Feral Bonds: Claimed By Rogue Alpha Brothers-Chapter 537: New Job at Council

Evaline:

The first raindrop hit the stone path just as I made it past the administration building.

I felt it... cold and sharp... right on the back of my hand, and my heart jumped into my throat.

"Of course," I muttered under my breath, tightening my grip on my bag as I picked up my pace.

The sky had been overcast when I left the dorms, heavy with promise, but I had convinced myself it would hold off for a little longer. On the other hand, Rowan had not been convinced.

Don’t forget your umbrella, he had said, once while I was heading to the showers.

Eva, umbrella, he had repeated when I was tying my shoelaces.

I had forgotten it anyway.

Now the rain was no longer pretending.

By the time I broke into a run toward the Academy gates, the drizzle had turned into a steady downpour. My boots splashed against the ground as I sprinted.

The black car waiting just beyond the gates had never looked more beautiful.

Mr. Wood stepped out the moment he saw me, opening the back door with practiced efficiency. I barely slowed as I slid inside, breathless and laughing softly under my breath at my own poor planning.

"Good morning, Miss Evaline," he greeted warmly, closing the door behind me before hurrying around to the driver’s seat.

"Good morning," I replied, brushing raindrops from my sleeves. "And thank you... for waiting."

He chuckled as he started the engine. "That’s my job."

As the car pulled away from the Academy, I leaned back against the seat, finally allowing myself to breathe.

It was saturday morning.

While most of the Academy was still inside in the dorms, I was already on my way to the Council headquarters.

It’s my first official day at job.

The thought sent a nervous flutter through my chest for obvious reasons.

The rain intensified as we drove, drumming against the roof of the car, blurring the woods beyond the windows into streaks of green, red, and yellow.

It took about half an hour before the familiar tall and imposing building of headquarters came into view. Relief washed over me when Mr. Wood pulled right up to the main entrance instead of stopping in the parking area.

"Oh, thank the Moon," I murmured.

He smiled in the rearview mirror. "Didn’t fancy making you swim on your first day."

"I appreciate that more than you know," I said sincerely.

The moment he stopped, I pushed the door open and darted inside. The warmth of the building wrapped around me instantly, and I let out a quiet sigh of relief as the doors closed behind me.

I was safe from the rain, dry, and on time.

The storm outside was no longer my problem.

The lobby buzzed with its usual restrained energy... employees walking briskly, Alphas on their way to their offices, warriors standing at attention. I nodded to the familiar faces as I crossed the marble floor, my boots echoing softly.

I took the elevator straight to the seventh floor just like he messaged me to do last evening. And by the time the doors slid open, my nerves had returned full force.

I stopped in front of his office door, inhaled deeply, and smoothed my expression into the calm, composed mask I had been learning to wear as well as possible.

Then I knocked.

"Come in," a woman’s voice called.

I blinked.

That wasn’t Alpha Grey.

I pushed the door open slowly.

A woman who seemed to be in her late thirties stood next to the long wooden desk, her dark hair pulled into a neat bun, sharp eyes scanning a tablet in her hands. She looked up immediately, her gaze assessing but not unkind.

"You must be Evaline," she said,. "I’m Mara Whitlock - Alpha Grey’s secretary."

"Oh," I said, stepping inside and closing the door behind me. "It’s nice to meet you."

She smiled, extending her hand. "Likewise. Alpha Grey asked me to get you settled today."

I hesitated. "He’s... not here?"

Mara shook her head. "Not at the headquarters, no. And before you ask... no, I don’t know if he’ll be coming in today."

The words landed heavier than they should have.

I nodded slowly, though unease crept into my thoughts.

The deal I had made with Elion was simple - I work for him, assist him at the Council, and in return, he would answer my questions. About my bloodline. About my power.

If he wasn’t even here...

The urge to pull out my phone and message him was immediate and strong.

Where are you?

Are you still honoring our deal?

My fingers twitched, but I stopped myself.

Jumping to conclusions had never served me well.

Instead, I straightened my shoulders and met Mara’s gaze. "What would you like me to start with?"

Her expression shifted and approval flickered briefly in her eyes.

"Since it’s your first day," she said, gesturing toward a stack of files, "nothing too heavy. I want you to familiarize yourself with Alpha Grey’s work since joining the Council. Past projects, ongoing initiatives, his areas of focus."

I nodded. "And his schedule?"

That earned me a raised brow.

"Ambitious," she remarked. "But yes. I can provide that as well."

The hours that followed passed in a blur of reading, note-taking, and quiet observation.

Alpha Grey’s work was... extensive.

Policy reforms. Inter-pack negotiations. Resource allocation for border territories. Initiatives aimed at stabilizing smaller, struggling packs.

I absorbed everything hungrily.

Occasionally, I asked Mara for clarification or additional records - future projections, pending approvals, council debates that had stalled progress. Each time, she seemed more impressed than surprised.

"You are thorough," she commented once, handing me another folder.

"I like knowing what I’m walking into," I replied honestly.

By mid-afternoon, the rain outside had faded into a distant memory. I was too deep into the work to notice much of anything beyond the papers in front of me.

When I finally glanced at the clock, my eyes widened.

4:30 PM.

Only half an hour left.

I finished skimming the last file, jotting down a few final notes, when the office door opened.

I looked up instinctively.

And my breath caught.

Elion Grey stepped inside.