, "I should never have tried to use Hopes safely to force your cooperation, I was just so desperate and I-I...panicked" I say just above a whisper. "You don't understand how hard this is for me" I continue explaining, "I love you so fucking much and it kills me to know that you hate me" I say while wiping the tears that are now falling from my eyes.

River and I stay silent for a moment before he does something I never saw coming, he pulls me closer to him, wrapping me in a tight hug.

We sit together on the bed, Rivers arms wrapped firmly around me and I begin to sob into his chest. We don't say a word, River rubs my back comforting me as I slowly calm down. I look up to him, red puffy eyes and he smiles sadly down to me. "I-I...." I start to speak but River interrupts me, "I am so tired" he says, exhaustion in his voice, "can you just lay with me for a while?", he asks. I look down, a slight smile on my face and I nod slowly.

River pulls us to the middle of the bed, his strong arms wrapped around me, his face in my hair as we lay in silence, comfortably enjoying being close to each other.

River softly mumbles, "thank you for saving Hope..." I don't say anything back in response, I just nod slowly and we return to comfortable silence. My mind is replaying our last interaction, shocked, elated, hopeful, cautions, overthinking every single word, every look just everything.

I was lost in my own thoughts, the sudden light sounds of Rivers cute little snores pull my attention back to the present, and I smile, "maybe we have a chance", I say to my wolf, she just purrs in my mind enjoying being so close to her mate. I pull River closer to me, carefully so I don't wake him up, as I whisper, "I love you River, now and always". I continue enjoying the warmth Rivers body is covering me with as I slowly drift off to a dreamless sleep.