Help! I Became A Guy In A BL Novel!

Riven's teeth slowly unlatched from Soren's skin. He pulled back, chest still heaving, but his arms refused to let go. He leaned forward instead, resting his head on the place where he'd bitten Soren. A ragged, trembling breath shuddered from his lungs, and he clung to the warm body in front of him like it was the only thing anchoring him to reality.

Soren's arms wrapped around him without hesitation. Not too tight—just enough to let Riven know he was there.

The way Soren's hand cradled the back of his head made Riven's heart squeeze. He felt like a child, vulnerable and raw, but for once he didn't have the strength to pretend otherwise.

He didn't even try to stop the broken whispers of Soren's name falling from his lips.

"Soren… Soren… it's… you…"

His breathing stayed uneven, like he was struggling to remember how to pull air into his lungs. But every time he spoke that name, Soren pressed another soft kiss to his shoulder or brushed his thumb gently over Riven's nape.

"It's me," Soren said, voice low and quiet, as if he was afraid to spook him further. "I'm here, little wolf. You're safe now."

Riven shut his eyes tightly, trying to block out any last flickers of that nightmare. A dream, a hallucination, a memory—he didn't know what it was. He just knew it had felt too real.

But here—sitting on the cold floor with Soren's arms around him—it finally began to fade.

Soren didn't move an inch. He didn't try to carry Riven to the bed or tell him to calm down. He just sat with him, steady and patient, like he had all the time in the world.

Riven's breathing finally started to even out. His shoulders slowly started to loosen up, letting go of the stress built up.

Minutes slipped by in silence, only broken by the wind outside rattling the windows. Riven shifted a little, lifting his head from Soren's shoulder. His heart stuttered in his chest when he looked up.

Soren's gaze met his—dark and searching, warm in a way that made Riven's throat tighten.

"…Soren?" Riven croaked softly, his voice rough from fear.

"I'm here."

Riven swallowed and lifted his hand to cup Soren's cheek. His thumb brushed across the strong line of Soren's jaw. He needed to feel him—to convince himself this wasn't some cruel trick.

But when he looked lower, he saw it.

The mark on Soren's neck. A shallow wound, bruised around the edges, a small bead of blood welling up.

Riven's stomach dropped.

"I—" His voice cracked. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, I didn't—" mean to hurt you... But he did.

"Riven. It's fine..."

Soren lifted one hand and gently enclosed Riven's wrist.

"If not you," Soren murmured, "who else would bite me?"

Riven blinked at him, stunned.

"…What?"

A tired, tender smile curved Soren's mouth. "You can bite me all you want."

Riven felt his eyes sting again, but this time it wasn't terror behind the tears.

He let out a shaky sigh and pressed his forehead to Soren's again.

"…You- I just can't," he whispered, though it came out more fond than angry.

Soren's other arm closed around his back, pulling him close until there wasn't a sliver of space left between them.

Outside, the wind howled. But here, in this quiet, they were safe.

And though Riven still didn't understand what his dreams were trying to tell him—why he kept seeing that woman, why he kept seeing this other Soren who looked at him like he was worthless—he knew at least one thing was real.

This Soren.

The one whose heart beat in time with his was real.

A single tear escaped and tracked down his cheek. "Little wolf…" His voice was low, almost rough. He lifted his hand to cradle Riven's face more securely. His palm was so broad and warm it made Riven's eyes flutter shut.

Soren pressed his forehead to Riven's again, their noses brushing.

Remembering how that Soren wanted him to die, how he was using him as a chess piece, made him want to cry. Would that have been the case if... No, he did not want to think of any ifs. No hypotheticals.

Without a word, Soren tipped his head slightly and kissed the corner of Riven's mouth. The kiss was so tender it made something in Riven's chest give way. It was the stress that just melted away. He was clenching every muscle in his body before, but he slowly relaxed.

Soren didn't stop. He shifted his mouth to Riven's cheek, pressing another gentle kiss there. Then another, closer to the corner of Riven's eye. Riven felt his lashes tremble against Soren's skin as more tears slipped free.

"You don't need to explain," Although Soren would love to know what happened, where that came from, he would not push. It was clearly not a nightmare, Riven was awake. He was just... Seeing things. That's what Soren decided to think. Just hallucinations.

Riven made a tiny, choked noise in reply.

He felt Soren's lips at his jaw, brushing feather-light over the sensitive skin beneath his ear. Riven shivered.

He tilted his head a little, wordlessly giving Soren more space to kiss him.

Soren understood. His mouth traced a slow path down to Riven's throat, pressing warm, reverent kisses over the place where Riven's pulse beat hard and fast.

Riven's hands slipped up, threading into Soren's hair. His fingertips tangled in those thick dark blond strands, and he gripped them weakly, grounding himself in the feeling.

He wanted this form assurance.

Soren pulled back just enough to look him in the eyes. His own were soft now, not cold or calculating or hateful, just filled with something so raw and gentle that Riven's throat closed up.

"Look at me," Soren whispered.

Riven blinked, lifting his gaze even though his vision was blurry.

"This is real," Soren said firmly. His thumb brushed Riven's lower lip, as if to remind him. "I am real. And I love you."

Riven swallowed hard. A small, shaky exhale left his lips.

"Say it again," he murmured, voice hoarse.