Help! I Became A Guy In A BL Novel!-Chapter 98: Leave, Riven

Riven needed to make sure Eli was all right, especially since the story had deviated. He needed to ensure that his bunny would not be bullied.

Riven sighed in contentment, sinking deeper into the warm water as the steam curled around him. The big bathtub was luxurious and spacious, making him feel like he could float away and forget about the chaotic morning. He absentmindedly traced circles on the water’s surface, letting his mind wander.

The water showering from above just made everything better.

The tension from earlier seemed to have faded, and he was grateful for the peace and quiet. He couldn’t deny how good it felt to finally relax his sore muscles after being pulled between Ronan and Soren like a chew toy.

He closed his eyes, letting his thoughts drift, but the creak of the door made his ears twitch. His eyes snapped open, and he glanced over his shoulder to see Soren stepping inside. Riven immediately noticed something was off.

Soren’s usual composed demeanor was absent, replaced by an almost desperate intensity. His jaw was clenched, and his grip on something in his hand was firm—Riven squinted and recognised it. The collar.

Riven’s stomach twisted with an unsettling feeling, and he turned around to face him, brows furrowing. "Soren..." he murmured, trying to read his expression. The collar hung from Soren’s hand, and it was clear what his intentions were. Well, he could not say he did not expect this.

Soren looked like he was chill about it, but he was barely holding on.

Soren’s gaze remained locked onto him, his shiny obsidian eyes almost feverish. His breaths were heavier than usual, and his hand tightened around the collar as if trying to keep himself from trembling.

He took a step forward, kicking off his shoes and shrugging off his coat. Water splashed when he climbed into the tub fully clothed, not caring that his black shirt and pants were instantly soaked.

Riven’s eyes widened as he took in the sight. What the hell is he doing? "Soren! You’re getting soaked!"

Soren ignored his protest, kneeling in the water and moving closer, his eyes fixed on Riven’s neck. Riven reached out to touch his face, concerned about his unusual behavior, but Soren caught his hand midway, the grip almost bruising in its firmness. He didn’t pull away, but his heart pounded in his chest as he searched Soren’s face for an answer.

"Soren...?"

Soren didn’t respond, his eyes honing in on the faint bite marks on Riven’s neck. He raised his free hand and pressed his thumb against one of them, rubbing as if trying to erase it. Riven flinched at the roughness, but he didn’t complain, though his eyes became watery from the discomfort. He knew better than to react too much—Soren’s yandere tendencies could easily spiral out of control if he thought Riven was rejecting him.

"Stop," Riven whispered, trying to sound calm. "You’re hurting me."

Soren froze, his thumb halting its ruthless assault on Riven’s marked skin. He still didn’t meet his gaze, his breathing growing unsteady. His grip loosened on Riven’s wrist, but he didn’t let go completely. For a long moment, neither of them spoke, the sound of dripping water filling the silence.

Riven finally broke it, his voice soft but pointed. "Do you hate me now? Knowing that Ronan touched me?"

Soren flinched as if struck, his hand finally falling away from Riven’s neck. He clenched his jaw, and his eyes flickered with a dangerous blend of emotions—jealousy, frustration, and something deeper and darker that Riven couldn’t quite decipher.

"I don’t hate you," Soren finally replied, his tone strained and almost pleading. "But I can’t... I can’t stand it."

Riven’s brows furrowed, and he gave Soren a small, almost sad smile. "Should I leave then?"

He gritted his teeth, shoulders tense. "I know it’s natural. I know he’s your mate. So what I’m feeling is..."

Riven simply waited for him to finish. He knew Soren’s tendencies from the original novel. His OCD, to be more precise. He was very particular about some things. And this was one of them.

"Should I leave?" Riven looked at him and asked seriously. The smile on his face stayed, it was not a smile filled with happiness but the exact opposite.

He was thrown away by one person, he refuses to be treated like this again.

"You let him mark you, and you looked so... Happy."

Riven’s throat tightened, he looked away. He did not want to hear this anymore. If Soren thinks he was ’dirty’ then there was no point in him staying here. No amount of convincing or anything else would change his mind.

He... Did not know if he was angry with Soren. He bit his lip and looked at Soren again.

Soren closed his eyes, pressing his forehead against Riven’s shoulder as if seeking comfort. His hands gripped Riven’s waist, pulling him closer despite his soaked clothes. "I don’t care," he whispered as if he was convincing himself.

Riven’s breath hitched. He didn’t know how to respond to that, and Soren’s arms wrapped tighter around him, his face buried against his neck. The way he clung to him was almost suffocating, but Riven couldn’t bring himself to push him away.

"You’re mine," Soren muttered, his lips brushing against Riven’s collarbone. "But you have his marks on you."

Riven sighed. Was that not his whole thing? His entire life had been filled with misery... At least the majority of it. He had grown up in poverty, and his mother was barely affectionate. She hated him, and when she had the chance, she sold him off to some rich widow.

That woman did not care about anything other than her own selfish desires. The mental and physical scars on Soren formed his behaviour now. He hated any of his things being ’tainted’.

He loved money and power so that he would never have to be in a helpless position again.

Riven whispered again, "If you want me to leave..."