CHAPTER 487: FIRST DAY OF WORK

Evaline:

I was going to strangle Rowan.

If he didn’t get himself strangled first.

"Don’t do anything stupid!" I hissed sharply into my phone, keeping my voice low as I pressed myself deeper between the tall cabinets of the archive room. If someone found me hiding behind a shelf whispering like this on my first day of the new project... yeah, that would be fun to explain.

It was barely my second hour here in the new HQ.

Second hour.

And I was already yelling at Rowan for attempting the exact kind of reckless idiocy I feared he would attempt someday... he’s just like me after all.

My pulse pounded violently. "Rowan, I swear to the Moon Goddess, if you get caught-"

"I won’t," he whispered, but he sounded breathless, the kind of breathless that came from either running or hiding. Knowing Rowan, it was both.

I squeezed my eyes shut. "Rowan, they are students. Graduates or not, they are not warriors. They are sneaking around like idiots. This doesn’t automatically make them connected to the secret academy group or the Soul Death cases."

"Well, maybe, but Eva-listen-" Rowan breathed quickly. "Two of the guys who graduated last year met up with three who graduated this semester. They weren’t talking like old friends. They were whispering. Checking their surroundings. And one of them mentioned Carson’s name."

My heart stilled.

Carson.

The same senior student from Silver Moon who was found Soul Dead over a year ago. The case that started everything... the reason Kieran and the rest of the council began digging I’m the first place.

Rowan continued, his voice tight, "The moment Carson’s name slipped, the others shoved him against a wall to shut him up. And then they checked the entire alley like they thought someone would jump at them."

Okay. That... was suspicious.

Really suspicious.

But still-

"Rowan, you can’t follow them alone. What if they are involved in something dangerous?" My whisper rose in panic. "Even though you are strong, you still can’t handle them alone-"

"I know," he whispered back. And I hated that he sounded calm. Rowan was only calm like that when he was about to do something catastrophically stupid. "But I can’t lose them, Eva. They seemed to be leaving this place now. If I wait, they’ll disappear."

"Rowan!" I hissed again, but I heard movement on his end - shuffling footsteps, maybe the guys whispering. Possibly Rowan ducking behind something.

He didn’t give me a chance to argue further.

"I’ll keep distance. Promise. But I need to follow them now. What if we end up missing something important just because I hesitate?"

"Rowan!"

"I’m going."

That was it. Final. I knew him better than to think I could change his mind. I finally knew why Oscar said Rowan was my male version - we both were stubborn with our decisions.

Since I couldn’t stop him from following those people, I needed to make sure he’s not going to end up in trouble. "Fine. But first share your live location with me. I’ll talk to my mates and get you help as soon as I can. Just don’t do anything reckless until then. Okay?"

He didn’t promise, but at least he agreed with my plan. "I’ll share it now- there. Got it? Okay. I gotta-"

The call cut.

I stared at my screen in horror as the tiny blinking dot of Rowan’s live location appeared on the map.

He was already on the move.

"Oh my stars," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "He’s going to be in trouble. I swear I’m going to kill him once he’s safely back."

I quickly exited the archive room... only to freeze.

The project senior was right outside.

Of course he was.

I pasted a harmless intern-smile on my face.

"Uh, Alpha Thorne wants to see me," I said with enough confidence to sound believable.

His eyes widened a little - probably wondering why the Alpha Thorne would want to see me on my very first morning - but he still nodded quickly.

"Return as soon as you are done," he said, clearly too afraid to question anything involving River.

I nodded and tried to walk toward the elevator like a normal person instead of sprinting like I wanted to do. On my way there, I messaged River.

Where are you?

The reply came within seconds.

River: My office.

Thank the Goddess.

He was still in HQ.

I didn’t waste a second. I jabbed the elevator button repeatedly... like that ever helped... and bounced on my toes as it ascended.

"Come on... come on..."

The elevator chimed open and I stepped in, slamming the button for River’s floor. My foot tapped uncontrollably as I tried to steady my breathing.

Rowan. Of all people.

He was smart, yes, but... he was also Rowan.

My favorite person in the world besides my mates and son, yes.

But also the most curiosity-led trouble magnet in existence.

The elevator crawled upward with all the urgency of a dying turtle.

"Faster," I muttered at the doors.

When they finally opened, I dashed out, nearly colliding with a Beta who stepped aside just in time.

"Sorry!" I yelled behind me without slowing down.

River’s office was at the end of the hallway, a tall and imposing wooden door blocking my way. Normally I would knock. Normally I would breathe. Normally I would act like a civilized creature.

But nothing about today was normal.

I pushed the door open without knocking...

... then froze mid-step.

Two sets of eyes looked up at me.

One deep and green... River, who was seated behind his desk.

And the second...

Dazzling blue.

Alpha Elion Grey stood beside River’s desk, one hand in his pocket and the other holding a cup of coffee. His silver hair fell effortlessly over his shoulders like moonlit silk.

My breath hitched.

Of all people to walk in on...

And of all conversations to interrupt.

River’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Elion’s lips curved... politely, but unmistakably amused.

Great.

Just. Great.