Feral Bonds: Claimed By Rogue Alpha Brothers-Chapter 541: Paying The Price

River:

I slipped inside the room carefully, letting the quiet of the room settle into my bones.

The curtains were drawn halfway, allowing the late afternoon light to spill softly across the bed.

My gaze found my mate. She lay on her side, her arm curved protectively around Lioren. Our son was tucked against her chest, his tiny fingers fisted into the fabric of her blouse as if even in sleep he feared the world might take her away. His lips parted slightly, a faint puff of breath escaping with every exhale.

My chest tightened.

No matter how many times I saw them like this, it never failed to undo me.

I moved closer to the bed, careful with every step, as if the floor itself might betray me if I wasn’t cautious enough. I adjusted the pillows she had stacked along the edge... her usual fortress against our restless baby... and made sure they were snug enough to keep Lioren safely nestled where he was.

I brushed my knuckles gently across his forehead, smoothing back the soft silver strands that refused to stay in place.

He stirred, just barely, a tiny frown forming between his brows before he relaxed again.

I smiled.

My gaze then drifted to Evaline.

Her face was peaceful in sleep, the tension she carried so often finally eased away.

I reached out, brushing the back of my fingers along her cheek.

She was warm. Real.

For a heartbeat, I let myself linger there.

Then I pulled back.

I should leave them be, I told myself. Let her rest. Let them have this quiet moment without me disturbing it.

I turned toward the door.

"River," she murmured.

I froze.

Her eyes were still closed, her voice soft and heavy with sleep.

"Hold me."

The words wrapped around me like a spell.

I turned back instantly, my resolve crumbling without a fight.

A smile tugged at my lips as I stepped closer again. "You want to cuddle?" I asked quietly, keeping my voice low so I wouldn’t wake Lioren.

Her head dipped in a small nod, her cheek brushing against the pillow.

"Yes."

I didn’t even pretend to hesitate.

But just as I moved to climb onto the bed, her voice came again... calm, almost casual.

"Can you take off your shirt?"

I stared at her.

She looked so serene, so unbothered, as if she had just asked me to pass her a glass of water instead of casually dismantling what little self-control I had left.

For a moment, I could only smile in stunned disbelief.

Then I sighed softly, more at myself than at her.

"Cruel woman," I murmured under my breath.

I unbuckled my belt, slipped off my shoes, and unbuttoned my shirt before taking it off, setting everything aside as quietly as possible. The room felt warmer instantly, or maybe that was just me.

Carefully, I climbed onto the bed behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her back against my chest.

She turned toward me slowly, mindful of Lioren, and tucked herself into my embrace as if she had always belonged there.

The moment her cheek pressed against my bare chest, something inside me settled.

This... this was home.

I rested my chin lightly against the top of her head, breathing in the familiar scent of her hair. My arms tightened just a little, holding her close without trapping her.

She sighed softly, her body relaxing fully against mine.

I glanced down at Lioren again, making sure he was still sleeping. He hadn’t moved an inch, his expression blissfully unaware of the world.

Satisfied, I turned my attention back to my mate.

I brushed a few strands of hair away from her face, tucking them gently behind her ear. My fingers grazed her lobe, just barely.

She stiffened.

Not pulling away... just reacting.

I felt it immediately.

A quiet, dangerous smile curved my lips.

I admired her face in the soft light... the curve of her cheek, the line of her nose, the faint crease between her brows that appeared even in sleep. The more I looked at her, the harder it became to keep my thoughts in check.

How easy it would be to tilt her chin up.

How tempting it was to capture her lips and remind her exactly how much she affected me.

My wolf stirred restlessly, urging me forward.

I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly.

No.

Not yet.

I had made this harder for myself by starting that ridiculous game... this silent standoff where neither of us would be the first to give in. And now here I was, paying the price for my own pride.

My wolf was not pleased.

He growled softly in my chest, irritated with me for denying what we both wanted.

"I know," I murmured internally, as if he could hear me. "I know."

Evaline shifted slightly, her hand sliding up to rest against my chest, fingers splayed over my heart.

The contact sent a quiet jolt through me.

Her thumb moved, absentmindedly tracing a slow circle.

I clenched my jaw.

She wasn’t even awake enough to realize what she was doing.

Or maybe she was.

"Long day?" I whispered.

She hummed softly, her forehead pressing closer to my collarbone. "Busy," she murmured. "But... good."

I smiled at that.

Then she shifted again, her leg brushing against mine, and I felt my wolf bristle at the closeness.

"River?" she murmured.

"Yes?"

"I love you," she said softly.

I stilled.

My arms tightened around her instinctively.

"I love you too, Angel."

She smiled faintly against my chest.

We lay there like that for a long time, the three of us wrapped in a quiet bubble that felt untouched by the chaos outside these walls.

Eventually, Evaline’s breathing evened out again, deeper this time.

She had fallen back asleep.

I stayed awake, listening to the steady rhythm of her breath and the softer one of our son’s.

I pressed my face into her hair... careful, restrained... and rested my cheek against her head.

For now, this was enough.

For now, I would hold them and let the world wait.