<h4>Chapter 319: A Bath Together (III)</h4>


    <strong>River:</strong>


    "I believe you."


    The moment the words left my mouth, I saw the change in her immediately. Her shoulders softened, her lips parted in relief, and her entire face looked like a weight had been lifted.


    The fragile tension that had been wrapped around her like a shield began to melt away, and I realized then that this was what she had been waiting for. Not just my forgiveness, but my belief in her.


    She took a deep breath, and a small and delicate smile stretched on her lips. "Thank you. Really." Her eyes were almost moist as if she’s trying to hold back tears. "And I’m really sorry for what-"


    Before she could spiral further, I finally gave in to the instinct I had been fighting for far too long. My hand moved of its own ord, brushing gently against her temple, trailing down the soft curve of her cheek. Her skin was warm beneath my fingertips, so warm that I almost forgot myself and lingered longer than I should have.


    And the way her breath hitched... it nearly undid me.


    But I forced myself to pull away, even though my body screamed against the separation. My wolf snarled in protest too, but I ignored it, telling her softly, "You don’t need to apologize anymore, Evaline. I have epted it. I have forgiven you."


    She blinked at me, her eyes shimmering as though my words were some rare gift she had never thought to receive. The moment was too heavy, too fragile, and if we stayed in it any longer, I knew my restraint would shatter. So, I broke it the only way I could.


    "Do you want to swim someps with me?" I asked suddenly, pretending the shift in topic was effortless.


    Her head jerked up, startled by the suggestion. "What?"


    I smirked at her confusion. "Swim with me. Or..." I leaned back slightly, letting mischief tug at my lips, "... do you want to race?"


    Her eyes widened, and for a second, I thought she would decline. But then, to my surprise, she darted forward in the water, already swimming before throwing her voice back at me.


    "Sure!"


    Iughed. She had cheated.


    Pushing off the wall, I followed her, though I kept my strokes slow at first, watching her. She wasn’t the fastest swimmer in the world, but she moved with a kind of determination that made my chest swell.


    She reached the other end first. She pped the pool wall with her palm and turned to grin at me with an expression so bright it nearly stopped my heart.


    "I win!" she dered, her amber eyes sparkling with yful triumph.


    I let out a huff of augh. "You cheated."


    Her grin widened. "Says the loser."


    Thatugh... it was infectious. I hadn’t realized how much I needed to hear it until now. So, for the next round, I slowed my pace deliberately, letting her reach the wall first again. She squealed in victory, her joy radiating so strongly it drew me in like a moth to me.


    We swam a few moreps like that, herughter filling the air, her energy wrapping around me until the tension between us was nothing but a memory. Finally, she stopped near the far wall, her back resting against the smooth tiles, her chest rising and falling with quick breaths.


    I made my way toward her, intending to rest beside her and maybe tease her about her unfair victories. But as I neared, something mischievous sparked inside me. Without warning, I sent a ssh of water directly at her.


    Her scream echoed through the pool chamber. "River!"


    I smirked, already bracing for retaliation. Sure enough, her hands cut through the water, sending waves sttering against my chest. In seconds, we were locked in battle,ughing, shrieking, sshing like children who had forgotten the world outside existed.


    Then, before she couldunch another wave, I lunged forward, catching both her wrists in my hands. Water was dripping down her arms, her skin slick and warm under my grip.


    She gasped, frozen as I held her close. Theughter died on both our lips, reced by a silence that vibrated with something entirely different.


    Something heavier. Stronger.


    She was pressed against me now, her nearly bare body molding against mine, separated only by wet fabric. My throat went dry instantly once again , and my pulse thundered in my ears. I swallowed hard, struggling to keep myposure as her wide eyes lifted to mine.


    In a slow, deliberate motion, I pushed her gently back until her spine met the pool wall. She didn’t resist, didn’t look away.


    My hands still held her wrists, but I shifted, releasing them so I could steady her waist instead. The urge to im, to touch, to keep... everything within me screamed louder than it ever had.


    And then I did what my wolf had been urging me to all along. I lifted her. My hands slid firmly around her waist, hoisting her up onto the ledge so she sat at my eye level, water dripping down her body, making her look like some ethereal vision I didn’t deserve to touch.


    Her breath came uneven, soft and rapid. "River... what are you doing?" Her voice was barely more than a whisper, threaded with nervous anticipation.


    I tilted my head, a small smile tugging at my lips though my own heart was racing wildly. "You still haven’t answered my question."


    Confusion flickered across her face. "What question?"


    I leaned closer, close enough to catch the faint scent of her skin beneath the chlorine, close enough to see every fleck of gold in her eyes. My voice was low, edged with the same intensity I felt gripping me.


    "The one from truth or dare," I reminded her. "Have you started liking me?"


    Her lips parted, but no sound came out. Her hands clenched at the edge of the wall beside her thighs, as if grounding herself from the storm of emotions that question stirred inside her.


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    I waited, every muscle in my body taut, every instinct hanging on the edge of her answer. I wasn’t sure if I was bracing for rejection again or daring to hope for something more.


    But whatever she said next... I knew it would change everything.