Feral Bonds: Claimed By Rogue Alpha Brothers

7 Months ago...

Evaline:

I almost couldn't breathe from how fast my heart was racing. My eighteenth birthday. The day I had been waiting for, dreaming about, counting down to. And not just because it marked the day I was finally considered an adult... but because this evening I was going to meet Ethan at our usual secret spot.

He had promised.

The moment I had turned eighteen, I would finally be able to feel the mate bond - the magical, unbreakable thread between destined mates. And since Ethan had already told me he had felt it the moment he turned eighteen months ago, I would feel it too. I just had to.

I reached the small forest clearing near the border of the pack, tugging my hoodie tighter around my shoulders as the evening breeze rustled the trees. My palms were sweaty, my stomach twisting with nerves and excitement.

I kept running through how it would happen - maybe a spark the second he touched me, maybe a warmth spreading through my chest when I looked into his eyes.

And then, he arrived.

"Eva." Ethan's voice carried through the clearing, and in the next heartbeat, he was right in front of me, grinning the way he always did when he saw me.

He didn't waste a second. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me close as he lifted me slightly off my feet and spun me around. I squealed, laughing, clinging to his shoulders. The sound of my giggles echoed softly in the quiet woods.

But… nothing.

No spark. No magical pull. No sudden burst of warmth in my chest.

I tried not to let disappointment sink in. Maybe it wasn't always instant. Maybe I was overthinking. He felt the bond, he told me so... then I would too, eventually.

When he finally set me down, I glanced up at him with a shy smile. My cheeks flushed pink when he leaned in and pressed a soft peck against my cheek. I held my breath when his eyes flickered down to my lips. I noticed him leaning closer... only for my legs to betray me.

I took a small step back.

It shocked us both. His lips froze an inch from mine. My heart plummeted, panic rising like a tide.

"I-I didn't mean-" I blurted out, hands twisting nervously. "You are my mate, Ethan. I want this, I do. I'm finally eighteen, there's no reason for me to…" My words stumbled out uselessly. I bit my lip, feeling the sting of embarrassment. My chest felt too tight. "I'm just… nervous."

For a second, his eyes darkened. Something sharp flickered there, a shadow I wasn't used to seeing. My breath hitched... but then, it was gone. He smiled warmly, the Ethan I knew again, brushing off the moment like it didn't matter.

"It's alright," he said, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. "I understand."

Relief crashed into me so strongly I almost sagged in place. He wasn't angry. He wasn't upset.

"In fact," he added, his grin widening, "I have planned something for you. A little party. Come on, birthday girl."

"A party?" My smile faltered.

I knew exactly what that meant - his friends. His group. The same people who whispered cruel things about me when they thought I couldn't hear. Who called me a wolf without a wolf. An embarrassment to the pack.

But when I hesitated, Ethan gave me that look - the one that made me feel like if I said no, I would be hurting him.

So I nodded. "Okay."

He looked satisfied, taking my hand and leading me out of the clearing. We crossed into the back alley of a small inn in the nearest town. The streets were dimly lit, the sky already a blanket of dark navy with scattered stars. My hood stayed firmly up to keep my silver strands hidden away. I kept my head down. I didn't want anyone to recognize me.

Ethan knew the way well. He slipped through the inn's back door into the kitchen and pulled me along with him. From there, he guided me down to the basement - a place he called his territory, where only his closest friends were allowed. Not even the staff entered.

The moment we stepped inside, I instantly hated it.

The basement pulsed with loud music, flashing lights, and the strong stench of alcohol. Laughter and shouting echoed off the walls. People were crammed together, cups in their hands, dancing and swaying. They weren't even legal to drink, and yet the bottles on the tables told another story.

I shrank into myself.

Almost immediately, Ethan was swept away by his friends. I took the chance to slip into a corner seat, out of the way, invisible. That was always easier.

Minutes passed before Ethan returned, holding out a glass with a charming smile.

"Green apple juice. For you."

I frowned. "Ethan, I don't-"

"Eva." He gave me a pitiful look, tilting his head the way he always did when he wanted me to give in. "It's your birthday. Just this once. For me?"

He always knew how to bend me with words. My chest tightened, guilt pressing in. I didn't want to seem ungrateful.

So I took the glass. And I drank. All of it.

The sweet taste lingered only for a moment before my head began to feel heavy, my thoughts foggy. The music seemed louder now, the lights too bright, everything spinning slightly around me.

He was pulled away again before I could say anything.

I stood, clutching the edge of the table to steady myself. Maybe I just needed some air. Maybe the bathroom.

But before I could make it far, a hand caught my arm. A girl's voice, soft but firm, said, "Come on, I'll help you."

Ethan's friend, maybe.

"No," I muttered, tugging my arm free. Something deep inside me didn't trust her. I stumbled toward the door instead, ignoring her protests.

The last thing I heard before I stepped out was her voice calling behind me, "I'll tell Ethan!"

The hallway outside was dim, narrow. My vision blurred at the edges, but I forced my legs to move. I didn't know where I was heading, only that I had to get away from that suffocating basement.

Up a few stairs.

Past doors, most locked when I tried them. My hands shook as I fumbled with the handles, searching for something, anything, away from the music and the noise and the eyes watching me.

And then...

One door gave way beneath my touch.

I stumbled forward, nearly tripping, only to be caught by strong arms before I hit the ground.

My breath caught.

The second his touch steadied me, something crashed through me like lightning - warmth, fire, magic. A pull so strong it knocked the air from my lungs. My knees went weak, my entire body trembling as a strange, powerful energy overwhelmed my senses.

I gasped and my eyes went wide, my heart hammering in my chest.

Because in that instant, I knew.

Mate.