Help! I Became A Guy In A BL Novel!-Chapter 77: Go Back

Xavier sighed.

Of course, Riven wouldn’t ask about the clan in general.

There was only one person he really cared about.

"How is... Raphael?" Riven carefully added.

"Raphael is alive," Xavier said. "For now."

Riven frowned. "What do you mean, for now?"

"I mean... Your friend seems to have gotten himself in trouble. It is widespread news that he was thrown in prison." Xavier added before leaving, not wanting to hear anything out of Riven anymore.

Wh- What... Riven felt scared for the first time.

Riven had always considered himself a survivor.

No matter the situation, he always found a way to land on his feet. He was like a cat in that way—except better, because he had a much fluffier tail.

But for the first time, real fear twisted in his gut.

Raphael was in prison.

Xavier’s words had been spoken in the same calm, unaffected tone as always, but for Riven, they might as well have been a death sentence.

He forced himself to keep his expression neutral, ears twitching slightly as he processed the news.

Xavier watched him carefully. Then, after a brief pause, he asked, "Were you in cahoots?"

Riven blinked. "Huh?"

"Did you commit a crime?" Xavier clarified, crossing his arms. His blue eyes were sharp, analysing Riven’s every reaction.

Riven let out a dramatic gasp, clutching his chest. "Xavier! How dare you! Do I look like a criminal?"

Xavier stared at him.

Riven’s tail swished.

"Okay, fine," he relented. "Maybe I look like one, but that’s only because I have a devilishly handsome face and a mischievous glint in my eye. That doesn’t mean I actually—"

Xavier sighed.

"I take that as a no?"

"Of course not!" Riven huffed, folding his arms. "I simply ran away! But... I did have a fight with the Alpha before that..."

His voice grew softer at the end, trailing off.

Xavier raised a brow.

Ah. So that’s how it was.

Riven wasn’t just some runaway. He had angered Ronan directly.

No wonder the wolf clan was a mess.

Riven sighed, running a hand through his already messy hair.

He had been so determined to leave, to finally live life on his own terms, away from Ronan and his habit of leaving for milk.

But now?

Now, Raphael was paying the price.

And Riven couldn’t let that happen.

His dear Raffy, the only person who ever truly understood him, was rotting in a cell because of his reckless escape.

Riven clicked his tongue. "Damn it."

Xavier watched him, silent as ever.

Riven could feel the weight of his stare. The man probably already knew what he was thinking.

Finally, Riven groaned and flopped back onto the bed, covering his face with his arms.

Why did he have to have morals? They were inconvenient at times.

Xavier, unimpressed, flicked him in the ear. "You are exactly the immature wolf I thought you were. Your friend has experienced a great insult, in a clan where loyalty is valued the most, betrayals are not taken lightly."

Riven furrowed his eyebrows. As much as he wants to keep things light until he comes up with a real plan, with every new detail he learns it is becoming increasingly impossible. For the first time, he might have to be serious.

He sat on the edge of his bed, ears drooping, tail still. His usual playful demeanor was gone, replaced by something much heavier—a gnawing dread.

Raphael was in prison.

And Riven... had no idea how to fix this.

His first instinct was to ask for help. Preferably from someone powerful, capable, and terrifying.

Unfortunately, the most powerful, capable, and terrifying person he knew was also the last person who would help him.

Still, he had to ask.

"What if I asked Soren for help?" Riven asked hesitantly, his voice uncharacteristically soft.

Xavier immediately furrowed his brows.

His expression was unreadable, but his next words sent a chill down Riven’s spine.

"Then you would only hasten your friend’s death."

Riven gulped.

Oh.

That was... Not the answer he was hoping for.

His fingers twitched in his lap as he tried to think of another solution.

His mind came up with a much better one.

He turned to Xavier again, eyes hopeful but nervous.

"What about you?" he asked cautiously.

Xavier’s gaze didn’t waver. "What about me?"

Riven whined.

"Come on! Don’t play with me—I’m already sad!" He flopped dramatically onto his side, tail curling around him. "Couldn’t you... I don’t know... break him out?"

Xavier didn’t answer immediately.

For a brief moment, Riven dared to hope—maybe he was considering it.

Then Xavier shook his head.

"You overestimate my value," he said simply.

Riven deflated.

His ears drooped even more, and his tail flicked once before laying still.

Great.

So that was a no.

Now what?

He groaned, rolling onto his back.

"What do I do now?" Riven whimpered.

Xavier slowly stepped forward.

He was so close that Riven could feel the warmth of his presence—or maybe that was just his own panic heating up his body.

Then, in a low breath, Xavier muttered, "If you have any chance of saving him, you need to go back to the wolf clan."

Riven’s head snapped up.

His eyes widened, his fur bristled slightly, and his tail stilled.

Go back? He had considered it, but Xavier laying it out seemed to have convinced him.

"Soren is sending me back?" Riven asked, his tone cautious, his brows furrowed. He did not expect that he would allow Ronan to set foot in their territory.

Xavier inhaled deeply as if debating how much to say.

Then, after a brief pause, he let out a heavy sigh.

"It doesn’t matter what Master wants," Xavier said, voice level but firm. "Ronan wants you back. This might be your only chance."

He had never seen Xavier look so serious before.

It was honestly kind of unsettling.

Ronan wanted him back.

Riven wasn’t sure how to feel about that.

Should he be flattered? Terrified? Was Ronan still angry? Did he want Riven back to punish him?

...Or was it something else?