Entangled Hearts

River's point of view

“I can’t wait to see you, Ri,” my best friend Pearl squealed in delight. “This is going to be the best summer ever.”

I smiled, holding my phone to my ear with one hand while trying to wrestle my overstuffed suitcase shut with the other. I pressed my knee against the lid, my hair falling into my face as I struggled with the zipper.

I finally yanked the damned zipper closed and let out a triumphant laugh, collapsing onto my bed. “Of course it will be, Pearl, because it’s my eighteenth birthday next week!!!”

I couldn’t keep the excitement out of my voice. “God, I just can’t wait.”

She chuckled, and I could almost see the amused twist of her lips on the other end. “What you can not wait for is to meet your mate.”

I rolled my eyes, placing a soft pillow between my folded legs. My wolf Rai stirred excitedly inside me. “Point of correction, madame. I already know my mate, I just need the Moon Goddess to confirm it on my birthday.”

“Ooooh,” Pearl teased, dragging out the word. “I stand corrected. Soon-to-be Luna.” I could literally feel the heat in my cheeks, I tried to hide it, but my voice betrayed me.

“Stop calling me that. You are going to jinx it.”

“Too late Luna Magnus, or should I say, Gideon's wife-to-be. Even the moon goddess knows better than to mess things up,” she said, chuckling.

“You think so, I really would reject any other mate she offers. It must be my love……Gideon.” I placed one hand on my chest, giggling like a five years old girl who had just been brought ice cream.

“Hunhun, lover girl!” We both laughed and our conversation continued that way with us making plans for my dream wedding.

Then, it went from gossip to plans for midnight movies, then to the ridiculous things only best friends found funny.

When it was finally time to hang up, Pearl wished me safe travels and promised she would see me later that day. I ended the call with my cheeks aching from smiling. For a moment,

I just sat there on my bed, smiling like a teenager who just had her first kiss while I thought of my baby Gideon. “This is really going to be the best summer of my existence!”

My legs skipped around joyfully as I made my way to the bathroom. Four hours later, I sat in the back of a cab, staring out the window as the city blurred into familiar green hills and winding roads.

My heart beat faster the closer we got to home, my fingers drumming against my knees.

The driver probably thought I was strange, smiling to myself like a fool, but I couldn’t help it.

I was going home to meet my wonderful parents, my best friend and of course, my handsome boyfriend.

The cab turned into the long driveway and I could see our mansion already. But before the car even rolled to a stop, something inside me twisted.

The air felt… heavy and even my Rai growled faintly within me. I stepped out, pulling my suitcase behind me, and immediately froze. Royal soldiers were scattered across the compound. They were not standing at ease like they normally would, but they were pacing, in sad motion.

My stomach tightened. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen this many soldiers at once. And then, my eyes landed on someone.

“Gideon?” I whispered. For a moment, I felt relief, he was here, that explains the numerous soldiers.

But wait, didn't he say he would be busy with royal duties? In fact, he cancelled picking me up from the airport.

I paused, as a thought came to my head. “They must be planning a surprise welcome party for me? That was why Mom and Dad didn’t pick up my calls!”

My heart lifted. It made sense now, the soldiers, Gideon’s unexpected appearance, the silence on the phone. They were hiding something from me. And not just anything, something special.

I smoothed my dress, ran my fingers quickly through my hair, and rolled my suitcase forward, leaping towards Gideon. “Hey, Gideon!” He turned at the sound of my voice. And everything in me went cold. His eyes, those warm, mischievous eyes that always lit up when he saw me, were dark, shadowed, almost… broken.

His face was tight, drawn with something I couldn’t name. He didn’t smile. He didn’t open his arms. He didn’t even move toward me. He just stood there and stared at me, as if the sight of me hurt him.

A chill crawled up my spine. “What’s going on?” I asked, my voice sounded thinner than I wanted it to be. “Why are you here? Where is everyone?” He clenched his jaw. His mouth opened, like he was about to say something, but no words came.

He just stood there, silent, his sadness heavy enough to suffocate me. Panic fluttered in my chest. No. No, I wasn’t going to let my mind think any negative thoughts. Not today. So, I smiled at him and said in a bright tone: “Oh, I see what’s happening here, You don’t want me to see all the preparations going on inside for my surprise welcome party, right? Don’t worry, I’ll say I didn’t see you out here.”

He finally spoke, but the words that came out of his mouth didn't make any sense. “You can't go inside.” “What the f*ck! I literally live here dude, so I can go in and out anytime I f*ck*ng want!”

And before he could stop me, before I could look too long into those sorrowful eyes and start believing the fear whispering in the back of my mind, I walked past him.

River's point of view

It's funny how quickly one's excitement could turn to sorrow and pain.

The tremor in my knees started like a faint quiver then it grew violent, almost like the earth itself had shifted beneath me.

My chest burned, my lungs refused to draw air properly, and the pounding inside my heart, wild and untamed, was so loud, I swore the entire world could hear it. It was deafening, terrifying, mocking me for being alive when everyone else inside that house… wasn’t.

My eyes moved around the place that had once been home. Tears blurred the edges of my vision, but nothing could erase the horror in front of me.

Every wall, every corner, every white surface that once radiated warmth had red splashed on it.

My family’s blood, splattered, smeared, soaking into the wood and dripping from the