Feral Bonds: Claimed By Rogue Alpha Brothers
Chapter 153: Peppermint Tea

Chapter 153: Peppermint Tea

Evaline:

The headquarters building stood tall and pristine under the morning sun, its glass walls gleaming with polished perfection, just like everything else in River’s world.

I walked in, swiped my ID, and stepped into the elevator, watching the floor numbers tick upward with mechanical rhythm.

With each level I passed, my heart was beating a little faster.

>Level 10: Council Legal Division.

>Level 11: Strategy and Operations.

>Level 12: High Council Memebers offices.

The moment the doors opened, a strange chill gripped me. The hallway was quiet, lined with clean grey tiles and sterile fluorescent lighting. Familiar. Routine. But my steps grew slower, heavier, more hesitant with every inch I crossed.

Suddenly, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be here at all.

What if River already knew?

What if he had heard everything that had happened between me and his brothers?

What if he knew I was pregnant?

The thought alone sent a rush of dread through me.

River wasn’t just my boss. He was Oscar and Draven’s eldest brother. The Rogue Alpha King. Powerful, calculating, emotionally cold... and absolutely terrifying when he wanted to be.

Even before all of this, I was convinced that he would never accept me as a mate to either of his brothers. Especially not both.

Now...?

Now that I came with more secrets than most traitors?

I stopped in front of the office door and tried to steady my breathing, fighting the wild swarm of anxiety that was stirring in my chest.

My hand was hovering in midair as I fought internally.

Maybe I should just turn around. Call in sick. Leave for the day-

But before I could have acted on that thought, the door was pulled open from the inside and River’s secretary stepped out with a stack of folders.

"Morning, Evaline," she greeted me with a pleasant smile, totally unaware of the storm churning in my head.

I managed a weak nod. "Good morning."

"He’s inside," she said, motioning to the office before heading down the corridor with confident clicks of her heels.

Damn it.

I couldn’t run now.

If River hadn’t already noticed my presence from the sound of my heartbeat alone, he certainly would after that.

And right on cue-

"Come in, Ms. Evaline," his deep voice called from inside, smooth and composed like always.

My pulse stuttered. I forced my fingers to stop trembling as I twisted the knob and stepped inside.

He didn’t even look up at first. He was standing near the window with a file in one hand, flipping through it with bored disinterest.

"You are two minutes late," he remarked.

Normally, that would have irritated me. Normally, I would have snapped back with something snarky or glared at him for nitpicking.

But right now?

I almost sagged with relief.

He doesn’t know.

Because if he did, he would be colder. Crueler. Sharper. But he was behaving like he always did - annoyed, stoic, and just River.

It was oddly... comforting.

Still, I didn’t move from my spot. I stayed rooted near the door like some lifeless statue. The ache behind my eyes was making everything blur at the edges.

Then, he finally looked up... and froze.

I saw the double take he did, the sharp sweep of his gaze that went from my face to my posture to the dull glow in my usually bright eyes.

I tried to look normal. I really did. But apparently, I had failed.

He tilted his head slightly, as if trying to solve a riddle. "You look like hell. Are you alright?"

I swallowed hard and forced my shoulders back. "Just tired, Alpha. Didn’t get much sleep."

His brows rose sharply, and I immediately realized the reason.

Alpha.

I never called him that. I barely even acknowledged his title before, not because I didn’t recognize it... but because I had never respected him enough to use it.

The smirk that tugged at the corner of his lips said exactly that.

"Hmm. You calling me Alpha must mean you have been possessed, or you have lost a bet. Which one is it?"

"I just said I’m tired," I muttered, too drained to fight.

He let the jab pass. "Then go get some coffee. It’ll help you stay awake while you battle the mountain of paperwork waiting for you."

I nodded and turned toward my desk, not planning to actually follow his advice. Caffeine wasn’t out of the options.

"...I don’t drink coffee," I whispered as I sat down and powered up the tablet issued to me for Council tasks.

I barely caught the way he paused, just for a split second. Then, without another word, he picked up the telephone on his desk and dialed a number.

I tried not to pay attention. But it was hard not to listen when you were the only two people in the room.

"Brian," he said smoothly. "Bring me a cup of peppermint tea. Now."

I blinked.

Peppermint tea?

And then he did the most unexpected thing - when Brian arrived a few minutes later with the steaming cup in hand, River didn’t take it.

Instead, he pointed to me. "She hasn’t slept. Give it to her."

Brian turned to me with raised eyebrows and a half-smile. "Looks like you have earned tea privileges."

I blinked again, caught completely off guard as I reached for the cup. "Thank you."

"You are welcome," he said before leaving the room.

I turned slowly in my chair, staring at River, but he was already back to work, eyes on his screen and fingers flying over the keyboard.

Like nothing had happened.

Like he hadn’t just quietly acknowledged that I was struggling without calling me out. Like he hadn’t just offered something resembling kindness.

I took a sip of the tea. It was hot and minty and soothing. Exactly what I needed.

And for a moment, I felt like maybe... maybe... this day wouldn’t crush me after all.

River didn’t speak again, and I didn’t press for conversation. We just worked in quiet tandem for the next hour. It was strange... but also oddly peaceful.

Still, beneath that fragile calm, my mind was constantly spinning.

Would he find out?

Would Draven or Oscar tell him?

Would he look at me the same way they had?

Would he throw me out? Would I lose my job? Or my place in the Academy?

For now, all I could do was breathe. Sip tea. And survive the day.

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