Feral Bonds: Claimed By Rogue Alpha Brothers
Chapter 87: The Alpha Gathering

Chapter 87: The Alpha Gathering

Evaline:

Saturday mornings usually meant exhaustion. At least for me. But this one came with a different kind of weight in my chest. It wasn’t quite dread, not quite curiosity... just a tense anticipation as I made my way to the Council headquarters for my internship shift.

A whole day under River’s eye wasn’t how I would like to spend my weekend. But I had no other choice. And after how strangely decent he had been last time, I wasn’t able to help but wonder what version of him I would be getting today.

When I arrived, he was already in his office, going through a thick stack of reports. The moment his gaze landed on me, I braced myself... only to be thrown off once again.

"You are early," he said simply. "That’s good. Punctuality is a virtue."

I blinked and waited for a sarcastic jab or some cryptic remark, but none came. He was civil. Maybe even, dare I say it, pleasant.

The first half of the day passed in a strange blur. He assigned me tasks without the usual cryptic instructions. He answered my questions. Gave guidance where needed. And never once raised his voice or looked at me like I was an inconvenience.

Everything was going fine. Way too fine.

By the time lunch passed and I returned to the office, I almost... almost... allowed myself to believe the rest of the day was going to remain peaceful.

But then...

"You’ll be accompanying me to the Alpha Gathering tonight."

I nearly chocked on the water I was drinking.

"Excuse me?"

His face remained impassive. "You heard me. There’s a private gathering tonight. High-level Alphas and a few selected Beta representatives will be attending. I want you there."

"Why?" I asked, feeling baffled. "I’m barely three weeks into this internship. What possible use could I be at an Alpha Gathering?"

He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. "Because you are the top of your class in behavioral analysis and political theory. Because I have already noticed your knack for observation. Because I need someone who will listen and report rather than try to impress everyone in the room."

"I don’t have anything to wear," I tried.

"This isn’t a fashion show. You are there to observe, not walk a runway."

"I have plans tonight," I tried again. "I promised my friends-"

He raised an eyebrow. "Do you want this internship or not?"

I shut my mouth. He wasn’t threatening me. Just stating facts.

And unfortunately, he was right. I needed this internship. It was the kind of opportunity that could open doors I didn’t even know existed. Even if it meant sacrificing a night of movies and dinner.

"Fine," I muttered. "I’ll go."

He gave a single nod, then went back to reading his file as though the conversation was already over.

I messaged my friends in between sorting reports.

Eva: Hey guys. Something’s come up at the internship. I have to go with Alpha River to some meeting tonight. I can’t make it to the movie and dinner, I’m really sorry.

Their responses were almost instantly.

Mallory: You have got to be kidding me.

Noah: Why today?

Ria: Ugh... That sucks. We’ll miss you, Eva.

Selene: This better be worth ditching us for, girl.

Kyros: Don’t overwork yourself.

I sighed and tucked the phone away. They didn’t oppose to my change of plan, but their disappointment was practically vibrating through the screen.

It wasn’t really easy for me to focus on work after that as I felt nervous, but I still tried my best. And as clock struck six, we finally left for the hotel in his car.

I was wearing a simple black blouse tucked into slate gray slacks. My hair was pulled back into a clean, low bun. I was looking neat, professional, practical.

But it took precisely one step into the grand hotel’s ballroom to realize I was looking like someone’s lost assistant.

The room was glimmering with warm gold light. Chandeliers were dripping from the ceiling like constellations. Tables were dressed in white and silver. Men in tailored suits and women in elegant dresses were moving like royalty. There were even a few extravagant gowns that looked like they belonged on red carpets.

I didn’t even make it to the main floor before the stares began. But they were for the Rogue Alpha King.

River, of course, didn’t react at all. He moved like he owned the place - calm, confident, effortlessly composed.

Meanwhile, I tried to keep my shoulders square and my steps steady. No matter how amateurish I looked, I wasn’t going to shrink. Not tonight.

River handed me a glass of water from a passing server and leaned close to speak near my ear. "Stick to listening. Note body language. Who talks to whom. Who doesn’t. You are not here to speak. Just absorb."

I nodded silently, grateful for the clarity, even though I noticed how this action immediately caused the people there to finally notice me, something they didn’t until River whispered in my ear.

We started making rounds. He introduced me to no one, and I offered no words unless spoken to... which wasn’t often. Most conversations around us were loaded with polite hostility, veiled threats wrapped in business lingo, and political maneuvering so slick I could barely keep up. But I did my best to watch, to notice details, like River had asked.

A tall man with sharp features kept adjusting the ring on his finger whenever the Alpha from the northern mountains approached him. Another younger Beta was trying to hide how his hands trembled every time River walked past him. A female Alpha in a deep emerald gown was watching everyone but said very little, her silence was more powerful than most speeches in the room.

I was almost beginning to settle into the rhythm of it.

Until I felt it.

That icy prickle on the back of my neck. It was a sharp, instinctive awareness.

I turned slowly... and my breath caught.