<h4>Chapter 635: The Ruthless Alpha</h4>


    <strong>Evaline:</strong>


    I just stood there.


    My gaze moved slowly from the woman standing confidently in front of the desk to the man behind it.


    Celeste Renwyn looked exactly the same as she always did - perfectlyposed, elegant, and beautiful in a way that drew attention the moment she walked into a room.


    Her long dark hair fell over her shoulders like silk, and the red lipstick on her lips matched the sharp color of her manicured nails.


    Her posture screamed confidence.


    Possession.


    Expectation.


    But when my eyes shifted to River... I nearly blinked in surprise.


    Because he looked like he would rather be anywhere else in the world right now.


    His usual calmposure... the one he carried like armor everywhere... was gone. Completely gone. His jaw was tight. His shoulders were stiff. And the look in his eyes...


    It was pure displeasure.


    I had never seen him so openly irritated by someone before.


    He rarely showed emotions like that in front of others. Even in difficult situations, he maintained that unshakeable calm that made people respect... and sometimes fear... him.


    But right now?


    He looked like he was one second away from throwing Celeste out of the window.


    Before I could say anything, Celeste spoke. Her voice was smooth, but the displeasure in it wasn’t even slightly hidden.


    "Why is she here?"


    The question was directed straight at River. She didn’t even bother to nce toward me, nor she tried to hide her annoyance at my sudden arrival.


    River’s expression darkened further.


    For a split second, I had the very strong feeling he might actually snap at her.


    So I spoke first.


    "I came to ask Alpha Thorne for help with some work," I said calmly before adding, "I didn’t realize he had a visitor."


    Both of them looked at me now.


    The tension in the room thickened, making me shift my weight slightly.


    "Well... I’lle backter."


    Honestly, thest thing I wanted was to stand here while Celeste red holes into me.


    So I turned slightly, ready to step back out of the office. But before I could even take a single step... River’s voice filled my head.


    <i>Evaline.</i>


    I froze instantly.


    <i>Don’t you dare leave me alone with this menace.</i>


    My eyes widened slightly.


    Menace?


    That word alone almost made meugh.


    River’s voice continued in my mind.


    <i>Stay.</i>


    There was a faint warning in themand.


    And a clear dare.


    <i>I mean it.</i>


    Slowly, I turned back.


    River was still sitting behind his desk, his expression as controlled as ever on the outside.


    But the faint glint in his eyes told me he had absolutely meant every word he said.


    I suppressed a smile.


    Fine.


    If my mate didn’t want to face Celeste alone, I wasn’t going anywhere. Besides... if I was being honest with myself, I didn’t want to leave either.


    Celeste’s intentions toward River had always been painfully obvious. She liked him. Had liked him for years. And everyone... including me... knew it. Which meant leaving her alone in a room with him wasn’t exactly appealing.


    Celeste looked between us with a faint frown.


    Her brows knit slightly together as if something about the situation didn’t make sense to her.


    Then she turned her attention fully to me. "Do you usually barge into people’s offices like this?" she asked coolly.


    I blinked once.


    Her gaze sharpened. "Or is it because you couldn’t handle your work on your own?"


    The corner of her lips lifted slightly. "Who exactly do you think Alpha River is?" Her tone carried clear disdain now. "Someone who should set aside all his responsibilities just to help you?"


    I opened my mouth to respond. But before I could say a single word...


    River spoke.


    "Leave."


    His voice was deep, sharp, and filled with unmistakable irritation.


    Celeste’s lips curved into a smug smile. She crossed her arms and gave me a pointed look.


    "You heard him." Her smile widened slightly. "Leave."


    I let out a small sigh.


    Honestly, I wasn’t sure how to deal with her. But judging by River’s mood... I didn’t think I needed to.


    River sighed too.


    Then he lifted a hand and pointed directly at Celeste. "I was talking to you."


    The smugness on her face vanished.


    "I’m asking you to leave my office."


    The silence that followed was thick.


    Celeste stared at him...pletely stunned.


    River leaned back slightly in his chair, his expression cold now.


    "Who do you think you are?" he continued calmly.


    His tone wasn’t loud. But every wordnded like a de.


    "Walking into my office as if you own the ce."


    Celeste’s arms slowly dropped from their folded position.


    "This is the Council headquarters," River went on, his gaze turning cold, "Not your pack house."


    His fingers tapped once against the desk as he continued, "Where you can run rampant."


    I felt my jaw slowly start to drop.


    Because River...


    Was being absolutely ruthless.


    "And apparently," he continued dryly, "just anyone can walk into this building these days."


    Celeste’s face paled.


    But River didn’t stop.


    "Evaline."


    My head snapped toward him.


    "Yes?"


    "Tell Elion to review the headquarters security protocols." His tone was perfectly calm. "Clearly they need improvement, since not just anyone should be able to enter this building."


    The implication couldn’t have been clearer.


    Celeste wasn’t wee here.


    At all.


    I honestly had to focus very hard to keep my jaw from fully hitting the floor. Because I had never - not once - seen River speak to someone like this.


    Especially not a young woman.


    Celeste looked like she had been pped. Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.


    For several seconds, she just stood there - speechless.


    Finally, she managed to speak.


    "I’m... Alpha Renwyn’s daughter. Not just anyone." Her voice trembled faintly. "And your future Luna."


    She swallowed hard.


    "You shouldn’t be humiliating me like this." Her eyes flicked toward me briefly as she added, "Especially in front of an outsider."


    River’s response came immediately.


    "The only outsider here is you."


    The words were cold.


    Merciless.


    Celeste visibly flinched.


    River leaned forward slightly, resting his forearms on the desk. "Wake up," he said tly. "And greet reality."


    His gaze locked onto hers.


    "Instead of living in whatever fairy tale you have built inside your head."


    The color drained from Celeste’s face.


    "You could be anyone’s daughter," River continued. "I wouldn’t care."


    Each wordnded harder than thest.


    "And as for your foolish assumption that just anyone can be my Luna..." His eyes narrowed slightly. "You should probably go get yourself checked."


    The silence that followed was devastating.


    Celeste’s lips trembled. Her eyes glistened faintly.


    For the first time since I had known her...


    She lookedpletely shattered.


    She turned abruptly before either of us could say another word, and hurried toward the door.


    Her heels clicked sharply against the floor as she rushed out of the office.


    Her head stayed high.


    Her back straight.


    But the way her hand quickly brushed beneath her eyes before she stepped into the hallway made it painfully clear... she was barely holding her tears back.


    The door closed behind her with a soft click.


    And just like that...


    Her dream of marrying River and bing his Luna had beenpletely... and mercilessly... destroyed.


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