<h4>Chapter 503: A Present from the Alpha</h4>
<strong>Evaline:</strong>
I tried... honestly tried... not to use every single curse word I had ever known in all neen years of my life as I stepped out of the bathroom. Steam rolled out behind me like a dramatic exit, but sadly, the hot bath had failed me. My muscles still felt like they had been run over by a truck... twice... and then stomped on by River for good measure.
He was in a bad mood today, and everyone at training paid the consequences.
Including me.
To be fair, I understood why he was frustrated. Questioning Marcus kept going nowhere. Every time the healers checked on him, Marcus was either still unconscious or waking only to drift off again. And the few minutes they had managed to question him earlier? Useless.
Still, understanding River did NOT make my body hurt any less.
I winced as I walked into my walk-in closet, my fluffy towel wrapped tightly around me. After changing into somethingfortable - a baby blue night set, soft and cute and definitely not meant for an audience - I grabbed my body lotion and sat in front of the vanity. My legs were sore, and rubbing the lotion in felt like my only surviving therapy.
"Stupid, overpowered, beautiful menace," I muttered under my breath as I massaged my calves.
I had just started on my thighs when a knock echoed from my bedroom door.
I froze for half a second.
Tonight was a "sleep alone" night.
Which meant... none of them were supposed to be here.
The door opened a momentter, and I felt it even before I saw him... the unmistakable pull of the bond, warm and consuming, slipping across my skin like the whisper of a storm.
River.
He stepped into my room, and since I had left the door of the walk-in closet open, he knew where to find me.
I was standing there in my short pajamas, bare shoulders, bare arms, bare legs, smelling like vani lotion and looking extremely unprepared to face the strongest, most intense male I knew.
I kept my back to him, pretending I wasn’t suddenly hyper-aware of every inch of exposed skin.
"What brings you here?" I asked, trying to keep my voice neutral as I resumed rubbing lotion on my arms.
I could feel his eyes on me. Heavy. Warm. Hot enough to melt the lotion bottle in my hand.
The air around us tightened as he stepped closer. Slow, deliberate footsteps that sent shivers over my spine. He came to a stop right behind me... so close his heat brushed the back of my shoulders.
When I finally dared to nce up, his dark green eyes were already meeting mine through the mirror.
"Are you sore?" he asked quietly.
Understatement of the century.
"A bit."
He raised a brow.
"Fine. A lot."
His lip twitched, almost a smile.
The tension between us felt different tonight... but then it had been like this for as long as the holidays hadsted. Something sharper. Focused. Intent.
Before I could look away, he pulled his hand from behind his back.
"I brought you something."
I blinked.
"A... present?"
He nodded once.
"Why?" I blurted. "It’s not my birthday. It’s not... anything."
His eyes held mine through the mirror... steady, unblinking, consuming.
"I don’t need a reason to give you something," he said. "You are my mate."
My heart skipped a beat... traitor.
Then he extended the velvet box toward me.
A small, elegant, deep emerald-colored velvet box.
I turned in my chair, facing him properly, and he opened it with a soft click.
My breath left me.
"Oh," I whispered.
Insidey the most beautiful jewelry set I had ever seen in my life - a ne and earrings crafted with sparkling diamonds surroundingrge emeralds. They shimmered under the vanity lights like pieces taken from ancient royalty.
"River..." I swallowed. "This is-this is too much."
"It isn’t."
His tone was final. Confident.
But more than that... gentle.
I shook my head quickly. "I can’t take this. It’s too expensive. I have never even touched something like this... let alone owned it. I’d be terrified of breathing near it."
He stepped closer, lowering the box but not closing it.
"Evaline," he murmured, his voice settling into that deep, velvety tone that always made my stomach flip, "you are not a charity case I’m trying to decorate."
I looked at him sharply, but he continued before I could protest.
"You are my mate. You are the future Luna of the Rogue Community. You should have things that befit your ce... and your worth."
My throat tightened.
I hated how easily he could do that... say something that melted me and disarmed me at the same time.
"But it’s still too much’"
"It’s not."
His gaze softened.
"And I will give you things like this whenever I feel like it. Not because of duty. Not because of status. Because I want to."
The words hit like a warm wave.
He paused, leaning slightly closer, lowering his voice even further.
"And you’d better get used to it."
Heat crept up my neck.
"River..."
He tilted his head.
"Do you not like it?"
"It’s not that," I breathed. "It’s beautiful. It’s... unbelievably beautiful."
"Then let me put it on you."
My chest tightened.
My pulse skittered.
He stepped behind me again, and I felt him gently brush my hair aside. His fingers barely grazed my shoulders, but it was enough to send tingles all down my spine.
He picked up the ne and fastened it around my neck, his fingers lingering for a moment longer than necessary.
The cool metal settled against my warm skin, and suddenly I felt...
Seen.
Adorned.
Cherished.
When he finished, he met my reflection again.
"It suits you," he said quietly.
I swallowed, unable to speak.
I wasn’t used to expensive things.
I wasn’t used to someone looking at me like I was worth adorning with them.
"Thank you," I whispered.
His eyes darkened slightly... not with lust, but with something deeper. Something protective. Something that wrapped around my chest and squeezed.
Then he spoke again, softer this time.
"You deserved a good moment today, after the hell I put you through in training."
I blinked, surprised to hear him acknowledge it. Then, before I could change my mind, I asked, "Are you free tomorrow evening?"