<h4>Chapter 505: Her Down Payment</h4>


    <strong>Evaline:</strong>


    I wasn’t sure what reaction I expected when I finally gathered Oscar and Kieran in my bedroom and told them I needed their help... but Oscar looking at me as if I had personally insulted his ancestors was NOT on the list.


    He crossed his arms, leaned back on the couch, and fixed me with the most dramatic stare I had ever seen on a grown Alpha. "So let me get this straight," he said slowly, as if summarizing a crime scene, "you want help nning a surprise... but just for River. Nothing for us. And you want us to help you with it."


    His tone wasn’t jealous. Not genuinely.


    But it was definitely Oscar... which meant he was going to make this as difficult as physically possible just because he could.


    I winced. "I know how it sounds-"


    "Oh, it sounds worse," he cut in immediately, shifting to face me better. "It sounds like deep favoritism."


    Beside him, Kieran sat... looking calm,posed, and annoyingly observant. He nced at me with quiet amusement in his eyes. He wasn’t saying anything yet, but that only meant he was waiting for Oscar to burn out before delivering his own judgment. He always did that. Silent, and with deadly efficiency.


    I sighed internally.


    I deserved this.


    "...okay, fine," I said, "but I have good reasons."


    Oscar wiggled his eyebrows at me in a dramatic<i> go on, exin yourself, traitor</i> gesture.


    I exhaled sharply. "You two know that once I’m back at the Academy, I’ll barely see River, Draven, and Lio during the weekdays."


    Their expressions shifted instantly.


    Not jealousy.


    Not irritation.


    Just... understanding.


    And the tiniest pinch of guilt hit my chest because I knew they weren’t truly mad. They were simply... men. My men. And sometimes that meant they acted ridiculous for fun. Or for attention. Or both.


    We were not moving Draven to the house behind the Academy as there was no hidden room there. Also, Elder Ren said moving him too much wasn’t safe. So he’s staying here at the mansion and River would stay here as well. This meant Lioren obviously couldn’t stay at the new house alone with just staff and warriors.


    With a soft sigh, I continued, "I’ll be in the dorms. And River will be here. And I’ll only get to see him on weekends."


    Oscar’s expression softened... just a bit... but he still grumbled, "Still rude of you to give him a surprise."


    There it was again.


    That exaggerated sulkiness.


    He wasn’t upset. He was just... filling in Draven’s absence by reacting just like how the two of them would have reacted.


    I was starting to feel a tiny bit bad, so I crossed the distance between us and ced my hands on his shoulders. He blinked up at me, clearly not expecting physical affection as payment.


    "Fine," I murmured.


    And I leaned down.


    First, I kissed his right cheek... slow enough to make his eyes widen slightly.


    Then his left.


    Then the middle of his forehead... and that made his breath hitch just a little.


    Then the very tip of his nose.


    Then the sharp edge of his chin.


    Then... slowly, deliberately... I leaned down toward his neck and pressed my lips against the warm skin just above his cor, right where his pulse jumped.


    His breath stuttered.


    By the time I pulled back just enough to brush the corner of his lips with mine, his entire dramatic act melted like warm butter.


    He stared at me, dazed. "Okay. Fine. You win. I’m in."


    A satisfied smile curled on my lips as I stepped back.


    But then my gaze shifted to Kieran.


    And I realized with genuine dread that I now had to deal with him.


    He was so quiet, leaning back against the armchair, hands rxed on the armrests, expression unreadably calm.


    Which was never a good sign.


    Because Kieran, when calm, was ironically the most unpredictable among them.


    I approached him cautiously.


    "Kieran-"


    Before I could even finish, he reached up, slid one hand behind my head, and pulled me slowly, deliberately down toward him.


    My breath caught.


    I knew what he was going to do.


    And yet... I still wasn’t prepared for it.


    He kissed me... fully, on the lips... and there was nothing soft or teasing about it. It was slow. Certain. iming. A kiss that said <i>you don’t have to pay me, but if you insist, this is my currency.</i>


    Heat shot through my stomach and up my spine.


    I felt Oscar watching.


    I felt my heart racing.


    And I felt Kieran’s fingers tighten ever so slightly at the back of my head.


    When he finally pulled away, the room felt warmer.


    Much warmer.


    He looked up at me with a calm, satisfied expression that didn’t match the heat simmering in his eyes. "Down payment received," he said quietly. "Now I’m ready to help."


    I let out a shaky breath, narrowing my eyes at him. "You are impossible."


    "Yes," he agreed without hesitation.


    I shook my head and stepped back before either one of them decided to up their game.


    "So," Oscar said, finally sounding like himself again, "what do you need us to do?"


    I cleared my throat and folded my arms. "I need the house to myself this evening. From six to ten. Just four hours."


    Oscar blinked.


    Kieran tilted his head.


    "...That’s it?" Oscar asked.


    "That’s it," I confirmed. "Just take Lioren out. He’ll enjoy it."


    Kieran nodded. "Done."


    Oscar nodded too. "Fine. But if River gets a surprise... we expectpensationter."


    I flushed. "Compens-?!"


    "Compensation," Oscar repeated, eyes twinkling mischievously. "Of the affectionate variety. I ept kisses, cuddles, and possibly-"


    "Kieran," I cut in, "please control your brother."


    Kieran looked mildly amused. "I can control monsters. Not Oscar."


    Oscar ced a hand on his chest. "I’m honored."


    I groaned.


    Theyughed.


    And yet... warmth bloomed in my chest.


    They were ridiculous.


    And dramatic.


    And impossible.


    But they were mine.


    I exhaled, feeling lighter already. "Thank you. Both of you."


    Kieran nodded once. "Whatever you are nning... River will like it."


    Oscar smirked. "He’ll love it. He already looks at you like you hung the moon."


    My cheeks warmed.


    They didn’t know how true that statement felt.