Feral Bonds: Claimed By Rogue Alpha Brothers

Evaline:

The moment they realized I wasn't joking about the "we need to talk" thing, both of them straightened on the couch.

"Alright," Draven said, leaning forward and resting his forearms on his knees. "Say whatever it is you need to say."

"Yeah," Oscar added while tilting his head at me. "You have had that look on your face all evening. Just spit it out."

Easy for them to say. Now that it was my turn to actually reveal the secret, my throat felt like it had sealed shut. I could feel the weight of my own heartbeat in my ears. My fingers twisted together in my lap, and the anxiety swelled so high it was impossible to hide.

Of course, they noticed.

Without a word, Draven's hand slid over mine, warm and steady. On the other side, Oscar's fingers wrapped around my other hand, squeezing gently as if to say - You have got us.

The gesture should have made it easier. It didn't. My voice still trembled when I finally closed my eyes and took in a deep breath.

You can do this.

"When I… when I visited Nightshade Pack with River for the Alpha selection ceremony last weekend…" I started, then hesitated, the words almost sticking to my tongue again. I forced them out anyway. "…I felt a mate bond with him."

The silence that followed was awful.

Both of them went still. Too still.

The only thing keeping me from completely falling apart was that neither of them let go of my hands. Their touch stayed firm, anchoring me even though my mind was running wild with worst-case scenarios.

I wasn't sure how long it lasted - five seconds, ten, a full minute, or even longer than that before? - before I dared to look up. They were both staring at me, not with anger exactly, but with an unreadable mix of emotions that made my stomach twist tighter.

Draven was the one to break it. His voice was low, careful, but there was no mistaking the sharp edge of disbelief.

"So… River is your mate too?"

I nodded slowly, my mouth suddenly dry. "Yeah. He is."

And then, as if my anxiety wasn't already making me ramble, the words just spilled out of me like someone had opened a dam.

"It happened so suddenly-I didn't even see it coming. We were arguing-obviously-and then the mate bond just… flickered to life out of nowhere. I was completely stunned, confused, even mad? I mean I already have you two, but the Moon Goddess had to pick another? And that too him? I still don't understand why or how..."

I stopped to take in a deep breath. "I wanted to tell you both about it immediately... but... but I got too scared. I'm worried that you two will be mad at me. But... trust me-I didn't ask for it... I just-"

Oscar's hand moved before my brain caught up.

He pressed a finger lightly against my lips. "Shhh."

The sound was soft but it worked like a switch, and my babbling cut off immediately.

And then I noticed the tiniest curve on his lips. Not mocking, not forced - just a faint, real smile. Something in my chest loosened. Maybe… maybe this wasn't going to go as badly as I had feared.

Draven leaned back slightly, his head tilting in thought before he spoke again.

"You know," he said, his tone so casual it made me blink in confusion, "it would have been better if it was Kieran instead of River."

I frowned. "What?"

"It's just hypothetical," he continued, almost like he was discussing the weather. "Kieran would have been a better option. I mean, imagine River as part of this family." He motioned at the three of us. "You two are constantly at each other's throats - I can only picture a lifetime of you both trying to outstubborn each other."

My jaw dropped. Out of all the reactions I had prepared myself for - anger, jealousy, cold silence, or even acceptance - this was not one of them.

"You are… seriously not mad?" I asked, still half expecting him to suddenly change his tune.

He just gave me a look like I had asked him if the sky was blue. "Why should I be? A mate bond isn't something you can control. It's a gift from the Moon Goddess. The most scared thing in a werewolf's life."

The way he spoke, it was with so much understanding and clarity that I was having a hard time believe that he was indeed not mad at me.

He saw me staring at him in stunned silence and it made a smile - a genuine one - bloom on his lips. He leaned closer and looked straight into my eyes.

"Besides, you are… unique." His voice softened as he reached out to brush the back of his fingers down my cheek. "If the Moon Goddess wants to surround you with loyal protectors, I'm not going to argue with her logic."

Oscar chuckled at that, the warm sound making my chest ache. He shifted closer, sliding an arm around my shoulders and pulling me back against him, his chest solid and warm against my back.

Draven's lips quirked up faintly as his gaze moved between us. "Though I'm still not betting on you and River lasting a full week without a fight."

That earned another laugh from Oscar, who pressed his chin lightly to my shoulder. "I give it three days."

I tried to glare at both of them, but my vision was blurring too much. I blinked rapidly, trying to keep the tears from spilling over.

What did I ever do to deserve them? How could they be so... understanding? Supporting?

Oscar's arm tightened around me like he already knew what I was thinking. He then placed a kiss to my temple - a soft, feathery one that melted me completely.

"Hey," Draven said quietly. "We are not going anywhere."

And for the first time since that mate bond with River snapped into place, I believed it.