<h4>Chapter 599: Summoned By Alpha ck (II)</h4>


    <strong>Evaline:</strong>


    My heart was beating so loudly in my chest that I was half-convinced everyone in the room could hear it.


    Still, I held Alpha ck’s gaze without flinching.


    Confidence.


    That was the only armor I had in a room full of powerful Alphas and senior officials who had decades more experience in this world than me.


    And strangely... it was enough.


    "I knew, Alpha. That’s why I made sure to consult with Alpha Thorne and made sure I wasn’t breaching any sort of Rogue Pack’s secrets. Though I used his development project works as a base for my improvisations, there’s nothing included in the report that might give away any internal information of Rogue pack."


    For a long moment after I finished speaking, silence settled over the office. The kind of silence that wasn’t empty but heavy... weighted with evaluation, judgment, calction.


    Alpha ck leaned back slightly in his chair, fingers steepled together in front of him as he studied me.


    I resisted the urge to shift on my feet.


    Out of the corner of my eye, I could feel River’s presence like a steady me... warm, grounding, constant. I didn’t dare look at him directly, but knowing he was there kept my spine straight and my shoulders firm.


    Alpha ck finally spoke.


    "So," he said calmly, "your reasoning is that authority was granted to you through your role, your changes were supported by data, and you ensured consensus from the original contributors and both Alphas before finalizing the report."


    "Yes, Alpha," I replied immediately.


    His sharp gray eyes didn’t leave my face.


    "And if your improvisations had failed?" he asked.


    The question caught me slightly off guard... not because I didn’t expect scrutiny, but because of the direction it took.


    Still, I answered honestly.


    "Then the responsibility would have been mine," I said. "And I would have epted whatever consequences followed."


    A faint flicker passed through his expression.


    Not approval.


    Not disapproval.


    Just... interest.


    "Why?" he asked simply.


    That single word carried more weight than any usation could have.


    Why had I taken the risk?


    Why had I believed I could do it?


    Why had I trusted myself enough to change something built by people more experienced than me?


    I swallowed once, then answered from a ce deeper than logic.


    "Because I knew I could make it better," I said quietly.


    Another silence followed.


    But this time, it felt different.


    I continued before doubt could creep in.


    "I wasn’t trying to prove anyone wrong. I wasn’t trying to overstep. I saw an opportunity to strengthen the project without increasing cost, and I had the knowledge to support it. If I had ignored that just because I’m new... then I wouldn’t be doing my job properly."


    My voice steadied further with each word.


    "Alpha Grey trusted me withpiling the final report. That trust meant I should give the best result I was capable of producing. Not just the safest one."


    Out of the corner of my vision, I risked another nce toward Elion.


    His posture remained rxed against the couch, one arm draped along the backrest. His expression was unreadable, but there was a faint glint in his eyes that I recognized.


    Pride.


    My chest warmed slightly.


    Alpha ck tapped one finger against the arm of his chair.


    Then he said something I did not expect at all.


    "Do you know how many people in this headquarters would have done what you did?"


    I blinked.


    "...No, Alpha."


    "Very few," he replied.


    The answernded like a small shock.


    "Most would have followed the initial structure," he continued. "Not because theycked ideas, but because they feared responsibility. Fear of being wrong is stronger than the desire to improve something."


    His gaze sharpened.


    "You were not afraid."


    I hesitated.


    "I was," I admitted softly. "But I did it anyway."


    For the first time since I walked into the room... Alpha ck smiled.


    It wasn’t a wide smile.


    Just a subtle curve of his lips.


    But it changed the entire atmosphere.


    "Good," he said.


    Relief hit me so suddenly that my knees almost weakened.


    So... I wasn’t in trouble.


    I hadn’t ruined anything.


    I hadn’t offended anyone.


    If anything...


    "You improved the projected structural resilience by twelve percent," Alpha ck continued. "And reduced estimated long-term maintenance costs by neen percent."


    My eyes widened.


    He... knew the exact numbers.


    Of course he did.


    I expected nothing less from him.


    "Those are not minor adjustments," he said. "They are significant improvements."


    A strange mix of pride and disbelief swelled inside me.


    I felt River’s attention shift toward me more strongly, like a pulse through the bond.


    Alpha ck leaned forward slightly.


    "Tell me, Miss Evaline," he said. "Do you intend to remain an assistant?"


    The question stunned me.


    "I-" I faltered for the first time. "I... I hadn’t really thought that far ahead yet, Alpha."


    "Old man, are you trying to steal my assistant right in front of me?" Elion suddenly spoke up, calling Alpha ck out loud in front of everyone.


    Alpha ck didn’t respond. He kept his attention on me.


    "You have analytical instincts," he said. "Initiative. And the willingness to take calcted risks. Those are leadership traits."


    My breath caught.


    Leadership?


    Me?


    A year ago, I had just been an intern trying to survive Silver Moon and figure out my ce in this world.


    Now one of the most powerful Alphas alive was calling me leadership material.


    It didn’t feel real, but it did feel weing. I didn’t doubt myself. I just didn’t expect to be <i>seen</i>... finally.


    "You also have ess to unique mentorship," he added, his gaze briefly flicking toward River and then Elion. "Which gives you an advantage many do not possess."


    Heat crept into my cheeks.


    That part was undeniably true.


    River alone was practically a walking encyclopedia of strategy and project execution. And Elion’s operational brilliance was unmatched.


    I had learned from both of them, and was still learning.


    "I did not summon you here to reprimand you," Alpha ck said finally, and thest of my tension melted.


    "I summoned you because I wanted to see you myself. I have been hearing about this new employee who’s impressed two of my best men."


    My stomach fluttered nervously again.


    "And now that I have," he continued, "I am more interested."


    Interested.


    That word felt dangerous.


    In a good way.


    "What... does that mean, Alpha?" I asked carefully.


    He leaned back again.


    "It means," he said, "that I may have use for you."


    My pulse jumped.


    Behind me, I felt River shift slightly in his seat.


    Alpha ck continued calmly.


    "I know you are still a student and your studies are your priority, but I also believe that your potential is far more than being assistant of these young men."


    "He can’t be real." Elion muttered loud enough for everyone to hear, clearly not impressed by Alpha ck.