Evaline:
My body was sore in places I hadn’t known could ache, and my cheeks burned when my mind betrayed with flashes of the night... and the shower earlier that had nearly stolen every ounce of strength from .
The two n had finally left alone to get ready, and I was grateful because otherwise I would be running late.
It turned out Draven had bought a couple of pairs of clothes for in case of such... ergencies. There were options for formal, casual, and even pajamas. Every color, every style, every print was according to my preference. And the realization of how thoughtful and attentive he was, made my heart fill with warmth.
I chose dark blue trousers, a white woolen turtleneck top, a beige long coat, and my white boots to complete the look.
There was even skincare and makeup products, but I only used the forr. I pulled my freshly blown out hair in a low ponytail and put on my charm bracelet and the pendant - both gifts from my mates.
Once I was ready, I pulled my phone out of charging and headed out of the room. Draven was still in the kitchen while Oscar was busy setting up the dining table.
As I made my way to the dining table, he pulled out a chair for to sit. But the mont I did, my body protested, making wince a little.
"You are sore," he stated simply, as if he could feel the ache in my bones himself.
I turned my head to look at him, my eyebrows arched high.
His mouth curved just slightly. It was barely a smile, but enough to undo . "Don’t be mad, little mate. I’ll give you a massage later. An hour, at least. So you can sit through your studying tonight without wincing every ti you shift."
My heart gave a stupid flutter. He always said things like that, as if his way of loving was in the quiet promises, the unshakable care hidden beneath steel.
Before I could answer, Draven’s voice carried back from the kitchen. "Breakfast is ready!"
The warmth of the food pulled in despite myself. Draven had prepared a hearty al - thick vegetable stew, warm bread fresh from the oven, and spiced tea that filled the little house with a fragrant comfort.
"Sorry about the soreness, sweetheart." Draven said as he took his seat at the table.
I narrowed my eyes at him, but he only winked and slid a steaming bowl in front of . "Here, drink this." He set down a small vial filled with shimring liquid. "Potion to ease the aches. Won’t erase everything, but it’ll help."
Oscar leaned back in his chair, watching with that unreadable stare of his. "Take it," he said. "Don’t argue."
I sighed, but obeyed, the warmth of the potion spreading through slowly, numbing the sharp edges of soreness. When I finally lifted my gaze from the al, both n were watching with quiet satisfaction, as if my compliance was enough to make their morning whole.
"Don’t look at like that," I muttered, tearing a piece of bread.
"Like what?" Draven smirked.
"Like I’m... yours."
Oscar’s voice cut in, firm and certain. "That’s because you are."
Heat flushed up my neck, but I busied myself with food instead of replying.
Later, Draven drove to the Council HQ, the forest path winding down the mountain blanketed in snow. His hand kept slipping over to my thigh, his thumb brushing lazily against my skin even as he kept his eyes on the road.
"You’ll be back before evening, right?" he asked.
"Half day," I nodded.
"Good. Don’t overwork yourself. One of us will co to pick you up."
When the car rolled to a stop outside the HQ, he didn’t let leave right away. His hand caught my wrist, tugging back into a long, lingering kiss that left my lips tingling and my cheeks warm. By the ti he let go, I was flustered and nearly late.
"Go," he said with a grin, voice low. "Or I’ll keep you here all day."
I shoved him lightly before stepping out into the cold.
The mont I stepped into River’s office, my smile abandoned .
He was there.
Seated behind his desk. His presence was filling the entire room, heavy and suffocating like the weight of the storm outside. His deep green eyes lifted the second I entered, and my steps faltered.
"River..." I whispered.
His gaze sharpened, darkening as it swept over . And then, before I could even breathe, his nostrils flared.
My heart skipped.
His jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing with sothing dangerous. "Oscar. Draven." His voice was low, sharp enough to cut through air. "You are covered in their scents."
My entire face went up in flas.
I stamred, "I-I..." but words failed .
He rose from his chair with the kind of controlled grace that made my stomach knot, his height and presence overwhelming as he stepped around the desk.
The scent between us grew heavier - his own, thick and demanding, clashing against the lingering traces of my other mates. I wanted to disappear, but my body betrayed , frozen under the intensity of his gaze.
"You ca to work like this," he murmured, each word edged in ice. "Parading their marks, their scent."
I flinched, my ears burning so hot I swore they might lt the snow outside. "I didn’t an-"
"Didn’t an?" His steps closed the space between us until I had to tilt my chin up to et his eyes. "Or didn’t care?"
My throat tightened. There was always this between us these days, or maybe it had always been here but I didn’t dare notice - this unbearable tension, this pull that made dizzy. He was ruthless, untouchable, yet every glance, every word wrapped around like a chain.
"I ca here to work," I managed, forcing the words past the lump in my throat.
His eyes softened for a fraction of a second, but then his hand braced against the wall behind , caging in. His scent wrapped around , far more intoxicating than it had any right to be.
"You think I don’t notice?" he whispered, voice dangerously low. "The way you look at . The way you burn when I’m near."
My breath caught. "I don’t-"
He leaned closer, his lips brushing just near my ear without touching. "Do you know how hard it is for ? To see them on you? To sll them on you? When all I want is to-" He cut himself off sharply, his jaw tightening, as though his own words threatened to betray too much.
The office was spinning, my pulse hamring so loudly it drowned everything else out.
This wasn’t how I thought my day would start.
Not with River’s voice in my ear, not with his body close enough to ignite every nerve in mine, not with his truth pressing so dangerously close to mine.
And yet, even as I stood there trembling, I couldn’t bring myself to step away.
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