Help! I Became A Guy In A BL Novel!
Chapter 269: Awake

Chapter 269: Awake

Riven had been sweating buckets. His fever gradually came down but it was an arduous process.

Soren hadn’t moved from his side.

Not even once.

He did not let anyone touch him. Not even Eli, despite knowing how skilled the man was. Only when Eli needed to check vitals did Soren step back, reluctantly, and only if Ronan stood nearby to supervise.

Soren gently dabbed the cool cloth along Riven’s collarbone, wiping away the sweat pooling at his throat. His white shirt clung to him, drenched, and Soren cursed under his breath.

How could someone so bright, so reckless, so full of life—be reduced to this?

It brought back memories he did not wish to remember. No, Riven will not leave him, he would not allow himself to be abandoned again.

Just wake up. I will do whatever you want... He whispered.

The cloth ran along Riven’s brow once more. The flickering candlelight cast soft shadows over his pale skin. Then—just as Soren dipped the cloth back into the basin—he saw it.

A twitch.

Not much. Barely noticeable. But he didn’t miss things like this. His hand froze mid-air. His breath hitched.

And then, slowly... Green eyes fluttered open.

Riven’s face twitched as he tried to adjust to the golden haze of candlelight. His vision was blurry. His body felt like it had been dragged through fire and snow. But there was something he felt immediately.

Warmth.

A hand cupping his cheek. A soft touch on his forehead.

And then—Soren’s voice, rough with emotion:"Riven..."

Though he could not see things clearly yet, he knew that this was Soren.

Riven blinked again, focusing. He saw Soren’s dark blond hair tousled in a cute way, sharp brows, a light stubble on his face. He looked at him in relief.

"Soren..." he croaked.

That single word made something shatter in Soren. He leaned forward, pressing his forehead lightly to Riven’s damp one.

"Don’t ever do that to me again," he whispered. "Don’t ever leave me like that."

In the background, muffled voices floated in from outside the room.

"I know his vitals are stable," Ronan was saying. His voice was low, but strained. "But he hasn’t opened his eyes, Eli. Are you sure that means he’s getting better?"

"I’m trying my best!" Eli snapped... The usually obedient bunny couldn’t take it anymore, "I’m not a god! I’m his friend. You think this is easy for me? Watching him waste away in front of me while you two stare like I’m not already falling apart?"

There was a pause. Then quieter, Eli added, "Just... just let me do what I can."

Soren smiled faintly and whispered near Riven’s ear, "They’re so loud. Want me to kick them out?"

Riven blinked, dazed but amused. "No... I want water. And food. And—"He paused. His throat burned."...a bath."

Soren chuckled softly, grabbing the pitcher from the bedside and lifting the glass to his lips. He slid a hand behind Riven’s head and helped him drink carefully.

The door creaked open suddenly.

Ronan was the first one through. His eyes were bloodshot, and shadows darkened his face, making his usual stoicism seem more like a storm ready to break.

When he saw Riven’s open eyes, his whole body tensed—and then relaxed all at once.

"You’re awake."

"Hey," Riven whispered. That was all he could muster, his voice was too weak.

Ronan walked straight over to the bedside, brushing past Eli, who looked like he was going to collapse from exhaustion and relief.

The wolf Alpha knelt down beside the bed, opposite Soren, and took Riven’s free hand, pressing it against his chest.

Riven could feel it. The heartbeat under Ronan’s ribs. Strong. Steady. Fierce.

"You scared me," Ronan murmured. "Don’t do that again."

"You too?" Riven rasped.

Ronan didn’t answer. He just brought Riven’s wrist to his lips and kissed it—slow, reverent.

"You’re awake..." Eli walked to the foot of the bed and smiled at Riven.

Riven had just finished sipping some warm water when he gently tugged at Ronan’s hand.

"Can you and Soren give me a moment?" he asked softly.

Ronan raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"I want to talk to Eli."

Soren and Ronan exchanged glances. Soren looked about ready to argue, but a quick glance at Riven’s pale face and drooping eyelids made him sigh. He leaned down, pressed a brief kiss to Riven’s temple, and muttered, "Call if you need anything."

Ronan did the same, leaving a longer kiss on Riven’s wrist before rising to his feet. "Don’t strain yourself."

"We’ll be outside," Soren added, shooting Eli a final warning glance before they both left the room.

Eli waited for the door to shut before he exhaled, dramatically slumping into the chair beside the bed. "You have a knack for worrying people."

Riven shrugged, "Well, I try."

Riven smiled faintly, but his expression quickly turned serious. "How long was I out?"

Eli blinked. "Three days."

Riven’s eyes widened. "What?! No wonder I feel like I haven’t eaten in years."

"Well, you haven’t. You’ve had some fluids and a few healing tonics, but nothing solid."

Riven groaned and slumped further into the bed. "Great. No wonder my body feels like wet paper."

Eli chuckled softly and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. His voice was gentler now, tinged with warmth and exhaustion. "You overexerted yourself. You should’ve been on bed rest, but you never listen to me."

"I’m not dead, though."

"Yet," Eli muttered.

Riven rolled his eyes. "So what exactly happened? Did I faint?"

"Yes, you were unconscious," Eli said. "More like your body shut down. It needed to recover without you running around and interrupting its process."

Riven closed his eyes again, not to sleep, but to hide the way his mind started flashing images from those three endless days. The void. The echoing voices. The whispers of a woman... The memories of his so-called father.

He saw himself crying in the dark, younger and smaller, begging for something he never received—love. A father’s approval. Well, original Riven’s younger self...