Mated to you

Chapter 1 - Push on

River noticed Thea’s hurried retreat from the table. “Where are you going?” she asked, voice casual but her eyes sharp.

“The bathroom,” Thea said—too fast.

River tilted her head, one brow lifting in a silent Really?

Thea sighed, waited until the room had thinned out, then muttered, “Fine. I want to go hide in that very dark room of your brother’s. It is his, right?”

River’s lips twitched, almost a smile. “Most people ask for a tour before they pick a favourite dungeon.”

Thea didn’t laugh, but she did see the humour in it. “Where did he go? Can you tell him to come back?”

River’s gaze softened, just a fraction. “He’s got important things to deal with, but I’ll pass the message on.”

Thea gave her a disappointed look. “He dropped a massive bomb on me and then bailed. This isn’t fair. And he expects me not to want to run from this place.”

“You’re not the only one who didn’t ask for this,” River said. “My brother didn’t ask for a mate either, but he got one. And you may think you want to run, but I know you don’t. I can see it. You love him just as much as he loves you—you just haven’t realised it yet.”

She paused, then added bluntly, “If you want to leave, tell me now, and I’ll escort you out of this country myself.”

Thea swallowed. She did want to run—what she’d seen Reign become was haunting enough. But beneath the fear, something else had settled. Curiosity. Pull. The knowledge of what he was… and what she was to him.

“I know you’re confused,” River said. “And I can help you with that. You can learn at a pace that suits you.”

She held Thea’s gaze, steady and unflinching.

“And if you don’t want that, I’ll take you back to your human life myself. And I’ll make sure he never finds you.”

River let the offer settle, giving Thea space to think.

Finally, Thea let out a shaky breath. “I… I know you’re trying to help,” she said, guilt creeping into her voice. “With him I froze. I ran. I tried to…” She paused at thought, the fear and anger over his lies slipping into something heavier, guilt. When was the right time for him to ever introduce her to all of this? She sighed at the thought.

Her eyes then lifted to River, and the realisation hit her slowly, then all at once.

“You’re a wolf too,” Thea said quietly. “And I’m standing here talking to you like it’s normal, and I’m not terrified.” She shook her head, confused with herself. “But with him… I couldn’t even breathe. I called him a monster, an animal, that’s how he thinks I see him.”

The admission sat between them, raw and uncomfortable. Thea swallowed hard. “I shouldn’t have reacted like that. I know he didn’t deserve it. What that lady said at the table was right, I don’t know the basics before basics.”

The guilt pressed deeper, but so did the truth, she wasn’t running now. Something in her had already shifted. He had family, just like she once did, they loved him just the same as hers once had. “I just needed a moment to process it all.” Thea admitted.

“So, you’ll stay?” River asked.

Thea nodded, slow and unsure, but honest. “Yes.” She wasn’t sure if it was the right decision but there was no way she could go back to her old life now. Not after knowing beings like Reign existed. Not after knowing Reign existed. Pretending none of this was real would be impossible.

“I’m told there’s enough to entertain me until he returns,” Thea added, a small smile tugging at her mouth despite everything.

River returned it. “There’s a lot to unpack.”

She turned and began to lead the way, and Thea followed, still scared of the unknown, and guilty, but no longer wanting to run from it.